Well, this has nothing to do with my garden Devotion, but it has everything to do with appreciating all that western North Carolina has to offer. One hour and 15 minutes from my home is the Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elk were hunted to extinction in the area by the mid-1700s, but a successful 2001-2002 reintroduction of 52 elk brought them back to the park. Now the population exceeds 200.
During the rut in the fall, male elk bugle to attract females and to challenge other bulls. Because the elk are crepuscular, I chose to arrive as the moon was setting behind the mountains. It was a truly magical morning.
Rewilding is essential in letting nature take care of itself, repairing damaged ecosystems and restoring degraded landscapes. Through rewinding, wildlife’s natural rhythms create wilder, more biodiverse habitat.