The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust will host “Bountiful Botany: Medicinal Plants of the Plateau,” a self-guided hike at Brushy Face Preserve throughout the month of June.
On the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and in the surrounding Southern Appalachians, residents and visitors are lucky to be amongst an incredible diversity of plants.
As spring has progressed with wildflowers popping up and a leafy canopy emerging overhead, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust has been excited to see all the plants at their height for the year.
This June, HCLT is highlighting plants at the Brushy Face Preserve where we will be celebrating the season through a native medicinal plant hike.
The Highlands region is home to a rich cultural history surrounding the use of traditional medicinal practices and HCLT staff will be sharing some of these in a program, “Bountiful Botany: Medicinal Plants of the Plateau.”
It is primarily taking place in the form of a self-guided hike at Brushy Face Preserve that will be up for the month of June. The hike will consist of informational signs along the trail highlighting some of the medicinal plants found on the property.
HCLT will also lead limited-capacity, guided hikes on June 5 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., free to the public. However, space is limited so registration is required by emailing logan.hitrust@earthlink.net. Visitors will walk the trail together, stopping to discuss the plants that are covered in the self-guided hike. Staff members will also cover other plants on the property and the land use history of the area.
This hike is appropriate for all ages, and a good opportunity for children to learn while school is out. With the help of the International Friendship Center and funding from Environmental Educators of North Carolina, the signs will be in both English and Spanish.
The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust conserves property around the plateau, which provides habitat for native plants and animals such as these medicinal plants. For more information about this event or HCLT’s other programs, public trails, or the land HCLT protects, visit hicashlt.org. For questions or information regarding Bountiful Botany please contact our AmeriCorps Member, Logan Kallam, at logan.hitrust@earthlink.net.