navitat's home in southern appalachia

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Moody Cove symbolizes the natural diversity and beauty for which the Southern Appalachians – among the oldest mountains in the world – are renowned and celebrated. Covering the western third of North Carolina, the Southern Appalachians contain some of the highest rates of flora and fauna diversity in the world as well as some of the most endangered ecosystems.

In the midst of ancient peaks and valleys, you can expect breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Craggy Mountains when exploring the treetops at Moody Cove. You can get up close and personal with dozens of different tree species, including yellow poplars and eastern hemlocks – two of the most long-lived trees in Eastern forests. Hundreds upon hundreds of plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles call Moody Cove home, many of which you’re likely to see below, within, and above the trees.

In addition to its diversity, Moody Cove is a dynamic site that changes throughout the year. From the lush new growth of spring to the brilliant colors of fall, your experience with us with will be different every time you visit.

Trees

eastern hemlock tree (Tsuga canadensis)

Identification: Evergreen conifer with small, flat needles that are green above and bluish grey beneath with two white stripes that run the length of the needle. Flowers are produced in the spring with cones ripening in the fall and seeds released during the winter.

Ecology: Eastern hemlock is one of the most abundant, shade-tolerant, and long-lived trees in eastern North America. Hemlocks are an important component of old growth forests and may reach 150 feet in height and 1,000 years of age. This slow growing, evergreen tree typically occurs along streams and sheltered slopes and coves in the southern Appalachians. Because of the deep canopy and evergreen needles, hemlock forests help create a microclimate that remains cool and shady even in the hot summer months. The forest floor underneath a stand of healthy hemlock trees receives very little light and minimizes the presence of deciduous understory plants and saplings.

Hemlock forests provide important year-round wildlife habitat to nearly 150 different species of birds and mammals, and streams flowing through hemlock forests support unique groupings of salamanders, fish, and freshwater invertebrates that are intolerable of seasonal drying. North Carolina’s only native trout, the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), is more likely to occur in streams drained by hemlock forests than those drained by hardwood forests because of cooler stream temperatures in the summer and warmer temperatures in the winter.

Commercial and cultural use: Commercially speaking, eastern hemlock is primarily used for lumber, pulp, and mulch although the tannin from the bark was once used to tan hides and hemlock branches and needles are good fire tinder. Natives and white settlers made tea from hemlock leaves, which is high in vitamin C.

mockernut hickory (Carya alba)

Identification: Mockernut hickory typically has stout twigs and tight bark with ridges that form an interlocking diamond pattern. The compound leaves have 7-9 leaflets, the lower surface of which is densely hairy. As a result, the leaves and twigs have a rusty-brown fuzzy appearance. The lowermost pair of leaflets is oval shaped and much smaller than the others.

Ecology: One of the most common forest trees in the southern Appalachians and the preferred food for wildlife, especially squirrels. White-tailed deer browse on foliage and twigs. The species may live for 500 years.

Commercial and cultural use: The wood of mockernut hickory is tough, heavy, and strong and prized for tool handles, lumber, pulpwood, and charcoal.

Pignut hickory (Carya glabra)

Identification: Twigs are slender and leaves have 5-7 smooth to slightly hairy leaflets. The leaf stem is usually green and the leaf is usually dark yellowish green above and paler beneath.

Ecology: Pignut hickory is less common than the mockernut hickory, but its nuts are coveted by squirrels (and other wildlife) and make up approximately 10-25% of a squirrel’s diet. Many species of hickory hybridize with each other and all hickories readily sprout from stumps and roots, but are easily damaged by fire.

Commercial and cultural use: Similar to mockernut hickory, pignut hickory wood is heavy and used for tool handles and fuelwood. Early settlers named the species pignut because their hogs feasted on the nuts.

Yellow poplar/Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Identification: Yellow poplar leaves are broad, smooth, have four lobes, and are shaped like a tulip blossom. The bark is dark gray, becoming thick and furrowed with age. The trunk is straight and may be branch free for most of its length.

Ecology: Yellow poplar is one of most common, large trees in the southern Appalachians. It is certainly the tallest, attaining heights of 200 feet or more. The largest tulip tree yet identified occurs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Yellow poplar is not a true poplar and is actually a member of the magnolia family that produces showy, tulip-like flowers which appear in late May in order to attract insect pollinators (unlike oaks which are wind pollinated). The tree is fast growing and a prolific seed bearer, which are mostly eaten by squirrels. Yellow poplars grow best in moist and fertile soils. Fast-growing, the soft wood of yellow poplars more closely resembles pine than oaks.

Commercial and cultural use: Yellow poplar is one of the most valuable hardwood trees in the United States. The wood is light, soft, and easy to work. The lumber is most often used for trim and other high grade uses. Because of its rapid growth, yellow poplar is often planted for reforestation purposes.

Nature Photos

Moody Cove is a beautiful place.