Expedition with Pat on February 2

Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK) will meet the host of ETV's Expeditions with Pat on February 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell Street, Matthews, NC. This free event showcases the Clemson University naturalist and host of the ETV program, Patrick McMillan.

The naturalist will tell us about changes that are happening in plants and animals of the Piedmont. Habitat alterations are moving native species to new regions, so the Carolinas are becoming a home for some new ones. McMillan is the director of the Campbell Museum of Natural History at Clemson University. For more information on this special meeting, call (704) 814-0877, or contact the HAWK site, or HAWKncwf@gmail.com.

Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, HAWK, is a chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. Great environmental stewards that they are, their members ask us to help recycle items at the HAWK meetings. They plan to reuse, recycle and properly dispose of these things: batteries in sizes A, AA, AAA, C and D; cell phones, eyeglasses, aluminum pull tabs, water and soda bottle twist off caps, inkjet cartridges, compact fluorescent lightbulbs, egg cartons, and wire coat hangers. So come see this interesting naturalist at the meeting, and bring along a few of those things you weren't quite sure how to recycle!

Oyster Roast this Friday

This name is so fun, I have to share it. The Winyah Rivers Foundation is having their annual River Roast South at a place called Hobcaw Barony.

They offer an oyster roast, southern buffet, tea, beer, and wine. Food and drinks are from the Litchfield Beach Fish House and the New South Brewing Company. The annual meeting begins on Friday, January 29th at 5:00 p.m., and the oyster roast and buffet begin at 6:00 p.m.

The fundraiser will help the Waccamaw Riverkeepers protect the rivers of the Winyah Bay watershed. Sounds fun... and tasty. You can get tickets online or by calling Christine Ellis at 843-349-4007. Have a toast to the rivers!

Free Trees on January 22nd

Winter is a great time to plant a few trees, while the roots are dormant. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension office provides two tree giveaways on January 22nd.

The TreeFest is a tree event on January 22 and 23 in Wilimington, NC. More than 12,000 trees will be given away-- up to five seedlings per resident. A $3 donation will help buy trees for next year’s event. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. The event location is Independence Mall, JC Penney Wing; 3500 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403. Contact John Wooldridge for more information at (910) 798-7664.

In Lumberton, NC, you could receive Free Longleaf Pine Seedlings also on January 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Bodenhamer Tree Farm will provide up to 25 free seedlings per person at the Cooperative Extension Center located in the O. P. Owens Agriculture Center, Highway 72 West, Lumberton, (first-come, first-served). For more information, please call Everett Davis at (910) 671-3276.

Searching for an image, I found this wonderful set on "Trees I've admired," from Daniela Duncan's Flickr. They are all lovely-- too beautiful to pick one.

Plant a tree, and green the world!