Flora and Fauna of the Pisgah Forest

This is the third installment of blogging about our Brevard trip. If you've been keeping up, you know that today I'm going to tell you about the new friends we met at Key Falls Inn, Flora and Fauna.

Surely you're not THAT gullible are you? (Let me know if I fooled you, I'll want to try it again, later) Of course, I'm talking about the flora (plant) and fauna (animal) organisms which we encountered while in the Pisgah National Forest and surrounding region.

I won't be able to identify a lot of these living things, but a picture is worth a thousand words. These will be in no particular sequence, but I hope they give you a sampling of both the abundance and the diversity of God's creation.

In a residential area of Brevard we saw a white squirrel (not albino) scampering to a fence top. It's very small in the photo--but you can see that it's white (National Geographic, I'm not). I later read that about 25% of all the squirrels in the Brevard area have the recessive gene for white fur. They are not albino, having brown eyes. A local legend states that a man purchased two white squirrels decades ago from a traveling carnival. One escaped, and the man, feeling that the other would be lonely, released the mate. I've heard (and told) stranger stories.

Speaking of squirrels, the contraption below is an ingenious squirrel feeder in the courtyard of the Thai restaurant where we dined our first night in town. While we didn't get to observe any squirrels feeding (they're not as tame as Pinehurst squirrels, I guess), the idea is apparent. When one of the cute, little rodents leaps onto any of the five feeding stations, his little Ferris Wheel will begin to whirl. That must be unexpected the first time, but squirrels are highly adaptive. As you can see, something has been eating that corn! I'd love to see a demonstration.

Now for more living things.

This Swallowtail butterfly was on the Triple Falls trail (see previous blog post).

Mushrooms and other fungi thrive in the moist environment of Transylvania County.

This wildflower was commonly seen on the rural roadsides and Highway 276, which leads to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Man can increase the habitat for wild things rather than destroy it, but it must be a conscious effort. This Swallowtail butterfly was in a small park in downtown Brevard.

You've probably seen some of this type "flutterby" in your own yard or garden.

I was delighted to find a healthy patch of Rattlesnake Plantain on our uphill trek to Key Falls. My love for this wildflower dates back to my days as Nature Instructor at dear old Camp Cherokee in the '70's (and 1982).

It is so named because the flower resembles a rattler's rattle and the leaf pattern is similar to a snake's scales.

On Main Street, just outside the Humane Society Thrift Shop, we saw this pale green butterfly on a Morning Glory flower.

Butterflies are faster than you think. I couldn't get another shot of that elusive one, but the Morning Glory vine continued to pose cooperatively. What shade would you call that?

I'm not even sure what kind of tree this is, but I had to photograph it because it reminded me of Old Man Poplar on our Sandhills Farm Life Nature Trail. Can you find any "faces" on its massive trunk? (Use your imagination)

It's interesting how many non-green plants are found in the damp forests. Just because mushrooms and toadstools don't have flowers is no reason they can't be colorful.

When I was a boy, I thought this type mushroom looked a lot like a pancake. But I knew better than to taste one (without syrup--yuck)!

Here's one more non-chlorophyll plant for your viewing pleasure.

I'm just trying to be a fun-gi. I hope you've taken a lichen to some of these specimens.

Seriously, (no, not really) there's one more creature of the Pisgah Forest that I would have given anything to photograph. It's the Pisgah that this national forest was named for. As I learned from my old friend Jim at Camp Cherokee, the Pisgah is a large mammal inhabiting this region. It's a cross between a grizzly bear and a mountain lion. And when we used to take campers in an old army truck named Thunder to visit Courthouse Creek and Devil's Courthouse, we cautioned them to be on the lookout for this beast. After Jim's late-night tales, they would think twice about crawling out of their sleeping bag in search of the latrine in the middle of the night.

I love Pisgahs so much, I was thrilled that Judy and I got to stay in the Pisgah Forest room at Key Falls Inn. The only picture I could locate is this Pisgah from an internet source. But if you visit the Pisgah National Forest, lock your door or zip your tent at night. And think twice about those visits to the latrine.

The Brevard Trip: Waterfalls of the DuPont Forest

If you've read my last post about my and Judy's stay at the Key Falls Inn near Brevard, NC, you know that today's post is a continuation of telling about our wonderful trip. The tranquil setting of the Inn would have been conducive to many more hours of just lounging, reading, or strolling. But we are all about ADVENTURE. And why make Transylvania County, "Land of Waterfalls," your destination unless you love hiking and seeking out these waterfalls?

Morning rain sent us into Brevard instead of in pursuit of waterfalls, but as we were reading in the library that afternoon, Judy saw that the sun had broken through. We hurriedly grabbed our things (except my umbrella) and headed about 10 miles south to DuPont State Forest. Acquired and developed by the state of North Carolina only in the last 10 years, it is rapidly being discovered by outdoors enthusiasts.

This is a quiet stretch of the Little River which converges with the French Broad River a few miles north. But most of the river is anything but quiet!
Transylvania County's unique geology is the reason waterfalls are so plentiful here, and the DuPont Forest has several falls accessible by wide, well-marked trails. First stop was Hooker Falls, just a 0.3 mile walk from the parking area.

The path leading below the falls was a little steeper, but well worth the time.

We retraced our steps to the parking area, then crossed a road to continue our journey. This view of an island in the Little River was taken from a bridge.

An informational map showed that the trail we would follow next was designated "moderate difficulty." We've hiked enough to know that the differences between "easy" or "moderate" and "moderate" and "strenuous" are very subjective. Thus warned, we headed off to the trail which followed the course of the river to Triple Falls and then High Falls.

