Recent Events:
On Saturday, January 28th, Walnut Creek Preserve and the Pacolet Area Conservancy hosted another program at the Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center.
Naturalist and storyteller, Doug Elliott, presented “Woodslore and Wildwoods Wisdom—Stories, Songs, and Lore Celebrating the Natural World” on January 28, 2012 to approximately 80 guests of all ages!!!
The presentation was followed by light refreshments, a presentation on songbirds, and a short hike.
Whether he's singing about catfish, pontificating on possums, extolling the virtues of dandelions, cawing with crows, pondering the “nature” in human nature, telling wild snake tales or wailing out a jivey harmonica tune, Doug Elliott is known for his lively presentations as well as his broad, practical, scientific, and cultural knowledge of the Southern Appalachian bioregion. He performed a concert of amazing tales, lively tunes, traditional lore, outrageous personal narratives, and fact stranger than fiction. He flavors it all with regional dialects, lively harmonica riffs, and more than a few belly laughs.
Doug Elliott pictured above (with a woodchuck).
WCP's Babs Strickland, Presenter-Doug Elliott, & PAC's Pam Torlina. (Photo by Bob Strickland)
Doug Elliott presenting to the crowd of ~80 guests of the preserve. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
PAC's Pam Torlina does a bird presentation after the program. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
PAC's Pam Torlina does a bird presentation after the program. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
PAC's display at WCP Nature Center. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
Doug Elliott takes guests on a short hike on the preserve after the program. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
Doug Elliott takes guests on a short hike on the preserve after the program. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
Doug Elliott takes guests on a short hike on the preserve after the program; tasting natures bounty. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
Doug Elliott takes guests on a short hike on the preserve after the program. (Photo by Chuck Heron)
To learn more about Doug or to purchase his Books or CDs, visit his website at http://www.dougelliott.com !
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PAC's Holiday Party, December 4th! 
(See special thank you's below!)
The Pacolet Area Conservancy Invites You to Its Annual Holiday Party at the home of Babs and Bob Strickland, owners of Walnut Creek Preserve (approximately 1,400 acres forever protected with a conservation easement), on December 4th from 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Brunch will be served at the Stricklands home and guests who wish to visit the nearby Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center and herbarium will be provided transportation to the center. There will also be a silent auction at the Stricklands home.
Join us for Holiday Cheer, Brunch, and the Silent Auction! Tickets are $50.00 each. Proceeds help PAC continue to do what we do best-Save the Places You Love!
Please call the PAC office, (828)859-5060, and we will be happy to mail you an invitation!
We appreciate your support and we hope to see you at the PARTY!
The home of Bob and Babs Strickland, Serenity Farm, and the site of the 2011 PAC Holiday Party.
The Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve.
Special thanks to the generous support from local businesses that donated items for the party and/or silent auction!
Such as: La Bouteille, Accent on Main, The Book Shelf, Bonnie Brae, Essence Day Spa, Frederick's Design Studio, Hare & Hound, Kathleen's Gallery, Ken's Meat & Fish Market, Little Mountain Pottery, Nature's Storehouse, Pro Therapy, Polk County Chamber of Commerce, PJ's Fashions, Stone Soup, Tryon House, Vines & Stuff, Williamson's Paint, and Zenzera!
We truely appreciate your support!
Such as: Alex Salley, Ray Dittmar, Tommy Lytle, Carol Meeske, Linda Sprague, Susan Penfold, Missy Lytle, Izzy Rice, and Bea Rolla!
We truely appreciate your time, efforts, and support!
Such as: Carole and Chris Bartol, Dibbit Lamb, John Gargiulo, and Susan Kelley (to name a few...)!
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32 people attended PAC's last hike of the Fall Hiking Series at Walnut Creek Preserve, 11/11/11!
On November 11th, PAC wrapped up the Fall Hiking series at Walnut Creek Preserve! Hikers enjoyed the beautiful fall weather as they made their way through the private preserve, with beautiful mountain views and a stop at a Walnut Creek Falls. Thanks for leading such a wonderful hike, Babs!
PAC hikers at Walnut Creek Preserve on 11/11/11.
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PAC Hike to Weaverbarton Shuford Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, 11/4/11
Despite the cool, wet start to the day...the Friday PAC hike at PAC protected Weaverbarton Shuford Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary went on as scheduled! And, it turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL morning! William and Tammy Coleman were the only two participants to join PAC Land Protection Specialist, Pam Torlina, but it was a great morning with gorgeous views of the autumn colors, highlighted by the recent rain. PAC hikers learned how to identify trees, shrubs, ferns, herbaceous plants, and even an American Toad and a few birds!
Tammy and Bill Coleman after the hike on 11/4/11.
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Rotary Club of Tryon, 11/3/11
On November 3rd, PAC Land Protection Specialist Pam Torlina presented to the Rotary Club of Tryon. Torlina spoke about the science of Autumn Leaves.
Rotarians learned that the orange and yellow colors that we see in autumn leaves is actually created by a pigment within the leaf and is actually present in leaves all year; it is just masked by the abundant green pigment, chlorophyll. As cells begin to break down at the juncture between the leaf and the stem, at the abscission layer, the leaf stops producing chlorophyll and the yellow pigment (xanthophyll) and orange pigment (carotenoid) that have been in the leaf all along are revealed! The red and purple color, a pigment called anthocyanin, which we see in autumn, however, is not present in the leaf in the summer. This color is manufactured by the sugars trapped in the leaf after photosynthesis ceases. And, that the loss of leaves each autumn is an adaptation that keeps deciduous trees from dying during the winter when the roots cannot absorb water from the frozen ground.
