2019 Spring Newsletter

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Grumbles, Highlands Biological Foundation

Summer is just around the corner and many good things have happened at the Highlands Biological Station since last fall

Paige Engelbrektsson, our new Nature Center Education Specialist, is well into registering campers and planning summer programs She is no stranger to Highlands – she was the AmeriCorps member at the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust two years ago. You'll hear more from her in the pages of this newsletter. Chan Chandler, our beloved horticulturist, left for the opportunity to work at an agricultural research center. We will miss him, but the Botanical Garden volunteers haven’t missed a beat. Thanks to a lot of hard work over the winter by Chan and our amazing Garden and Greenway volunteers, several of the trails in the Garden have been widened and graveled, and low branches have been trimmed. The Garden took a huge hit from the December snow and ice, so you may notice more openings in the woods and limbed shrubs. Again, with much work, these hard-hit areas were cleared of debris and are recovering nicely

The 2019 Zahner lectures have been confirmed, and will be as interesting, relevant, and timely as those last summer Many thanks to HBS staff and HBF Board members for all the great speaker and topic suggestions! Additional educational opportunities are planned throughout the summer including the weekend of June 28 -29 when HBF will host "Highland's Deep Roots," a 2-day event devoted to our trees and forests Many recent studies tout the therapeutic effects to people of being in the woods, and others provide evidence of information exchange between plants Forests are more complex than we ever imagined! Planning is also underway for the 2019 Soiree on July 28 and Highlands on the Half-Shell in the fall.

Finally, I can say that construction of the North Campus is well underway despite the aforementioned winter weather plus lots of rain. We hope the new entrance on Lower Lake Road, the pollinator garden, and the boardwalk around Lindenwood Lake will encourage residents and visitors to wander the campus often to enjoy the scenery, learn about native plants, and just find peace in the woods while remembering why Highlands is so special If the weather cooperates (BIG IF!), we hope to celebrate the grand opening of North Campus this summer But come whenever you like – most of the boardwalk is complete

As you read this newsletter, which expands on many of the topics I have touched on, you can see we had a productive winter Progress does not happen in a vacuum So first, thanks to our very capable staff, our dedicated and committed Board of Trustees, and to the many volunteers who work in the Garden and at the Nature Center, plan and host events, and cheerfully do all the little things that combined make a big difference in our successes.

I also want to acknowledge the huge thanks we owe the hundreds of donors who believe in our education and outreach missions and who generously support our goal to be more accessible to, and involved in, the Highlands community. The North Campus is a testament to our donors and to their commitment to protecting and preserving our beloved plateau None of this could happen without generous donor support On behalf of the HBF Board of Trustees and the Highlands community, we say:

THANK YOU!

And to our members, I hope you will continue to support us by attending events; donating time, talent and resources; and of course, renewing your membership and encouraging others to join you.

I look forward to seeing you this summer,

Julia Grumbles

STATE OF THE STATION: STRATEGICALLY YOURS

Jim Costa, Executive Director, Highlands Biological Station

Greetings, Friends of the Station, and Happy Spring!

As we gear up for the busy summer season I have been reflecting on how 2019 will surely prove to be one of those watershed years in the history of HBS No, it's not a major anniversary year – we'll be observing our 92nd season, counting down to our big centennial in 2027. But it's a momentous year nonetheless Not only are we bringing to fruition no fewer than three major facilities and grounds improvement projects this year (the new-and-improved Cottages dorms; updated Aquatics Lab; and the new North Campus entrance area, outdoor classroom, pollinator conservation garden, and boardwalks), but this will be our first year as a Multi-campus Center of Western Carolina University (WCU), following the approval last fall of our Memorandum of Understanding with UNC We've kicked off this momentous year with something as timely as it is important: a new HBS Strategic Plan!

As many of you know, this winter HBS has been developing a 5-year strategic plan, facilitated by Dr. Yue Hillon and her Project Management students at WCU All of our key stakeholder groups have been a part of the process, one highlight of which was a day-long Strategic Planning Retreat on the WCU campus with the HBS Board of Directors in mid-March.

The new strategic plan will update our strategic priorities first laid out in our 2007-2008 master plan, later augmented with our 2012-2013 site plan. At the Retreat I gave an overview of what was accomplished from those earlier plans, as well as what strategic directions changed and why It was deeply gratifying to reflect on just how many of our priorities from 2007-2008 have been realized, from facilities improvements and programmatic expansion to staffing, equipment and vehicles!

