Bigelow's Botanical Excursions

I absolutely Love the progression of seed development on Filmy Angelica (Angelica triquinata)

They just keep getting more and more beautiful as they ripen

The seeds are also wonderfully bitter and delicious and can be chewed on to help with digestion and upset stomach. They have a pleasant anise flavor

Corallorhiza odontorhiza, Autumn Coralroot

This cool Orchid, which is in full bloom and usually goes unnoticed due to its small stature and non-showy nature, was spotted by one of the cool people on my walk Friday. You never know what we'll find on an excursion

 

Hello Friends, We will be visiting The Vertical Bog on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This incredible spot is the shortest and easiest walk of my whole series, and one loaded with the most amazing collection of rare and special Plants and Wildflowers.

One of the most special and iconic spots on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Vertical Bog is a roadside seepage area unlike any other, filled with special, rare and endemic plants that exist right along the parkway across from an overlook. Carnivorous Sundews, Grass-of-Parnassus, Sticky Tofieldia, and five different species of st John's wort can all be seen at this short and easy walk. 

To register, please send an email to [email protected] and be sure to let me know if you'd prefer the morning or afternoon session, and how many people you will be bringing with you. 

All of the Friday Wildflower Walks are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$50 per person, and are capped at 15 people per session. This allows for more people to be able to attend the walks. Payment can be cash, check, or online through Venmo.

Weekly Wildflower Walks will be meeting on Fridays throughout the season, with a morning session from 9am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm. We will meet at a different location each week, following and chasing the best blooms and locations.

All of my walks are held at a slow and gentle pace, and are accessible to many. Often, after walking in the woods and learning about plants for 2.5 hours and it's time to go home, we are about a 20 minute walk back to the trailhead and our cars. 

And, while I Love dogs, not everyone else does. Also, dogs tend to crush the very Plants and Flowers that we are looking at. So, please leave your pets at home. Registered Service Animals are allowed, of course.

Remember that on our walks The Wildflowers Are the Destination!


 

Rowan (Sorbus americana)

Find you someone who looks at you like Doll's Eyes (Actaea pachypoda) looks at you in the Forest.

You know, like the eyes of a creepy haunted porcelain doll rocking herself in a rocking chair next to your bed...


 

Hello Wildflower Friends,
Our next walk will be this Friday, August 30th when we visit one of the most special places in all of Southern Appalachia, Panthertown Valley. Called the "Yosemite of the East" Panthertown is an incredible hiking, camping, fishing destination located near Cashiers, NC. It is also filled with beautiful waterfalls, scenic views, and of course wonderful Wildflowers.

To register, please send an email to [email protected] and be sure to let me know if you'd prefer the morning or afternoon session, and how many people you will be bringing with you.

All of the Friday Wildflower Walks are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$50 per person, and are capped at 15 people per session. This allows for more people to be able to attend the walks. Payment can be cash, check, or online through Venmo.

Weekly Wildflower Walks will be meeting on Fridays throughout the season, with a morning session from 9am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm. We will meet at a different location each week, following and chasing the best blooms and locations.

All of my walks are held at a slow and gentle pace, and are accessible to many.

Please leave your pets at home. Registered Service Animals are allowed, of course.

Remember that on our walks The Wildflowers Are the Destination!

Summer/Fall Schedule!!!
8/30 Panthertown Valley, Cashiers NC
9/6 Vertical Bog, Blue Ridge Parkway
9/13 Highlands Botanical Garden, Highlands NC
9/20 Black Balsam, Blue Ridge Parkway
9/27 Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens, Clay County NC
10/4 Big Laurel/Alarka Laurel, Jackson County NC
10/11 Heintooga Ridge Rd, Blue Ridge Parkway
10/18 Cabin Flats, Jackson County NC
10/25 Old Bald, Blue Ridge Parkway

Friends, my new column is in this week's Smoky Mountain News and it has a new name.

To celebrate, I decided to start a movement. Let me know what you think.

"As much as we try, when most people hear the word “w**d” they respond negatively. So, instead of trying to change people’s minds about the word “w**d” let’s substitute the word “w**d” with the word “flower” for some of our favorite native plants.

Suddenly, Joe Pye w**d becomes Joe Pye flower. Doesn’t that sound good? Jewelw**d shines as jewelflower. And the so-called milkw**ds — common milkw**d (Asclepias syriaca), purple milkw**d (A. purpurea), and butterfly milkw**d (A. tuberosa) all become common milkflower, purple milkflower, and butterfly milkflower instead."

The Joyful Botanist: Weeds are flowers too Writing these columns for the last couple of years has brought me so much joy that I have decided to celebrate by changing the name of my writings to The Joyful Botanist. And nothing says launching a new name than launching a revolution while you’re at it. So, let’s start a revolution!  Let...

Hi Y'all, my misfortune may be your good fortune. Registration is still open for the Organic Gardening Class which will now start next Tuesday 8/27 since I've been sick all week and had to cancel the first class

Hello Friends!

I am teaching a 6-week long class about Organic Gardening at Western Carolina University that begins on August 20 and continues for 6 weeks on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm each week. Cost is only $160 for the entire class.

