Letter from the Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

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...
Intern Spotlight: Pricilla Ruiz

Intern Spotlight: Pricilla Ruiz

Grounded in a rich mixture of philosophy, faith, and trust, Pricilla is quietly following her heart to a life that holds creativity, contemplation, and plants — lots of plants. Much like rhizomes growing underground, her curiosity has taken her down a winding path...
Intern Spotlight: Catherine Frampton

Intern Spotlight: Catherine Frampton

Catherine Frampton grew up in New Orleans, where soul, optimism, and community persist. Summers in the North Carolina mountains gave her contrast—cool forests, open trails, and access to the outdoors she couldn’t find in the city. She sought out nature for the...
Gardeners Corner – Spring 2025

Gardeners Corner – Spring 2025

With Kelly Holdbrooks Gardeners venturing out after winter mimic the activity of pollinators or migratory birds, stirring about together in the garden for the first time in months. As fern fronds unroll and ephemerals surface, we all play our part in the spring...
SHR Founders Recognized for Conservation Work

SHR Founders Recognized for Conservation Work

Southern Highlands Reserve founders Betty and Robert Balentine were recently recognized in the “Leading Lives of Consequence” series by Washington and Lee University, Robert’s alma mater, for their dedication and contributions to conservation of biodiversity. “My hope...