Strategic plans evolve organically to meet changing realities, of course, as funding and other issues turn out to have unintended consequences, force a reordering of priorities, or in some cases render ideas obsolete or impracticable. Such was the case with elements of both of our earlier plans. Auspiciously, the 5-year mark following the 2012-2013 iteration arrived just as we cemented our new relationship with WCU – perfect timing for yet another reappraisal and update of our strategic priorities, and all the better that HBF has been undergoing a strategic planning process in parallel. That will prove immensely helpful as we map out Station priorities for the next 5+ years and formulate plans for garnering the resources we will need to accomplish our new goals

We expect to share the results of both plans and how they will dovetail at this year ' s Annual Meeting Many thanks to all those who have contributed or will contribute to this latest Strategic Planning process as I said, 2019 will prove to be a watershed year, so watch this space!

Jim Costa

SAVE THE DATE

May 9

Wildflower

Wander

June 22

Annual Membership Meeting

June 28-29

Highland's Deep Roots

July 12

Zahner Lectures

Begin

July 28

Summer Soiree

October 6

Highlands on the Half-Shell

Photo:ClayBolt

Supporting Science: Grants in Aid of Research

For over 50 years the Highlands Biological Foundation has provided grants in support of scientific research, bringing graduate students and research scientists to Highlands from all over the country. Vetted by our Board of Scientific Advisors, members of which are drawn from member colleges and universities, these grants make it possible for researchers to conduct their research in residence at HBS, fostering an active research corps each summer that benefits all Station users Our Grant-in-Aid program is a model of success, yielding hundreds of graduate theses and scientific papers over the years.

We look forward to welcoming the following GIA recipients this summer:

Rich Baird (Faculty, Mississippi State University)

Monitoring (year 3 of 4) effects of wildfire on microbial populations associated with forest trees and woody vegetation in damaged areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Nantahala National Forest using metagenomic and fleshy fungi data

Michelle D'Aguillo (PhD student, 5th year; Duke University)

Habitat tracking through germination phenology in two southern Appalachian Phacelia species

Martina Wadewitz Haggard Memorial Scholarship

Jason Doll (Faculty, University of Mount Olive)

Little Tennessee River basin fish and mussel survey

Meaghan R. Gade (PhD student, 3rd year; Ohio State University)

Evaluating the physiological responses of terrestrial salamanders to climate change

Philip Gould (PhD student, 3rd year; Ohio State University)

Evaluating salamander density and diet to better understand aquatic-terrestrial links

Mike Osbourn (Faculty Appalachian State University)

Photo:ClayBolt

P R O G R E S S

North Campus Construction Underway

If you visited the north campus of HBS this winter, you may have been surprised to see that Lindenwood Lake has been drained to a puddle Modifications to the Lake are just one part of the long-awaited North Campus enhancements. Despite numerous rain/ice storm delays, the construction team from Bryson’s Enterprises has been diligently working since last fall on the extensive project The beautiful new boardwalk that wends along the shoreline of the lake and connects with the Botanical Garden is nearly complete A new bridge over the Mill Creek spillway has been installed and the John “Sto” Stowers teaching pavilion has been slowly rising from the muddy lake bottom

Later this spring, Tate Landscaping will install the new entranceway on Lower Lake Road, along with paths, benches and a wide variety of native perennials in the pollinator garden planned for the back slope of the dam to create habitat for the delight of pollinators and visitors alike. During the construction we were thrilled to discover hundreds of pitcher plants near the new pavilion With assistance from the HBF garden committee, the staff transplanted these carnivorous plants to areas adjacent to the new boardwalk so visitors will have the opportunity to see these rare and fascinating plants up close

Our hope is that the North Campus will entice you to visit the HBS campus to walk through the Botanical Garden, stroll along the boardwalk, and linger in the Pollinator Garden, or picnic in the Pavilion

The Highlands Biological Foundation extends heartfelt “thank yous ” to the donors to the North Campus Improvement Campaign! With this project, we are creating a space that honors all aspects of the Highlands Biological Station: the deep tradition of education and research, appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our native species, conservation and presence of habitat for flora and fauna, and a welcoming space for our curious visitors Without our many donors, none of this would have been possible.

