Six years after the discovery of the largest uncut emerald ever found in the United States in Hiddenite, what would become the largest cut emerald in North America is found on a property in Alexander County. Weighing 64 carats and styled after the emerald once owned by Catherine the Great of Russia, the gem is dubbed the Carolina Emperor. Three more emeralds, one weighing 1,225 carats, would be found on the same property in March 2011. All four Alexander County finds are donated to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.
An Asheville nonprofit is helping farmers develop seeds tailored to western North Carolina’s climate and community.
In art class, we learn to notice texture, form, color, and light. On the plate, those same techniques guide chefs, bakers, and makers across North Carolina, turning ingredients into compositions meant to be admired before they’re savored.
At a Wrightsville Beach resort, a most unexpected resident frolics through sandy dunes and secret gardens.
With just a dash of vanilla and nutmeg, the beauty of this cool and creamy pie lies in its simplicity.
