Asheville is a tourist destination from spring to fall, because of our setting and the surrounding mountains.
And it's been that way for a long time.
From George Vanderbilt (at the turn of the last century) and E.W. Grove (builder of the Grove Park Inn, the Grove Park neighborhood, and the Grove Arcade downtown), Asheville flourished through the end of the logging era, right up to the Great Depression.
The art deco buildings and historic neighborhoods (Montford, Kenilworth, Albermarle, Chestnut Hill, and Grove Park) all derive from that period.
The renaissance of downtown Asheville has happened over the last 20+ years, or so, as the formerly deserted downtown was gradually repopulated with restaurants, galleries, and shops. The distinctive architecture of downtown was saved through Asheville paying off (or not taking on) depression-era debt (as I understand it), then mouldering along until revitalization. There was even an early urban renewal suggestion (yikes) to convert part of downtown to a mall, I think, that was turned back by voters, probably because of cost, but I don't remember the details of the story.
My gardening companion and I started visited Asheville near the beginning of that time, in the early 80's, and it's been a remarkable transformation to see.
There's lots more to learn about Asheville at the Asheville Visitor Center, just off highway 240 at the Montford Avenue exit (it's an easy walk from the Four Points, too). They have helpful folks and excellent information for visiting Asheville and beyond.
If you're coming early or staying beyond the Fling, here are some places not to miss.
~ Botanical Gardens of Asheville (a wonderful 50+ year old garden adjacent to UNC-Asheville devoted to native plants)
~ Grove Park Inn and surrounding neighborhoods
~ Blue Ridge Parkway (there's easy access up Town Mountain Rd., with a nice hike either way along the Mountains to Sea Trail)
~ River Arts District ( a former warehouse and industrial area being transformed to art studios and galleries)
~ Biltmore Village (a historic area full of interesting shops and restaurants-- my favorite is the Compleat Naturalist -- they're great supporters of exploring the natural world of the Southern Appalachians).
And if you have time, or want to come back, explore the rich botanical diversity and natural gardens that the Southern Appalachians provide -- you'll have a taste in Christopher's garden and beyond, but there are wonders beyond.
Have fun exploring.
(P.S. My gardening companion, Tim Spira, will be doing a couple of native plant walks at the NC Arboretum on Friday afternoon as part of the Fling, if you're interested in learning more about native plants and their ecology in the Southern Appalachians.) But there's lots to explore there on your own, too.
Enjoy Asheville! We're looking forward to your visit. Ask me for more visiting suggestions, if you like...
Lisa
Natural Gardening
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Important Information About Your Information Packet
An information packet has been assembled for every registered attendee and their guest if applicable. We did our best with names, but some in the guest category/groups may remain nameless until they fill in their name tags and a few did not register with last names. So be it.
For those booked at the Four Points Sheraton your information packet will be available for you when you check in. Please ask for your packet when you check in. If you are sharing a room or a party of 2 and the room is not booked under you name and we were not sure who was also in your party, your information packet may not be there. DO NOT PANIC!
Quite a few attendees have found other accommodations and are not staying at the hotel. Information packets will also be given out to that group during the happy hours at Tressa's on Thursday evening. Check Thursday's schedule for more detail info on that event. If you don't have a packet at the hotel it will be at Tressa's. Ohm.....
Between 5pm and 7:30 on Thursday all the information packets will be at Tressa's, not at the front desk of the hotel. If you are coming in late on Thursday and will not be at Tressa's, I know there are a few, the remaining unclaimed information packets will be taken back to the front desk of the hotel after the event at Tressa's.
The information packets contain:
The Fling Itinerary
Walking guide and map for extra curricular garden touring in the downtown area
A dining guide
Local recommendations for dining.
Map of Asheville downtown and the larger city
Map to the NC Arboretum
AND MOST IMPORTANT
Your name tag and Saturday dinner entree choice with a number on it.
DO NOT LOSE your name tag and dinner choice card with the number on it. The entree choice card has been placed inside your name tag holder. This entree card should be placed on the table when you settle in for dinner to aid the cater waiters in serving dinner.
You will need your name tag to be identified as part of our group to be served at the Biltmore's champagne toast. You will need your entree choice card for Saturday's dinner. No changing your mind on dinner, no substitutions. The number on your entree card will be used for the drawing to give away all the door prize swag we have. And our sponsors have given us some very cool swag.
No entree card with a number on it, chances are good you will eat what you ordered for dinner on the registration form by process of elimination and being the last person served. No number. No door prize. No chance.