At first sight, it was obvious how Triple Falls was named. Each of the three cascades has its own character and is lovely in and of itself. If this scene looks familiar to you, chances are you saw the 1990's movie "The Last of the Mohicans." Many people know that Hickory Nut Falls at Chimney Rock was featured in that movie, but so was Triple Falls.

A stairway with 101 steps led down into the gorge for a better look (Judy counted). This shows the drop-off of the lower cascade.

I saw young folks climbing perilously close to the middle cascade. I intentionally didn't photograph them because I feared I would witness a tragedy. But they moved on.

The trail became even more "strenuous" in our estimation. I would not want to mislead anyone into thinking it was just a walk in the park. . . so to speak. It was quite a vigorous workout but we were having the time of our lives. Some returning hikers told us to look for a covered bridge at the head of High Falls, the last stop on our agenda.

As we approached and caught our first glimpse, I loved the veiled effect of seeing High Falls through the thin Hemlock or Balsam branches. But we weren't there yet. Note the covered bridge, as well.

Some of the numerous friendly hikers we encountered snapped this photo for us. We did the same for several folks.

(Same falls, humans deleted)

Having come this far, we were not going to return without seeing the view from the covered bridge. This was a fairly new bridge, not an old or historic one. It was solidly built for forest service use, though we saw no vehicles while we were there.

At first we were disappointed that the bridge didn't offer a look straight down the falls, but on reflection, I think that would have been detrimental to the gorgeous natural view from down below. The view still conveys the sense of a magnificent drop-off and a plunge into the "wild blue yonder."

After a brief rest and water break we were ready for the return hike.

Our round-trip distance was about 3 and a half miles, some moderate, some strenuous. The trip back was notably less difficult. There's no short way to see all three falls on one hike, but many people visit Hooker Falls, then drive to another parking area and approach Triple Falls and High Falls from another direction. That would avoid some of the steep incline, but even then it would be challenging for many folks. We survived it, loved every step we walked and were enraptured by every beautiful vista we gazed upon.

Next post: Flora and Fauna of the Forest (No, that's not some new friends we made, it's plants and critters!) See ya there!

Key Falls Inn

As the August heat engulfed the Sandhills last week, Judy and I headed to the North Carolina mountains we love so dearly. This trip was part of our 33rd anniversary celebration and we found a wonderful place to stay for the occasion.

The Key Falls Inn is a Bed and Breakfast just minutes from Brevard, NC, but away from the noise and bustle of town.


This white pebbled drive welcomed us to the Civil War era Victorian house and its beautiful and spacious grounds.

Everything about the place exuded relaxation and comfort.

Here's Judy in one of the two parlors adjacent to our ground-floor room.

In the other parlor, tea and delicous baked treats were served each day at four. When we informed our hostess, Pat, that we would not likely be around at that time most days, she assured us it would be there if we wanted it. And as it turned out, two evenings we had tea and snack around 8.

Our room was the Pisgah Forest room. It was spacious, with central air, private bath, and a queen-size bed.

Every detail was to our liking.

We also had the only room adjacent to the porch, where we spent time morning and evening.

You may glimpse a tennis court and horseshoe pits in the background.

Aahhh!

This entrance led into the foyer and dining area. We enjoyed three scrumptious (or is it sumptuous) breakfasts there. Think scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, French toast, scones, breakfast casserole, all manner of fruits, plus coffee, juice, and more. We didn't need a full lunch after all that (even ME)!

The house has been lovingly cared for and decorated by the host family.

Plants of all varieties thrive here in Transylvania County, which has among the highest rainfall totals in the U.S.

The grass grows about an inch a day in these conditions and makes a lush, soft carpet. Luminary stands are visible in this field.

After a brief mountain shower, the rain slacked and we took a mini-tour of some of the grounds.

This arbor beside the pond might have been the scene of a wedding yesterday. Two wedding parties had reserved the Key Falls Inn the weekends before and after our visit. While we were there, we were the only guests for two nights. Part of the wedding party arrived late Thursday night and we met them before our departure Friday.

Although we had fresh fruit each morning, we didn't get any of Pat's peaches. Maybe next time!

Flower beds adorned every nook and cranny.

The second day Pat told us we could visit the upstairs rooms. (There was nothing scary about the place, but I told Judy this angle seemed like something from Hitchcock).

Each upstairs room was unique. Their website shows photos and gives descriptions of each.

Thursday morning we toured the rest of the grounds before heading off for adventures.

I LOVE gazebos! Don't you think everyone should have one?

We finally made the short but steep trek to the cascading waters of Key Falls, on the Inn property.

These falls could be viewed from the roadside or by following a trail to the top. We did both.

This cabin is only five years old and is much-loved by Pat. It can accommodate two couples, which would also make it more affordable for some. Since children under 12 cannot stay in the house, the cabin is a nice alternative for families with younger children.

There is no shortage of quiet, secluded spots.

This pavillion is perfect for receptions, reunions, or cookouts. This B&B also hosts such events, including catering.

Well, if you're wondering if we just hung out here for our whole trip, the answer is a resounding "NO." We did so many different things, I'm going to post several more blog posts in the next few days. Topics are: Happenings in Brevard, Waterfall Tours, Flora and Fauna of the Mountains, and The Discovery Center (or Cradle of Forestry in America).

After each day's outings it was wonderful to have the Key Falls Inn and its hospitality to come "home" to. Check it out at http://keyfallsinn.com/. Judy and I can promise that Pat and her family would take good care of you, too.