Outdoor Journal

Natural arts, natural words: Explore the beauty of the natural world by spending an afternoon with the writer/artist couple George and Elizabeth Ellison, on Feb. 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the N.C. Arboretum. Through their words, illustrations and drawings, the couple will share examples of their work and their reverence for the natural world.

George Ellison authors a regular nature column for the Smoky Mountain News, and has recently published High Vistas: An Anthology of Nature and Descriptive Writing from Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains. His articles usually include illustrations by Elizabeth, whose watercolors have been featured in many publications, such as the cover for Ebbing & Flowing Springs by Jeff Daniel Marion.

The afternoon session, which will feature brief selections from High Vistas, free hot apple cider and artwork that brings nature to life, will be held at the Arboretum’s Baker Exhibit Center. It’s free for members or with the $6-per-vehicle parking fee.

For more information, visit www.ncarboretum.org.

Check your fly: If you’re about to venture out for a fly-fishing excursion, check out our new Xpress online exclusive, “What’s Hatching in WNC.” Each month, the mini-column will highlight which little bugs are hatching and which artificial flies will best imitate them (courtesy of the folks at Curtis Outfitters). Visit our Outdoors page at mountainx.com/outdoors and look in the “Practical Fly” box.

Send your outdoors news to outdoors@mountainx.com.

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About Margaret Williams
Editor Margaret Williams first wrote for Xpress in 1994. An Alabama native, she has lived in Western North Carolina since 1987 and completed her Masters of Liberal Arts & Sciences from UNC-Asheville in 2016. Follow me @mvwilliams

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