Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally

Although the weather kept some away, the 43rd annual Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally drew a large crowd of enthusiastic participants during the second weekend in May.  The Rally was held in memory of Wallace Coffey, Rally co-founder, and Claude Greever, long-time Rally supporter and guide.

For the 2nd year in a row, BRDC partnered with the Independence Farmers Market www.independencefarmersmarket.org to provide high quality and locally sourced ingredients for the Farm--to-Table meal, which featured slow smoked, local, pasture-raised pork, plenty of local veggies, home-made breads, and a garden salad to die for. Home-made desserts finished off the meal. With all profits from the dinner returning to the community center, those in attendance made for a successful fundraiser. 

As rain poured outside, keynote speaker George Constantz, author of Hollows, Peepers, and Highlanders: An Appalachian Mountain Ecology, spoke to a packed house at the Konnarock Community Center after the Friday night dinner.

Field trips on Saturday included several new opportunities such as Caving, Intro to Birding and Ecology of Grassy Balds, while many of the tried and true trips from the past also remained popular.  With the rain giving way to cloudy skies and even a little bit of sunshine, conditions were wet but good for the hearty naturalist who didn’t mind a little mud.

Special thanks to all of the volunteers and committee members who worked to make the event a success! The wonderful support of our volunteer guides was greatly appreciated as they lead 26 different field trips during the weekend as well as two kids programs.  The Rally was held in memory of Wallace Coffey, Rally co-founder, and Claude Greever, long-time Rally supporter and guide.

All in all, the 43rd annual Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally was an inspiring addition to the long tradition of this exploration and discovery event within the Blue Ridge. 
 

2016 Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally

What a fantastic Rally weekend!  There was so much to explore and share!

This year’s dinner was a partnership with the Independence Farmer’s Market  providing high quality, local ingredients for the Konnarock Community Center to prepare a super meal.  After dinner, speaker Sarah Ross, Executive Director of the UGA Center for Research and Education at Wormsloe, gave a great talk about Monarchs, Milkweed and the importance of insects.

This year's field trips included birding, salamanders, tree ID, bio survey, wildflowers, a hike to Mt. Rogers, big tree hike, wild edibles, drawing from life, mammals, geology, and much more.

Sarah Ross explains the importance of insects

Checking out a Red-breasted Nuthatch

Jack-in-the Pulpit or is it Jill-in-the-Pulpit? We learned to tell the difference in the male and female Jack -in-the Pulpit.  This one is a male.

Pausing to look up the medicinal use of Wild Yam

The kids enjoyed programs just for them

Witch Hobble in the snow on Whitetop

The wild edibles field trip was very popular

Some of the folks who camped at Grindstone

Saturday night's salamander hike was epic due to the rain and warmer weather
 

Lots to explore on the bio survey

Fly fishing Sunday morning

Lots of critters visited the kids program Saturday

Fiddleheads peaking through Thursday's snowfall

Participants sampled some foraged treats

Comfy & dry Junco nest

Saturday's community dinner at Grindstone Campground

Learning to cast at Grindstone Campground with Lisa Benish. Check out those straight lines!

Blue Bead Lily at Grindstone Campground

Special thanks to all of the folks who made the Rally such a great success: the organizers, guides,  Friday night speaker, participants, cooks, volunteers, and BRDC staff.