Mayor on Duty

Last week Sallie and I took our grandchildren on our annual trek to Jekyll Island. A goal was to include some educational experiences on the vacation schedule. So, we took a dolphin tour and did […]

Explore The Bascom’s 2022 theme of “Place” through the lens of Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust On display from July 16 to Dec. 31 at The Bascom Center for Visual Arts, are images that present an artistic interpretation […]

Spring is in the air! The Highlands Botanical Garden is waking up, and with it an abundance of wildflowers will soon be on display. Join Highlands Biological Station’s Horticulturist for Spring Wildflower Walks each Thursday […]

How many birds can you find from February 18-21? That’s the question the Highlands Nature Center is asking as they take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, and anyone can join. This global event, […]

Those fortunate enough to have known the late Hillrie Quin know the kind of impact he made on the Plateau. Hillrie’s love of nature and passion for conserving it was obvious through his long-time service […]

The prolonged challenges of Covid have led many individuals and organizations to examine their core values. Consideration of what is most important can lead to fundamental life-style changes and moving toward a more harmonious life. […]

The Highlands Community Building was full of environmental enthusiasts last week for Qercus Circus: The Biodiversity and Ecological Value of Oaks. The program was presented by the Highlands Coalition for Non-native Invasive Plant Management (CNIPM), […]

Spiders are some of the most misunderstood and feared animals on the planet, but they are also fascinating and familiar creatures that we share our surroundings with every day. Pictured below is an orb weaver […]

Volunteers have been working diligently since late 2020 to build the Kelsey Trail into a hike-able loop. Kelsey Trail is owned and maintained by the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and is located at the end of […]

In just a few weeks, the Highlands Biological Foundation will host a brand-new spring lecture series titled Climate Conversations! This series will showcase three field research projects here in the southern Appalachians while highlighting how […]

The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau is one of the few remaining areas with intact old growth hemlock forest. The Southern Appalachians are home to two species of hemlocks, the eastern or Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and the Carolina […]

The Plateau is home to a variety of evergreen plants ranging from towering coniferous trees like Pine, Hemlock, and Pitch; to shrubs such as the ground juniper, rhododendron, and mountain laurel; and even ground cover […]

The Village Green and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust co-host a speaker series called the Village Nature Series (VNS), which features experts in their field presenting on wildlife, habitats, conservation, and local cultural heritage. Traditionally, these events […]

A bridge that was located along the Oak Lane section of the Highlands Plateau Greenway has been moved after it became known the bridge was built on private property. HPG President Sonya Carpenter said this […]

There are several species of turtles that make the Plateau their home, the most common are Snapping and Box turtles. Other species include Painted turtles that are found in a few local areas, and Bog […]