Highlands Weekends of Live Music

Curtis Blackwell

Music is coming back to Highlands this month and all you have to do is step outside and take a short walk to the center of town.

The return of the Highlands Twin Concert Series – Friday Nights Live and Saturdays on Pine – the cherished local tradition that was thwarted by the pandemic is reason to celebrate. While the series is billed as a chance to breathe in some culture and the open-air, it’s also a reaffirming sign that life is getting back to normal and that the Coronavirus is losing its grip on our lives.

Participating musicians comprise some of the most talented and diverse of our local region. Friday concerts are a jamboree of traditional Mountain Music – music made on banjos, fiddles, mandolins, dobros and guitars. It’s an old-time genre, known for its harmonies, and the merry and sweet, or slower and melancholy sounds that evoke the lively jigs and reels of the Scots-Irish who settled in these mountains generations ago. It’s as well a wistful reminiscence of the famous dance parties of years ago at Highlands’ Helen’s Barn.

Audience participation – whether by dancing, stomping or simply clapping is encouraged. Silly Ridge Roundup will perform at the inaugural session of the season on May 21. The Highlands-based troupe offers an eclectic blend of Americana, bluegrass, and folk music, and is sure to bring joy, energy, and toe-tapping music.

Saturdays on Pine are a welcome amalgam of several music genres. Whether it’s the compelling beat of traditional rock and roll, the lonesome whine of a country crooner or the plaintiff sounds of sweet soul music, the evening offers a chance to once again hear the live music we have all missed for too long. Bring a blanket and some blanket-ready fare and join friends and neighbors under the evening sky. The Caribbean Boys will take over the stage for the opening of the Saturdays on Pine Season on May 22.

Friday Night Live concerts take place at Highlands Town Square from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Saturdays on Pine are at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street and also begin at 6:00 P.M. The weekend series continues through October 22 and concerts are free. For more information about Saturdays on Pine or Friday Night Live, visit highlandschamber.org or call (828) 526-2112.

by Marlene Osteen

The Friends of KelseyHutchinson Founders Park will host their 2021 Shrimp Boil on Saturday, June 19, at, naturally, KP Founders Park. There are protocols in place to ensure the event will be in accordance with Covid guidelines.

Friends of Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park is once again serving up its wildly popular Shrimp Boil from 4:30 to 7:30 P.M., this time with a drive-through twist.

Diners/Drivers will enter the park area near the intersection of Fourth Street and Oak Street. Once their tickets are taken, they will be directed to one of two lanes of traffic, one proceeding left down the alley that connects to Pine Street and the other remaining on Oak Street.

Visit online at foundersparkhighlands. org for information on the event and where to buy tickets.

The event, which was cancelled last year in the midst of the pandemic, is the sole fundraiser for the park, which was opened in 2017.

The park features a stage pavilion, amphitheater, restrooms, an interactive fountain, a Little Free Library, and an ice rink in the winter. The tireless efforts of the Friends of Founders Park have given the town the urban green space it’s deserved.

The kaleidoscopic shapes and colors of Dahlias are on display in all their glory at the Foster Memorial Dahlia Garden, the scintillating treasure chest in the heart of the Village Green.

Each year the Foster Memorial Dahlia Garden in The Village Green draws thousands of visitors to enjoy these beautiful blooms. Petal forms can include classic pompoms, spidery cactus, and daisy-like single blooms.

The Village Green Dahlia Garden features these stunning and unique flowers. The blooms are different unusual shapes and bright colors, but each one is beautiful.

With a tax-deductible gift, The Village Green will plant dahlias and other perennial blooms in the park. Visit our website, and under the Explore tab in the menu bar, click on Dahlia Garden to learn how you can honor the mothers and special women in your life with this special gift.

Wherever you see dahlias, daylilies, Lenten roses, and daffodils, you will know that yours are among them. It is a memorable gift that provides immeasurable joy for countless visitors who enjoy Cashiers’ park for the people.

The Village Green provides a beautiful, free public space; however, it is conserved by a nonprofit organization that depends on contributions to maintain the park and provide such an exceptional venue for the community.

The Village Green is in the heart of Cashiers, for the people of Cashiers. To learn more about these events or to make a donation, call (828) 743-3434 or visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com.

by Ann Self, Executive Director of The Village Green photos by Ed Boos

The days are growing long and warm – it’s time to get back in the dirt. But first, some quick lessons, courtesy of the Plateau’s twin libraries.

After months of cooler-to-downright cold temperatures, leafless – though beautifully silhouetted – trees, and plenty of soggy days, evidence of spring is everywhere.

May is the right time to stop worrying about freezes and frosts and to consider exercising a green thumb. Whether adept at all things out-of-doors-related or a newbie with a practical interest, libraries provide tons of necessary resources.

