Conserving Carolina program: Biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians

Published 3:05 pm Friday, September 15, 2017

Conserving Carolina, formerly the Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC), and Walnut Creek Preserve (WCP), invite the public to attend a free presentation by Jennifer Frick-Ruppert, on “Why is there such high biodiversity in the Southern Appalachians?” The program will be held at the Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Frick-Ruppert is a professor of biology and environmental science at Brevard College and the author of “Mountain Nature: A Seasonal Natural History of the Southern Appalachians.” During her presentation, she will describe some of the astounding local biodiversity and explain why this region supports such a profusion of life.

Jennifer Rupert-Frick will be the September presenter at the Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve.

The presentation will be illustrated with her photographs, many of which were used in her book, Mountain Nature. She has also published “Waterways: Sailing the Southeastern Coast” and “The Legend of Skyco: Spirit Quest,” which are also filled with descriptions of the natural world. Books will be available for purchase after the lecture.

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To get to Walnut Creek Preserve’s Nature Center from the Tryon and Columbus area, take Hwy. 108 E. and turn left on Hwy. 9 toward Lake Lure. Follow Hwy. 9 N for five miles and turn right onto McGuinn Road (at the Exxon Station). Go one mile to the intersection with Big Level Road; turn left, go 2/10ths of a mile and take the first right onto Aden Green Road. Follow Aden Green for 4/10ths of a mile and turn left on Wood Thrush Lane and into Walnut Creek Preserve. Take the first left onto Conservatory Lane, which takes you to the parking area for the nature center. (GPS coordinates to the Nature Center are available at www.pacolet.org.) 

For more information or directions from another location, contact Conserving Carolina at 828-859-5060 or e-mail Pam Torlina at pam@conservingcarolina.org.

The next program will be held on Oct. 28 when Tim Lee will present, “Bioluminescence: From Fireflies to Fungi” at the Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at 10:30 a.m.

For more information about Walnut Creek Preserve, visit walnutcreekpreserve.com. Please note, Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group).

– submitted by Pam Torlina