We are so thankful to our generous community who made the construction of the North Campus possible. Those who have given donations to this project include:

A L Williams Family Foundation

Judy and Dick Allison

Amy and Cecil Conlee

Amy Stuart Cook

Anonymous

Glenda and Griffin Bell

Mr Richard Boger

Mr and Mrs Mose Bond

Mr. and Mrs. James Bonham

Mr and Mrs Waldo Bradley

Mr and Mrs John Briggs

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Burke

Mr and Mrs William Burke

Dr and Mrs Tom Claiborne

Ms Madison Cole

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crenshaw

Kim and Richard Daugherty

Mr and Mrs James Davis

Susan Davis

Susie Day

Mr and Mrs Sam Dixon

Mr Michael Dunn

Martha and Michael Dupuis

Mr and Mrs Berryman Edwards

Melinda and James Ethier

Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Ellis

Ms Fredericka M Flynt

Mr and Mrs Frank Foster

Mr Randy Fowler

Mr. Jeffrey Schenck and Ms Rachael Friday

Mrs Tink Friedrichs

Dr. Carol Garrison and Mr Julian Banton

Mr and Mrs Alson Glenn

Mr and Mrs Richard Goodsell

Mr and Mrs Greg Gregory

Julia and Bill Grumbles

Mr Robert Harrison

Mr. R.B. Haynes

Mary Katherine Hodgson

Mr and Mrs Ron Hogan

Ms. Suzanne Inman

Marianne and Be J ki

Mr and Mrs Ge

Mr Andrew Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Jones

Mr and Mrs Stiles Kellett

Diane and Michael Levine

Mr. and Mrs. David Martin

The Knox Massey Family

Mr and Mrs Larry Mathes

Kim Matthews

Mimi and Robert McCallum

Mr and Mrs Gwaltney McCollum

Mr and Mrs Forrest McConnell Jr

Mr. and Mrs. Forrest McConnell III

Mr and Mrs William McConnell

Mr and Mrs Ray McPhail

Mr Heath Massey and Mr John Mitchener

Dr and Mrs John Moorehouse

Susan and Alex Nading

Nancy and Lyle Nichols

Mr and Mrs Cobbs Nixon

Mr and Mrs Tabor Novak

Mr. and Mrs. Skip O'Conner

Mr and Mrs Obie Oakley

Robin and Joe Owens

Mr and Mrs Kim Ratliff

Mrs. Laura Rogers

Robin Sanders

Mr Paul Sanger

Mr. Steven Sawyer

Al and Elizabeth Simmons

Miriam and Vernon Skiles

Mr and Mrs Wiley Sloan

Mr. and Mrs. Clay Small

Ms Danielle Berry and Mr Mark Squillante

Carol and Rusty Stewart

Martha and Hal Stibbs

Mr and Mrs Eugene Stutts

Mr and Mrs Claude Sullivan

Pat and Bill Jordan Suthers

Jonnie and James Swann

Keller and Sam Torrey

Kathy and Bestor Ward

Lawrence Whatley

Nature Center Nights

Spend your summer experiencing the natural nightlife of Highlands

May 24, July 9 9pm

Salamander Meander

June 4, July 16 8pm Sunset Singers

June 11, July 23 9pm

Nocturnal Nature

June 18, July 30 9pm

Starlight Stroll

June 25, Aug. 6 9pm Night Flight

July 2 9pm A Buggy Evening

Join us at the Nature Center this summer to experience Highlands nightlife - the natural version! Our first Salamander Meander will take place on Friday, May 24 at 9pm. Then, each Tuesday from June 4 - August 6, our events will take you from the Nature Center into the botanical garden or nearby trails to search for salamanders, stargaze, listen for frogs, and experience the world of our smallest nocturnal creatures - insects! Bring a flashlight to light your adventure!

