Beaman Park on the Last Day of Fall

Visitors' Center 

I celebrated the last day of Autumn (Oct. 31st)
at one of my favorite walking trails.
Ancient cultures saw this day as the last of the harvest days 
and brought their cattle down from the hills to prepare for 
the cold and dark season ahead.  By their tradition
November 1st marked the first day of Winter,
so a feast was in order on the last night of October, 
and that evolved into Halloween.

Why do I call Oct 31st the last day of Fall?
For information about the Ancient Solar Calendar go to the site below.
Click here for info about The Wheel of the Year

Also, you can look at my post about The Solar Calendar by clicking here..

The hiking trails at Beaman Park are some of my favorites 
to walk because of the beauty and solitude of Henry Creek,

especially at this time of the year. 

I like to begin at the Visitors' Center and walk down

to the creek on the Sedge Hill Trail (yellow on the map), which is

located right behind the visitors' center.  

Click here for Beaman Park Info

Trail Map

The Sedge Hill Trail, right behind the Visitors' Center

Jack O'Lantern Mushrooms, perfect for Halloween.
They're bioluminenscent...glow in the dark!!
Bioluminescence!
Time Lapse !



Coincidence...
That they grow at Halloween?
Jack O'Lanterns




Some life forms that you'll see here
are named after witches!

A fungus called Witch's Butter!

When touched, 

It trembles like jelly;

Witch's Butter.

The trail is an easy descent ending up at the bridge at 

Henry Creek (see below).  After you cross the bridge turn

right and walk slowly along the creek's edge. 

Soon there will be a side trail that leads to the creek. 

In the background you can see the bridge crossing Henry Creek.

A Millipede that smells like cherries when you pick it up.

Make sure to walk slowly and stop often to 

observe the plants and fungi and any animals that 

you may run across, such as the millipede (above photo).

The rocky bluffs along Henry Creek.
Take time here to just look and listen.

Chanterelle mushroom!

Some fungi grow out of fallen trees and look like the fingers of 
a dead person, if you use your imagination.  

Dead Man's Fingers

I like to go right up to the creek or actually get into the creek 

and look for animals swimming around.

There are many animals living in the creek, such as 
minnows, crawdads, snails, and salamanders. 

At this time of the year you can see a great

variety of fungi growing on fallen trees, decomposing them. 

Great color!

A perfect day for a walk in the woods. 

One species looks exactly like the sea coral. 

Coral Fungus!

Most of the green leaves have fallen off the trees,
but there are some evergreen plants on the forest floor,
such as this beautiful Maidenhair Fern. 

Maidenhair Fern

and this Polytrichum Moss.

If you're lucky, you'll run across a gorgeous Gulf Fritillary
butterfly, which is dressed for the occasion!

There a many small streams that flow into Henry Creek.
Take the time to walk up the streams to see what you can see. 

About 99.9% of the fungi growing around here are harmless,

but you must be aware of one species...Amanita virosa! 

The beautiful Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa)!

Continue on the Creekside Trail until you reach the trailhead 

next to the parking lot.  You can, then, either turn left 

and complete the Henry Hollow loop (white on the map) or 
do what I did, today, and just turn around and walk slowly 
back to the bridge enjoying every step. 

Lichens grow on fallen trees and break them down with time.  

Different species of Lichens, decomposing this fallen tree.

A fungus called Devil's Urn.

Go across the bridge and ascend to the top of the hill 

where you parked.  Don't forget to take your time 
and continue to observe everything.
This is a great place to observe birds!

The bridge crossing Henry Creek. 

This was a great Halloween (last day of Fall) walk.

Next time I come here I will take the entire loop and

may even walk the Ridgetop Trail (red on the map).

If you're in the area take the time to see one of my 

favorite walking trails at Beaman Park.  

It's beautiful at any time of the year. 

The Natural Calendar

Click  here  for information on 
the Natural Calendar,

aka the Solar Calendar

Blue Ridge Parkway, NC : Wolf Mountain & Beaver Dam Gap Overlooks

From the Wolf Mountain Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

We took a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway

to see the fall colors, beginning in Asheville, NC and driving 

SW ending at the Wolf Mt. Overlook.  Along the way
 we stopped at some of the overlooks to search for plants, and
 we took a walk on the Beaver Dam Gap Trail (milepost 401.7).
  

Take a look at this virtual trip, before you go on your real trip!

Blue Ridge Parkway Website

Map of Blue Ridge Parkway

Locations of the Overlooks

 Parkway Hiking Trails

Searching for wildflowers at one of the many overlooks.

