Blue Wall Weekly: April 19, 2021

To view the Blue Wall Weekly as a web page, click here. [Gmail messages are clipped. Click link on bottom left corner to view entire newsletter.]       Greetings!   Welcome to the Blue Wall Weekly, your source for what's going on outside along the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. Feel free to share your own  photos, videos, and adventures along the Blue Wall by sending them to the email address at the bottom of the page, and we'll do our best to make you (locally) famous!   Flowers   Take a day forecast to be in the low 50s, but climbs into the low 70s, forecast to be cloudy but turns into a bright blue sunshiny day, and then add more native wildflowers than even seems possible in such a short and easy walk in the hills of SC. Here we have it: the perfect April Saturday. This wasn’t just any wildflower walk… this one roamed over a mountain made of rock made of minerals which teeters towards a more neutral balance in that mysterious scale of measurement called pH (for potential (or power) of hydrogen). Whatever the science, the diversity of plants and beauty of blooms made for a spectacular day. There are many such places--and many such perfect days--along the base of the Blue Wall: Natural Heritage Preserves, State Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Botanical Gardens, favorite trails. Get out and explore while spring is in the air. ~K   Geranium maculatum, aka Wild geranium   SPECIAL EVENTS WITH JOCASSEE LAKE TOURS    Guided Kayak Tours April 20: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Book Now! April 25: 10:00 Am-4:00 PM Book Now! May  4: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Book Now! May  9: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Book Now!   Full Moon Rising Tour April 26: 6:30-8:30 PM  Book Now!   First Sunday Expeditions w/ Keith Bradley May 2: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Book Now!   CALL OR BOOK ONLINE TO RESERVE SEATS www.jocasseelaketours.com       Gavia immer, aka Common Loon Photo by Craig Williams     THIS WEEK! APRIL 19   STATE PARK EVENTS   Oconee Station State Historic Site January 1-December 31 Thursdays-Sundays: 9:00 AM-6:00 PM Park Grounds Open, Guided Tours- Saturdays & Sundays 1:00-5:00 PM     MEETUP EVENTS: WHAT IS A MEETUP?   Western NC Backpackers April 23: 2:00 PM-April 25: 4:00 PM Foothills Trail- 2 Nights, 30 Miles   Join us for a 2 night backpacking trip along the Foothills Trail from Bad Creek to Laurel Valley.   Horsepasture Bridge and trail access, Photo by FTC   GNHA April 24: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Raven Cliff Falls to the Bridge and Back   We will start at the Raven Cliff falls trailhead and hike to the bridge on top of the falls and back.   Blue Ridge Backpackers April 25: 8:00 AM-May 2: 4:00 PM 7 Day/ 6 Night, Foothills Trail Thru Hike (Slow Pace)   Slower paced thru hike of the beautiful Foothills Trail; we’ll meet at Table Rock State Park and shuttle to start our hike at Oconee.     OTHER OUTDOOR EVENTS   SCNPS April 20: 6:30-8:00 PM Upstate- April General Meeting   Take a photographic journey with naturalist and environmental educator Tricia Kyzer exploring how ecological communities we live in can shape us and become a part of our story and how we can find our place in our wild communities.   Tricia Kyzer, SC Master Naturalist, JLT nature guide extraordinaire   Oconee History Museum April 22: 7:00 PM How-To History Series via Zoom   Each week we will share valuable research methods and explore local and online resources that help unlock the past.   Lake Conestee Nature Preserve April 23: 9:30 AM-1:30 PM Homeschool Day   This event will be all about rivers! Younger students will investigate the differences between rivers and lakes. The older students will look at river morphology and how rivers change over time and how they change the landscape.   Foothills Trail Conservancy April 24: 9:00 AM Trail Maintenance   FTC Maintenance Coordinator will email the location, time, and project at least a week ahead of the scheduled date.   