Southern Highlands Reserve

Southern Highlands Reserve SHR is a private native plant arboretum and research center accessible by reservation only.

The Southern Highlands Reserve is dedicated to sustaining the natural ecosystems of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the preservation, cultivation and display of plants native to the region and by advocating for their value through education, restoration and research. Located in Western North Carolina at an elevation of 4500 feet, the varied topography and forest types found on our 120 acres allow

us to emulate many of the plant communities found in the higher reaches of the southern Appalachians.

06/05/2026

This World Environment Day—a global reminder to care for the natural world—Kelly and the team are bringing warmth, color, and new life to the Sunken Garden, one flower at a time. 🌼🌎

06/03/2026

Newts may be small, but they bring plenty of personality to the pond.🦎
These quiet little swimmers spend much of their lives hidden among plants, leaves, and shallow water — so spotting two at once feels like catching a secret garden moment.

06/01/2026

Have you noticed pale green, swollen, or waxy-looking growths on your azaleas? 🌺 That may be azalea leaf gall, a common fungal issue that appears in spring during cool, wet weather.

While it can look alarming, azalea gall is usually more cosmetic than harmful. The best control is simple: remove infected leaves or galls by hand before they turn white and release spores, then discard them in the trash, not the compost.

05/28/2026

Warming temperatures and increased water v***r are powering more intense downpours. These heavy downpours can devastate a landscape. At the Reserve, we are working to make our infrastructure more resilient. For example, rain gardens are an effective way to slow the path of stormwater and channel it to plants that can soak it all in. Some storms, however, can challenge even the best made rain garden, and the recent rains were quite the test. 🌧️

05/27/2026

Mountain laurel is part of the heath family, the same plant family as blueberries and rhododendrons. 🌸🌿
Its clustered blooms and evergreen leaves make it a standout in eastern North American woodlands.

05/26/2026

A little reminder to watch your step during nesting season... tiny wildlife can be hiding anywhere. Baby turkeys are called poults, and they often stay hidden low in the grass while mom stays nearby. This little one was taking hide-and-peep very seriously. 🦃🌾

05/20/2026

Bee kind to our pollinators 🐝
On World Bee Day, we’re honoring the tiny workers who keep our world blooming. 🌼🌷🌸

05/18/2026

Can you spot the snake? 🐍
This baby banded water snake blends beautifully into the pond before finally peeking its tiny head above the surface... a reminder that native wildlife is often closer than we realize.

Address

558 Summit Ridge Road
Lake Toxaway, NC
28747

Telephone

+18288852050

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Highlands Reserve posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Southern Highlands Reserve:

Shortcuts

Share