No reservations needed Please arrive 10 minutes prior to program

Photo: Greg Clarkson

Why I became an Environmental Eductor

Paige Engelbrektsson

Highlanders who meet me for the first time often ask whatever drew me, a young woman just starting her career, to Highlands Let me explain

It's raining Somewhere in the forest bloodroot flowers have drawn into themselves to avoid the gentle shower. Nearby the salamanders are beginning to stir, drawn upward by the moisture and the lure of prey and mates A trillium nods near the forest floor, its wide leaves catching every drop, and a dogwood sapling soaks up water from the saturated soils, preparing to burst out in splendid color

Spring in Highlands is a powerful reminder of why I love this area Even on a short walk it seems that just over every ridge and under every leaf is something new to discover, something wonderful to share. As one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, shaped by mountains that teem with life and bear witness to ancient stories, it's enough to make any naturalist besotted Add in the fact that I grew up in the sprawling suburbs of northern Virginia, with my "natural world" limited to manmade ponds and scraggly creek buffers, and it’s no wonder I think there is nowhere else as wonderful Highlands.

As a child I didn't know what I was missing, of course I believed that I ruled a vast kingdom filled with subjects ranging from the smallest shy centipede to the largest windblown oak Those experiences were so formative that to this day when I think back I see a towering forest canopy in an untouchable wilderness. My connection to that place eventually drew me to biology and its promise of understanding the natural environment, all the way through college. It was only when I graduated that I finally understood how limited my little forest had always been I still loved it, tame though it was More importantly I belonged there, as I always had However, I began to dream of other bigger and wilder spaces, confident that if I belonged in my forest, I also belonged there

Shortly afterward I had my first opportunity to share my love of nature and my natural history knowledge The joy that I gained from guiding others to see the wondrous and the mundane helped me discover a new field, one that allows me to help people find their own connection with nature Even the name seemed to fit my dreams: Environmental Education It offered both a wonderful career and a chance to travel to the wild places I had dreamed of.

I took both.

The journey from young college graduate to Environmental Educator spanned the continental United States and five different mountain ranges. It also brought me to Highlands in the spring of 2016 During my AmeriCorps service with the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust I fell in love with the Blue Ridge mountains and the people of Highlands. There is some unique quality that sets both apart, and that made me feel at home in ways no other state or wilderness ever had. Although I left, pursuing my graduate degree to hone my environmental education skills even further, I knew I would come back

As you can imagine, to my great delight I am now the Nature Center Education Specialist The highest Botanical Garden east of the Rockies and the Station's decades of research are only a stone's throw away The opportunities to share the smallest mysteries and most important understandings about our region are endless Here, in the place with which I feel the most connected, I have the privilege of helping others build their own connections, one step at a time.

I can't wait

Meet HBF's newest employee this summer at the Nature Center!

Education Specialist at Highlands Nature Center

Lifelong Learning at the Station

Each summer HBS offers educational opportunities for amateur naturalists here on the plateau. Our seven 2019 workshops often provide lifelong learners educational experiences in conjunction with community-focused projects For example, at the Moss Gardening workshop with Annie Martin (on May 17), participants will build their own moss dish gardens, then apply what they learned to a larger scale as they move outside to do a hands-on project in the moss garden here on the HBS campus This summer HBS will also offer two fern workshops, one focusing on identification and ecology (June 15) and the other focusing on gardening with ferns (July 12) We are pleased that this year we are able to extend the popular Introduction to Natural Science Illustration from two to three days (July 8-10), and that we will again be offering the very popular class Mountains Piled Upon Mountains: Exploring WNC through Bartram’s Travels (July 10-12). See the complete list of workshops and register at highlandsbiological.org.

In addition to workshops for the public, HBS annually offers accredited courses for advanced undergraduate/graduate students from all over the U.S. These courses are taught by outstanding national faculty, and focus on the special biological features of the southern Appalachians In 2019 thirteen courses are offered, starting in May with Creatively Communicating Biology and Ecology taught by Dr Hannah Rogers, University of Edinburgh, Biology and Conservation of Amphibians taught by Dr. William Peterman, Ohio State University, and Biology and Conservation of Birds taught by Dr Rob Bierregaard, Drexel University and The Academy of Natural Sciences A new course this year is Wildness and the Anthropocene taught by Dr David Henderson of Western Carolina University and Brent Martin, Alarka Institute. The instructors will lead students through readings and discussions of the impact of humans on the natural world, and what that means for nature and wildness These courses, and in fact, all our summer courses, appeal to students because most of the classes are conducted in situ, rather than in a classroom. To see all the course descriptions, visit highlandsbiological org

SUMMER

WORKSHOPS

MOSS GARDENING WITH ANNIE MARTIN, MAY 17 $120

FERNS: IDENTIFICATION & ECOLOGY WITH DR. JOEY SHAW, JUNE 15 $100

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS WITH DR. LARRY MELLICHAMP, JULY 8-11 $400