For those booked at the Four Points Sheraton your information packet will be available for you when you check in. Please ask for your packet when you check in. If you are sharing a room or a party of 2 and the room is not booked under you name and we were not sure who was also in your party, your information packet may not be there. DO NOT PANIC!
Quite a few attendees have found other accommodations and are not staying at the hotel. Information packets will also be given out to that group during the happy hours at Tressa's on Thursday evening. Check Thursday's schedule for more detail info on that event. If you don't have a packet at the hotel it will be at Tressa's. Ohm.....
Between 5pm and 7:30 on Thursday all the information packets will be at Tressa's, not at the front desk of the hotel. If you are coming in late on Thursday and will not be at Tressa's, I know there are a few, the remaining unclaimed information packets will be taken back to the front desk of the hotel after the event at Tressa's.
The information packets contain:
The Fling Itinerary
Walking guide and map for extra curricular garden touring in the downtown area
A dining guide
Local recommendations for dining.
Map of Asheville downtown and the larger city
Map to the NC Arboretum
AND MOST IMPORTANT
Your name tag and Saturday dinner entree choice with a number on it.
DO NOT LOSE your name tag and dinner choice card with the number on it. The entree choice card has been placed inside your name tag holder. This entree card should be placed on the table when you settle in for dinner to aid the cater waiters in serving dinner.
You will need your name tag to be identified as part of our group to be served at the Biltmore's champagne toast. You will need your entree choice card for Saturday's dinner. No changing your mind on dinner, no substitutions. The number on your entree card will be used for the drawing to give away all the door prize swag we have. And our sponsors have given us some very cool swag.
No entree card with a number on it, chances are good you will eat what you ordered for dinner on the registration form by process of elimination and being the last person served. No number. No door prize. No chance.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A bark house and an edible landscape
Many of you have signed up to visit Nan Chase's garden on Monday morning, May 21, post-Fling. It's an easy walk from the hotel. You'll pass by the White Gate Inn's charming garden on the way (don't miss visiting it). Both locations are marked on the maps that will be included in the registration packets.
Nan's garden was the “grow garden” for her upcoming book Vegevore! 50 Great Vegetables from A to Z, which will be published in spring 2013 by Gibbs Smith Publishers. Some of the plants included in her 2010 book Eat Your Yard! Edible trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and flowers for your landscape were also grown in this garden.
You'll see a variety of fruit trees, berries, shrubs and herbs, in addition to perennial and annual vegetables and herbs, mixed into a wonderfully vibrant urban garden. The roses were beautiful when I dropped by recently. Check out Nan's Broad St. plant list for more information, as well as for background on her bark house.
The bark house is fascinating, built as Nan and her husband Saul's new home in Asheville in 2008. This article, recently published in Appalachian Voices describes its virtues and history.
P.S. If you're interested in learning more about Asheville's storied architecture and built environment, Nan's book, Asheville: A History, is a great reference.
 |
| Nan's garden in 2011 |
You'll see a variety of fruit trees, berries, shrubs and herbs, in addition to perennial and annual vegetables and herbs, mixed into a wonderfully vibrant urban garden. The roses were beautiful when I dropped by recently. Check out Nan's Broad St. plant list for more information, as well as for background on her bark house.The bark house is fascinating, built as Nan and her husband Saul's new home in Asheville in 2008. This article, recently published in Appalachian Voices describes its virtues and history.
P.S. If you're interested in learning more about Asheville's storied architecture and built environment, Nan's book, Asheville: A History, is a great reference.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Giving The Artist Credit
Look familiar? Look up. A photo of this sculpture at the NC Arboretum was taken by me nearly five years ago and used as the header for The Asheville Fling 2012 blog.
I needed something striking, something pretty, something gardeny, something uniquely Asheville for the header. This sculpture fit the bill. The Arboretum even uses this work in their promotion and advertising. But I did not know who the artist was after all these years.
Today I will fix that. Martin Webster of Burnsville, NC is the artist of this wonderful work.
I also saw a living artist while at the NC Arboretum today. Amy Stewart, a botanically bent author gave a talk on her book Wicked Plants to mark the opening of the Arboretum's exhibit based on her book.
The traveling Exhibit Wicked Plants runs through September at the Arboretum and will be there for your pleasure when the bloggers arrive in less than two weeks.
