The Nature Conservancy owns this small tract of land in the town of Boiling Spring Lake, NC. I thought the preserve might involve the lake the but it does not. There is a 2 mile hiking trail leaving from the community center. It meanders through a maze of Turkey Leaf Oak trees like these above and below. The leaves' color was spectacularly red as you can see. This area was once a long leaf pine plantation supplying products mainly for British naval needs. Pines bark was cut in a V shape so sap would flow to the bottom of the V and could be collected. Sap was then burned in huge horse shoe shaped pits resulting in a substance which could be manufactured into turpentine, varnish or other preservatives. Some of the pits were located on the property but I could not detect any. Trade with Britain ceased during the Civil War and Britain located other suppliers.
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