It’s hard to believe you’re in the middle of campus when walking through Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve [4855 Price Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403], aside from the stray student crossing your path.
Located at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, parking is free and the public is welcome to take a little stroll in nature.
I do mean little, this loop is only ¾ of a mile, however it is a breath of fresh air and a change of routine.
This hidden gem is dense with pines and speckled with interesting vegetation. This fungi could have fooled me into thinking it was a lovely flower, luckily I didn’t take a sniff.
Have a quiet moment of contemplation by the lake, happily interrupted by a pair of ducks.
I love that the plants are labeled to help learn the names of the local flora. Sit on one of the benches and watch the wind blow the tops of the pines, listen to the birds, and consider taking a second walk around the loop.