GARDENING WITH FERNS WITH DR. LARRY MELLICHAMP, JULY 12 $100

INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL SCIENCE ILLUSTRATION WITH LORE RUTTAN, JULY 8-10 $300

More ideas for your home:

EXPLORING WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH BARTRAM'S TRAVELS WITH BRENT MARTIN, JULY 10-12 $300

House Remodeling on a Budget - 3

MUSHROOMS OF THE CAROLINAS WITH ALAN & ARLENE BESSETTE AND MIKE HOPPING, AUGUST 12-16 $400 Visit www.highlandsbiological.org

STEM Outreach: Taking Science to Students

Patrick Brannon, HBS Outreach Specialist

Based primarily on word-of-mouth, HBS’s STEM Outreach Program continues to grow! In 2018, a record 279 programs were presented at more than 60 schools in 11 western North Carolina counties 2019 is already on track to surpass those numbers, with outreach programs scheduled at schools as far away as Brevard, Bryson City, Murphy, and Andrews, and in South Carolina and Georgia

HBS Outreach offers more than 50 programs, more than most other North Carolina science centers. In addition to programs designed to supplement the state science curricula, our relatively new series of “NC Wildlife” workshops is quite popular. The series uses classroom work and field-based labs to study topics such as Frog Calls, Snakes, Mammal Skulls, Birding, and Salamander Community Structure and Biogeography

One particularly successful workshop, based on past HBS-sponsored research, used an Earth Day road cleanup as the basis to teach a conservation lesson Students identified skeletal remains of small mammals that had gotten entrapped, and subsequently died, in discarded bottles, to explore the impacts of littering as a threat to conservation

HBS Outreach remains valuable in offerin the opportunity to participate in biological field experiences. Immersive, o scovery, reinforce STEM concepts, and raise interest in careers in science HB ram, Duke Energy, and the Macon County Academic Foundation for their co

Facility Improvements Abound

The Howell, Deacon, and Wright cottages a ready for occupancy, the new dining hall is new deck is near completion The Garden working on the flower beds in front and fin lot area landscaping

We have added key pad locks to every building to aid in security and eliminate keys floating around The entire property has been re-keyed. WCU recommends a re-key every 5 years as an extra security measure

Weyman has all new water supply lines. Cochran Plumbing of Franklin completed the water works and we will be covering the lines with a small soffitt as time allows. We are planning a few sensible and necessary upgrades, possibly in the fall if not sooner, to make use of Weyman as a " commons " area for Station residents and visitors.

Last but not least, our NSF-funded Aquatics Lab renovation is underway! Mason Neil of Mountain Craft Builders, our general contractor, is doubling the lab size and fully modernizing all aspects of the lab.

ZAHNER CONSERVATION LECTURES

Join us for our annual Zahner Conservation Lecture Series! Lectures take place at the Nature Center at 6 pm each Thursday from July 11-September 12. Thanks to our members, these engaging community events are free and open to the public Stay after to continue the conversation at a casual wine reception.

July 11

Carnivorous Plants of the Highlands Plateau

Dr. Larry Mellichamp, Director Emeritus, UNCC Botanical Garden

July 18

The Creation of a Piet Oudolf Meadow Garden Gregg Tepper, Horticulturist, Historic West Laurel Hill Cemetery

July 25

Bears and Fire in the Southern Blue Ridge Adam Warwick, Fire and Stewardship Manager, The Nature Conservancy – North Carolina

August 1

The History of Climate Change on Planet Earth for the Last 65 Million Years and What It Means for the Future

Dr Jeffrey Chanton, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, FSU

August 8

An Alfred Russel Wallace Companion: Celebrating Wallace’s “Central and Controlling Incident” and Beyond

Dr. Jim Costa, Executive Director, Highlands Biological Station and Professor of Biology, WCU

August 15

Landscape History

Dr Lindsay Boring, Former Director, Joseph E Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway, UGA

August 22

The Plant-Pollinator Love Affair That Keeps Our Planet Humming Phyllis Stiles, Bee City USA, An Initiative of the Xerces Society

August 29

“Sublimely Awful Scenes:” William Bartram’s Travels through the Upper Little Tennessee River Valley in 1775

Brent Martin, Alarka Institute and Director, NC Bartram Trail Society

September 5

Coyote Settles In Dr John Lane, Professor of Environmental Studies and English, Wofford College

September 12

Botanical Resilience Strategies in an Age of Climate Catastrophe

Dr. James R. Veteto, Executive Director, Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies and Associate Professor of Anthropology/Cherokee, WCU

What's blooming this spring?

