Different plants thrive in different conditions. (Except maybe dandelions, which are hardy everywhere.) The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen’s Plant Propagation team has compiled a very useful, free guide to what works where in this area. Check it out online here.
October- December 2016
Our Saturday morning guided hikes are designed to help people better understand the nature of Wintergreen and the surrounding wilderness. Topics range from tree and wildflower identification to geology and wildlife. These special programs are free for Foundation Members, free for kids with Family Memberships, and available to non-members for a fee. Dogs are welcome at The Trillium House, on the grounds and trails. However, we respectfully ask to refrain from bringing your dog on our guided hikes. Unless otherwise noted all Saturday hikes meet at 10am at the Nature Foundation’s Trillium House. Note: December hike begin at 1pm. Check our website or updates and as always, sign up early.
Topic to be announced. Join a Foundation Naturalist for an interpretive hike. Explore Wintergreen’s natural environment! These hikes are rated moderate. FREE/Members, $8/Non-Members.
In the spirit of the 2016 Olympic games, this power hike series is designed to challenge the hiking enthusiast to become a gold medalist! The first of the series will begin along Wintergreen’s neighboring trail, The Appalachian Trail. We will start at Humpback Rocks and hike south to Dripping Rock, a moderate 4 mile hike. Bring water. Wear hiking shoes/boots. $6 Members/ $10 Non-members. Payment is due at time of registration.
Discover Swannanoa Palace, famed for its unique Italian renaissance architecture and cast of characters as unique as the mansion. Millionaire and philanthropist James H. Dooley and wife Sallie May built their summer retreat in 1913 away from their permanent home, Maymont in Richmond. The tale of this magnificent yet, mysterious palace doesn’t end with the Dooleys. Come and enjoy a unique tour with the Director of Events at Swannanoa, Sandi Dulaney, as she reveals the truth behind these gilded walls. Bring your camera and money for lunch. $25 Members/ $35 Non-members. Payment is due at time of registration.
Join Josh Palumbo as he leads a hike into Wintergreen’s natural environment to explain the secrets of the fall season. This informative hike is a must for those seeking answers to the why, what, and how of the changing season. Dress appropriately for the weather. $3/Members, $6/Non-Members.
Do you enjoy photographing the autumn beauty in nature but would like to improve your DSLR and creative skills? Join local Virginia Fine Art and Commercial Photographer, Kevin Blackburn on Wintergreen’s trails to learn a few basic techniques in the art of Nature Photography. This activity will be photographing as you go, so bring your digital camera and be ready to shoot! $10 Members/ $15 Non-members. Payment is due at time of registration.
The second of the power hike series will begin along Wintergreen’s neighboring trail system: The Appalachian Trail. We will start at Dripping Rock and hike south to Reids Gap for moderate 4.8 miles. Bring water. Wear hiking shoes/boots. $6 Members/ $10 Non-members. Payment is due at time of registration.
Journey to Schuyler as we witness the reclamation of nature from the grips of industry. Once home to a piece of the world’s capital of soapstone production, the Quarry Gardens are being regenerated as a 40 acre public garden site focused on native plants amongst a 400 acre conservation easement. Enjoy a tour of the site while we learn of the history of the soapstone industry and the efforts to assist the natural restoration of the habitat. Bring lunch and plenty of water. $10 Members/ $15 Non-members. Payment is due at time of registration.
Join in this spookacular event at The Trillium House, where we will embark on a not- so- natural adventure at twilight. You will meet a few woodland creatures and hear about their lives during this family-fun activity that will end with treats and maybe some tricks! Dress for weather. Bring your favorite camp chair. Register by October 28. $6 Members/ $8 Non-members. Payment is due at time of registration.
Topic to be announced. Join a Foundation Naturalist for an interpretive hike. Explore Wintergreen’s natural environment! These hikes are rated moderate. FREE/ Members, $8/ Non-Members
The last of the power hike series will begin at 1pm for a challenging, go for the gold, hike from Reids Gap to the summit of Three Ridges and back for total of 9.2 miles. Moderate/difficult. Bring water. Wear hiking shoes/boots. $6 Members/ $10 Non-members. Payment is due at time of registration.
Join Director Doug Coleman for a historical driving tour along the Tye River Valley discussing early European settlement. We will explore from Tye River Rt. 56 intersection and then proceed west along Rt. 56 up the Tye River Valley. The trip will continue to Pharsalia plantation, then along 56 to the Blue Ridge Parkway where you can enjoy a picnic lunch before we head home along the parkway. Bring a bag lunch. $20/ Members, $25/ Non-Members. Payment is due at time of registration.
This is your chance to hear from us directly on what we’ve been doing in your community. This event will be located at the Skyline Pavilion. We will follow WPOA.
Plan to attend the Owner’s Orientation to learn about the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen (TNFW).Why is the Nature Foundation important? Which hiking trail has a waterfall? What should you plant and why? How do you live with your four legged neighbors? Enjoy tales of the early days as Wintergreen was first formed and have all your Wintergreen questions answered. This event is free but registration is required. Please register by Wednesday, November 9.
Come spend a day with Josh Palumbo as we journey west to Big House Mountain. This monolith sits isolated from other peaks just west of Lexington and offers grand views to the south. The difficult trek will take adventurous hikers past old homesteads, up steep mountain faces and onto great overlooks. After the hard climb to the peak we will travel into Lexington to reward ourselves with ice cream. This hike is rated as difficult with numerous vertical climbs. Bring plenty of food, water and cash (they don’t accept credit cards) for ice cream. $10 Members/$15 Non-Members. Payment is due at time of registration.
Come and enjoy a morning exploration of Bon Aire, a federal period home in Shipman. A guided tour will take you through the first floor, then to the original brick kitchen on the lower level for a demonstration of techniques and tools used to prepare early 19th century foodways over a fire. This unique experience will allow you to fill your plate with food prepared using recipes of the period! $65/ Members, $75/ Non-Members. Registration deadline is November 17. Payment is due at time of registration and includes lunch.
Topic to be announced. Join a Foundation Naturalist for an interpretive hike. Explore Wintergreen’s natural environment! These hikes are rated moderate. FREE/Members, $8/Non-Members
Watch our website, www.twnf.org, and This Week at Wintergreen for details about our exciting holiday week programs: Crafts, hikes, games, stories and more – fun for the whole family!
