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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

December’s Wild Edible: Northern Spicebush

This flora features alternate shiny leaves that are an appealing dark green and look something like an egg would if it has been stretched out.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Black-throated Blue Warbler

The male and female Black-throated Blue Warblers were once thought to be two separate species.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl is one of our largest and most common owls.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Purple Finch

This chunky little songbird with a cheerful series of whistles is more raspberry in color than what we commonly picture as purple.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Blue Jay

This familiar, friendly and fun bird is not actually blue!

Current Issue

Northern spicebush growing on the author’s Botetourt County, Virginia land.

December’s Wild Edible: Northern Spicebush

This flora features alternate shiny leaves that are an appealing dark green and look something like an egg would if it has been stretched out.
f8758a64-6c32-11ee-89ec-12163087a831-Black-throated-Blue-Warbler-female---photo-by-Michael-Todd

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Black-throated Blue Warbler

The male and female Black-throated Blue Warblers were once thought to be two separate species.
2159ae1c-6c31-11ee-8a34-12163087a831-Great-Horned-Owl-chicks---photo-by-KSNaturePhotography

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl is one of our largest and most common owls.
71b5aa62-4c03-11ee-b211-12163087a831-Purple-Finch-1---photo-by-Michael-Todd

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Purple Finch

This chunky little songbird with a cheerful series of whistles is more raspberry in color than what we commonly picture as purple.
50918122-4c02-11ee-a4f3-12163087a831-Blue-Jay-1---photo-by-Michael-Todd

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Blue Jay

This familiar, friendly and fun bird is not actually blue!
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Departments

At Coopers Rock State Forest, new Stargazer cabins invite guests to look up through skylights and telescopes.
Country Roads

Even Closer to Almost Heaven

New Stargazer cabins at Coopers Rock State Forest offer a skyward escape in the mountains of West Virginia.

June 29, 2026
©Duncan Seaman
Country Roads

A Mountain Tradition Turns 90 

Visitors flock to Galax, Virginia, each summer for the Old Fiddlers’ Convention, a days-long celebration of Appalachian music.

June 29, 2026
Synchronous Fireflies
Creature Feature

The Light Fantastic

Fireflies are struggling with the effects of artificial light.

June 29, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS