Saturday’s wildflower workshop and walk in Rugby was a great success. Linda Konig led the group of about 20, including instructor Jack Carman, to a number of interesting sites which Linda mentions in her Nature Notes below. In addition to the many wildflowers, some of us got to see a long slender lime green “vine snake” near the Community Building, which somebody from Crossville said is becoming fairly rare in this area.
The group also saw an interesting variety of mushrooms which bodes well for the mushroom workshop coming up on September 27.
Barbara Stagg asked that I express Historic Rugby's appreciation for the wonderful job Linda Konig did of helping organize and carry out the fall wildflower program. “Linda prepared a truly comprehensive list of the fall flowers folks might see, and did a great deal of scouting of good locations. She is truly our own resident naturalist and an appreciated volunteer.”
Here is a picture of the enthusiastic wildflower group at Clear Fork Farm.
And speaking of flowers and other good things, the tall blue aster that people in Rugby call Michaelmas Daisies are starting to bloom. Historic Rugby has some of them for sale at the Commissary.
Benefit September 20
Don’t forget the benefit concert, cakewalk and auction this Saturday, September 20 to benefit Steve and Annie Bell, longtime Rugby supporters and talented crafts people. The benefit will begin at 6:00 pm at the Community Center in Rugby. The music will be provided by Butch Hodgkins of Lonesome County Line Band, Gerald Hanwright and others.
The organizers are soliciting donations, both monetary and items for the auction. They are also hoping many of those who come will bring goodies for the cakewalk – cakes, pies, cookies, etc. - and asking everyone to bring finger food to share (drinks will be provided).
Donations may be mailed and/or dropped off at Rugby Commissary, c/o Rita Elliot, P.O. Box 8, 5569 Rugby Hwy.,Rugby, TN 37733
Next Two Weeks
Carrie Thornthwaite will be doing the newsletter the next two weeks. So if you have any news for her, email her at Carrie.Thornthwaite@lipscomb.edu
New Trailhead Kiosk
A few weeks ago the Park Service put up a new kiosk with trail information and a map at the Rugby Trailhead for the Gentlemen’s Swimming Hole and Meeting of the Waters Trails. For those of you who have not been down there recently, here is a photo taken by George Zepp.
Birthdays
September 17 - Terry Martin
September 22 - Charles Russell
Calendar of Events
September 19 - One Stroke Painting Class by Mara Trumbo on Sunflowers and Dragonflies this Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at First Baptist Church, Jamestown. $25.00 all inclusive. Call Mara if you need a ride (423) 628-6591
September 20 – Hidden History Walk with Barbara Stagg – Voices from the Past at Laurel Dale Cemetery. Noon to 4:00 pm EDT. Begins with a lunch discussion followed by a walk around the cemetery. Contact Historic Rugby for reservation 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
September 20 – Benefit for Steve and Annie Bell – 6:00 pm EDT at the Rugby Community Building. For more information, contact: Rita (at Rugby Commissary), 423-628-5166, Donna (Spirit of Red Hill), 423-627-4397 or Cheryl (Carriage House Gallery), 423-628-6569.
September 27 – Wild Mushrooming Workshop – Instructor Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock. 9:00 am to noon EDT. Hike into gorges around Rugby, learning to identify many fungi. Fee $20. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
September 27 –Full day oil painting class in the Jenkins "Wet-On-Wet" technique by instructor Mara Trumbo at the Artist Corner Crossville from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Central. Subject is Victorian Roses Bouquet. Price $65.00 inclusive of use of materials and lunch. Canvas to be purchased in-store. Call Mara (423) 628-6591. If minimum of 4 sign-ups not attained, a smaller class will be held at Rugby Home and canvas will be included at no extra cost.
October 3-5 – White Oak Basketry Workshop –“From Tree to Basket”. Instructors Beth Hester and Scott Gilbert. 9:00am to 4:00 pm. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
October 3 – Lonesome County Line performance at Christ Church Episcopal 7:30 pm EDT
October 4 – Michaelmas Festival at Christ Church Episcopal - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm EDT. English Cream Tea seatings at noon, 1.30 pm and 3:00 pm - $10 per person – reservations required for tea – call 423-628-6250 or 423-628-1282.
October 4 – Community Potluck – 6:00 pm EDT (Please note the earlier than usual time)
October 4 – Janet Courtney from Rugby England “Victorian England” 7:30 pm EDT at Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Part of the Christ Church Michaelmas Festival
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House
Dulcimer Class – Tuesdays, 2:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House
Nature Notes by Linda Konig
Those of you who missed Rugby’s first Fall Wildflower Walk this Saturday missed a great day of appreciation for our local wildflower diversity.
We spent the morning visiting a pond and surrounding meadow at Clear Fork Farm. Many thanks to Ted and Barbara Lankford who allowed us to explore to our hearts’ content. Jack Carman, who led the walk, said it was “such a rich area of wildflowers.” My personal count of flowers came to 49 we saw there, but I may have missed a couple. I learned four new-to-me wildflowers, my favorite being flower-of-an-hour (hibiscus trienum). Its five petals were cream colored with the center being purple/black. The handsome leaves were lobed. It’s a rare exotic beauty in Tennessee.
After lunch, we walked part way down Hiwassee Road where aster family members predominate and bluecurls are the highlight. Next we visited the wild poinsettias in a flower bed at Grey Gables and along the park road leading to the baptizing/swimming hole in the Clear Fork River to see northern horse balm, wingstems, and yellow crownbeard, among others. The Little Creek area near the White Oak was the last stop. There we saw southern harebells, liverworts, Indian pipes, etc.
Hot, tired and happy we finished the day by watching some of Jack Carman’s summer-fall wildflower slides in air-conditioned comfort at the Visitor Centre auditorium.
