August 2015

Vol 8, Issue 4

   
Doug & Jodee Sellers
877-231-6574 
  
     We hope you are having a great summer!
White Squirrel by Karen Peron
Like the rest of Asheville and the WNC mountains, we've been very busy with folks trying to escape the heat.  When we grumble about the temps here most guests tell us it sure beats what they are having back home.  I guess it is all relative.  
     Let me catch up on some past subjects.  Back in March we announced the first sighting of our white squirrel in the neighborhood and challenged anyone to win a free night's stay by getting a
Loe-D by Karen Peron
Leona by Karen Peron
picture.  We are happy to proclaim the white squirrel has been captured! - on film, well digitally.  In June, Karen and Manny Peron came for a week long visit.  She's an exceptionally talented photographer who has been a winner in all our contests and provided photos we use in our brochure and website.  Karen was determined to get a picture of the white squirrel but after six days of not seeing a glimpse of the mysterious, little creature they both were beginning to think it was just a myth.   As they were driving out on the day before they were to leave, the squirrel posed just long enough for Karen to get a couple of shots thru the windshield.  Perhaps not her usual perfect composition and focus, but the first and best shots we have of the furry ghost of Riverwind. 
      In one bit of "out of the ordinary" news we were hit by lightning in April.  Guest were sitting on the lower deck when our low voltage lights by the Fern Room took a direct hit.  It blew up the buried wires, scorched the deck, exploded the transformer and lets say "startled" the guests on the porch.  We eventually discovered that it also took out our WiFi system, half the Dish network boxes, two TV's and our water pump 600 feet down our well.  May the old adage, "lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place" hold true!
       In other news,  Loe-D and Leona are getting grayer but doing pretty well for 13 year old dogs.  Poor Loe-D gets a big ole Denamarin pill shoved down her throat every other morning and Jodee now has her on Glucosamine as well.  It must be working, she actually gets up to a full jog now and then. But some nights it takes her 5 minutes of shuffling to lay down on her bed.  Karen sent us these pictures of the girls and we thought you might enjoy them.        
Turk's Cap Lillies on the Blue Ridge Parkway
    We recently got an education about
Photo from our first visit
Our only shot from the second visit
wildflowers practically in our own back yard by columnist George Ellison in the Asheville Citizen Times.  He devoted most of an article about wildflowers along the Blue Ridge Parkway to what he called "one of the truly showy wildflowers of summer ...the Turk's-cap lily".   He went on to say that the largest stand of Turk's-cap lilies, (featuring the largest individual plants) that he has ever encountered is located about half a mile from the Mills River Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Jodee noted that was only about 10 miles south of us.  Our first trip there, July 12th, we discovered the lilies had just begun to bloom.  As he described;  we found them located on a beautiful section of the mountain-to-sea trail  after we passed a humongous oak with outstretched wind-blown limbs that resembled a giant out of a Norse myth.  We visited again on July 21st and they were at their peak.  (Too bad our camera wasn't, I got one picture before the camera went completely dead).  Some of the plants were over 9 feet tall and had as many as 40 flowers on them.  I would guess they covered an area well over an acre.  It was incredible and a photo does not do them justice.  If you are here next July, make a point to see them.  In fact, as a totally unbiased observer, I would highly recommend you make a reservation at Bent Creek Lodge for next July to make sure you witness this phenomenon yourself.   ;~)
Learn to Grow Gourmet Mushrooms While Visiting the Lodge
     Tom Magruder has joined our team to help with the gardening and maintenance.  From inventor, rock sculptor, to zip line guide he brings a wide variety of skills to Bent Creek Lodge including 25 years of gardening.  He was one of the first in the area to cultivate gourmet and medicinal mushrooms.  When he discovered we had "decommissioned" our vegetable garden because of too much shade from the encroaching trees he suggested the area may be just right for growing mushrooms.  He brought us a pound of his freshly harvested Shiitakes to help convince me of the benefits of the idea.  They were fantastic. Since I have been successful with growing fungus on just about everything else around here, I've decided to give it a try and want to give you the opportunity to learn as well.    
     Tom has conducted hands-on workshops to teach local gardeners the tools and techniques for growing Shiitake & Oyster mushrooms in the past and has agreed to lead one here at the Lodge, Saturday, November 21st from 9:30 to 1:30.  The cost per person is $50 in advance and $60 at the door, or $90 for a couple.  Request the workshop when your book your room to save.  (workshop is open to non-guests as well)  We will be setting up a growing area and inoculating logs here at the lodge.   Bent Creek Lodge will provide refreshments for a break during the workshop.   Depending on conditions there may be an opportunity for wild foraging of local species such as: Mai-take, Morel, Res-hi, Chantrelle, Chicken, Honey and other delicious mushrooms after our break for lunch.  We hope to hear from you prospective mushroom farmers soon.  
 
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute - PARI

    Perhaps a visit to the dozen newest

Ryan Barlow at PARI

breweries and a sampling of thier beers could be considered a learning experience but if you have a bit more intellectual curiosity in science and the stars you may want to consider a visit to PARI, the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute near Rosman. Ryan Barlow brought our attention to PARI when he visited on his way to start an internship there.  He is a junior at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, majoring in physics with interests that span from the mysteries of dark energy to music.  He had the honor of being selected as an intern and working there this summer.  
      
The PARI site was initially developed by NASA in 1962 as the east coast facility to track satellites and monitor manned space flights.   Today, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute is an impressive and unique not-for-profit facility dedicated to providing hands-on educational and research opportunities for a broad cross-section of users.  It is open at different times for self-guided tours, guided tours, and romantic star gazing evenings.  To find out more click on either photo for more information about opportunities to visit. 

26 Meter Radio Telescope by Ryan

      While Ryan was at PARI he worked on many different projects using a variety of their telescopes and equipment. He started out using the 4.6 meter radio telescope dubbed "Smiley." When that telescope had some mechanical problems he helped repair it and was then granted permission to work with the huge 26-meter east radio telescope.  At one time he had the entire facility exercise radio silence while he tested for background interference. He gave me a much more detailed report of his work and ended with, "My time was short and I would love to go back someday to resume my research."    I rest better at night knowing that America's future is in the hands of such capable young folks like Ryan.  Jodee and I haven't made it to PARI yet but it is on our bucket list and we will be suggesting it to others.      

                           

Doug & Jodee Sellers           

Bent Creek Lodge
1-877-231-6574
 
Remember Bent Creek Lodge Gift Certificates make great gifts and they are now available for purchase on our website.