Foothills Trail Conservancy April 24: 9:00 AM Whitewater Falls Wildflower Walk   Led by Gary Kauffman, USFS botanist and ecologist, this annual rite of spring always has an enormous display of wildflowers that are easily photographed.   Hagood Mill Historic Site April 24: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Exploratory Day Camp   Help your children explore their interests by spending the day at the Hagood Mill learning a variety of hands on crafts and activities!   SC Botanical Garden Events   April 24: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM SCNPS Certificate Core- Sustainable Landscaping   Join instructor Rick Huffman in this class to explore how to design with nature.  This is a zoom class.    Asimina triloba, Pawpaw flower   Visit our office/bookstore to find books about Lake Jocassee  and the  Jocassee Gorges!  Books about local history, geology, poetry, waterfalls, hiking trails, and more! 15477 Highway 11 Salem, SC     Please follow and support JOCASSEE WILD OUTDOOR EDUCATION on Instagram and Facebook   WEEKLY EVENTS WITH JOCASSEE LAKE TOURS   Warm Season Lake Tours Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM  Book Now!   Sunday Afternoon Tours 2:30-5:30 PM  Book Now!   Saturday Sunset Tours Beginning May 1: 6:30-8:30 PM  Book Now!   FISHING ADVENTURES WITH CAPT. ZACH  8:00 AM-12:00 PM  Call to Book!     PRIVATE TOURS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE! 864-280-5501      THIS WEEK ON LAKE JOCASSEE APRIL 19, 2021   CAPT. DAN’S SPRINGTIME FLOWER POWER REPORT.  ‘Another fabulous day on the lake. Started off with 6 migrating loons feeding on shore by campground.  Next we saw an immature Bald Eagle soaring over us and Howard Creek.  Lots of Frasier Magnolias in full flower with Short leaf Rhododendrons beginning to bloom.  One of my favorite plants on the lake is Horse Sugar (Symplocos tinctoria) which is now in full bloom.  The Shealy's Saxifrage on the big rock face on the Whitewater was really full blooming now.  On the way into the Whitewater River we saw a large flock of ducks flying low to the water around towards the Thompson River.  Right after that sighting, I got my binoculars on a pair of Blue Winged Teal that flew from the near shore to across the river from us.  The Yellow Buckeye, Pinxterflower Azalea and Black Cherry are all blooming as well.  Saw one Double-crested Cormorant, a few Kingfishers and one Great Blue Heron to boot.  The Dutchman's Pipe and Vasey's Trillium were still blooming at Silverbell Cove. The Faded Trillium and the Pinkish White Wake Robins highlighted Coley Creek Falls.  My old friend the banded water snake at the Thompson River takeout was willing to share his rock with us quite cordially as we reloaded the boat after a short walk up to view and taste of Sidepocket Falls.  Had a great weather day, and greater crew to share the day with today, and 9 waterfalls to experience’. ~Dan Whitten SPRING LOON MIGRATION- It’s not over yet, though it is tapering down. For the next couple of weeks you should still be able to see loons in their indescribably beautiful breeding plumage. It’s the only time of year any of us living in this neck of the woods get a chance to see them like this.  Not to be missed! ~B     COMING SOON! APRIL/MAY   STATE PARK EVENTS   More Events Coming Soon!     MEETUP EVENTS: WHAT IS A MEETUP?   Blue Ridge Backpackers May 7: 7:15 AM-May 12:30 PM Thru Hiking the Foothills Trail. 5 Days, 15+ Per Day, 77 Miles Total     OTHER OUTDOOR EVENTS   Lake Conestee Nature Preserve April 23: 9:30 AM-1:30 PM Homeschool Day   Foothills Trail Conservancy April 24 Trail Maintenance   Foothills Trail Conservancy April 24: 9:00 AM Whitewater Falls Wildflower Walk   Oconee History Museum April 29: 7:00 PM How-To History Series via Zoom   Friends of Jocassee (FOJ) May 1: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM Trout Tournament   Lake Conestee Nature Preserve May 6: 3:30-5:00 PM Dragons and Damsels   Foothills Trail Conservancy May 8: 8:00 AM Sassafras to Chimneytop Gap   Greenville Bird Club May 15: 7:00 AM-12:00 PM (Longer Walk) May 15: 8:00 AM-10:30 PM (Shorter Walk) Lake Conestee Nature Preserve   Foothills Trail Conservancy May 15: 9:30 AM Rainbow Falls at Gorges State Park     SC  Botanical Garden Events   May 3: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM SNPC Elective Class: Introduction to Soils   May 11 Lunch and Learn with Clemson Extension: Beginner Birding     BORROWED GLIMPSES     Calycanthus floridus, Carolina allspice or Sweet shrub, Photo by Dan Whitten       Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Photo by Southern Piedmont Natural History     Jocassee speaks to the 'Wild Child' in every generation.  