Wintergreen Welcome
Enjoy a Second Spring in The Blue Ridge
By Fred Tscheulin

                At Smith Mountain Lake, spring is in full bloom in April, but in the Blue Ridge Mountains, spring comes about a month later, which affords us a grand opportunity to visit Wintergreen and discover a glorious second springtime! And there’s no better time or place to enjoy this spectacle than at the 2006 Spring Wildflower Symposium conducted by The Wintergreen Nature Foundation May 19-21.
                Whether you are a budding naturalist or a gardener interested in native Virginia wildflowers, the Spring Wildflower Symposium has something to offer. You can go for the day or the entire weekend and hike mountain trails, attend interesting and informative workshops of your choice and walk the gardens to learn and see first-hand the natural beauty of the wildflowers of the Blue Ridge. However, the Symposium is limited to about 150 participants, so you will need to register well in advance. The program cost is $75 per person for a day; $115 per person for full registration, plus your meals and lodging, which are available at the resort. Registration forms are available by calling The Wintergreen Nature Foundation at 434.325.7451.
                The day we arrived was bright, sunny and unusually warm for winter. We spent the morning sightseeing, visiting the Mountain Inn Gallery of Shops and enjoying the vast beauty of the Wintergreen Resort. A lunch break took us to the Black Rock Market, offering an extensive fare of generous sandwiches, chili, pizza and more. My “Virginian” on rye was excellent. Picnic tables are available adjacent to the market for us day trippers. Of course, there are numerous restaurants to choose from as well.
                The afternoon found us at Trillium House, the headquarters of The Wintergreen Nature Foundation, viewing various nature exhibits and learning about the history and activities of  the WNF. The idea for the Foundation took root in the mid-1970s when its executive director, Doug Coleman, started conducting college classes on spring flora at the resort.
                “I started doing educational programs here, and they were really well received,” Coleman said. “I was impressed by the resort’s pledge to keep over half of its land undeveloped.”
                That’s a full 6,000 acres in Nelson County dedicated to conservation. The result is the preservation and propagation of the region’s natural beauty and a resource we can all enjoy. This effort is being aided through an all-volunteer Native Plant Propagation Program whereby volunteers collect and germinate seeds, selling the resulting plants to local residents and encouraging their use in the Wintergreen landscaping program.
                “If someone drives up the road in August or September,” Coleman said, “there are thousands of plants on the road that have been grown here by seed.”
                Visitors are always welcome to Trillium House. Here you can learn about the WNF daily program, sign on to a guided hiking tour, explore wildflower gardens or attend lectures on birding, geology or the natural history of the area.
                Directions: From Westlake, take 122 north to 460 east. Take 29 north through Lynchburg and Amherst. Turn left onto 151 north. Turn left on 664 (Beech Grove Rd.) about 4 miles. Turn right into Wintergreen Resort, past the gatehouse and continue 3 miles up the mountain past the Mountain Inn parking area and complex. Trillium House is on the left.

For more information on the Wintergreen Nature Foundation and Trillium House call 434.325.7451 or visit www.twnf.org.