We will cover the basics of Organic, Sustainable, Regenerative and Natural Gardening systems and approaches. You will be introduced to topics including: Sighting Your Garden, Basic Garden Needs, Soils and Compost, Building Garden Beds, Seeds and Transplants, Watering and Plant Care, Weeds, Pests and Disease, Beneficial Insects, Harvesting, Winter Gardening, Cover Cropping, Garden Cleanup, And much more!

We will also take a field trip to the Cullowhee Community Garden to see many real-world examples of what I teach.

This class is being hosted at WCU in Cullowhee, and you can find out more information and register by following This Link to WCU's Website: https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/the-cullowhee-native-plant-conference/native-plants-101.aspx

I hope that you can join us. Please share this information with anyone you feel may be interested in joining us.
Thank you,

Today is the last day that you can register for this class. Starts tomorrow at 6pm

Hello Friends!

I am teaching a 6-week long class about Organic Gardening at Western Carolina University that begins on August 20 and continues for 6 weeks on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm each week. Cost is only $160 for the entire class.

We will cover the basics of Organic, Sustainable, Regenerative and Natural Gardening systems and approaches. You will be introduced to topics including: Sighting Your Garden, Basic Garden Needs, Soils and Compost, Building Garden Beds, Seeds and Transplants, Watering and Plant Care, Weeds, Pests and Disease, Beneficial Insects, Harvesting, Winter Gardening, Cover Cropping, Garden Cleanup, And much more!

We will also take a field trip to the Cullowhee Community Garden to see many real-world examples of what I teach.

This class is being hosted at WCU in Cullowhee, and you can find out more information and register by following This Link to WCU's Website: https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/the-cullowhee-native-plant-conference/native-plants-101.aspx

I hope that you can join us. Please share this information with anyone you feel may be interested in joining us.
Thank you,

I Love the Heintooga Ridge Road, aka Balsam Mountain Road which is off of the Southern section of the Blue ridge Parkway. It is a rarely travelled area with amazing views of the Smokies, and a number of great Wildflower displays along the roadway and short trails.

This week's Wildflower Walk will be a series of stops and short walks along the Heintooga Ridge Rd, a road that leads from the Southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, towards the Great Smoky Mountains. Here is a picture of the beautiful location where we will meet.

To register, please send an email to [email protected] and be sure to let me know if you'd like to join the morning or afternoon walk, and how many people will be joining you.

All of the Friday Wildflower Walks are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$50 per person, and are capped at 15 people per session. This allows for more people to be able to attend the walks. Payment can be cash, check, or online through Venmo.

Weekly Wildflower Walks will be meeting on Fridays throughout the season, with a morning session from 9am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm. We will meet at a different location each week, following and chasing the best blooms and locations.

All of my walks are held at a slow and gentle pace, and are accessible to many. Often, after walking in the woods and learning about plants for 2.5 hours and it's time to go home, we are about a 20 minute walk back to the trailhead and our cars. 

Remember that on our walks The Wildflowers Are the Destination!

 

Hello Friends!

I am teaching a 6-week long class about Organic Gardening at Western Carolina University that begins on August 20 and continues for 6 weeks on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm each week. Cost is only $160 for the entire class.

We will cover the basics of Organic, Sustainable, Regenerative and Natural Gardening systems and approaches. You will be introduced to topics including: Sighting Your Garden, Basic Garden Needs, Soils and Compost, Building Garden Beds, Seeds and Transplants, Watering and Plant Care, Weeds, Pests and Disease, Beneficial Insects, Harvesting, Winter Gardening, Cover Cropping, Garden Cleanup, And much more!

We will also take a field trip to the Cullowhee Community Garden to see many real-world examples of what I teach.

This class is being hosted at WCU in Cullowhee, and you can find out more information and register by following This Link to WCU's Website: https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/the-cullowhee-native-plant-conference/native-plants-101.aspx

I hope that you can join us. Please share this information with anyone you feel may be interested in joining us.
Thank you,

I am excited to share with you all the amazing Highlands Botanical Garden on this Friday's Weekly Wildflower Walk! 

Join a gentle, fun and informative walk in one of the most special places in North Carolina's mountains with me. We will be visiting the Highlands Botanical Garden in Highlands North Carolina, truly one of the most special places in all of the mountains.

To register, please send an email to [email protected] and be sure to let me know how many people are joining you, and whether you'd like to attend the morning or afternoon walk.

All of the Friday Wildflower Walks are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$50 per person, and are capped at 15 people per session. This allows for more people to be able to attend the walks. Payment can be cash, check, or online through Venmo.

Weekly Wildflower Walks will be meeting on Fridays throughout the season, with a morning session from 9am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm. We will meet at a different location each week, following and chasing the best blooms and locations.

All of my walks are held at a slow and gentle pace, and are accessible to many. Often, after walking in the woods and learning about plants for 2.5 hours and it's time to go home, we are about a 20 minute walk back to the trailhead and our cars. 

Remember that on our walks The Wildflowers Are the Destination!

