The Red Maple Leads the Way
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Spring is almost here. WCU has already had its spring break, though the break always takes place in the winter and is usually pretty cold. The weather is gradually warming up, though. I see girls walking around in shorts with deep tans.
Some of the trees are starting to bloom. A tree beside Coulter exploded today with pink flowers. I believe it is an apple or cherry tree. The cherry blossoms lining the walk to the bell tower are also about to bloom.
The red maple tree just outside Madison dormitory where I live was the first that I noticed to show any activity after the winter deadness. About two weeks ago, red buds appeared all over it. They continue to grow larger and soon small red leaf petals should be everywhere. The huge white oak tree just down the hill from the red maple has yet to do anything.
I like the trees outside Madison. The red maple has a twisted and knotty trunk. When I first moved here in August, my parents sat under the tree for a while. Mom said it reminded her of trees she reads about in the Harry Potter books.
On Friday of this week, Dr. Denson, my Cherokee History Professor, took the class on a field trip to Brasstown, NC where we stopped at the John C. Campbell Folk School. I'd never heard of the school, but it is a fascinating and beautiful place. It also would be a spot I'd recommend for a vacation. For about $1000 per person, you can spend a week here and take a class in all sorts of subjects including blacksmithing, woodworking, basket making, nature studies that include daily hikes to study plants, rocks, etc. There are many classes on many subjects. The above price includes lodging and all meals. I did not get a chance to see the lodging, but the buildings for the classrooms and the dining hall are first rate. It is like a huge bed and breakfast tucked away deep in the mountains, with the Brasstown Creek cutting right through campus like the Tuckasegee River runs through our campus. I'm sure students and instructors come from all walks of life. I talked to a couple of acrylic artists who were there applying to teach one of the courses. They seemed like very nice people. Below is the link to the school. I encourage you to check it out.
http://www.folkschool.com/index.php
Until next time,
Nathan Marshburn
Some of the trees are starting to bloom. A tree beside Coulter exploded today with pink flowers. I believe it is an apple or cherry tree. The cherry blossoms lining the walk to the bell tower are also about to bloom.
The red maple tree just outside Madison dormitory where I live was the first that I noticed to show any activity after the winter deadness. About two weeks ago, red buds appeared all over it. They continue to grow larger and soon small red leaf petals should be everywhere. The huge white oak tree just down the hill from the red maple has yet to do anything.
I like the trees outside Madison. The red maple has a twisted and knotty trunk. When I first moved here in August, my parents sat under the tree for a while. Mom said it reminded her of trees she reads about in the Harry Potter books.
On Friday of this week, Dr. Denson, my Cherokee History Professor, took the class on a field trip to Brasstown, NC where we stopped at the John C. Campbell Folk School. I'd never heard of the school, but it is a fascinating and beautiful place. It also would be a spot I'd recommend for a vacation. For about $1000 per person, you can spend a week here and take a class in all sorts of subjects including blacksmithing, woodworking, basket making, nature studies that include daily hikes to study plants, rocks, etc. There are many classes on many subjects. The above price includes lodging and all meals. I did not get a chance to see the lodging, but the buildings for the classrooms and the dining hall are first rate. It is like a huge bed and breakfast tucked away deep in the mountains, with the Brasstown Creek cutting right through campus like the Tuckasegee River runs through our campus. I'm sure students and instructors come from all walks of life. I talked to a couple of acrylic artists who were there applying to teach one of the courses. They seemed like very nice people. Below is the link to the school. I encourage you to check it out.
http://www.folkschool.com/index.php
Until next time,
Nathan Marshburn
posted by wcugradstudent at
10:23 PM
1 Comments:
So many of your posts remind me of that wonderful mountain magic of western North Carolina. It's hard not to miss it. My next locale is literally at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and I've been told there are real catamounts in them, but there's no place like WNC.
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