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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

March’s Mountain Wildflower: Rue Anemone

A member of the buttercup family and found in the open woodlands, rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) has long, thin stems that tremble in the slightest of winds—prompting its other common name, windflower.

January’s Wild Edible: Pokeweed

Pokeweed is one of the wild plants that is most associated with the Blue Ridge Region.

December’s Wild Edible: Purple-Spored Puffball

The purple-spored typically grows in this region’s fields, often appearing from October through December and into early January.

Ride the Rails, Explore Rockbridge County: Make a Weekend of the 611 in Goshen!

This fall, one of America’s most iconic steam locomotives is making tracks and memories.

November’s Wild Edible: Bitternut Hickory

Frankly, this native species to the Blue Ridge mountains comes by its name honestly.

Current Issue

e1b70596-05c8-11f1-92e0-1248ae80e59d-3-2026rueanemone--credit-Joe-Cook

March’s Mountain Wildflower: Rue Anemone

A member of the buttercup family and found in the open woodlands, rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) has long, thin stems that tremble in the slightest of winds—prompting its other common name, windflower.
Pokeweed growing in Floyd County, Virginia.

January’s Wild Edible: Pokeweed

Pokeweed is one of the wild plants that is most associated with the Blue Ridge Region.
A purple-spored puffball growing in a field in Botetourt County, VA.

December’s Wild Edible: Purple-Spored Puffball

The purple-spored typically grows in this region’s fields, often appearing from October through December and into early January.
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Ride the Rails, Explore Rockbridge County: Make a Weekend of the 611 in Goshen!

This fall, one of America’s most iconic steam locomotives is making tracks and memories.
The compound, lancelike leaflets of the bitternut are a good identifier.

November’s Wild Edible: Bitternut Hickory

Frankly, this native species to the Blue Ridge mountains comes by its name honestly.
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Departments

Knoxville Asian Festival, August 29-30,  Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo courtesy of Asian Culture Center of TN
Events

Fall 2026 Festivals & Events Guide

From the Virginias and the Carolinas to Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, our annual compendium is the perfect travel companion. Inside,

April 20, 2026
4th of July Parade & Festival, July 4, Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Events

Summer 2026 Festivals & Events Guide

From the Virginias and the Carolinas to Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, our annual compendium is the perfect travel companion. Inside,

April 20, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS