2024 SUMMER WORKSHOPS

Dr. Susan Moyle Studlar, Consulting Bryologist

June 25, 2024, 9:00 aM – 4:00 PM

This is an introduction to lichens and their ecology, with a half-day lecture-laboratory session and a half-day field trip through the wetlands and hardwood-conifer woods around Highlands Biological Station. Lichens are remarkable symbiotic communities of fungi and their photosynthetic partners (algae or cyanobacteria). Students will become familiar with different lichen growth-forms (dust, crustose, squamulose, foliose, and fruticose) and some common genera and species groups using a hand-lens, microscope, dichotomous keys, and recent field guides. We will discuss the importance of lichens to wildlife for homes, nesting material, and food, and also their roles in succession and the cycling of water and nutrients. The value of lichens as ecological indicators of climate and pollution, and their usefulness for dyes, perfumes, and medicine, based on extraordinary chemical diversity, will be briefly considered. The course is designed for students, botanists, naturalists, resource professionals, and others interested in an introduction to lichens. No prior experience with lichens is needed.

Dr. Paul Manos, Duke University

July 23, 2024 – July 28, 2024

The course is designed for students of all sorts, professional biologists, and amateur enthusiasts. This session will emphasize the local flora of the Highlands Plateau while serving as both an introduction and refresher on how to study vascular plant diversity.

Daily schedule and expectations: Lectures and workshop activities starting @ 9:00, including field trips often with moderate to strenuous hiking; lab activities include workshops on plant diversity, keying out species, including discussions on plants as often as possible; group activities and occasional lectures on mountain flora, plant communities, and plant interactions. Students are expected to learn in the field and lab through activities and additional materials.

Bill Jacobs

July 11, 2024, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

This workshop has grown out of Bill Jacobs’ book, Whence These Special Places? The Geology of Cashiers, Highlands & Panthertown Valley.  As reflected in both the book and his talks, Bill is particularly fascinated with how geologic processes, some dating back more than 500 million years, have produced today’s mountains and waterfalls.  He will discuss such questions as:

How did the rocks in our mountains form and get to where they now are, and how has that history determined the appearance of today’s landscape?

What created the high-elevation area we call the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau?

Little Sliding Rock and Glen Falls are both much-loved cascades on the Plateau, but one is so smooth you can slide on it and the other is a series of jagged precipices – why the difference?

What in the world is Shining Rock, and is there anything else like it in the world?

Why is Rock Mountain gently rounded while nearby Chimneytop has a chimney?  What gives Whiteside Mountain its unique character, with precipitous cliffs standing high above a more gently rounded base?

The workshop format will provide time for a richer discussion than is possible in shorter talks, as well as for questions and examination of rock samples and geologic maps.  To close out the classroom activities, Bill will provide a “virtual field trip” to numerous nearby sites, such as Sunset Rock, Glen Falls, Little Sliding Rock, Whiteside Mountain and Devil’s Courthouse, and the Cullasaja waterfalls, to help participants better appreciate the geology on display during their future visits to these special places. 

After lunch, a smaller group (limited to 15) will join Bill for an expedition to High Falls, below Lake Glenville Dam.  At this extraordinary site, participants can examine up close how different rock groups have been complexly mixed together, and how their different characteristics are reflected in both the exposed rocks and the overall shape of the falls.  (Note – this excursion requires over 600’ of elevation gain on uneven surfaces, as well as rock-hopping around the base of the falls.  It should be undertaken only by experienced, confident hikers).

 As in the book, Bill  will use language and concepts easily understood by non-scientists, with numerous photographs and illustrations.   He will also provide several handouts, and will be delighted to respond to questions, whether about the book or the geology.

Signed copies of Whence These Special Places? will be available for purchase from Bill or through The Nature Center.  Additional information about both the book and its author may be found at www.GreatRockPress.com.

Dr. Jim Costa, HBS & WCU

March 17, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

A day of exploration to learn about the ecology and curious history of the “lost and found” Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia) and see some of the largest remaining populations of this rarity at peak bloom in its native habitat!!

