Herb Day on the Blue Ridge Parkway

June 12, 2009

(Asheville, NC)—Join us on Saturday, June 27th for Herb Day at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center. A whole day of events including herb plant sales and presentations, a family-friendly hike, live music, book signing and more will take place at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 384. All events are free.

Western North Carolina herb farms, including Wildwood Herbal, will sell herb plants from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Mountain Farm of Yancey County will present the newest members of their goat herd, and the Herb Lady of Cedar Creek Farms, Becky Lipkin, will be hosting a “make and take” herbal demo.

From 10:30 a.m. until noon, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will co-host Tracking for Herbal Treasures. This hike will help kids of all ages discover herbal and native plant treasures found in and around the Blue Ridge Parkway. The North Carolina Native Plant Society will have several local plant species on display.

The Paul’s Creek String Band will perform at noon. This Asheville-based trio will make you clap, laugh or cry as they regale you with upbeat music, funny stories or an occasional sad song. Combining Southern Appalachian sounds with bluegrass, original material and old timey Southern Gospel music, all three members of the group sing both lead and harmony parts for a wide range of vocal material. Not stuck on styles, this group loves fun and loves to share their music.

Danny Bernstein will also be on hand at 1 p.m. with a slide presentation and signing of her newest book, Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage. In her second hiking guidebook, Danny Bernstein covers 66 of the best hikes in the North Carolina Blue Ridge, woven through with historical anecdotes to deepen a hiker's understanding of the region.

From Stone Mountain's roots of moonshining and NASCAR to the mystery of Rumbling Bald, used as the basis for Jules Verne's 1904 novel, Master of the World, nearly every hike has its own story to tell. Each entry includes clear maps, complete directions, hiking distance, trail highlights, elevation gain, related books and movies, photos, and much more.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, designated by Congress and the President in November 2003, works to protect, preserve, interpret, and develop the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of Western North Carolina for the benefit of present and future generations, and in so doing to stimulate improved economic opportunity in the region. National Heritage Areas are locally-governed institutions that encourage residents, non-profit groups, government agencies, and private partners to work together in planning and implementing programs that preserve and celebrate America’s defining landscapes.

Questions? Call the Blue Ridge Parkway Information Desk at 828-298-5330, or email waylonw@easternnational.org.

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