Summer Schedule!!! (Locations subject to change based on flowering and other conditions)

8/16       Highlands Botanical Garden, Highlands NC
8/23       Heintooga Ridge Road, Blue Ridge Parkway
8/30       Panthertown Valley, Cashiers NC
9/6         Black Balsam, Blue Ridge Parkway
9/13       Highlands Botanical Garden, Highlands NC
9/20       Vertical Bog, Blue Ridge Parkway
9/27       Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens, Clay County NC
10/4       Big Laurel/Alarka Laurel, Jackson County NC
10/11     Heintooga Ridge Rd, Blue Ridge Parkway
10/18     Cabin Flats, Jackson County NC
10/25     Old Bald, Blue Ridge Parkway

 

How many Orchids did you see this weekend? Me, I saw six! Six Native Orchids
1. Three Birds Orchid (Triphora trianthophoros)
2. Yellow-Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris)
3. Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor)
4. Kidney-leaved Twayblade Orchid (Neottia smallii)
5. Small Green Woodland Orchid (Platanthera clavellata)
6. Green Adder's Mouth Orchid (Malaxis unifolia)

Hello Friends, I have been quite distracted over the last couple of weeks, and I have neglected to send out this week's Wildflower Walk announcement. And now, here we are on Wednesday morning, and I have decided to change our location for this week, to try and beat the heat.

Instead of standing in an open planted meadow in Downtown Cashiers on a 90 degree day, let's go up on the Parkway and gain some elevation, and the resulting coolness that exists up there. 

Including some cool Plants like this Starry Campion Silene stellata

We are going to walk out to Old Bald, a high elevation mountain bald where both the Wildflowers and the Blueberries are in abundance. Along the way we will be walking along a ridgeline through Old Growth, yet stunted Oak Trees, and will see some beautiful Wildflowers and beautiful long range views.

All of the Friday Wildflower Walks are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$50 per person, and are capped at 15 people per session. This allows for more people to be able to attend the walks. Payment can be cash, check, or online through Venmo.

To register, please send an email to [email protected] and be sure to let me know if you prefer the morning or afternoon walk, and how many people will be joining you.

Weekly Wildflower Walks will be meeting on Fridays throughout the season, with a morning session from 9am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm. We will meet at a different location each week, following and chasing the best blooms and locations.

All of my walks are held at a slow and gentle pace, and are accessible to many. Often, after walking in the woods and learning about plants for 2.5 hours and it's time to go home, we are about a 20 minute walk back to the trailhead and our cars. 

Remember that on our walks The Wildflowers Are the Destination!

 

Yellow-Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris) on the side of the road


 

This Friday I hope that you can join me to walk and take in the amazing beauty of the Black Balsam area. We will walk out to Sam's Meadow, stopping often to look at and learn about the diversity of Plants and Wildflowers along the way, like this Carolina Bushpea Thermopsis villosa in the meadow.

All of the Friday Wildflower Walks are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$50 per person, and are capped at 15 people per session. This allows for more people to be able to attend the walks. Payment can be cash, check, or online through Venmo or through Eventbrite

To register, please reply to this email and let me know if you'd like to join the morning or the afternoon walk. And be sure to let me know how many people you are planning to bring with you.

Weekly Wildflower Walks will be meeting on Fridays throughout the season, with a morning session from 9am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm. We will meet at a different location each week, following and chasing the best blooms and locations.

All of my walks are held at a slow and gentle pace, and are accessible to many. Often, after walking in the woods and learning about plants for 2.5 hours and it's time to go home, we are about a 20 minute walk back to the trailhead and our cars. 

Remember that on our walks The Wildflowers Are the Destination!

 

I have fallen in Love with this flower this Summer. Not that I haven't enjoyed it previously, but we have connected more deeply this year than others. Anemone virginiana, Thimble Flower, you have my heart. Always

I am super excited to visit and teach about Native Plants at the tomorrow evening at 5:30! Hope you can join me


 

Hello Friends and Happy Interdependence Day!

For our next walk, we will be visiting the Vertical Bog on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This incredible spot is the shortest and easiest walk of my whole series, and one loaded with the most amazing collection of rare and special Plants and Wildflowers, including 5+ species of St John's Wort (Hypericum spp.) and Cliff Saxifrage (Micranthes petiolaris) as pictured.

All of the Friday Wildflower Walks are offered on a sliding scale of $15-$50 per person, and are capped at 15 people per session. This allows for more people to be able to attend the walks. Payment can be cash, check, or online through Venmo or through Eventbrite

To register, please send an email to [email protected] and let me know if you'd like to join the morning or the afternoon walk. And be sure to let me know how many people you are planning to bring with you.

Weekly Wildflower Walks will be meeting on Fridays throughout the season, with a morning session from 9am to 12pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm. We will meet at a different location each week, following and chasing the best blooms and locations.

All of my walks are held at a slow and gentle pace, and are accessible to many. Often, after walking in the woods and learning about plants for 2.5 hours and it's time to go home, we are about a 20 minute walk back to the trailhead and our cars. 

Remember that on our walks The Wildflowers Are the Destination!

 

Heal All, that is my wish for y'all.
'Cause who couldn't use
a little healing? Or a lot?

Self Heal, that is my wish
for myself

'cause who couldn't use
a little healing?

Or a lot?