“We have shelves and shelves of gardening and landscape design books, native plants and green gardening techniques, and sustaining native wildlife and insects like bees and butterflies with intentional gardening,” said Serenity Richards, branch librarian at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. “Plus, the free Universal Class site also has such classes as an introduction to gardening, vegetable gardening 101, tropical gardening, and all about herbs. We have an extensive collection of gardening e-resources, as well, eBooks and eMagazines in e-iNC. And, Kanopy has videos from Great Courses on gardening and sustainable living, how to grow anything, garden design and planning, food gardens, planting with native plants.”

The Universal Class’s Introduction to Gardening focuses on soil preparation, pest control, plant propagation, and four categories of gardening: flower, vegetable, herb, and specialty.

Also available at both libraries within the Fontana Library system, are resources regarding flower arranging. “We have a variety of books on that topic, plus at least one Universal Class,” said Carlyn Morenus, branch librarian, at Hudson Library in Highlands.

In addition, would-be home/amateur landscapers can find plenty of books on the subject to transform their staid yard into something stellar. Another Universal Class, Landscaping 101, makes certain to cover all the basics, including: - determining harmony, balance, color, natural transitions, proportion, and line - assessing present landscape needs - settling on the intended purpose of the landscape - gathering ideas - developing a basic plan and creating a timetable for the work - learning how to avoid common landscaping mistakes - making the most of what already exists, such as native plants

Universal Class is available for use on library computers or at home, as are other library-offered e-resources.

by Deena Bouknight

Local Honeybees will get their day in the sun when Jackson County Beekeepers, Mountain Man Cave Honey, and The Village Green celebrate World Bee Day from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Saturday, May 22. Everyone is invited to this free educational event.

Mountain Man Cave Honey, Jackson County Beekeepers, and The Village Green will be co-sponsoring a free event for the public to celebrate World Bee Day on Saturday, May 22, at the Gazebo of the Village Green from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Tying along with The Village Green’s mission of preserving and enhancing land for our community, this year’s theme is Bee Engaged! The event will feature hive demonstrations, various activities and games for all ages, light refreshments, and live music featuring Asheville Singer/Songwriter Oliver Padgett from 1:00 to 2:30 P.M.. Children’s activities will include many arts and craft and education exhibits.

“Our goal with the Open House and Apiary Tours would be to expose the Southern Jackson community to the plight of the honeybee, raise awareness, and to demonstrate simple ways guests may help this fragile but so important insect,” says Rose Mary Achey, the President of Jackson County Beekeepers.

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

Highlands Marketplace is a dazzling showcase for local farmers and artisans, Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. until 12:30 at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park.

Highlands Marketplace, staged every Saturday from 8:00 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street, serves up a bounty of the products of the Plateau.

Local farmers, artisans, and growers gather to offer the freshest and most colorful selections you’ll find anywhere. Whether it’s spring lettuces, organic salves and tinctures, eggs, or handmade crafts you’ll not be disappointed.

Farmers will be offering the first fruits of their fields and you’ll find fresh eggs from contented chickens, honey, and a full spectrum of fresh flowers harvested on the Plateau.

There’s also an irresistible selection of fresh-baked pastries and breads. Look for canned goods, jams and jellies, and herbal teas and tisanes.

This is also a place to visit if you’re seeking handmade soaps and essential oils, and homemade salves that are crafted using formulas that date back hundreds of years.

The Highlands Marketplace is a great way to start your weekend, so bring your baskets and your market bags and load ‘em up! If you choose to bring your four-legged friends, please make sure they’re leashed.

But just as important as all the foods, all the treats, all the goods, is the sense of community that forms the bedrock of this entry on the town’s social calendar. This is where Highlanders gather. Stories are told, gossip is exchanged, and jokes are swapped. People of all ages and all social standings stroll through and weigh their purchases.

If you don’t spend part of your time talking with the vendors and artisans, well, you’re not getting your money’s worth.

It’s May, the weather is warming, most of us are vaccinated, and we’re ready to wander … here, there, and yonder. Visit Highlands, NC/Chamber of Commerce encourages you to offer the following invitation to one or more friends and come downtown to do your wandering.

Help launch (and maybe even lunch) the first annual Meander in May event, set for Saturday, May 22, from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. I tell you this with candor, Neighbor, friend, Highlander, Saturday, May twenty-two Me and hopefully you Shall gather down on Main For Music, Art, (no rain) … I can’t imagine a grander thing Than me and thee meandering.

Musicians and artists shall be situated all over town. Residents and visitors are encouraged to watch, listen, engage, and indulge in other offerings along the way. It’s a way to regroup, re-boot, and rejoice after a year of seclusion. As an extra precaution, the event is out-of-doors, Covid-safety in effect. Participants will be provided with a town map to go and seek out their favorite artist/musician.

Help us get the word out and join the fun. For more information about the May Meander, visit Highlands, NC/Chamber event. Go to visithighlandsnc.com.

Point phone camera at QR code to learn more about Meander in May

Author Mary Alice Monroe will illuminate the timely and timeless lessons embedded within her new novel, The Summer of Lost and Found, with a pair of presentations, May 28 and 29.

