March 15-17, 2024
After over a decade of waiting, the BLOMQUIST FORAY is back! This semi-annual bryological and lichenological foray was started in 1985 by Brent Mishler while at Duke University and is set in delightful and interesting places across the southeastern United States. This is an ideal opportunity for beginners and amateur bryologists and lichenologists to learn more both in the field and behind the microscope.
This time we will be foraying at Crowders Mountain State Park in North Carolina and King’s Mountain State Park in South Carolina. The peaks of Crowders Mountain and King’s Pinnacle are composed primarily of quartzite, a metamorphic rock that weathers to form a jagged topography of cliffs and crevices which have a Low Elevation Rocky Summit natural community that is rare throughout the eastern United States, being limited mainly to certain Piedmont monadnocks and low mountains with exposed rocks. Bryophytes and lichens have been under surveyed in this area. See also https://friendsofcrowders.com/crowders/ for more detail about the geological feature.
Outline of Schedule
Friday – full day at Crowders Mountain State Park, NC
Saturday – full day at Crowders Mountain State Park, NC
Saturday evening – group meeting 7-9 pm with presentations
Sunday – half day at King’s Mountain State Park, SC
Lodging at
Comfort Suites Gastonia
1874 Remount Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
704-865-6688
A meeting room has been reserved Friday 4pm through Saturday at 11pm for microscopes and the Saturday presentation. The room will be secured between events and use otherwise will be provided by the Front Desk staff.
The rental fee for the meeting room will be shared by all attendees ($15).
Bring your microscopes if you can.
We hope to see you there!
–Blomquist Foray 2024 Committee–
Blanka Aguero blanka@duke.edu
Scott LaGreca scott.lagreca@duke.edu
Becky Smucker bjsmucker@gmail.com
Jame Amoroso jame.l.amoroso@gmail.com