Date: September 8, 2026

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: Polk County Public Libraries, Saluda Branch

Speaker: Gary Kauffman, botanist and ecologist

We often admire rock outcrops from a scenic overlook or scramble across them on a favorite hike — but these dramatic landscapes are far more than just stone. Perched on ridges and cliffs throughout the western North Carolina mountains, rock outcrops host unique plant communities shaped by elevation, chemistry, exposure, and structure.

In this program, we’ll explore where different outcrop types occur and how factors like pH, slope, and geology create distinct ecological worlds. You’ll learn how to tell them apart using a simple flow-chart key and discover the specialized plant species that cling, bloom, and thrive in these extreme environments.

Whether you’re a hiker, naturalist, or plant enthusiast, you’ll leave with a new way to “read” the rocks beneath your feet.

Gary Kauffman is trained as a botanist and ecologist, with a master’s degree in botany and mycology. In 2025, he retired from the National Forests in NC after 32 years of work. Gary’s job covered 1.4 million USFS acres from the mountains to the coast. He is currently on the board of the Asheville Botanical Garden and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Gary helps to teach a week-long rock outcrop course with Dr. Laura Boggess at the Highlands Biological Station.  

The Saluda Library Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Polk County Public Libraries Systems.

Contact Pam Torlina, pam@conservingcarolina.org, with questions or for more information.