Explore your backyard: Connect with nature across Jefferson County

The upcoming Batty About Bats Program with Vicky Smith on July 19, 2025, is a perfect reminder to share the bat conservation work we’ve been doing this year. As some may be aware, Ruffner Mountain hosts one of the largest winter hibernacula of tricolored bats, a species that plays a crucial role in local ecosystems.

Moths, insects that are necessary and beneficial pollinators, are sometimes thought of as drab, like the ugly duckling cousin of the more sophisticated butterfly. But if you pay attention to them, moths are just as beautiful, beneficial, and diverse as butterflies. Alabama has approximately 150 species of butterflies, but over 1,000 species of moths - ten times as many beautiful bugs for you to appreciate! 

We’re thrilled to welcome Darryl Washington as our new Chief Executive Officer. With just a few weeks on the job, he’s spending time getting to know the team, listening, and learning before setting the course ahead. From what drew him to the role to how he recharges in nature, here’s a quick Q&A to help you get to know him a little better.

One of our volunteers, Paul Eknes-Tucker, took a sabbatical from work and spent four weeks on Ruffner Mountain exploring and researching Trillium, an iconic and delicate plant thriving at Ruffner. In this post, he shares his findings, experiences, and what makes this native plant so special.