Showing posts with label Asheville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asheville. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

You're going to love Asheville!

Christopher has been doing an amazing job describing the gardens we're going to be visiting and evoking a bit of Asheville's essential quirky nature, too.  It's part of what makes Asheville a special place.  I hope you'll be able to spend some time before or after the Fling exploring our city and the surrounding mountains.  Check out this New York Times piece for their take on '36 hours in Asheville'.

As a part-time resident for the last three years, I've loved exploring the historic neighborhoods near downtown (on regular walks), enjoyed the vibrant downtown restaurant scene, and exploring the nearby trails in the mountains (not to mention all the great "natural gardens" nearby, too.

Some of my favorite small gardens within walking distance of the Fling hotel (Sheraton Four Points) are marked on this map (you'll have a printed copy in your packet).  The Google maps interactive version is here.

Nan Chase, whose garden many of you have signed up to visit post-Fling, and I have also come up with a list of some of our personal favorite restaurants and other spots downtown. (You'll also have a copy in your packet.)  But you won't go wrong almost anywhere in Asheville's historic downtown for a good restaurant!

Asheville is a great town for restaurants and its local food scene, complete with numerous neighborhood tailgate markets served by farmers, artisan bakers, plant growers, etc., is remarkably vibrant.

North Asheville tailgate market (25+ years old!)
We're glad you're coming. It'll be great fun. 

Lisa
Natural Gardening

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Asheville Fling 2012 Itinerary

The basic itinerary of the Asheville Fling 2012 is listed by day below. Each day will have it's own post (still to come) to fill in a bit more detail and can be reached by the link at the bottom of each days listing. (still to come) It is pretty well set in stone, but life is life and stone can crack. Slight change is always a possibility.

Thursday May 17th and Monday May 21st have short overflow events for bloggers who may come early or stay late to spend more time enjoying Asheville and the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Thursday May 17th
RSVP Tour Sow True Seed – 1 to 5 pm
Happy hour meet and greet – Tressa’s downtown – 5pm to 7:30 pm
Explore downtown for dinner
More detail here.



Friday May 18th
West Asheville Gardens
Wamboldtopia – Christopher Mello’s Garden – Burton Street Community Peace Garden - Sunny Point CafĂ© - 9:15am–11:30am
Lunch 12 Bones/Curve Studios with ice cream from The Hop 11:45am – 1:00pm
North Carolina Arboretum – Author led native wildflower walk available 1:30pm – 3:45pm
BB Barnes Nursery 4:15 pm – 5:30pm - Back to hotel.
Explore downtown for dinner



Saturday May 19th
Peter and Jasmin Gentling Garden 9:15am – 11am
Lunch Laurey’s Catering 11:15am – 12:30pm
Biltmore Estate Gardens/ Conservatory 1pm – 4pm - Back to hotel
Dinner Masonic Temple with ice cream from the Hop 6pm – 8:30pm
Blogger Discussion post dinner - finish by 10pm
More detail here.



Sunday May 20th
Haywood Community College Gardens 9:45am – 11am
Bonnie Brae and Ku’ulei ‘Aina, two mountain top gardens 12pm – 3:30pm
Lunch catered by the Sweet Onion on the mountain - 12 pm
Wine and beverages - 2pm
Plant development forum 2pm - while you sip wine and beverages
Back to hotel 3:30pm
Explore downtown for dinner
More detail here.



Monday May 21st
White Gate Inn garden on stroll to
RSVP Continental breakfast edible garden tour at Nan Chase’s 9:00 am – 11am
Explore broader Asheville on your own with list of suggestions
More detail here.