The Pacolet Area Conservancy and Walnut Creek Preserve invite the community to an informational presentation about

“The Flora and Landscapes of the Southern Mountain Region” on Saturday, March 24 at 10 a.m. to be held at the Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve.
Botanist David Campbell of the University of North Carolina—Charlotte (UNCC)  Herbarium will present a digital slide show of the plants and landscapes of the area, including a few shots of fauna.
Campbell said he is interested in studying the flora in Polk County and hopes to gather data and create herbarium specimens for the UNCC Herbarium. Polk County is poorly represented in the state herbarium, he said; no new data for the county has been added in nearly 50 years. During his quest, he said he hopes to relocate several rare plants of historic importance that have been documented in the area.
Time and weather permitting, there may also be an interpretive woodland walk around the grounds of Walnut Creek Preserve after the presentation for those that may be interested; dress appropriately.
Children and adults are welcome and there is no charge for the event.
To get to Walnut Creek Preserve’s Nature Center from the Tryon and Columbus area, take Hwy. 108E and turn left on to Hwy. 9N toward Lake Lure. Follow Hwy. 9 for 5 miles and turn right onto McGuinn Road (at the Exxon station). Go one mile to the intersection with Big Level Road; turn left, go two tenths of a mile and take the first right onto Aden Green Road. Follow Aden Green for four tenths of a mile and turn left on Herbarium Lane and into Walnut Creek Preserve.  Take the first left onto Conservatory Lane, which takes you to the parking area for the nature center.
For more information or directions from another location, please contact the Pacolet Area Conservancy at 828-859-5060 or landprotection@pacolet.org.
– article submitted by Pam Torlina