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Food & Flavors

CURRENT Food & Flavors

January’s Wild Edible: Cattails

Cattails are native plants throughout the Blue Ridge.

December’s Wild Edible: Black Haws

As an understory tree in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the common black haw is often overlooked although it’s common in these highlands.

Passionate about Potato Chips

Virginia’s Route 11 has been chipping away since 1992.

August’s Blue Ridge Mountain Apple Profile: Yellow Transparent

The Yellow Transparent tree bears earlier than most other Blue Ridge Mountain heritage trees with the fruit becoming ripe as early as July depending on elevation.

September’s Blue Ridge Mountain Apple Profile: The Jonathan

If there were a discussion about heritage apples that were made for these mountains, the list would have to include the Jonathan.

Current Issue

Clay Morris examining a cattail in a Shenandoah Valley pond.

January’s Wild Edible: Cattails

Cattails are native plants throughout the Blue Ridge.
The common black haw is an important wildlife food in late fall and early winter, as well as a nice snack for us.

December’s Wild Edible: Black Haws

As an understory tree in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the common black haw is often overlooked although it’s common in these highlands.
Freshly hand-seasoned, still-warm chips distribute across a chip scale for weighing and bagging.

Passionate about Potato Chips

Virginia’s Route 11 has been chipping away since 1992.
The Yellow Transparent is an important heritage apple in this region.

August’s Blue Ridge Mountain Apple Profile: Yellow Transparent

The Yellow Transparent tree bears earlier than most other Blue Ridge Mountain heritage trees with the fruit becoming ripe as early as July depending on elevation.
Jonathans are very attractive apples.

September’s Blue Ridge Mountain Apple Profile: The Jonathan

If there were a discussion about heritage apples that were made for these mountains, the list would have to include the Jonathan.
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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