I bought two books so Amy was kind enough to autograph them and pose for the camera with me. I have now met all four Garden Ranters. It's official. I am the Fanboy as some Chicago commenter snidely remarked.
Speaking of Stewartias. This native Mountain Camellia, Stewartia ovata var. grandiflora I think was in full bloom next to the education building.
I want one, though the elevation information does not bode well for me.
It has been about two years since my last visit to the NC Arboretum. In that time a new sculpture has arrived. I like it.
This artist won't have to wait five years for me to give her credit.
I might post a few more enticing pictures of my visit to the NC Arboretum later or you can just wait til you get here and see it all for yourself..
I needed something striking, something pretty, something gardeny, something uniquely Asheville for the header. This sculpture fit the bill. The Arboretum even uses this work in their promotion and advertising. But I did not know who the artist was after all these years.
Today I will fix that. Martin Webster of Burnsville, NC is the artist of this wonderful work.
I also saw a living artist while at the NC Arboretum today. Amy Stewart, a botanically bent author gave a talk on her book Wicked Plants to mark the opening of the Arboretum's exhibit based on her book.
The traveling Exhibit Wicked Plants runs through September at the Arboretum and will be there for your pleasure when the bloggers arrive in less than two weeks.
I bought two books so Amy was kind enough to autograph them and pose for the camera with me. I have now met all four Garden Ranters. It's official. I am the Fanboy as some Chicago commenter snidely remarked.
Speaking of Stewartias. This native Mountain Camellia, Stewartia ovata var. grandiflora I think was in full bloom next to the education building.
I want one, though the elevation information does not bode well for me.
It has been about two years since my last visit to the NC Arboretum. In that time a new sculpture has arrived. I like it.
This artist won't have to wait five years for me to give her credit.
I might post a few more enticing pictures of my visit to the NC Arboretum later or you can just wait til you get here and see it all for yourself..
Saturday May 19th
Day two of Asheville Fling 2012 will begin in the parking lot of the Four Points Sheraton with the loading of the buses beginning at 8:45 am. The buses will leave promptly at 9am. Do not miss the bus. Our generous sponsors Corona Tools, the Whitegate Inn and Gardener's Hollow Leg are all helping cover the expense of the buses for the three days of Fling.
DO NOT MISS THE BUSES. THE ONLY WAY TO ENTER THE GARDENS ON SATURDAY IS ON THE BUS!!
The garden of Peter and Jasmin Gentling is located on a mountain above Asheville and is reached by a narrow, barely two lane wide road. There is no parking. It's location will not be disclosed. Be on the bus or you won't see it.
You will be rewarded for following instructions. Two plus acres of a collectors garden on a terraced mountain side await you.
I first visited on a cold and windy day when the first hint of spring was stirring. It was obvious from what I saw that in another couple of months the garden would be filled to overflowing.
I strongly recommend a good pair of walking shoes. The garden is steep with many stone steps going from terrace to terrace. A native woodland garden extends off one end for a nice leisurely stroll. Shrubberies and flowers abound. Two Dawn Redwoods tower above it all.
Lunch will be served in the Gentling garden by Laurey's Catering beginning at 11am. The buses will load and leave for our next stop at 12:30pm.
Now you may certainly enter the Biltmore, our next stop on Saturday on your own. It is a public place. However if you are not on the bus with the garden bloggers you will pay the entry fee that is running around $60 a head for same day tickets. I'd recommend being on the bus. You can use that money to buy plants at the gift shop and nursery behind the conservatory.
When we first enter the estate a staff gardener will join each bus who will be able to give a brief historic overview about Biltmore and Frederick Law Olmsted's impact on the development of the grounds and the forest as we drive the three miles to the gardens. Each attendee will be given a copy of the original 1895 guide map which shows the original planting plans. Staff gardeners will also be stationed at specific places on the grounds for you to ask probing questions while you stroll the magnificent gardens.
At 3pm a champagne toast and social hour will be hosted by Biltmore in the Conservatory. You must be wearing your Asheville Fling 2012 name tag that we will provide in your information packets to be served champagne or other refreshments. There are bound to be several hundred other people milling about. You will need to be identifiable.
We will load the buses and head back to the hotel at 4pm.
Saturday night's dinner is being served at the Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St. directly across Woodfin St. from the hotel. Dinner begins at 6pm with light pupus - an assortment of timbales served with bread and crackers. Between 6 and 6:45 pm a lodge member will be available for guided tours of this historic building. Dinner will be prepared by and begin being served at 6:45 pm by the Colorful Palate.
