Come out to Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and take a walk.  When it's hot out at your house it's a little cooler in the shady woods of the nature preserve.  So, plan a hike to beat the heat.

When you park in the parking lot, take a moment to look between the upper and lower parking areas.  On the hillside between the two lots, there is a planting of native wildflowers including: stokes' asters, butterfly milkweed, purple coneflower and more.  These flowers not only look beautiful, they provide nectar or bees and butterflies, then when they go to seed they provide food for songbirds.

As you walk onto the trails from the courtyard, you'll go under a large wooden arbor.  It is covered in the bright red blooms of our native coral honeysuckle.  If you're lucky you may get buzzed by a ruby throated hummingbird.  Coral honeysuckle is a favorite nectar source for our native hummingbird.

The woods are lush and green now a great hiding place for daytime animals, like lizards and squirrels who are trying to stay cool.  Walk the Swift Creek Loop Trail and look for the recently spent blooms on Galax plants as you descend the large staircase.

The stairs are also a great place to keep an eye out for chewed nuts or pinecones on the handrails....evidence squirrels have had a meal.

Enjoy your walk at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve today!