The Tryon Garden Club will sponsor three guided wildflower walks at Pearson’s Falls this spring.

Dr. Gillian Newberry will lead the first walk on Thursday, March 30. She will talk about the unique habitat at the glen where we have a glimpse of a river bottom forest with a carpet of spring wildflowers. Historically these areas were all over the Carolinas but Pearson’s Falls Glen is one of the few that remains intact. The rain date for this walk is Monday, April 3.

On April 4, David Campbell, a botanist and ecologist, will lead the second walk. He is an expert in rare and threatened native plants throughout the Southeast. He writes monthly articles for the Pacolet Area Conservancy entitled, “Polk County’s Most Wanted,” highlighting rare and unique flora, fauna and habitats that may occur in Polk County. The rain date is Thursday, April 6.

On May 3, Virginia Meador, a naturalist and retired science instructor, will point out many varieties of ferns living in Pearson’s Falls Glen and help us learn how to identify them. Copies of the Anne & Barbara Hallowell Fern Finder Guide to Native Ferns will be available for purchase at the gate and is recommended. The rain date is May 5.

The guided walks start at 10:15 a.m. and last until noon. They begin with a brief introduction in the Garden House. Then the speaker will lead the group up the quarter mile trail to the falls pointing out wildflowers, plants, rocks and ferns along the way. There is an admission fee to Pearson’s Falls and a small charge for the guided walk. All proceeds go to trail maintenance.

An annual pass to Pearson’s Falls is also available. Admission is free for Tryon Garden Club members.

Finally, on Monday, April 17, the Pearson’s Falls Docents from the Tryon Garden Club will offer a walk and talk. Visitors walk at their own pace. Docents will be stationed along the trail to provide information and to answer questions. The event is free but there is the admission fee to Pearson’s Falls. The time is 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Come with your family and bring a picnic or snacks and enjoy in the newly refurbished picnic shelter.

For more information and to register for the guided walks contact the gatekeeper at Pearson’s Falls, 828-749-3031.

Pearson’s Falls is located at 2748 Pearson’s Falls Road in Saluda. Follow the signs on Hwy. 176 N from Tryon or Hwy. 176 S from Saluda. Also visit pearsonsfalls.org.

For those interested in joining the Tryon Garden Club, write to P.O. Box 245, Tryon, NC 28782.

– article submitted by Lucy Brannon