ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Pack Memorial Library is marking National Trails Day with a weeklong series of events designed to celebrate Western North Carolina’s natural heritage and encourage community engagement with local hiking trails.

Established by the American Hiking Society in 1993, National Trails Day promotes the appreciation of outdoor paths, encourages stewardship and highlights the importance of preserving hiking trails across the country.

As part of the celebration, the library will host several public programs, beginning Thursday, June 5, with “Wildlife and Wildflowers with Conserving Carolina” at 4:30 p.m. Biologist Pam Torlina will lead a presentation on the relationships between plants and animals, including the pollination behaviors of hummingbirds and the mysteries behind carnivorous plants.

At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 7, Special Collections will hold a Land of the Sky 101 Book Club meeting. The group will discuss George Masa: A Life Reimagined by Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel, and Even as We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle. The book club focuses on the history and culture of Asheville, Buncombe County and the surrounding region. Registration is required to attend.

Later that day at 1 p.m., Elizabeth and Quintin Ellison will present “Land of Blue Shadows: Mountain Life in Verse & View,” a posthumous collection of poems by Western North Carolina writer George Ellison. The book, illustrated and curated by the Ellison family, explores mountain life through poetry and art. Attendees may purchase copies through Malaprop’s Bookstore. Advance registration is recommended.

In addition to live events, an exhibit titled “And the green grass grows all around and around and the green grass grows all around” will remain on display in the Special Collections through June 10. Curated in collaboration with the Swannatopia Experimental Art Club, the exhibit pairs artistic installations with archival materials on the history of agriculture and arboriculture in the region.

Visitors can also explore a hallway exhibit showcasing photographs, ephemera and artifacts related to the region’s national parks. Meanwhile, Pack Library’s Youth Services will feature a curated collection of children’s books on hiking and outdoor exploration.

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.