Columbine (Aquilegia)

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)

Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera)

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea)

Crested dwarf iris (Iris cristata)

Serviceberry trees (Amelanchier arborea)

Swamp pink (Helonias bullata)

Oconee bells (Shortia galacifolia)

Trillium (Trillium)

And much more!

In the Garden

LOTShashappenedintheBotanicalGardenthiswinter Asyouknowwestartedthe NorthCampusimprovementprojectlastfall,andwehavehadsomuchfun discovering(orrediscovering)gardensecretsastheconstructionprogressed.

Thebestgardenstoryisthatconstructionoftheelevatedboardwalkaroundthelake revealedliterallyhundredsofpitcherplantsthatnooneknewabout Sonya,Chan,anda groupofdedicatedvolunteersthatincludedKenConover,LyndaAnderson,Serina Dellinger,andBryding Adams,movedmorethan200oftheplants(bothSarracenia purpureaandS jonesii)outofthepathoftheconstructionandtonewlocationswhere theyarenowthriving. Weareexcitedtonotonlyhavefoundsomanyindividualsof theseuncommonandbotanicallyinterestingspecies,buttobeabletorelocatethemso thepubliccanenjoythemforyearstocome

Drainingthelaketocompletetheprojecthasbeenchallengingwithallthewinterrains, butwearemakinggoodprogress Manyofyouwillrememberseeingthetipofa submergedlogmidlake. Itisafixtureinthelake–hasbeenthereaslongasanyone canremember Turnsout,ithasbeenthereareallylongtime Asthewaterlevel dropped,therestofthelogwasrevealed.Thesubmergedpartofthelogisalmost perfectlypreserved Itistheremainsofanold-growthwhitepinemorethan3feetin diameterthatwashewedbyaxe,basedonthemarksonthetrunk Thisistrulyapiece ofmountainhistory–LindenwoodLakeismorethan100yearsold. Someonehadto workalongtimetocutthattreedown

ThelastbitofwinternewsisthatastorminearlyDecemberbroughtheavysnowand freezingrain Rhododendronsandlaurelsthroughoutthecampuswerehardhit The downedlimbshavebeenremovedandasyouwalkthroughtheGardenthissummer, youwillnoticemoresunnyspaces,theresultofthestormdamageandrepair

SUMMER COURSES

Biology and Conservation of Birds, May 13-24

Creatively Communicating Biology & Ecology, May 13-17

Landscape Ecology & Conservation of Amphibians, May 20-31

Flora of the Blue Ridge, May 27-June 7

Conservation Biology in the Field, June 3-14

Rock Pool Ecology, June 17-28

S Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies & Caddisflies, June 17-28

Biology of Spiders, July 15-26

Fern ID & Ecology, July 15-19

Biology & Conservation of Snakes, July 22-26

S Appalachian Mayflies, Stoneflies & Caddisflies, July 29-Aug 9

Wildness & the Anthropocene, July 29-August 9

Grass Identification, August 26-30

The Station offers courses each summer at the advanced undergraduate/graduate level dealing with the special biological features of the southern Appalachians Credit for all courses is available through either UNC-Chapel Hill or Western Carolina University

Photo:ClayBolt

Carroll Ann Bowers

Joe Bowman

Mr and Mrs John Briggs

Canty Worley and Company Inc.

