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Eno River Association

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Wildlife

The Eno and its Banks

September 12, 2022 by Emily Hill

ENO JournalVolume 4, No. 1-Mrs. J. B. RhineSpring 1976 As we all know, wild life and wild places are vanishing rapidly all over the the country and most rapidly of all, near expanding towns and cities. Just as more people need quiet out-door natural places to escape to at times for renewal and relaxation, such […]

The Eno and its Banks

Sep 12, 2022 · Emily Hill

Walk the Eno with an Eye Towards Ferns

September 12, 2022 by Emily Hill

ENO JournalVolume 4, No. 1-Ken MooreSpring 1976 Known for years for its profusion of colorful wildflowers, the Eno River is visited by both long-time nature lovers and new enthusiasts responding to the striking seasonal displays along the numerous well-walked river trails. The Eno’s variety of distinctive habitats, which accounts for the large number of different […]

Walk the Eno with an Eye Towards Ferns

Sep 12, 2022 · Emily Hill

Ferns

November 19, 2021 by Emily Hill

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris dictum diam vitae porttitor varius. Integer sed dictum est. Maecenas tincidunt erat nibh, vel maximus ligula tempor nec. Pellentesque facilisis sapiens nisl, ut scelerisque lectus tristique et. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nullam lacus elit, iaculis ac erat in, commodo consequat nibh. Curabitur […]

Ferns

Nov 19, 2021 · Emily Hill

Catawba Rhododendron

November 19, 2021 by Emily Hill

Rhododendron catawbiense, with common names Catawba rosebay,[2] Catawba rhododendron,[3] mountain rosebay,[3] purple ivy,[3] purple laurel,[3] purple rhododendron,[3] red laurel,[3] rosebay,[3] rosebay laurel,[3] is a species of Rhododendron native to the eastern United States, growing mainly in the southern Appalachian Mountains from Virginia south to northern Alabama. It is a dense, suckering shrub growing to 3 m tall, rarely 5 m. The leaves are evergreen, 6–12 cm long and 2–4 cm broad. The flowers are 3-4.5 cm diameter, violet-purple, often with small spots or streaks. […]

Catawba Rhododendron

Nov 19, 2021 · Emily Hill

Mountain Laurel

November 19, 2021 by Emily Hill

The plant is naturally found on rocky slopes and mountainous forest areas. It thrives in acid soil, preferring a soil pH in the 4.5 to 5.5 range. The plant often grows in large thickets, covering great areas of forest floor. In the Appalachians, it can become a tree but is a shrub farther north. The species is a frequent […]

Mountain Laurel

Nov 19, 2021 · Emily Hill

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Eno River Association
4404 Guess Rd.
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 620-9099

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Woodland forms of buffalo and elk once ranged the Woodland forms of buffalo and elk once ranged the mountains and the northwest piedmont in scattered herds. Yet even by the arrival of the early European explorers, their numbers were scarce. Both species were largely eliminated by hunting and indigenous tribes most likely traded these animals on the Great Indian Trading Path. While buffalo were occasionally seen between 1720 and 1750, they were gone by 1765. Elk may have died out even earlier, around 1700. Remnants of the buffalos statewide presence persists in many place names like Buffalo Creek in northern Orange County. Some say that even our earliest roads, deeply carved with curved banks, were buffalo trails. 

📸: Betsy Russell
Text source: 1985 Calendar

[image description: river in winter sunlight with trees and banks dusted in snow]
In 1701, explorer John Lawson wrote that he encoun In 1701, explorer John Lawson wrote that he encountered men with "very long Arrows, headed with pieces of Glass, which they had broken from Bottles. They had shap'd them neatly, like the Head of a Dart; but which way they did it, I can't tell."

It is believed that these projectile points Lawson remarked on were not a slovenly make-shift from broken bottles, but were dexterously chipped from clear quartz, a difficult medium requiring skill. 

If you ever do find artifacts like these at the Eno parklands, record your find with a ranger, but make sure to leave the history undisturbed. 

📸: Holly Reid 
Text source: 1979 Calendar

[image description: circular ripple on still water with reflection of trees]
This month's Year of the Trail highlight is Bobbit This month's Year of the Trail highlight is Bobbitt's Hole Trail! 🌳

Bobbitt's Hole Trail is known for its scenic beauty 🏞️ and offers visitors a chance to explore a gorgeous section of the Eno River. It's an easy trail that is an approximate 1.65 mile loop. The trail takes hikers through a wooded area along the riverbank and leads to Bobbitt's Hole, a picturesque swimming hole in the Eno River. 🏊‍♂️ The trail is accessed via the Cole Mill parking lot at the end of Old Cole Mill Road. 🚗

We hope you visit soon and enjoy your adventure! 🌄 

📸: Fred Myers
[Image Description: A cluster of bright red berries grow on a stalk.]
The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, is The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, is one of the most commonly encountered ferns along the Eno 🌿 In the past, the green leaves were gathered by New England settlers during the Christmas season for greenery indoors. If you look closely, you may be able to see the shape of a Christmas tree in the general outline of the fronds, or perhaps within the shape of each individual leaf, the image of Santa's stocking 🎄🧦 An abundance of these ferns generally indicates a rich, well-drained soil situation where moisture is available for most of the year. 

📸: Duncan Heron
Text source: Ken Moore, ENO Journal, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1976

[image description: green fronds poking out of the snow]
There were once two fording rocks at Cole Mill For There were once two fording rocks at Cole Mill Ford. Old timers used to say that if you could see both rocks, you could walk your horse across. If you were only able to see one, you would have to swim your horse. And if you couldn't see either of the rocks, you would be wise not to cross at all 🪨🐎🌊-- Harry Umstead, Durham 

📸: Dave Cook
Text source: 1973 Calendar 

[image description: water rushes over rocks creating white splashes]
The clock for the Orange County Courthouse was giv The clock for the Orange County Courthouse was given to the town of Hillsborough by George III in 1766. Around the time of the revolutionary war, Cornwallis' troops came to Hillsborough. The people of the town threw the weights and the bell of the clock into the Eno because they were worried the British would melt them down to make bullets. The soldiers couldn't do anything with face of the clock, so that didn't make it into the river. The weights were recovered, but the bell was never found 🔔-- Allen Lloyd, Custodian of the Clock, Hillsborough

📸: Duncan Heron
Text source: 1972 Calendar

[image description: black and white photo of Orange County Courthouse, a brick building with white pillars and a clock tower]
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