Alcohol is not allowed in the Temple. If you are thirsty for more than tea or lemonade there are a couple of bars right across the street. I hear tell if you mention you are at a function at the Masonic Temple you might get a discount, kama'aina rate.
Entree cards with your meal choice will also be in your information packets (placed inside your name tag holder). Bring this card with you. It should be placed where you sit to aid the cater waiters. Your entree card will also have a number on it. This number is for the door prize drawings that will happen at Saturday's dinner. No entree card, no number, no chance of a door prize for you! You will get a swag bag filled with all kinds of garden goodies from our generous sponsors listed in our swag category on the Fling blog. To increase your chances for more garden goodies, don't forget your entree card.
Homemade ice cream, including dairy free options will be scooped up by The Hop for desert. Dinner should conclude around 8:30 pm.
Dinner will be followed by a discussion about the evolution of blogging led by Dee Nash and Pam Penick. This will conclude by 10pm. The lights will dim and flash and it will be time to leave the Masonic Temple for the streets of downtown Asheville.
I hope I have covered everything for Saturday.
DO NOT MISS THE BUSES. THE ONLY WAY TO ENTER THE GARDENS ON SATURDAY IS ON THE BUS!!
The garden of Peter and Jasmin Gentling is located on a mountain above Asheville and is reached by a narrow, barely two lane wide road. There is no parking. It's location will not be disclosed. Be on the bus or you won't see it.
You will be rewarded for following instructions. Two plus acres of a collectors garden on a terraced mountain side await you.
I first visited on a cold and windy day when the first hint of spring was stirring. It was obvious from what I saw that in another couple of months the garden would be filled to overflowing.
I strongly recommend a good pair of walking shoes. The garden is steep with many stone steps going from terrace to terrace. A native woodland garden extends off one end for a nice leisurely stroll. Shrubberies and flowers abound. Two Dawn Redwoods tower above it all.
Lunch will be served in the Gentling garden by Laurey's Catering beginning at 11am. The buses will load and leave for our next stop at 12:30pm.
Now you may certainly enter the Biltmore, our next stop on Saturday on your own. It is a public place. However if you are not on the bus with the garden bloggers you will pay the entry fee that is running around $60 a head for same day tickets. I'd recommend being on the bus. You can use that money to buy plants at the gift shop and nursery behind the conservatory.
When we first enter the estate a staff gardener will join each bus who will be able to give a brief historic overview about Biltmore and Frederick Law Olmsted's impact on the development of the grounds and the forest as we drive the three miles to the gardens. Each attendee will be given a copy of the original 1895 guide map which shows the original planting plans. Staff gardeners will also be stationed at specific places on the grounds for you to ask probing questions while you stroll the magnificent gardens.
At 3pm a champagne toast and social hour will be hosted by Biltmore in the Conservatory. You must be wearing your Asheville Fling 2012 name tag that we will provide in your information packets to be served champagne or other refreshments. There are bound to be several hundred other people milling about. You will need to be identifiable.
We will load the buses and head back to the hotel at 4pm.
Saturday night's dinner is being served at the Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St. directly across Woodfin St. from the hotel. Dinner begins at 6pm with light pupus - an assortment of timbales served with bread and crackers. Between 6 and 6:45 pm a lodge member will be available for guided tours of this historic building. Dinner will be prepared by and begin being served at 6:45 pm by the Colorful Palate.
Alcohol is not allowed in the Temple. If you are thirsty for more than tea or lemonade there are a couple of bars right across the street. I hear tell if you mention you are at a function at the Masonic Temple you might get a discount, kama'aina rate.
Entree cards with your meal choice will also be in your information packets (placed inside your name tag holder). Bring this card with you. It should be placed where you sit to aid the cater waiters. Your entree card will also have a number on it. This number is for the door prize drawings that will happen at Saturday's dinner. No entree card, no number, no chance of a door prize for you! You will get a swag bag filled with all kinds of garden goodies from our generous sponsors listed in our swag category on the Fling blog. To increase your chances for more garden goodies, don't forget your entree card.
Homemade ice cream, including dairy free options will be scooped up by The Hop for desert. Dinner should conclude around 8:30 pm.
Dinner will be followed by a discussion about the evolution of blogging led by Dee Nash and Pam Penick. This will conclude by 10pm. The lights will dim and flash and it will be time to leave the Masonic Temple for the streets of downtown Asheville.
I hope I have covered everything for Saturday.
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