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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Sandhill Crane

Early holiday gifts are flying overhead as the Sandhill Cranes return to (and through) the Blue Ridge from points north!

December’s Wild Edible: Shagbark Hickory Nuts and Bark

Some effort is required to eat shagbark hickory nuts, but it’s a worthwhile enterprise as the nutmeat inside features a delightfully sweet aroma.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: American Redstart

This sweetly-songed wood warbler is (along with the Black-and-white Warbler) one of the most distinct in the Blue Ridge.

November’s Wild Edible: Persimmons

My wife Elaine and I regard our region’s native wild persimmon as, hands down, our favorite fall fruit and also as the source for our favorite kinds of homemade bread and cookies any time of the year.

The Good Mountain Mutt – Happy, Healthy Holidays

Dogs don’t understand that you’re tense because you promised to make five pies. But with a little planning and understanding, we can help our dogs get through the holidays without incident.

Current Issue

5ef2c57a-3957-11eb-a252-1244d5f7c7c6-Sandhill-Cranes-2---photo-by-KS-Nature-Photography-_2_

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Sandhill Crane

Early holiday gifts are flying overhead as the Sandhill Cranes return to (and through) the Blue Ridge from points north!
9ee26044-34d6-11eb-9ce2-1244d5f7c7c6-1._Hickory_nuts

December’s Wild Edible: Shagbark Hickory Nuts and Bark

Some effort is required to eat shagbark hickory nuts, but it’s a worthwhile enterprise as the nutmeat inside features a delightfully sweet aroma.
ead9beb2-1fae-11eb-9e2a-1244d5f7c7c6-American-Redstart-1-by-Michael-Todd

Birds of the Blue Ridge: American Redstart

This sweetly-songed wood warbler is (along with the Black-and-white Warbler) one of the most distinct in the Blue Ridge.
497c049c-1d21-11eb-b619-1244d5f7c7c6-1._Wild_native_persimmons

November’s Wild Edible: Persimmons

My wife Elaine and I regard our region’s native wild persimmon as, hands down, our favorite fall fruit and also as the source for our favorite kinds of homemade bread and cookies any time of the year.
Memphis is dressed for Christmas

The Good Mountain Mutt – Happy, Healthy Holidays

Dogs don’t understand that you’re tense because you promised to make five pies. But with a little planning and understanding, we can help our dogs get through the holidays without incident.
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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