What’s Blooming: Bog & Pollinator Gardens
A guided gardens tour with Dr. Paul Manos, Duke University

Wednesday, August 19 | 12:00 noon | Meet at the Nature Center
Free and open to the public

Late summer is one of the most rewarding moments in the Highlands Botanical Garden. Join Dr. Paul Manos of Duke University for an unhurried, guided walk through two of the Garden’s most distinctive habitats: the Bog Garden, where saturated soils support a specialized community of plants found almost nowhere else nearby, and the Pollinator Garden, planted to draw in the bees, butterflies, moths, and flies that keep these systems running.

Along the way, Paul will point out what’s in flower that week, explain what makes each species suited to its particular patch of ground, and introduce the insect visitors at work among the blooms. Expect close looks, good questions, and a new appreciation for how much is happening in a few hundred square feet of mountain garden.

The tour moves at a relaxed pace over garden paths and some uneven, occasionally damp ground. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, along with sun protection and water. All experience levels are welcome — from lifelong native plant enthusiasts to first-time visitors.

Please note: the Nature Center building will be closed that day for updates. We’ll gather outside the Nature Center, and no indoor facilities will be available — please plan accordingly.

Cost: Free and open to the public. No registration required.

The Highlands Botanical Garden is part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University.