Dear Friends,
As summer unfolds and we seek moments of stillness in the rush, I’ve found unexpected joy in following a red-eyed vireo through the garden. This small, elusive bird — with its pale olive-green plumage and persistent, meditative song — has become a gentle teacher in mindfulness.
In 1952, ornithologist Louise de Kiriline Lawrence recorded a single, red-eyed vireo singing 22,197 times in one day — an astounding display of rhythm and resilience. Listening to its steady call and response, I am reminded to pause, to breathe, and to notice what is right in front of me.
In its own quiet way, the vireo’s song has pulled me into the present moment, away from checklists and deadlines, and into the simple joy of living and working in these extraordinary mountains of Western North Carolina.
It has been a season of change and renewal on our mountain. As construction gives way to planting, restoration, and reflection, we’ve welcomed new faces and new energy — summer interns who brought fresh ideas and enthusiasm, curious visitors who discovered the Reserve for the first time, and devoted volunteers whose support makes our work possible every day.
That spirit of reconnection extends beyond the Reserve. This summer, I had the opportunity to travel and share our mission far and wide: presenting at the American Public Gardens Association conference in Denver, visiting other high-elevation gardens in Colorado, and spending time in Edinburgh, London, and Paris, learning from historic landscapes and global leaders in horticulture.
In Scotland, I walked the very Highlands once connected to our Southern Appalachians by the ancient supercontinent of Pangea. In England and France, I visited remarkable gardens like Great Dixter and Kew, where conservation is woven into every planting decision. At each stop, I was reminded of the global relevance of our work and the vital importance of stewarding the land with intention, creativity, and care.
Whether watching a bird in the canopy, planting native species in our pollinator beds, or trading ideas with fellow conservationists abroad, the message is clear: our work is rooted here, but its impact reaches far and wide.
Thank you for being part of our growing community.
With gratitude,
Kelly M. Holdbrooks
Executive Director