Redlair Preserve Bigleaf Magnolia Hike

This is a member-only event, limited to 16 registrants. Register here through our membership portal.

This wildflower walk will be at the Redlair Preserve where the highlight, if timed just right, will be blossoms of the bigleaf magnolia, Magnolia macrophylla.  According to Haywood Rankin, who grew up at Redlair and will lead this walk, the trees typically bloom for about a week and a half between April 21 and May 10. Most of the bigleafs are in the forest interior, holding their flowers at a height of 20-30-40 feet or more, so they are difficult to see. There are a few trees along field-edges that may reveal a few flowers at nose height.  This walk will visit one beside the Big Lake.  If you are up for a bit of a hike, Haywood and his wife Sabine will be glad to lead you through the forest to see other spring flowers that are in bloom.  To learn more about Redlair, you can visit this website: https://www.ncplantfriends.org/redlair.html 

Wear hiking boots. The trail difficulty is high moderate with hilly terrain.