I (Ethan) was lucky enough to attend the 42nd Annual Cullowhee Native Plant Conference on scholarship provided by the Virginia Native Plant Society. What. A. Week. A week of natural beauty in the Smoky Mountains at the country’s oldest Native Plant Conference. Here’s a brief recap of such an incredibly beautiful week creating lifelong memories with new lifelong friends.
- Wednesday Panthertown Valley Hike
- My Wednesday field trip was a 7 mile round-trip hike through Panthertown Valley, a botanically beautiful valley with gorgeous views and great people! We hiked down through the valley and up the opposite ridge, stopped by a waterfall, and then back again. Lots of orchids, lots of fun mountain plants (personal favorite was fraser’s magnolia). Thanks to Tom Groves & Kara (Friends of Panthertown Valley) for leading the hike!
- Sessions & Speakers
- Speakers galore. Joey Santore hates lawns. Georgia Botanical Garden is amazing. Climate change sucks. Native plants rock. People are so passionate!
- Moth night(x2)
- Two moth nights. Three imperial moths. Lots of bird poop moths. One huge silky guy. Cool people and black lights!
- Lunch & Learn
- I got to present this year’s Lunch & Learn presentation, where I had over 50 people come and hear me yap about blackgum! And met lots of folks willing to mail me some seeds this fall <3 I love community!
These are all standout highlights across a week that was a highlight of the summer in and of itself. I was also grateful to receive the Mary Painter Memorial Award at the Conference. Provided by the Virginia Native Plant Society, the honor is awarded to someone living or studying in Virginia who demonstrates exceptional knowledge and capability in the protection and proliferation of native plants. This conference is one I hope to go to for many many many years to come, wherever it may land next year <3.