Third Saturday Nature Walk – July 17, 2021

Nature Walk on July 17, 2021 – 4B’s Farm, Todd, NC

Bill Dunson will lead a nature walk in Todd on July 17 from 9-11 am. More details below:

The third Saturday “Birds, Bugs and Blooms” nature walk (9-11 am) will occur July 17, 2021, at a private nature sanctuary, the 4B’s Farm (Bats, Bees, Birds and Butterflies) in Todd. David Kolb and Linda Marchant are restoring/creating native wildlife and native plant habitats from an old farm meadow and surrounding woods, streams and marshes. This is an amazing opportunity to see the difficult and now successful process of removing persistent exotic invaders (such as tree of heaven), and encouraging the growth of beneficial plants and their associated animal communities.

The attached photos show the original barn and the adjacent meadow created as pasture but now flourishing as a wildflower meadow. There is a complex mixture of species in the wet meadow including boneset, goldenrod, ironweed, wingstem, featherbells and Indian plantain. Numerous common milkweeds host not just monarchs but some of the rich array of specialized insects that are dependent on milkweed.

The adjacent woodlands are mostly early successional trees with a rich understory of native herbs such as horse balm. There is a small stream and pond and some interesting rock formations.

We will walk up along a grassy mowed trail and down a rocky woods trail loop of about one mile. We will examine the natural communities and discuss techniques to encourage different species. You might want to bring a walking stick and wear boots.

Directions:

Meet at 9 am July 17 at 518 Rocky Springs Rd, Todd NC 28684. From route 194 in Todd turn north on Three Top Rd (sign is leaning and pointing the wrong way) and proceed about one mile, where you turn right on Rocky Springs Rd. Proceed up the driveway a short distance and park near the barn on the left. No reservations necessary. Rain or shine. No pets or smoking allowed. You will be required to sign a waiver of liability from NCNPS. Wear a covid mask or not, your choice. For further information contact Bill Dunson, 276-233-6364 cell/text or wdunson@comcast.net mailto:wdunson@comcast.net

Visit Bill’s nature blog at: https://lemonbayconservancy.org/news/nature-notes-by-bill-dunson/

Future walks will be held on August 21 and September 18, locations TBA.