Mary Alice Monroe

Best-selling author Mary Alice Monroe has just released a here-and-now book titled The Summer of Lost and Found.

Monroe will be discussing the new novel as well as her writing process on May 28 at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, and on May 29 at Hudson Library in Highlands.

Although Monroe resides on the South Carolina coast, the Plateau is a favorite destination.

No doubt, fans and new readers alike will enjoy The Summer of Lost and Found, which explores pandemic dynamics as it relates to families: “forced isolation, economic strain, aroundthe-clock togetherness.”

She added, “From that examination emerged two main themes – letting go and living in the present. Doing both gives us fresh eyes to see our world around us. And oftentimes, you discover treasures in your life that you had not realized during the busyness and demands of daily life.”

An author’s journey involves not only self-discovery, but also history, culture, and the human spirit.

Monroe explained, “Writing The Summer of Lost and Found during 2020 was an experience like no other. When I write, I typically plot out the major details of every chapter before I write a single word. But not with this book. I wrote in real-time, and it was a roller coaster writing journey, much like our daily life journeys throughout the year.”

Even though some people may not consider reading about Covid-19 ideal summer literary escapism, Monroe urges readers to consider her stories are nature-oriented getaways; plus, “there are always lessons to learn, truths to uncover, and treasures to be found in the ashes of chaos and uncertainty.”

She is considered an effective writer who draws in her audience because of her ability to introduce characters and situations with whom readers can relate.

Monroe commented: “I believe it’s important to write what you know because it’s authentic to you through knowledge or personal experience. It doesn’t mean to write about your own life per se, but to draw inspiration and details from the compilation of your life’s experiences and the menagerie of people you meet along your journey.”

In fact, Monroe has been stretching her writer’s talents with the June 15 publication of her first middle school novel, The Islanders. It’s set on tiny Dewees Island in South Carolina and it involves a lonely 11-year-old boy finding himself and forging friendships that will carry him through a tumultuous family life.

Her talks at the libraries on May 28 and 29 are free to the public.

by Deena Bouknight

The Twilight 5K and 10K Race beckons serious and not-so-serious runners for a bit of fresh air fun and competition, Saturday, May 15 throughout Highlands. For more information or to register, visit highlandstwilight5kand10k.com.

If you were born to run, Baby, this story is for you.

Apologies to The Boss for a bit of plagiarism, but this spring is making us all wake up with a song in our heart, and runners are especially happy that they can lace up their running shoes and participate in 5Ks again.

The Rotary Club of Highlands Twilight 5K and 10K Race is the place to start and is fun for the entire family.

Starting at 6:00 P.M. at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on May 15, this race stands apart from the rest and offers a chance for everyone to participate, while raising funds that support local youth and recreation programs.

The 5K course is a largely flat course that beckons serious runners hoping to improve their times and enjoy beautiful scenery, but is also perfect for walkers and strollers, entire families who want to enjoy an evening of fun with their community.

The 10K course is a challenging one that pushes even the most seasoned runner to new limits, while they assault the bear, Big Bear Pen, that is. Participants choosing the 10k course must be at least 15 years of age.

Typically, this race is followed by an outdoor concert at the park, but given that modified Covid restrictions are still in place, there will be no concert after this race.

Don’t despair, though, because organizers are planning to return in August for the annual August Twilight race, followed by a concert. Details will be made available as they are finalized. Make plans to register for both races.

As always there will be prizes, including $100 for a new overall course record and $50 for any other age group record. You may register right up until the day of the event. For more details, visit highlandstwilight5kand10k.com. Please note that the Twilight 5k course is USATF certified 5k course NC 16004DW.

Early packet pickup is Friday May 14 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at the Highlands Recreation Park. Parking for the event will be available at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, Highlands Recreation Park and the Highlands Post Office.

by Mary Jane McCall

Point phone camera at QR code to learn more about Highlands Twilight Runs

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the summer season here on the Plateau. It’s a time when we bring the barbecue grill out of storage and invite family, friends, and neighbors over for a cookout and catching up.

The long holiday weekend beckons us to enjoy long-standing traditions and make new ones.

This year promises an eagerly anticipated return to our outdoor concerts as Covid restrictions are lifting a bit and it’s hoped that the state will have expanded the allowable crowd size to accommodate these events.

Anticipating that the concerts will be a go, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce has lined up Trudition to play the Friday Night Live concert on Friday, May 28, and Ashley and Her Heathens will play Saturdays on Pine, the following day. Both concerts will be from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M. and visitors are encouraged to confirm that the new state mandates will allow them to go on as planned. Likewise, social distancing and masks will be needed to keep everyone safe.

Most importantly, it’s a time for us to remember the true meaning of the holiday, a day dedicated to remembering our fallen service members who gave their all to protect our freedom and way of life.

Each year, Wreaths Across America, assisted by American Legion Highlands post 370 and other volunteers decorate veteran’s graves at Highlands Memorial Park, a moving reminder of the sacrifices of so many.

American Legion Highlands Post 370 is also planning on having their annual ceremony honoring our fallen soldiers at the Highlands Veterans Plaza in front of the Highlands Police Department on Monday, May 31, at 10:00 A.M.

During this ceremony they also place bricks honoring local military service members along the curving brick path that forms the centerpiece of Veteran’s Plaza. Anyone interested in placing a brick in honor of their service member should contact the Legion at ncpost370@gmail.com or by visiting the kiosk at Veteran’s Park for an application. On this day of celebration and solemn remembrance let’s all remember, “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” – Author Unknown.

by Mary Jane McCall

This year’s Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale, set for Saturday, May 29, promises to be an exceptionally joyous occasion.

It marks another milestone in a return to normalcy as our Covid numbers continue to decline, allowing us to once again hold events that unite the community.

This once-a-year opportunity allows everyone the chance to purchase native plants grown by some of the most accomplished gardeners on the Plateau. No Big Box plants here, these have all been lovingly cultivated in native soil and are plants native to our region, so they’ll grow and thrive for years to come.

This year, the focus is on plants that attract pollinators, thereby ensuring that our gardens provide Mother Nature with a helping hand by maintaining a healthy habitat for our pollinators who depend on flowering plants.

The addition of native flowering beauties such as Bee Balm, Astilbe, and Clematis are wonderful additions to your garden and will provide a wonderful environment for our bees, birds and butterflies to thrive in. These stunning perennials will only get more beautiful in seasons to come as they proliferate and help maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Of course, there will be other plants available as well, including the always popular Hosta in its many varieties, Cinnamon Ferns and other surprise offerings. This year the Club will honor Wiley Sloan, a treasured supporter who passed away in 2020. Affectionately known among club members as “The Hosta Man,” Wiley and his wife, Sarah, were ardent supporters of the Garden Club and Wiley could often be seen dispensing gardening wisdom while wearing his whimsical Hosta Hat.

The sale is held on Saturday May 29 from 9:00 A.M. until noon at the Town of Highlands Ball Field at the corner of Highway 64 and Hickory Street. Be prepared to come early as the sale is extremely popular and long lines quickly form. Proceeds are used for scholarships for local students who are studying horticulture, environmental studies and education, as well as for other community projects. It is a chance to beautify your garden while giving to a good cause. Cash or check only, please.

Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale, slated for Saturday, May 29, at the Town Ballfield, is animated by the spirit of Laurel’s beloved Wiley Sloan.

by Mary Jane McCall

Everyone’s invited to Pots on the Green, a two-day ceramic art show celebrating the area’s rich pottery heritage June 25-26 at The Village Green. For more information, visit villagegreencashiersnc.com.

Pottery lovers, mark your calendars for the annual Pots on the Green Ceramic Art Show and Demonstrations, held on Friday evening, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, at the new building.

This two-day event celebrates the rich pottery heritage of our region and features the work of numerous local potters and their myriad of creations. You’ll find a mindboggling array of pieces, including mugs, sculptures, bowls, plates, tea pots, tea cups, lamps and dinner ware. All are available for purchase and you can talk with the artist who created your ideal piece, getting a glimpse into their creative world.

Whatever your aesthetic – Americana rustic, clean and modern, whimsical, traditional Asian style – you’ll discover something to match. Get to know the artists, learn their unique techniques and take home your favorites. Pottery pieces add that oneof-a-kind, individual touch to a home and you won’t find a better opportunity to look and learn.

Artists will also be demonstrating their craft in four distinct presentations, so it’ll be possible to watch the often complex process through which each piece is born.

Point phone camera at QR code to learn more about Pots on the Green

Highlands Mountaintop Show, set for June 26 and 27 at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park in downtown Highlands, marks the return of this cherished event on the Plateau social calendar and the flowering of the local artistic community, which struggled to get through the Covid-shuttered days of 2020.

Paintings, prints and photography will be accompanied by top quality crafts like turned wood, art glass, sculpture and home accessories. There is a great selection of rustic furniture, as well as pottery, jewelry, and other wonderful things.

The 65-plus artisans come from all over the mountains of Western North Carolina, north Georgia, South Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. This is your chance to meet the talented people who pour their heart and soul into their amazing creations so that you can enjoy them for years to come.

The show is held in beautiful KelseyHutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street downtown. It runs from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. both days, rain or shine, and there is no admission charge.

For more information about the event, visit highlandsvillageartshow.com

Singer-Songwriter Erick Baker’s exuberant music marks the resumption of the Orchard Sessions at The Farm at Old Edwards, Thursday, June 17.

Erick Baker

It’s well known that the Coronavirus has hit the music scene hard.

The announcement of the reopening of the Orchard Sessions at The Farm at Old Edwards and that music concerts will no longer be quarantined on the Plateau is reason to celebrate.