Our program opens with the tale of Highlands’ most iconic flower — Shortia galacifolia, the storied Oconee Bells! — a tale of botanical mystery, intrigue, and perseverance. HBS’s own Jim Costa will share the story of French Royal Botanist André Michaux and why he came to Highlands in 1787, and the ensuing century-long efforts by Harvard botanist Asa Gray and others to rediscover what became known as Michaux’s “Lost Shortia.” We’ll then drive an hour [transportation provided, own vehicle optional] to Devil’s Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee for a leisurely hike on the Oconee Bells Nature Trail, where we will see large populations of the fabulous Oconee Bells in bloom, followed by a 3 h pontoon boat trip with Jocassee Lake Tours to see little-known, remote populations of Oconee Bells at peak bloom in its native habitat! Along the way we will visit beautiful and remote waterfalls and coves of Lake Jocassee, learn about the history of the lake, and keep an eye out for wildlife and other early-blooming wildflowers.

$200.00/pp

Cynthia Woodsong

May 14th, 2024

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

$60.00 per person

Several varieties of Sarracenia  Pitcher Plants can be observed in the Highlands Biological Station Botanical Garden. This workshop will feature Sarracenia as a hands-on introduction to making paper botanicals.  In the process of making a pot with 3 Sarracenias, participants will learn interesting botanical facts about this plant and how its structure can be rendered in paper.  All materials and tools will be provided. No previous experience working with paper is necessary.

Note to participants: Although all materials will be provided for use during the workshop, including scissors, if you have favorite scissors for cutting paper, feel free to bring them.

We’ll be getting our hands dirty during the workshop, and handling materials that can stain clothing, so you may want to wear an old shirt and postpone manicures until after the workshop.

Paper flower construction requires good finger dexterity.  If you take medications that can aid this, or prevent strain (e.g., for arthritis), you might want them handy, or take them before the workshop. Be sure to bring any eyeglasses you use for close as well as distance vision.

Cynthia Woodsong makes paper replicas of flowers and plants native to North Carolina. After learning the basic concepts and techniques of making paper flowers, she began focusing on specimens that are not easily seen or have a very short bloom time.  She also makes flowers that are not suited to being cut and brought indoors.  Whenever feasible, the paper botanicals are rendered at scale as blooming plants in clay pots, while others (e.g., magnolias, lilies) are reproduced as flowering stems to be put in a vase.  Cynthia works with different types of paper, manipulating the surface colors and structure to achieve botanical accuracy as much as possible.  Her work, which can be seen in the NC Botanical Garden’s Garden Shop, includes plants found in North Carolina’s sandhills, high mountains and home gardens throughout the state. You can read more about Cynthia’s work here.

We would like to thank Cynthia Woodsong for the generous donation of her time for these workshops. Funds raised will go to the HBS Botanical Garden.

May 16th, 2024

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

$70.00 per person

This workshop features Lilium superbum Turk’s Cap Lily, often considered the most spectacular of North Carolina’s native lilies. Participants will use crepe paper and pastels to create a life-size replica of a stem with two blooms, while learning about botanical characteristics of this species. No previous experience with making paper botanicals is needed, but the activity requires the use of scissors and good finger dexterity. Materials will be provided to complete the lily, and tools will be available for use during the workshop. There will be a 30-minute break for lunch (bring your own).

Cynthia Woodsong makes paper replicas of flowers and plants native to North Carolina. After learning the basic concepts and techniques of making paper flowers, she began focusing on specimens that are not easily seen or have a very short bloom time.  She also makes flowers that are not suited to being cut and brought indoors.  Whenever feasible, the paper botanicals are rendered at scale as blooming plants in clay pots, while others (e.g., magnolias, lilies) are reproduced as flowering stems to be put in a vase.  Cynthia works with different types of paper, manipulating the surface colors and structure to achieve botanical accuracy as much as possible.  Her work, which can be seen in the NC Botanical Garden’s Garden Shop, includes plants found in North Carolina’s sandhills, high mountains and home gardens throughout the state. You can read more about Cynthia’s work here.

Note to participants: Although all materials will be provided for use during the workshop, including scissors, if you have favorite scissors for cutting paper, feel free to bring them.

We’ll be getting our hands dirty during the workshop, and handling materials that can stain clothing, so you may want to wear an old shirt and postpone manicures until after the workshop.

Paper flower construction requires good finger dexterity.  If you take medications that can aid this, or prevent strain (e.g., for arthritis), you might want them handy, or take them before the workshop. Be sure to bring any eyeglasses you use for close as well as distance vision.

We would like to thank Cynthia Woodsong for the generous donation of her time for these workshops. Funds raised will go to the HBS Botanical Garden.