The USDA Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina announced that it will hold open house at the Highlands District Ranger’s Office from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 11. A previous open house was held Aug. 7.

The open house will give the public a chance to review the building and two-acre property prior to auction on Sept. 28, 2011. The Forest Service will auction the Highlands District Ranger's Office by sealed bids at the Nantahala Ranger District Office, 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC, on Sept. 28, 2011 at 11 a.m.

The Forest Service closed the ranger’s office about four years ago as part of an effort to streamline operations. The Highlands Office is situated off 2010 Flat Mountain Road (State Road 1544), approximately 2.5 air miles northwest of the Town of Highlands, NC.

The public is invited to participate in a field trip to Spring Valley Nursery on Monday, Aug. 15, at 5 p.m.

Horticulturist and Master Gardener Bill Messina (pictured) will outline plants favored by birds, butterflies and other wild critters.

The nursery tour is sponsored by the Friends of the Rickman Store as part of the “Gardening for Wildlife Series” led by Debby Boots to promote a better understanding and care of wildlife habitats.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) Rocky Top Trail Crew is searching for horse packers and crew volunteers this fall to help maintain the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The ATC will provide food, tools, equipment and professional Trail Crew leaders to aide volunteers.

The Rocky Top Crew, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, works exclusively on the 35 miles of the A.T. through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is open to horse use.

Learn which herbs grow best in your own backyard and what to do with the herbs you are growing at Thursdays at the Library program Aug. 4, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library.

Learn how to maximize yield of the herbs in your garden and how to use herbs to create herbal gifts, teas, herbal medicine, culinary delights and your own body care products. Becky Lipkin will be sharing fresh herbs, plants, seeds and cuttings of basil, chives, mint and more! W e’ll drink some mint water and share edible herbal goodies.

Thursdays at the Library is an eclectic mixture of programs by authors and musicians on topics designed for enjoyment and education.