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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

February’s Wild Edible: Fiddlehead Ferns

In decades and centuries past, settlers in these mountains consumed what they called the fiddleheads of ferns. But just what is a fiddlehead?

January’s Wild Edible: Cattails

Cattails are native plants throughout the Blue Ridge.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: White-breasted Nuthatch

This “pointy” little bird announces itself with a distinctive nasal “honk.”

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Eastern Towhee

The Eastern Towhee is a bird of the undergrowth.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red-headed Woodpecker

The handsome Red-headed Woodpecker is often the “spark” species for igniting interest in birding.

Current Issue

Christmas fern fiddleheads are not edible and can be toxic.

February’s Wild Edible: Fiddlehead Ferns

In decades and centuries past, settlers in these mountains consumed what they called the fiddleheads of ferns. But just what is a fiddlehead?
Clay Morris examining a cattail in a Shenandoah Valley pond.

January’s Wild Edible: Cattails

Cattails are native plants throughout the Blue Ridge.
15b5d9ea-b312-11ef-8894-12163087a831-White-breasted-Nuthatch-5---photo-by-Mike-Blevins

Birds of the Blue Ridge: White-breasted Nuthatch

This “pointy” little bird announces itself with a distinctive nasal “honk.”
Male Eastern Towhee

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Eastern Towhee

The Eastern Towhee is a bird of the undergrowth.
0cdfd840-b310-11ef-b112-12163087a831-Red-headed-Woodpecker---photo-by-Mike-Blevins

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red-headed Woodpecker

The handsome Red-headed Woodpecker is often the “spark” species for igniting interest in birding.
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Departments

Smith Mountain Lake Virginia is a hidden gem within the Blue Ridge Mountains. This beautiful area features boating, sailing, hiking, shopping, fishing, and much more.
From The Editor

Sarah Smiles: The Lake Effect

Growing up, many of my weekends were spent at my late step-grandmother’s house on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

June 26, 2026

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