Another Walk in the Woods ��this time at � �The John C. Campbell Folk School �One Folk School Road �Brasstown, North Carolina, US 28902-9603 �www.folkschool.org �  by��Robert Connolly��rcnnolly@memphis.edu �rcnnolly.wordpress.com�    

The Plan . . .��. . . Our trip to the Folk School served our need to get out of town. Friends had gone to the school before and spoke highly of the place. Five-day classes are offered on a diversity of activities including blacksmithing, woodturning, painting, writing, and my choice – nature studies. My intent was to go for a walk in the woods with someone who knew a good bit more than me about trees and plants. As I often note, to me there are magnolia trees, pine trees, and everything else. My knowledge of plants is equally as extensive. I wanted to broaden my limited floral horizons. ��Our very knowledgeable instructor, Joel Zachry (www.gowithgoat.com) did not disappoint our small group of five students. �  

Ed, Erik, Joel Zachry, and Eileen, commisserating on what something is.�

Photoshopped view from Brasstown Bald, highest spot in Georgia at nearly 5000 fasl.�

Squaw Root – favored by bear as a laxative of sorts after a winter of torpor or semi-hibernation.�

My favorite visuals in forests are the patterns of entangled branches �

.  .  .  Or  those  that  imitate  nature  as  with  this  amphibious  design  

. . . Or feathered serpents . . . �

. . . Or dragonflies . . .�

. . . or this luminous web of interconnectivity, as in the circuitry of the brain.�

I enjoy the patterns in tree bark that remind me of the False Face Masks carved by the Iroquois�

Or the detail etchings.�

I also learned the technique of shooting up the hollow of trees to see what there is to see.�

A few great days spent walking in the woods.