Dr. Carolyn Ward, President of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, formally announced Laura Hope-Gill as the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s first Poet Laureate at Asheville’s Wordfest.
To commemorate the event, Dr. Ward presented her with a watercolor painting of a sacred Cherokee location and a very special “soul tree” created by Houck Medford, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
He stated “this adds a whole other dimension to the Parkway experience. The Parkway is so visual but its rhythms can easily be conveyed in poetic language. We look forward to hearing and ‘seeing’ this new imagery as it becomes part of our Parkway visitors’ journeys.”
To learn more about Laura, her work and this exciting announcement please visit Virtual Blue Ridge.
Check out Laura’s book, The Soul Tree, at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Store. Her collection of contemporary poetry is set to beautiful images of the Southern Appalachians by local photographer, John Fletcher.
Preview or Purchase The Soul Tree
“A Park Ranger’s Life: Thirty Two Years Protecting Our National Parks” is now available through the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s on line store. You can access the store by clicking on Blue Ridge Parkway Store in the right colum on this page.
Twenty seven of my years as a National Park Ranger were spent working on the Blue Ridge Parkway and many of the tales have the Parkway as their setting.
What is a park ranger’s life?
- A wild bear who favors Kentucky Fried Chicken
- A fugitive wanted in eight states
- A dog that saves his owner’s life
- Wildland firefighters battling nature and fire
- A ghost haunting a colonial mansion
- Hikers who stay lost because they think searchers calling their names are wild animals
- Being willing to risk your life to make our parks safe and help preserve them for the future
These are just a few experiences you will read about in A Park Ranger’s Life. Drawn from the thirty-two-year career of National Park Ranger Bruce W. Bytnar, you will discover what it takes to be a park ranger, what threats to visitors and resources they deal with on a daily basis, and what you can do to help protect and preserve our national heritage.
Common Question:
I have heard about the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Who are they and what do they do?
Read more »
Cone Bass Lake Restrooms Are Priority Resource Provided Through Partnership of Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Blue Ridge Parkway, Town of Blowing Rock and Generous Donors
What happens when well over 300 people come together with one single mission?
It’s spelled S U C C E S S for the project and R E L I E F for those who will benefit from its service. Read more »
Many of you know Houck Medford the Philanthropist but are you familiar with Houck Medford the Photographer? This biography details Dr. Medford’s adventure with photography and how it has influenced his work as Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Written by Greg A. Kiser with Four Forty Six Photography.
A short while ago, I went on a Trek to the Blue Ridge Parkway and spent a little bit of time on the trails of the Rough Ridge. Read more »
