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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

November’s Wild Edible: Sourwood

The sourwood is only found in Eastern North America and is most abundant in the Blue Ridge – making it a quintessential Southern Appalachians tree.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Pileated Woodpecker

As one of our largest and most strikingly decorated forest birds, the Pileated Woodpecker is a delight to see and hear.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red-winged Blackbird

This species is known for their bold demeanor, particularly when there’s a nest to defend.

October’s Wild Edible: Black Trumpets

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, chanterelle family members such as the smooth and cinnabar light up the forest floor with their yellow and red hues, respectively. But their close relative the black trumpet is anything but flashy.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Northern Flicker

The first flicker I remember seeing confounded me. With binoculars in one hand and my favorite field guide in the other, a positive ID was made: Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker.

Current Issue

Sourwood leaves are edible and the blooms attract honeybees.

November’s Wild Edible: Sourwood

The sourwood is only found in Eastern North America and is most abundant in the Blue Ridge – making it a quintessential Southern Appalachians tree.
cb418c6c-55f1-11ed-91d7-12274efc5439-Pileated-Woodpecker-female---photo-by-Mike-Blevins

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Pileated Woodpecker

As one of our largest and most strikingly decorated forest birds, the Pileated Woodpecker is a delight to see and hear.
b9cc4ccc-4a27-11ed-8733-12274efc5439-Red-winged-Blackbird-1---photo-by-Mike-Blevins-_1_

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red-winged Blackbird

This species is known for their bold demeanor, particularly when there’s a nest to defend.
Black trumpets often grow in small colonies.

October’s Wild Edible: Black Trumpets

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, chanterelle family members such as the smooth and cinnabar light up the forest floor with their yellow and red hues, respectively. But their close relative the black trumpet is anything but flashy.
e2c11504-3dd4-11ed-a2f7-12274efc5439-Yellow-shafted-Flicker-1---photo-by-Mike-Blevins

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Northern Flicker

The first flicker I remember seeing confounded me. With binoculars in one hand and my favorite field guide in the other, a positive ID was made: Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker.
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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