Hillary Cone

Kimberly Coward

Kim & Richard E. Daugherty

Mr and Mrs Robin Dial

Robert Dickinson

Mr Donald W Fisher

Curry Foundation

Jane & Tom Ghegan

Elizabeth and Scott Glass

Judith Greene-McLeod

Stephanie Haas

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence P. Klamon

Mr and Mrs Jack Kuhne

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Levine

Mainspring Conservation Trust

Mr and Mrs William Maner

Louise C. Massey

Marsha and Skip O'Connor

Candy O'Gara

Ruthie & Franko Oliver

Steve & Aimee Owens

Dr. Petersen

Susanne and James Ratliff

Dr. Helen Regnery

Mr and Mrs Stan Starnes

Marcia & Jack Stibbs

Kay & Walter Strom

Mr. and Mrs. James Swann

Dorothea C. Swanson

Mr and Mrs Torrey, III

Kathy & Bestor Ward

Lyda White

$1,000-$4,999

Mr and Mrs H Inman Allen

Mr. Kenneth Conover and

Dr Lynda Anderson

Glenda and Griffin Bell

Mr. Dan Boone

J Elizabeth Bradham

Dr. Richard C. Bruce

Mike Campbell

Chris Carpenter

Barbara Cleveland

Wild Azalea Garden Club

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Conlee

Mr and Mrs Ed Crenshaw

Melissa & Richard Delany

Vevie & Lawrence Dimmitt

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Dupuis

Beverly Ellars

Duke Energy

James S. Ethier

The Knox Massey Family

Cathy & Robert Fisher

Connor Hand Foundation

Monte and Palmer Gaillard

Anne & Dick Goodsell

Julia Sprunt Grumbles

Beverly J. Hogan

Mr and Mrs Thomas Hall III

Marianne & Ben Jenkins

Dr. and Mrs. Alex M. Nading, Jr.

Stiles Kellett

Mr. Alfred D. Kennedy and Dr William Kenny

Lydia Sargent Macauley

Elizabeth & David Martin

Melanie & Tom Mauldin

Gwaltney McCollum

Mr and Mrs H Ray McPhail

Kathleen & Jim Milby

Heath Massey & John Mitchener

JT Fields & Glenn Murer

Nancy and Lyle Nichols

Mrs. Frances S. Oakley

Cullasaja Women's Outreach

Mr and Mrs Joe Owens

Karen K. Patterson

Dr Amy E Patterson

Cookie Patterson

Emilie & Bruce Reid

Diane & James Riddle

Louise & Clifton Saik

Mr. Hugh A. A. Sargent

Susan Sheehan

Wyn & Bill Shoptaw

Miriam & Vernon Skiles

Sarah & Wiley Sloan

Leila von Stein

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene P. Stutts

Mr. and Mrs. Claude T. Sullivan

Mr. and Mrs. Tom K. Tracy

Jane S. Webb

Sarah Morgan & Walter Wingfield

$5000-$9999

Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Allison III

Ruth & Berryman Edwards

Mountain Findings

Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Gregory Jr.

Janet & George Johnson

Cookie and Harrison Jones

Old Edwards Inn and Spa

Jeff Schenck

Martha and Hal Stibbs

$10,000-$24,999

The Fred and Sara Hoyt Charitable Trust

Cathy and Paul Jones

Jennie Stowers

$25,000-$49,999

R.B. Haynes

$50,0000+

Anonymous

North Carolina Science Museums Network

Photo:GregClarkson

Board of Trustees

Julia Grumbles, President

Greg Gregory, Vice President

Amy Patterson, Treasurer

Ruthie Oliver, Secretary

Monte Gaillard, At Large

Bill Reeves, At Large

Elizabeth Sargent, At Large

Martha Stibbs, Past President

Linda Barlow

Kenneth Conover

Kimberly Coward

Ruth Edwards

Alexa Foreman

Marianne Jenkins

Cathy Jones

Melanie Mauldin

James Milby

Glenn E Murer

Frances Oakley

Karen Patterson

Vernon Skiles

Sarah Morgan Wingfield

WHAT'S NEXT?

Charlotte Muir, Executive Director Highlands Biological Foundation

After a winter of planning, the summer is finally in sight! Summer at the Highlands Biological Station is a naturalist's dream Campus comes to life - not only with blooms, birds, and bears, but also with students, campers, volunteers, interns, and researchers During any given summer day, HBS will have more than five programs running at once!

Our members' support makes this possible. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Without your support, none of this would be feasible, from the nature center to the garden and research laboratories

I hope you will join us this summer at our many events including Zahner lectures, Nature Center Nights, and the Summer Soiree. I invite you to bring a friend who may not know us yet - we are here for all of Highlands and strive to be your resource for the rich natural heritage of our dear Highlands Plateau See you this summer!

-Charlotte Muir

The many faces of the Highlands Biological Station: students, garden volunteers, trustees and campers

Photo:GregClarkson