Compost Demonstration Area at Hemlock Bluffs

 

A very helpful and educational little compost area is located behind the classroom building and across from the entrance to the Children's Nature Trail as you walk toward the courtyard from the parking area when you first arrive at Hemlock Bluffs. 

 

 

Whether you compost at home or not, you'll probably see something new in this area which staff and volunteers have created to use in educating visitors and program participants about compost.  The original area has been in place and has been used by staff for educational and hands-on purposes in the gardens, however a recent upgrade was made by a Girl Scout Gold candidate and her troop, family and soccer team. Several different types of compost bins are available for visitors to see and to observe how compost is actually breaking down.

Recently added, this wire and wood bin is attractive and works very well

The staff's favorite, this slat bin is easy to tend because the slats pop out on one side allowing easy access for turning



This bin, available online, requires little attention

A new experiment this roller type bin spins the compost when you turn it on its glide base

An educational bulletin board and informational brochure are available right on the wall providing pertinent details about composting, its benefits and how it benefits the environment.

Stop by and take a look next time you are at the preserve!

Summer Heat is Basking time for Copperheads

 

 

Keep your eyes open when you visit the Preserve on these hot summer afternoons.  Hot days and cool nights are the time of year copperheads are active in the woods of North Carolina.  If you aren't a keen observer you might not even know you've walked right by one.

 

 

Copperheads are masters of camouflage, they blend into the leaves on the forest floor. You can be walking the trails at Hemlock Bluffs and a copperhead can be right beside the path.  This isn't usually a problem because during the day, copperheads are typically resting, warming in the sun and gathering their energy for a night of hunting small mammals.  If you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

 

However, if you or your dog come across a copperhead and annoy it (by poking it with a stick, or your dog barking at it), the snake will defend itself and may strike.  Copperheads are normally docile unless provoked, they do not like to waste their venom, but every year people and dogs are bitten in NC (it's rarely deadly).

There are copperheads at Hemlock Bluffs, they are a natural part of the ecosystem.  They are a beautiful snake when you think about how well camouflaged they are in their environment.  They help keep the rodent population in check.  If you see a snake of any sort while you are walking, look at it, admire it and leave it alone.  If you give it a wide berth and walk away, it will leave you alone.  Most importantly, keep pets and children away from any snake.  Help by teaching your children to respect animals in nature, even if you are a little afraid.

The Rain Garden at Hemlock Bluffs

Across the courtyard from the steps in front of the classroom building is a lush green vegetative spot where a rain garden has been installed.  A rain garden is designed to route rain water off the roof, through the gutters, into pipes then into a garden which slowly releases the water into the nearby landscape.  In this case, the woods.

 

An educational sign in the garden explains how the rain garden works.

 Designed, constructed and installed by a local Eagle Scout, the rain garden at Hemlock Bluffs collects all the rain water that falls onto the classroom building's roof.  The garden is constructed in such a way that rocks slow the water as it enters the garden and then native plants which typically grow in wet woodlands are planted in the garden to utilize the deposited water.  These native plants can survive in North Carolina's variable weather and rainfall over the years, so they are good choices for a rain garden.

Park Operations Manager, Mark Johns uses the Rain Garden as an example
when he teaches about native plants and wildlife gardening.

Park staff recommended the use of a variety of native plants be placed in the rain garden including; ferns, herbaceous plants, grasses and shrubs. Species diversity is important in the event of disease and pest invasion, and is more attractive to wildlife like birds and butterflies.

Several species of native plants are included in the rain garden to include blooms throughout the growing season.  A few suggested successful rain garden plants are shown below.

Netted Chain Fern

Cardinal Flower

Christmas Fern







Watch the rain garden throughout the year as you visit the nature preserve, it looks different in every season.