After the past year’s enforced inactivity, the return of the music sessions and the chance to embrace nature, listen to music and simply being together is eagerly awaited. Now in its fifth season, the resumption of these exceptional gatherings and its gifted artists will officially launch on Thursday, June 17, with a show by Knoxville’s Erick Baker.

The Emmy Award-winning writer and singer songwriter didn’t grow up singing or playing music.

In fact, as he says “My performing career began in the smoky corners of Knoxville, Tennessee’s, restaurants and bars singing cover songs for distracted drunks and underage college students. I hadn’t seriously considered pursuing a career in music until May 2007 after an unexpected opportunity to open for John Legend at Knoxville’s Tennessee Theatre.”

That night changed Baker forever. Since then, he’s shared a tour bus with Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famers, performed in front of crowds of over 20,000 people and played for uniformed men and women in stations around the world.

He’s released seven albums that reflect his genre-bending approach and the intricately crafted, emotive Americana music he writes and performs. Mountain Xpress describes him as having a “raw and powerful” voice and an “ability to whip an early crowd into a respectable frenzy.”

But recording and performing are not his only projects.

Two years ago, Baker made the decision to bring his music career to a halt to focus on being with his family. Out of this came the opportunity to host the PBS television series Tennessee Uncharted.

And soon to be released is his inspiring children’s book Willie The Weed, a story that, “Celebrates our differences, encourages optimism, and reminds us that #weallbelong .”

Shows begin each Thursday evening at 6:00 PM and finish at 8:00 PM – perhaps just in time to stargaze at the night sky. The cover charge is $15 for hotel guests and members with early online tickets available. And there is a $25 cover charge for the public, with online ticket sales opening two weeks in advance, if available. Every ticket includes complimentary light bites and a cash bar. Limited seating available and taking a seat in the grass is certainly welcome. The sessions will move indoors to the new Orchard House in the event of rain. For updates and more information, visit: OldEdwardsHospitality. com/OrchardSessions. Please note that dates are subject to change.

by Marlene Osteen

– Gustav Mahler

View the complete Highlands Cashiers Plateau Calendar All the events that we’ve previewed here may not happen when their appointed time arrives.

Please be sure and call ahead before attending.

3• A Garden in Every Season’ Virtual Tours: Highlands Biological Garden, 11:30 A.M., (828) 526-2623, facebook.com/ highlandsbiologicalstation. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 9:00 A.M. to Noon, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.. The 5 Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub, • Highlands Wine 6Shoppe Weekly Wine Tasting with Annelize, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (828) 526-4080, highlandswineshoppe@gmail.com. • Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive.

• Highlands Marketplace, 18:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.

• Highlands Marketplace, 88:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. • MET Opera’s stars, Renee Fleming and Jonas Kaufmann, in a combined concert, 1:00 P.M.. Highlands Performing Arts Center.

• Happy Mother’s Day!

• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., 10 behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 9:00 A.M. to 11 Noon, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • The Bascom’s FreeWheeling exhibition, Bunzl Gallery, May 11 through August 21. • Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.. The 12 Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub, • Highlands Wine Shoppe Weekly 13 Wine Tasting with Annelize, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (828) 526-4080, highlandswineshoppe@gmail.com. • Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive.

• Highlands Marketplace, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. 15 Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. • Rotary Club of Highlands Twilight 5K and 10K Race, 6:00 P.M. at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park, highlandstwilight5kand10k.com.

• Highlands Food Pantry Open, 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., 17 behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789. • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 9:00 A.M. to Noon, behind and below The Highlands United Methodist Church, (828) 421-1789.

• Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.. The 19 Village Green Commons, (828) 743-3434. • Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub, • Highlands Wine Shoppe Weekly 20 Wine Tasting with Annelize, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (828) 526-4080, highlandswineshoppe@gmail.com. • Thursday Night Trivia, 7:30 P.M., The High Dive. • Friday Night Live concert, Highlands 21 • Highlands Marketplace, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. 22 Town Square, 6:00 until 8:00 Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. P.M., highlandschamber.org, • Highlands Meander in May (828) 526-2112. event, 11:00 A.M. to 8:30 P.M., • Top Chef Dinner, Fisher visithighlands.com. Vineyards Dinner, The Farm • World Bee Day, 11:00 A.M. to at Old Edwards, 3:00 P.M., Village Green Gazebo. OldEdwardsHospitality. • MET Opera’s stars, Rigoletto, com/Fisher Vineyards.. 1:00 P.M., Highlands PAC. • Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, (828) 526-2112.

• Highlands Food Pantry Open, • Art League of Highlands-Cashiers 26 24 3:15 to 5:30 P.M., behind meeting, 4:30 P.M. The and below The Highlands Bascom, artleaguehighlandsUnited Methodist Church, cashiers.com. (828) 421-1789.

• Happy Memorial Day! • Betsy Paul Art Raffle, benefiting Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department. Drawing 5:00 P.M., (828) 743-0880.

