Jocassee Gorges (S.C.)

Butterflies, dragonflies and other insects abound among the abundant wildflowers on this spring visit to the mountains of northwestern South Carolina. The view from the above steep walled valleys allows us to examine the geology of the rock formations. A lower view form the wetlands unveils an exciting discovery of black bear tracks, located on a beaver pond. See all of this, and the forest between, during this spring time visit. 

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Today, Rudy and Jim visit Jocassee Gorges, known all over the world for its mix of hardwood and conifer trees, along with its variety of wild flowers. At this first stop, Rudy and Jim come across...
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 3

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Foothills Trail – In one of the oak trees in a drop off area, Rudy and Jim spot a coiled up Black Rat Snake.
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 4

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Right beside Rudy and Jim, we see several vines: Virginia Creeper, Poison Ivy, and Blackberry. Some of the trees in the area are Black Birch and Tuliptree. Some Wild Strawberry can be seen as well...
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 5

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Poor Robin’s Plantain is another common flower found in the area. A Silver Spotted Skipper butterfly is seen gathering nectar from one of these flowers, and Rudy and Jim revisit the Black Rat Snake...
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 6

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At this next stop, we see Shortia plants, Rhododendron, Eastern Hemlock, Fraser Magnolia, and Maroon Sweetshrub.
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 7

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here, Rudy and Jim find several of nature’s recyclers: a Morel mushroom, and a millipede. In a nearby tree, we find an Eastern Phoebe bird, which is an insect eater.
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 8

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Close to the waterfall, Bluet flowers, Saxifrage, Butterweed, Spicebush, Mountain Buckeye trees, Dutchman’s Pipe vines, Wild Yam, Partridgeberry, and Long Spurred violets dominate cool, moist...
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 9

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Old Farm Road – While walking down this old farm road, Rudy and Jim come across a Sweetgum tree which has been chewed by a beaver. The beavers in the area have built a dam, thus creating a new habitat...
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 10

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Lake Jocassee – Here, standing on a rock outcropping, Rudy and Jim analyze Lake Jocassee’s geographic features, along with the variety of trees found around the lake: White Pine, Virginia Pine, and...
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 11

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At this next stop, close to the water, we see an abundant variety of flowering plants: Mayapples, Foamflowers, Showy Orchis, Little Sweet Betsy, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Allegheny Spurge.
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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 8
Episode 12

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Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim analyze the geographic features of the creek, around with some of the plant life growing in the area: White Pines, Wild Geranium flowers, Mountain Laurel, Liverwort, Maidenhair Fern,...