While walking you will notice a cast iron pot sitting under a tree. It was used for boiling seawater to obtain salt. The seawater was boiled off until only pure salt remained in the bottom of the pot.

Cast in Europe before 1776, the pot was brought from France to the United States by the Van de Vanter family. After several relocations, the pot became the property of a family in nearby Jonesville, Va., nearly a century ago.

(Tsuga canadensis)

The Eastern Hemlock is a member of the pine family. The hemlock's cone (less than an inch long) distinguishes it from other evergreens.

The bark of the hemlock was once a commercial source of tannin, used to produce leather. Tannin, a derivative of tannic acid, is used to darken materials.

Another use of the hemlock was the production of a tea from the leafy twigs. This was a readily available source of teas for pioneers of the area.

Today, hemlocks are used for landscaping. It is both a native and a cultivated tree.

(Rhododendron catawbiense)

The rhododendron is an evergreen that can be found growing in moist, acidic soil. Rhododendron is cultivated for landscaping purposes here on the museum grounds, as it is throughout the area.

Although commonly called Laurel, the rhododendron and the mountain laurel are actually different evergreens.

Several different species of birds can be seen frequeting bird feeders on the museum grounds. Some of the more common birds seen include robins, blue jays, wrens and cardinals.

The cardinal is the state bird of Virginia. The maele is brilliant red with a crest and a black face. The female is light brown and less showy in appearance. The song of the cardinal is a rich purty-purty-purty-purty. Cardinals got their name from the red robes worn by Roman Catholic Cardinals.

Watch for various birds throughout your walk. The museum grounds lie within a National Audubon Society Sanctuary, and the birds are protected.