• Tuesday Boozeday at The Bridge, • Highlands Food Pantry Open, 9:00 A.M. to 25 3:00 to 4:00 P.M., Noon, behind and below The reservations required. Highlands United Methodist (828) 526-5500 , Church, (828) 421-1789. thebridgeatmillcreek.com. • 2021 Village Nature • Village Nature Series Series: Hope for Hemlocks, virtual “Restore Our 5:00 P.M. via Zoom. Email Earth” 5:00 P.M., director@cashiersgreen.com Register by emailing -for link. director@cashiersgreen.com. • Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.. • Green Market 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.. The 26 at The Village Green Village Green Commons, Commons on Frank Allen (828) 743-3434. Road, (828) 743-3434. • Cashiers Quilters meet 12:30 P.M. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, (828) 331-7031, cashiersquilters.com. • Bluegrass Wednesday, 7:30 P.M., The Ugly Dog Pub, • Highlands Wine Shoppe Weekly • Highlands Wine Shoppe Weekly 27 • Author Mary Alice Monroe, 12:00 P.M., 28 Wine Tasting with Wine Tasting with Annelize, at Albert Carlton Cashiers Annelize, 4:00 to 7:00 P.M.4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Community Library, (828) 526-4080, (828) 526-4080, (828) 743-0215 highlandswineshoppe@ highlandswineshoppe@gmail.com. • Friday Night Live gmail.com. • Thursday Night Trivia, concert, Highlands 7:30 P.M., The High Dive. Town Square, 6:00 until 8:00 P.M., highlandschamber.org, (828) 526-2112. • Highlands Marketplace, 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. 29 Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. • Highlands Mountain Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale, 9:00 A.M., Highlands Town Ballfield. • Zachary Tolbert House Tours, 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 PM. • Books & Bites with author Mary Alice Monroe, 12:30 P.M., Hudson Library, (828) 526-3031. • Saturdays on Pine, 6:00 P.M., Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, (828) 526-2112.

The Divided-leaf ragwort, or Packera millefolium, is a federal species of concern and is considered threatened in North Carolina.

This means it is protected on government land, but has no real protections on private lands outside of conservation areas, said Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator Kyle Pursel.

This at-risk ragwort grows throughout the Plateau, including Rock Mountain, which is located on High Hampton Inn property in Cashiers.

High Hampton has a conservation easement with the HCLT for several slopes and the summit of Rock Mountain, and the adjacent mountain also on High Hampton property, Chimney Top. Areas under a conservation easement cannot be developed or clearcut, but can have trails and limited recreational infrastructure on them.

Pursel discovered patches of ragwort growing in an area of High Hampton slated for development and took action.

“High Hampton has been very good about allowing HCLT and others to rescue and move any plants that are within their new development areas,” said Pursel. “This site is within an area where a road to access some lots is slated to go in. The exact site is close enough to the proposed road that it could be impacted, or it could be impacted later when the lot it is on is sold and developed, so the rescue was a precaution before any construction began and while it is still owned by High Hampton, since they welcome these kinds of rescues and a subsequent owner may not, just to be safe.”

Most of the ragwort was moved to suitable locations throughout Rock Mountain where they would not be under threat of development.

One clump of ragwort went to the Highlands Biological Station for use in their Rock Outcrop Garden in part to educate the public about this species.

This is the second major plant rescue at High Hampton in the past few years. HCLT and other organizations completed a rescue north of Hampton Lake a few years ago, targeting pink-shell azaleas, swamp azalea, fairy wand, and other plants. Many of those azaleas found new homes at McKinney Meadow in Cashiers.

HCLT has also released predatory beetles on the Carolina hemlocks found on Rock Mountain to help protect them better against hemlock wooly adelgid.

Pursel said conservation easements are a way land can be conserved while it remains privately held and be managed for habitat

An aerial view of Rock Mountain with Chimney Top in the background.

A local inn incorporates wise conservation practices into its development plans, benefitting local plants and wildlife and sweetening life on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

HCLT Kyle Pursel finds Divided-leaf ragwort on Rock Mountain.

and species health.

The original conservation easement between the HCLT and High Hampton was in 2004 and covered Chimney Top and the slopes of Rock Mountain. Pursel said this easement was the driving force to change their name from the Highlands Land Trust to the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. HCLT formed an additional conservation easement on the summit of Rock Mountain a few years later.

Pursel said reasons for entering into a conservation easement range from protecting rare species and habitats, protecting open space and wildlife habitats, scenic views and important viewsheds, steep slopes to reduce landslide risks, and streams and wetlands for preserving water quality. Other reasons can include conserving small farms, buffering other protected/conserved lands, or to provide public recreation opportunities.

HCLT is responsible for monitoring all conservation easements they hold and must do so at least once a year.

