News & Updates
2025 Volunteer of the Year
Volunteers play a critical role in helping us achieve our mission at Southern Highlands Reserve, and our program has grown significantly in scope and numbers since its...
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friends, As winter settles over the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Southern Highlands Reserve enters one of its most quietly powerful seasons. The forest canopy...
AGPA Regional Learning Series at SHR
On October 3, the American Public Gardens Association Regional Learning Series brought together horticulture professionals and native plant enthusiasts for a day in...
Investing in the Ecosystem
SHR at the 2025 Outdoor Economy Conference This September, Executive Director Kelly Holdbrooks attended the 6th Annual Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee, NC—an...
The Night Shift: Migrating Nocturnal Pollinators
While bees and butterflies often steal the spotlight, nocturnal pollinators—like moths, bats, and beetles—play an equally critical role in ecosystem health. These...
Gardeners Corner – Fall 2025
With Kelly Holdbrooks As autumn settles into the Blue Ridge Mountains, gardeners turn their attention to seasonal tasks that prepare the landscape for winter and spring...
Remembering Hurricane Helene
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene swept through the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, leaving a profound impact on communities across the region. Torrential...
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friends, As the golden hues of autumn settle across the mountains, I find myself reflecting on the profound beauty and resilience of this land—and the...
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,...