Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance

06/01/2026

SAVE the DATE! for a new Grow Trail Book Installation and Celebration!
Sunday, June 14 from 2-4 PM at Lake Tomahawk Park.
Join Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance, Friends of the Black Mountain Library, Swannanoa Valley WILD!, Black Mountain Greenways and Trails, and The Hop Ice Cream as we install the book "Thank You Old Oak", by Britt Crow-Miller.
2pm - Gather under the Wise Owl Whirligig in the Memorial Garden at Lake Tomahawk to celebrate creators Tom Haney and Paula Joerling and kick off the festivities.
2:30pm - Plant an oak tree donated by the SV Tree Alliance in front of the picnic pavilion.
From 2:45 - 4:00pm Join us for free ice cream from The Hop, a scavenger hunt with prizes, nature inspired crafts, and goodies from all sponsors/collaborators!

04/12/2026

Today, we celebrated a beautiful day at the Montreat Landcare and Arbor Day Festival! Swannanoa Valley WILD , Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance and Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy joined forces to inspire positive change and give away trees! Though we got caught up in the comradery and forgot to snap photos of ourselves, we're thrilled to share these stunning shots of azaleas teeming with bees and butterflies, courtesy of Jennifer Okray.I love the little bee butt covered in pollen!

04/08/2026

What began in 2012 as the Montreat Native Plant Sale is now the Montreat Landcare Festival and Arbor Day Celebration. Join us on April 11 as we celebrate our region’s native flora and fauna, explore simple steps we can take to sustain them, and learn about initiatives to strengthen our environment. Visit our vendors, connect with friends over our Spring Tea Party, and find out if we still have Hellbender salamanders in Flat Creek.

Saturday, April 11, 2026 Moore Center Field, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. What began in 2012 as the Montreat Native Plant Sale is now the Montreat Landcare Festival and Arbor […]

03/17/2026

The Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance is shining a light on the importance of nurturing our Treasured Trees! Checking our trees and tree plaques is a necessary process both for aesthetics and for ensuring that the tree has room to grow beneath the plaque. We're thrilled to report that most of our beloved trees are thriving, despite the loss of 5 trees since 2024. Let's come together to ensure their continued growth and beauty! 🌳 Join us in our mission by volunteering or nominating a tree for a Treasured Tree designation and plaque. Visit our website at https://svtreealliance.com to learn more. Our next meeting is on March 30th at 5pm in Town Square - we can't wait to see you there!

02/04/2026

Treasured Trees in the snow!!

01/09/2026

"Our trees are worth more standing."

They were growing before Columbus arrived, experts say.

11/18/2025

11/05/2025

Don't you just love our trees? And Jumping Spiders? We startled this adorable little guy as we replaced a plaque yesterday. Not to worry, he is safely installed behind the new plaque! One updated plaque, and one new plaque installed the Emily's walk section of the Black Mountain Greenway. Look for them on the section directly behind the Black Mountain Primary School, adjacent to the back teacher/staff parking lot, along the Flat Creek Greenway. When was the last time you did a Tree Walk? https://svtreealliance.com/maps-of-treasured-trees

10/14/2025

From Brian Carter and InnerVision Chainsaw Creations: Golden version of the eagle totem!

09/18/2025

Thanks to the Town of Black Mountain, the removal of the fallen split trunk from the 150+ year old White Oak on the Black Mountain Golf Course marks a new chapter in the life of this Treasured Tree, which has been thriving here since circa 1870. A still lovely tree remains, with its Treasured Tree plaque intact. Did you know? Up to 2,300 wildlife species are known to be associated with oak, and that doesn’t include all of the fungi, or any of the bacteria and other organisms which create a symbiotic home with the oak. The 2300 species consist of some 38 bird species, 229 bryophytes, 108 fungi, 1178 invertebrates, 746 lichen and 31 mammals. Let's continue to work together to protect and preserve our natural wonders for generations to come!