“We look to make sure the terms of the easement are being upheld and that the conservation values (the reasons we did the easement) remain intact and healthy,” said Pursel. “If the terms are violated, we are also responsible for holding the violators to task and making sure the issues are appropriately resolved. While not obligated, we also can help with habitat management, invasive species control, species monitoring, scientific research, educational events, and give advice to the landowners.”

He added that maintaining the trails providing access is up to the landowners, as most conservation easement are on private land.

By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News

Being in the fly fishing industry my whole career, there’s one event in the history of the sport that catapulted its popularity like nothing else.

That was the release of Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It. After its debut, everyone wanted to shadow cast just like Brad Pitt on the beautiful Blackfoot River.

The Movie (as it’s referred to in the industry) was hands down the one tangible thing that did more for the sport of fly fishing than anything else…well, that was before Covid came to town.

In fact, there’s speculation that Covid might have driven up to five times as much interest in the sport of fly fishing as The Movie did!

There are a lot of mixed ideas and speculation on how sustainable all this new interest in the sport is, and what the future might hold.

Personally, when I go fly fishing on my own time, one of my big goals is to go somewhere that I will likely not see another person. With all this new interest that will become harder for sure.

On the other hand, all this new interest is a major opportunity for not only fly fishing as an industry, but most importantly if we do this properly, we can create new voices to be heard on conservation efforts that help the things that bring us all together: Streams, Rivers, Lakes, Seas, and Oceans

If you are reading this as an experienced fly fisherman, when you run into a new angler who’s getting their feet wet in our great sport, be welcoming, be kind, and be helpful.

You were in their shoes once.

Plus, you never really know who you’re talking to, and this “newbie” could be the person that in five years helps pass a bill in Congress that will help and better the very river you are standing in.

The view from the stream is one that’s deeply personal, yet infused with a reverence for the majesty of nature and a respect for fellow anglers.

by Matt Canter, Brookings Fly Shop

In honor of Mother’s Day I was inspired to write about a topic that all mothers constantly remind their children about, and as a mother of two I do as well...Etiquette.

This is also known at the Do Not Embarrass Me Out in Public Plea!

With regards to golf, etiquette is all about respect, respecting the golf course and respecting the people around you. I would argue that knowing how to carry yourself on the golf course is just as important as grip, posture, and alignment.

Here are just a couple of everyday practices that are neglected by seasoned golfers and beginners alike:

Always, always, always, show up on time! Once you show up, make sure to keep up. Instead of waiting until it’s your turn to start your pre-shot routine, be thinking about your next shot while other people are playing.

Always leave the golf course better than the way you found it. What do I mean by this? Simple. Fix your divots, rake the bunkers, and repair your ball marks. It’s fine if you happen to move some earth during your round, but do everyone a favor and fill those divots with some sand.

Finally, the worst offense of all...ball marks! Putting is hard enough – it’s more difficult when you have to navigate unrepaired ball marks resembling potholes.

I can promise you that a little common courtesy will go a long way on the golf course.

If you need another reason to heed these words of advice, well, to steal a quote from every single Mother in the World: “Because I said so!”

by Erika Mason, PGA Director of Instruction, Old Edwards Club and The Saddle at GlenCove

The ring on the Ringed-Neck Duck (Aythya collaris) is almost never visible, so don’t strain to find it. The male is formally attired in black and white, like an avian orca, while females are clad in coffee browns with yellow/orange wings and white eye-shadow around their piercing eyes. These hardy ducks are much smaller than Mallards and, unlike most diving ducks, can take flight leaping directly off water without a take-off run.

These are migratory birds that winter here on the HighlandsCashiers Plateau and find summer breeding grounds in eastern Canada and northern New England. They form small flocks on our wooded lakes and ponds as well as freshwater marshes, bogs, estuaries and slow-moving rivers. A flotilla of Ring-Necks might join other small ducks to form a mixed flock.

Ring-Necks are diving ducks that forage underwater for aquatic plants, roots of pondweeds, sedges, smartweeds, grasses, algae and whatever the habitat provides. Aquatic insects and mollusks are fair game. They sometimes upend themselves for “dabbling” in shallow water such as flooded fields. Young ducklings feed on insects.

Courting and pairing starts during the winter months. The eager male’s displays involve head and neck movements, the head held back and then thrust forward or, in water, head feathers are held erect with rapid canoodling. The nest, a shallow bowl of grasses and weeds lined with down, is built on a hillock, clump of dry grasses or mat of floating vegetation, all near open water.

As few as six and as many as 14 gray-brown-buff eggs are incubated by the female for 25-29 days. She leads the ducklings to water within 24 hours of hatching and teaches them to find safety hidden in their watery habitat. Unlike most ducks, the female Ring-neck stays with her young until they can fly, around 50 days after hatching. Then comes the original empty nest syndrome.

Happy May birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. By May, the Ring-necked Ducks have probably taken their leave for northern climes, making room for returning hummingbirds and warblers. Welcome all!

The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them. HPAS is a 501(c)(3) organization, a Chapter of the National Audubon Society.

