Arrowwood Viburnum
Arrowwood Viburnum – Viburnum dentatum – is a native shrub species found throughout the eastern portion of the United States from hardiness zones 2 through 8. It grows to a mature height of 6 to 15 feet and is deciduous. The common name for this species comes from Native Americans, who used the straight stems of the plant as arrows.
Framework for the Future Makes a Splash
Developed from fall 2020 to spring 2021, the Framework draws together detailed input and aspirations from over 800 participants including staff, board members, volunteers, nearby residents, and community members, creating a guide for the future while preserving and expanding current programs.
Pennsylvania Sedge
Pennsylvania Sedge – Carex pensylvanica – is a highly variable native member of the Sedge (Cyperaceae) family and is widely distributed, growing in woods, woodland openings, and thickets, on upland organic soils in average to dry conditions, over much of eastern North America. While this is a flowering plant, its blossom is rather insignificant and has no fragrance. It is one of the most sought-after perennial groundcovers in the horticulture trade.
Annual Report June 2021
As we think back over the last year, it’s hard to believe how far Reflection Riding has come. We are incredibly proud of this work and how well it has positioned Reflection Riding for the future. Your support made it possible.
Cumberland Rosemary
Cumberland Rosemary – Conradina verticillata – is a deciduous, perennial short shrub and a member of the Mint (Lamiaceae) family. Currently, this species is on both the Tennessee and federal protection lists classified as Threatened. However, a variety is propagated commercially and, therefore, can be grown in our gardens. Cumberland Rosemary is only found in the wild in Kentucky and Tennessee. Wild specimens are protected because of habitat destruction.
Red Wolf Pups Born at Reflection Riding
Reflection Riding is very excited to announce the birth of two critically-endangered red wolf pups to parents, Apollo and Ruby, on April 15, 2021. These pups, Romulus and Remus, represent hope and excitement for the entire red wolf population, and they are being cared for here at Reflection Riding, where they were born. This news is incredibly exciting, as fewer than 250 American red wolves exist today, with very few in the wild.
Tennessee Coneflower
Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) is a perennial member of the Aster Family (Asteraceae) and is easily grown in medium moist, well-drained soil in full sun. This is perhaps the best of all the coneflowers for home gardens because its shorter habit keeps it from flopping over, and its blooms dry beautifully in place, holding most of their color.
Sweetbay Magnolia
The Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is indigenous to the eastern half of North America, especially along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Massachusetts to Texas. It is a stately tree and would be a beautiful addition to most suitable gardens as a specimen plant.
Fringe Tree
Fringe Tree - Chinoanthus virginicus - is a native, perennial, deciduous, hardy shrub or short tree with showy, fragrant, creamy-white flowers forming from May to June. It is a member of the olive (Oleacea) family. It grows to a height of 12 to 20 feet tall and with a similar width. It grows well in full sun to partial shade in a moist, well-drained soil. It prefers moist stream banks, hillsides, rocky bluffs and moist glades. The flowers of this species are an inch long and 1/16 inch wide, and they hang in show-stopping branched clusters 4 to 6 inches long.
The Association of Nature Center Administrators Honors Mark McKnight with 2021 ANCA Outstanding New Leader Award
The Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA) is pleased to announce Mark McKnight as recipient of the 2021 ANCA Outstanding New Leader Award.
Yellowwood
Yellowwood – Cladrastis kentukea - This small to medium sized tree is a member of the pea (or Fabaceae) family. Because of its striking flowers in the spring and its eye-catching foliage in the autumn, American yellowwood is a good selection for a specimen tree to add interest to any garden.
Historic Release of Eight Endangered American Red Wolves
This collaborative effort is the first time since 1998 that adult American red wolves were released directly into the recovery area of Eastern North Carolina.
Coyote Logistics Volunteers Clear Invasive Species
Invasive species management is a daunting and ongoing task. We thank the volunteers of Coyote Logistics for spending Earth Day with us and helping to remove Chinese privet and restore habitat for native plants and wildlife.
Carolina Allspice or Sweetshrub
Carolina Allspice or Sweetshrub – Calycanthus florida – is a deciduous, rounded shrub reaching a height of 6 to 9 feet and a drip width of the same. The leaves are simple, opposite, 2 to 6 inches long and turn a bright yellow in the late autumn and winter. In mid tolerate spring, it produces a red to purple, fragrant flower.
Dwarf Crested Iris
Dwarf Crested Iris – Iris cristata – is a perennial herb and is a member of the Iris family (Iridaceae) that is rather low in stature, attaining a height of only 4 to 16 inches tall. It has light blue sepals with a white or yellow striped band.
Happy Birthday to Reflection Riding’s Red Wolves!
April and May are Red Wolf birthday months! Red Wolves only breed one time per year with the breeding season in January, February, March (usually late January into February in the southeast) with a 63 day gestation period leading to April and May birthdays.
Smooth Witherod
Smooth witherod (Viburnum nudum) is a stunning, perennial, deciduous shrub found throughout the eastern and southeastern United States from Connecticut to Florida and then westward to Louisiana.
Cherokee Sedge
Cherokee sedge (Carex cherokeensis) is a perennial member of the grass group of plants. It is a native plant to the southeastern and southcentral portions of North America.