Alarka Laurel Red Spruce Bog, NC

Alarka Laurel Natural Area is a high elevation, flat-bottomed, "hanging" valley. It is the southernmost occurence of red spruce forest and an unusual Southern Appalachian bog community. It is a small piece of Canadian forest in the mountains of Western NC.
There are three forest types represented here: Acidic Cove, Montane Oak-Hickory, and Red Spruce. Many plant species more common to northern hemispheres can be found here. I dedicate this album to Walton Smith, without whose stewardship and vision this place would not be possible.