Visithighlandsaudubonsociety.orgfor information on membership and all activities.

A “flotilla” of female Ring-necked ducks by William McReynolds

They dive, they dabble and they decorate our lakes and ponds – Ring-Necked Ducks are leaving us for the season, but not without putting on an endlessly entertaining show.

by William McReynolds, Highlands Plateau Audubon Society

What all gardeners know, especially those who reside on the Plateau and are well known for their affection for the activity, there is no better balm to the soul than digging in the soil. The beginning of May, with its brighter and warmer days, signals it is time for the first plantings of the season. Mountain wisdom dictates that the precise day for doing so dawns on Mother’s Day – May 9. For Joey Kyle, head gardener at Many Hands Peace Farm at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, spring plantings begins with transplanting the annuals that were started 6 to 8 weeks earlier indoors – squash, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes. Planting the “3 Sisters” of corn, squash and beans – crops that thrive in concert – should also commence by first planting the corn, then the squash which grows along the ground and finally when the corn is one foot tall, the beans - they will grow up the corn stalks. As to the beans, Kyle recommends planting several varietals at intervals throughout the growing season.

But the thing with gardening – as I learned from Kyle – if you want to achieve that perfect world of potential and promise, the end product of one’s own homegrown vegetables, you have to invest in the hard work. The key to success: weeding, mulching, and composting. Kyle reminds us “As plants grow so do weeds.” So weed first, then mulch. Prepare your bed by moving aside the old mulch first, pull any weeds and then apply a layer of fresh mulch. For good measure, add worm castings or good compost.

The rules for planting are equally straightforward. It’s important to make sure that your plants are properly spaced – placed too close together they will compete for sun, water and nutrients and run the risk of mildew. A rule of thumb is to space the plants according to their expected width at maturity. If planting on an incline, dig a ditch along the contour to avoid loosing the topsoil to rain.

“Nature abhors blank spaces” is another Kyle adage. You can of course cover those bare areas with mulch but Kyle urges us to “go gangbusters – experiment with things you have not planted in the past”. Perhaps try companion plantings of herbs and marigolds

interspersed among the beds – pretty plants that can fill in the intervals while promoting bees and pollination that will ultimately cut down on disease and pest pressure.

Talking to Kyle I know that he would agree with NY Times columnist Margaret Roach who argues that we should “dig into the whole garden, because it offers everything - it offers a lens into the food web, to the story of evolution and adaptation among species.” And as you wait for the future of your garden to realize and vegetables to harvest, you may decide to make now Kyle’s recipe for Wild Greens Pesto, putting to good use those wild weeds pulled from the garden:

Gather 4 cups tender wild green – violet, plantain, winter cress, sheep sorrel, garlic mustard, chickweed) and add to ½ cup of olive oil, and a handful of sunflower seeds to a food processor. Blend until creamy, adding of the following to taste – lemon, salt, pepper, parmesan, sumac or chives. Enjoy!

by Marlene Osteen

A worm-eating warbler has its wing measured gently by a Blue Ridge Bird Observatory biologist.

Last summer, thanks to funding from the Highlands Biological Foundation, the Highlands Biological Station initiated a MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) bird banding station on our campus.

MAPS is a continent-wide research program aimed at better understanding songbird demographic trends, which is important given recent research findings showing that bird populations in North America have plummeted nearly 30 percent since the 1970s.

One factor that may play a role in this decline is food availability. We know that insects, particularly larval insects like caterpillars, are critical food items for both adult songbirds and their young; a shortage of caterpillars means lower survivorship of nestlings.

To try and quantify the abundance and biomass of insects from trees on our campus, this summer we’ll be implementing a project called Caterpillars Count!. This project was developed by Dr. Allen Hurlbert, an ecology professor at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Lauren Whitenack, a former UNC-Chapel Hill IE student at HBS, will be the lead MAPS bird-bander for the Station this summer.

She’ll also be implementing the Caterpillars Count! project at HBS and three other banding stations in the mountains that are run by our partner, the Blue Ridge Bird Observatory.

Researchers will use the Caterpillars Count! data to correlate insect abundance and biomass with data collected from birds that we capture and band, such as songbird body fat index and the number of fledglings and juvenile birds captured.

We also hope to have our Nature Center summer campers assist with Caterpillars Count!

For more information about our MAPS bird banding station, visit our website at highlandsbiological.org/data/ or call us at (828) 526-2602. The Highlands Biological Station is a multi-center campus of Western Carolina University.

by Jason Love, Associate Director, Highlands Biological Station

Anyone can participate in Caterpillars Count! Visit caterpillarscount.unc. edu to get started. Select a leafy branch of a tree and identify the insects found on the leafy branch to Order (e.g. moth, beetle, fly), estimate the length of each insect, and count the number on a given leafy branch. You can also place a white cloth or “beat sheet” below the branch, shake the branch, and collect data on the insects that fall on the sheet.