The Highlands Nature Center follows its fall hours August 9th - October 24th. Hours: Open on Wednesday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm Closed on Sunday - Tuesday

Introduction to Bryophytes with Ed Schwartzman August 11th Bryophytes – mosses, liverworts, and hornworts – are colorful, yet often overlooked denizens of our mountain forests. The Highlands Plateau is a “hotspot” for bryophyte diversity due to our diverse habitats and ample rainfall. Join botanist/naturalist Ed Schwartzman as you explore the grounds of HBS for these fascinating and beautiful organisms. Specifically, you will: 1. Learn the difference between mosses and liverworts, 2. Learn to identify diagnostic features of these taxa, 3. Become familiar with common moss and liverwort taxa, and 4. Explore bryophyte diversity in the field at HBS and closeup in the lab using both dissecting and compound microscopes. Ed is a botanist/ecologist with a Master’s in Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland. His professional expertise includes botany, bryology, herpetology, and forest and wetland ecology. Ed previously worked as a biologist for the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) conducting natural area inventories in the NC mountains. Click here to apply.

Have you ever been stumped by a tree's unique foliage? You're not alone! Join Paige, our Nature Center Education Specialist, on the HBS Facebook page as she covers tips and tricks for identifying several common trees (and their leaves) on the Highlands Plateau. We'll be online to answer any questions you have.

The Highlands Nature Center will be open Sunday, Sept. 6th, 12 pm - 4 pm for Labor Day Weekend.

There is always something changing in the Highlands Botanical Garden! Take a guided tour to see what’s new in our demonstration gardens and among the hundreds of species that call our campus home. Tours are on the 1st Monday of every month from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Tours are weather dependent. This tour will be live streamed on the HBS Facebook page (@highlandsbiologicalstation). The Highlands Biological Station is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. For more information, call (828) 526-2623.

Mushrooms of the Carolinas with Alan & Arleen Bessette, and Mike Hopping September 14th – 19th This course will focus on the varied mycological diversity of North & South Carolina. Macro and micro-morphological features will be emphasized to aid students in identifying specimens to Family, Genus & Species. Activities will consist of lectures on topics such as: Key Identification Features, Major Groups of Fungi, Ecology, Edibility and Toxicity; field work (forays); and laboratory identification/study during which students will improve their skills in the use of field keys and microscopy, as well as photographic techniques as a means of documentation. Participants will also gather and record a field collection showcasing the rich diversity of fleshy fungi found in the Carolinas. Designed for the beginner who wants a solid introduction to mycology and fleshy mushrooms of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, as well as for those participants looking for the opportunity to pursue their personal mycological interests, this seminar allows for individual guidance in a relaxed group setting with fellow mycophiles. Click here to apply.

More info. to come!