(From left to right) Rotary Club of Tryon President, Gorden Threlfall and Director of Programs, Nancy McKinstry with PAC Land Protection Specialist, Pam Torlina.
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4-H Science Day Camp at Bradley Field, 11/1/11 & 11/2/11:
On November 1 & 2, PAC was one of four instructors for the 4-H Science Day Camp held at Bradley Field. PAC, along with NC Forest Service, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Division of Air Quality, taught all of the, ~160-180, 6th grade students in Polk County! Polk County 6th graders spent a day in the field learning about forestry, wildlife ID, air quality, and watersheds (which PAC taught).
PAC staff and volunteers introduced students to the concept of a watershed and made them citizen scientists for the day. Students were given clip boards and data sheets and took measurements of the creek, Cove Creek, such as pH and temperature and were asked to look at the qualitative attributes in an around the creek. Then, the students had to reach into the ~38 degree creek and look for tiny organisms living in Cove Creek, benthic macroinvertebrates--bottom-dwelling organisms without a backbone that you can see with the naked eye--living in the creek. Students were taught how to identify the organisms that were found using a dichotomous key. The organisms were listed on the data sheets and were used as indicators of the health of the creek, and ultimately the health of the watershed. Good news! The watershed for Cove Creek and the water quality rating of Cove Creek is Excellent!
PAC teaching a group of Polk County 6th graders about watersheds.
Students keying out a macroinvertebrate with PAC Land Protection Specialist, Pam Torlina.
We found and identified Mayfly Larva (above), as well as Stonefly Larvae, Caddisfly Larvae, Cranefly Larvae, Gilled Snails, Waterpenny Larvae, and Crayfish, to name a few. Vertebrates included salamanders and a Green Frog.
Students learning water chemistry with PAC volunteer, Judith Gosser.
Special thanks to PAC volunteers Judith Gosser (PAC Education Committee), Christel Walter (PAC Education Committee), Sue Mullen (PAC Board Member and Land Committee), and Steve King who spent all day November 1st and 2nd outside in the field educating the 6th graders of Polk County Schools!
(Morning temperatures were in the mid-30's! Creek temperature averaged ~38°! Talk about dedication and commitment!)
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Tryon Halloween Stroll, 10/31/11
PAC Board Member, Nancy McKinstry, represented PAC at the Tryon Halloween Stroll on October 31st, giving out ~20 pounds of candy by 5:30 p.m.!!! Thank you, Nancy, for representing PAC during this festive occasion!
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American Black Bear presentation, 10/22/11:
Naturalist, Tim Lee, presented on the American Black Bear on October 22, 2011. 26 people attended the first of many educational programs that PAC and Walnut Creek Preserve hope to offer free to adults, childern, and families on Saturday mornings. (Photo by Chris Bartol)
Tim Lee presenting to the group. (Photo by Chris Bartol)
From left to right: Carole Bartol (PAC President), Babs Strickland (WCP owner), Tim Lee (presenter), and Pam Torlina (PAC Land Protection Specialist). (Photo by Chris Bartol)
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PAC's second hike of the Fall Hiking Series! 10/14/11
On October 14th, PAC hikers visited Montreat Wilderness Area! Hikers enjoyed the beautiful autumn weather as they made the 4-mile trek to Lookout Rock, elevation 3,760', and enjoyed incredible views from the Lookout!
(Hikers from left to right: Carolyn Parker, Mark McCall, Carol McCall, Patsy Panther, Barbara Hall, Peggy Burke, Ann DuPre, Beatriz Estape, Lois Torlina, and Mary Savard.)
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Special thanks to Tommy Lytle and Phillip Holbert for their kind donations and hard work sprucing up the parking area at Weaverbarton Shuford Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary (and for making it safer), 10/5/11!
Check out the link to our PAC Trails page to see photos and get more information.
(Scroll down past the information about Weaverbarton Shuford Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary to see the photos.)
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PAC's first hike of the Fall Hiking Series! 9/30/11
On September 30th, PAC kicked off the Fall Hiking series at Bent Creek Experimental Forest! Hikers enjoyed the beautiful fall weather as they made the 6-mile trek along the Hardtimes Loop trail.
(Hikers from left to right, back to front: Mary Savard, Faith Weathington, Barbara Hall, Dixon Harris, Carol McCall, Peggy Burke, Beatriz Estape, Clare Chandler, Gail Stockdale, and Lois Torlina.)
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September Spectacular Hunter Derby, 9/9/11 & 9/10/11
Carole Bartol (PAC President) and Jeff Smith (of Vic Bailey) with the Blue Ribbon winner of the event, Bud's Clear Finish, owned by Lisa Spriggs and ridden by Nikki Guerrazzi!
Thanks to the following Sponsors who made the September Spectacular Horse Show a fundraising success-
the Sheelah Clarkson Agency
Individual event sponsors include:
Nancy Hudson
Allen Van Weiren and Tripp Hoffman
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The Annual PACWalk for Preservation &
"Run for the Hills" 5k Trail Run
Held at Tryon Estates on May 7, 2011.
PACWalkers! (Photo by Chris Bartol)
PACWalkers, on the trail!
PAC "Run for the Hills" participant! (Photo by Larry Poe)
(PAC Walk will be held again on the first Saturday in May 2012! SAVE THE DATE!)