home www.wncnaturally.com
email scott@wncnaturally.com

Well, after a winter that saw our usual strange mix of weather - shirt sleeves one day and coats the next, the first early signs of spring are here with more showing up weekly!

My mother-in-law has Sweet Breath of Spring blooming in Hendersonville already! I was backpacking in Cataloochee on the weekend of January 16 - 18 and Toothwort leaves were visible, this and its close relative Cut-leaved Toothwort will be in bloom by late March, depending upon elevation. An added treat for us was a Bobcat which was screaming around our campsite the first night. We never did see it, but what a great sound to hear late at night, out in the woods. To learn more about this critter check out this month's trivia. We also saw a flock of Turkeys, old growth Tulip Poplars so large that four of us couldn't join hands around it, and old growth Hemlocks. Pileated woodpeckers had torn up the bark on some of them so extensively that the trail underneath looked like someone had been operating a chain saw!

With the first warm evening rains this month Wood Frogs will begin their breeding activity, as will Spotted Salamanders. Great Horned Owls have been breeding since December and, while it's still chilly out, these are all indicators of the approaching "greening" as my Dad used to say.

With the approach of warmer weather I've got a few programs scheduled, to find out more about these check out the schedule page. And if you're interested in arranging a program, especially for spring wildflowers, now is the time to reserve your date.

I hope everyone who reads this had a great winter and has an even better spring to look forward to.