Swannanoa Valley Museum to host nature tour through Hemphill Estate

The Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center will soon take 20 participants through Black Mountain’s Hemphill Estate to “shed light on the fascinating world of flora and fauna that flourishes on the estate grounds,” according to a news release announcing the event.

The April 19 event, the Spring Nature Ramble, will be led by naturalist Nora Murdock. Swannanoa Valley Museum Executive Director LeAnne Johnson said the purpose of this event is to explore Hemphill Estate and look for natural items that can be used in everyday life.

“The nature ramble’s purpose is to explore the woods in the Hemphill Estate, looking for items that can be foraged for food, medicine, edibles, things like that,” Johnson said. “It just gives an idea for the participants on what they can see in their natural world and natural surroundings that could be used for daily life.”

Participants will walk through the estate looking at a variety of different plants, learning to identify them and what they can be used for.

“It’s a very low-key hike through the woods and studying the trees and the plants and the native plants that are growing and the roots and bark and things like that, identifying them,” Johnson said.

She said mushrooms are going out of season and participants will likely not see any, but there is a possibility a few are left.

This is the second nature ramble the Swannanoa Museum has done. Johnson said the goal with these events is to expand the reach of the museum beyond history into natural history as well.

“The museum tries to do not just history, but natural history as well,” Johnson said. “We though that this was a good fit for us.”

Johnson said Hemphill Estate was chosen because of its ease of accessibility to groups of all ages.

“It’s easily accessible,” Johnson said. “It’s not very strenuous, so pretty much all age groups can enjoy the walk and participate in that.”

Hemphill Estate is privately owned. The previous owners of the estate, Arthur Joe and Mary Hemphill, donated 25 acres of land within Black Mountain town limits to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in order to create a park. This donation was made recently following Mary Hemphill’s death.

In 2003, the Hemphills donated 350 acres in McDowell County under a conservation easement.

“With no biological children, the couple devoted their love to the community, often caring for children in need and demonstrated a profound commitment to environmental stewardship and historical preservation,” the news release said.

The Spring Nature Ramble though the Hemphill Estate will take place April 19 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event will cost $60 for museum members and $70 for nonmembers. Participants are encouraged to bring snacks, water and layered clothing. This event is limited to 20 participants and advanced registration is required.

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