FAYETTEVILLE, WV (WOAY) – Typically at this time of year, the New River Gorge holds the Wildflower Weekend, where they educate park-goers about the local environment.
But due to the pandemic, this is the first Wildflower Weekend to be canceled since it’s inception 16 years ago. To help mitigate this, the park is holding small virtual events instead.
Jodi French-Burr, a park ranger at the gorge, says the virtual events are a great way to continue the outdoor spirit of Wildflower Weekend while also staying safe.
“We’re just having to take a bit of a different approach since a lot of people are staying safe at home, as they should. And so how can we find a way to bring that forward? Wildflower Weekend is just a big nature celebration. Trying to find a way to bring it home, since that’s where many of us are now,” French-Burr said.
There are more than 1400 different plants that grow in the gorge.