We spotted this Ladies Tress next to the
parking area.  Click here for info.

We continued south on the parkway, stopping at a few
overlooks along the way.

One of the many cliffs along the parkway.
elevation 5500ft!  Temp: 41 degrees F.

If you're near Asheville, get on the parkway and stop at these
overlooks.  There are some interesting plants growing here!

I could not believe I was looking at Sundew plants!
They were growing on the cliff facing south.
What a find!!!

Video-Sundew capturing insect

Basic Information about Sundews

This is a Grass of Parnassus plant developing seeds.
Its flower is very beautiful (see photos, below)!
Information

Water dripping

On the leaves and petals;

Grass of Parnassus.

The round leaves of this
Grass-of-Parnassus are below the flower.

At this angle you get a good look at the pistils and stamen.

Such a beautiful flower!!

Kai took this photo of a tiny salamander on the rocks.

A blue-striped Gentian.

Heal All or Self Heal

Lichen growing on the rock fence
of the parking lot.

A lichen is actually two species (a fungus and an algae, typically)  living together, in a mutualistic relationship.  Mutualism is a kind of symbiosis.  In this case, each partner benefits from the relationship.  The fungus provides water and minerals, while the algae provides the food.  They help each other by sharing resources!  Sort of like a good marriage. 

Ladies' Tresses and Goldenrod

I live in Kentucky, where goldenrod is the state flower, and 

I can see why...they are really beautiful flowers.

These Ladies Tresses were growing on a crevice of the cliff
right next to the parkway!  Wild orchids!!  Fantastic!!

Click here to listen to the sound 
of Wolf Mountain Overlook.

The trees were showing their colors.

After I calmed down from seeing those plants, we decided to
drive back and stop at the Beaver Dam Gap Trail and take a walk.

For future reference, on the way down we drove by the 
Pisgah Inn (lodge with dining) and Campgrounds.

At milepost 401.7

We parked on the left side of the parking lot
and took the trail on that side.  There is a trail
on the right side, also.

This was a perfect day for a hike...cool and sunny.

I like to take my time on these hikes, looking down 

at the trail's edge, hoping to find a new wildflower 

or mushroom.  I've become a bit of a "birder," and try to ID

some of them.  I also love to watch butterflies and seek out

their chrysalids and caterpillars.  This area, the Appalachian Mountains, is supposed to be the most biodiverse in the world!!

https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/united-states/top-10-facts-about-the-appalachian-mountains/

Spotted a few Goldenrods on the right of the trail.

Close-up of this Goldenrod species (name, unknown to me).

This is a different species from the ones we saw 

at the Wolf Mountain Overlook.

Milkweed seeds.
Growing Milkweeds for Monarchs

Beautiful!

These trees were truly beautiful!  I enjoyed walking among these tall organisms that we take for granted.  Few people think about the fact that these trees absorb the greenhouse gases, and at the same time they produce the oxygen that we are breathing and many produce food that we can eat (acorns, nuts, fruits).  We should be growing more of them, not cutting them down!!

Walking on the ridge.

Noticed a species of Aster.

Aster (Greek) means "star," as in the word astronaut and asteroid.  

These flowers look sort of like stars, the way we draw them, anyway.

Beginning to see some Rhododendrons.

A view of the mountains from the trail.

Seedpod of  Angelica (A. atropurpurea).

I have to come back in June, when these 
rhododendrons bloom.
Info on Rhododendron

Be aware...watch your step.

A nice view of the mountains.

Marilyn, Kai, and Sara,
my walking companions.

Look at the color of this Aster's flowers and leaves!
Info on Asters

Take it slowly around this corner.

Great contrast in colors!

A fungus called Puffballs.  These are just about
mature enough to contain spores.
Watch this video of a puffball releasing its spores.

When this species of puffballs are young and immature (before 

their spores form), you can eat them, I understand.  

I've never tried them, but they are supposed to be good.

There are many different species of deciduous trees 
in this forest...many hickories and oaks and ashes.

We decided to stop here and take a short break and then head back.
This (above) is the NW side of the ridge
(the right side as we were walking).

...and this is the opposite side of the ridge (the left side).

Heading back.

On your way back, continue to observe your surroundings.

Many times you will see things that you didn't see on the way up.

You can see the parkway from here.

Back at the parking lot.  Time to refuel...water, fig bars, apples, etc.

Take some time out of your busy life and come to this area, 
especially at this time of the year (October).  The trees are turning
into their fall colors, the weather is beautiful, and the trails
are great!  When you get hungry there are some fantastic places
to eat in Asheville!  

Make time to explore!!