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Birds of the Blue Ridge: White-throated Sparrow

These large, plump sparrows with a small bill scratch backward on the ground and are regular visitors to backyard feeders.

February’s Wild Edible: Turkey Tail Mushrooms

In our region, one of the most common mushrooms during the fall and winter is the turkey tail mushroom.

Kurt’s Hikes: Oct-Dec, 2022

Our fall hikes included lots of old favorites, a few urban walks and three great family hikes, with grandkids as young as 5 along for hikes of nearly eight miles total—in the cold!

January’s Wild Edible: Teaberry

Gaultheria procumbens, also known as the winterberry, boxberry, and checkerberry more or less officially goes by the appellation of the Eastern teaberry, but most folks drop the first half of its name.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red Crossbill

Keep your binoculars at the ready. That “redbird” in the forest may not be a Cardinal!

Current Issue

70fed52a-a62d-11ed-84a6-12b3f1b64877-White-throated-Sparrow-4---photo-by-Mike-Blevins

Birds of the Blue Ridge: White-throated Sparrow

These large, plump sparrows with a small bill scratch backward on the ground and are regular visitors to backyard feeders.
Turkey tail growing on a dead hardwood stump.

February’s Wild Edible: Turkey Tail Mushrooms

In our region, one of the most common mushrooms during the fall and winter is the turkey tail mushroom.
b3c3b582-9d96-11ed-96a4-12b3f1b64877-IMG_1092

Kurt’s Hikes: Oct-Dec, 2022

Our fall hikes included lots of old favorites, a few urban walks and three great family hikes, with grandkids as young as 5 along for hikes of nearly eight miles total—in the cold!
Gaultheria procumbens.

January’s Wild Edible: Teaberry

Gaultheria procumbens, also known as the winterberry, boxberry, and checkerberry more or less officially goes by the appellation of the Eastern teaberry, but most folks drop the first half of its name.
844eb1d2-814c-11ed-8fbd-12b3f1b64877-Red-Crossbills-by-Michael-Todd

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red Crossbill

Keep your binoculars at the ready. That “redbird” in the forest may not be a Cardinal!
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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

CALENDAR OF EVENTS