Keller (foreground) and Harry McCall fishing from the dock at Camp Jocassee Lake, 1958.  Thanks to Harry for this borrowed glimpse.        Come join us on a kayak "adventour". Never paddled before? No worries. Our certified guides will teach you how. Photo by Kerry McKenzie      SPECIAL THANKS TO SHERYL WHITE, NEWSLETTER EVENTS COMPILER and DAN WHITTEN, SPRING FLOWER POWER REPORTER DID YOU KNOW? The middle of the range on the soil pH scale is the best range for bacterial growth in the soil to promote decomposition. The decomposition process releases nutrients and minerals into the soil, making them available for the plants or shrubs to use. Soil fertility depends on pH. The mid range is also perfect for micro-organisms that convert the nitrogen in the air into a form which the plants can readily use. When the pH rating is outside the mid range, both of these extremely important processes become more and more inhibited, thus locking up the nutrients in the soil such that the plant cannot take them up and use them to their full advantage.   ABOUT THE BLUE WALL   Spanning three states (North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) and encompassing 859,000 acres, the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, known as the 'Blue Wall' by Native Americans, contains some of the highest natural diversity of rare plants and animals found anywhere in the world. www.JocasseeLakeTours.com info@jocasseelaketours.com   Phone:  864-280-5501 Jocassee Lake Tours Depart from the Main Dock at Devils Fork State Park       PLEASE CALL 864-280-5501 AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO RESERVE YOUR SEATS!  Not your cup ot tea? Unsubscribe from Newsletter   Enjoy this Lake Jocassee peaceful hideaway. CAMP GLAMP!   Love Jocassee? Help protect and preserve the beauty of Lake Jocassee and the Jocassee Gorges by joining FOJ! Visit Oconee Convention and Visitors Bureau   Your Portal to Paradise!      Lake Jocassee & Lake Keowee

CAPT. DAN’S SPRINGTIME FLOWER POWER REPORT.  ‘Another fabulous day on the lake.  Started off with 6 migrating loons feeding on shore by campground.  Next we saw an immature Bald Eagle soaring over us and Howard Creek.  Lots of Frasier Magnolias in full flower with Short leaf Rhododendrons beginning to bloom.  One of my favorite plants on the lake is Horse Sugar (Symplocos tinctoria) which is now in full bloom.  The Shealy's Saxifrage on the big rock face on the Whitewater was really full blooming now.  On the way into the Whitewater River we saw a large flock of ducks flying low to the water around towards the Thompson River.  Right after that sighting, I got my binoculars on a pair of Blue Winged Teal that flew from the near shore to across the river from us.  The Yellow Buckeye, Pinxterflower Azalea and Black Cherry are all blooming as well.  Saw one Double-crested Cormorant, a few Kingfishers and one Great Blue Heron to boot.  The Dutchman's Pipe and Vasey's Trillium were still blooming at Silverbell Cove.  The Faded Trillium and the Pinkish White Wake Robins highlighted Coley Creek Falls.  My old friend the banded water snake at the Thompson River takeout was willing to share his rock with us quite cordially as we reloaded the boat after a short walk up to view and taste of Sidepocket Falls.  Had a great weather day, and greater crew to share the day with today, and 9 waterfalls to experience’

He only wants to do it when he’s inspired

SPRING LOON MIGRATION- It’s not over yet, though it is tapering down. For the next couple of weeks you should still be able to see loons in their indescribably beautiful breeding plumage. It’s the only time of year any of us living in this neck of the woods get a chance to see them like this.  Not to be missed!