Archive for the 'Area Attractions' Category
Fall 2008 Color Forecast for the Blue Ridge Mountains
September 5th, 2008 categories: Area Attractions
As I sit here writing this post, it’s an absolutely ideal day weather-wise and I’m looking out over a very green view that still looks like we’re in the middle of summer! Well, that’s certain to change in just a few short weeks and it’s good news for color hunters this year.
Foliage experts are reporting favorable conditions for beautiful, spectacular color for this 2008 Fall season. In fact, it could be the brightest leaf color show in recent history! According to Dr. Gary Walker, a biology professor at Appalachian State University, we are still in drought conditions in the western part of the state (which is suprisingly good for fall color), although there was enough rainfall this spring to keep the trees healthy. “Slight drought tends to improve the vibrancy of leaf color in the fall, so we should see spots of very nice color this year,” said Dr. Kathy Gould Mathews, assistant biology professor at Western Carolina University. “A sharp cooling of temperatures in September and October would really cause the colors to burst, as this stimulates anthocyanin (red pigment) production.”
With elevations that range from 1,500 feet in the valleys to 6,684 at Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, the Asheville area is a fall leaf kaleidoscope from late September through early November as the foliage color beginning at the highest elevations slowly creeps down the mountainsides. Color hunters hoping to find the perfect “peak”? time for fall foliage are surprised to learn that Western North Carolina boasts one of the most extended fall foliage seasons in the nation due to varying elevations, microclimates and nearly 100 species of deciduous trees.
To help you locate the perfect autumn vista, weekly fall color reports for the mountains of Western North Carolina are posted by the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau at FallintheMountains.com and a toll-free hotline 800-257-1300. ENJOY!
ps - Photo taken by my good neighbor and retired Superintendant of the Blue Ridge Parkway - Dan Brown!
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Even the Asheville highways are beautiful!
May 30th, 2008 categories: Area Attractions
For the past few weeks I’ve been driving by this beautiful patch of flowers on the highway, specifically future Highway 26 between Asheville and Weaverville. It’s so gorgeous that I want to stop, lay out my blanket and have a nice lunch. But of course, it wouldn’t be very peaceful would it? With Semi’s and a hundred cars a minute wizzing by. But, what I could do is share it with you and maybe you’ll want drive by some time before they disappear.
Seeing these flowers obviously put me in a flower mood, so, on to the Biltmore Estate to check out what was flowering in the gardens. I was really excited to see the Rose Gardens were in full bloom. Here are a couple of my favorites,
So, what did my husband Gary do while I was off checking out everything? Ladies, are we surprised?
OK, to be fair and since his shirt matched some of the roses, here’s a nice shot of him by one of the gazebo’s. Handsome devil!
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Why you don’t want to let your dogs run free on the Blue Ridge Parkway
April 18th, 2008 categories: Area Attractions
Have you ever taken your dog to a dog park, thinking it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch your poochie make all kinds of doggie friends? For some the experience was less than what they had hoped for, usually because there always seem to be some dog owners that don’t watch over their pet and things happen . . . mostly a dog fight with owners trying to break it up, and it’s easy for someone to get bitten in that situation. When I read in the Asheville-Times by Clarke Morrison, that Blue Ridge Parkway rangers are taking notice of pet owners who let their dogs run loose on the Parkway, because of biting incidences, it really reminded me of a few of my doggie park visits. Current Parkway regulations require that all pets be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet. They are now issuing fines of $100 if you are in violation of this simple regulation. So, if you didn’t know this regulation existed, consider yourself in-the-know!
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Biltmore Festival of Flowers
April 14th, 2008 categories: Area Attractions
One of my favorite things to do is visit the Biltmore Estate here in Asheville. There’s always something to do or new to see at this fabulous estate, this time it was for their Festival of Flowers, the annual unveiling of beautiful tulips, flowering bulbs. trees & shrubs. We got there the day after this event opened and it was just amazing! There were hundreds, probably thousands of blooming tulips, hyacinth, pansies, daffodils, phlox, crocus and so many more.
The flowering trees that always amaze me are the cherry trees, so gorgeous! As you can see from the photo’s everything was really just beginning and wasn’t at peak. I’ve included a photo of a Japanese Maple that is just getting ready to pop, it must be a hundred years old and one of my favorite trees to study. Mid-April you can expect to see dogwoods & redbud trees at their finest, late April are poppies, snapdragons and pansies. By the beginning of May the azaleaswill be at their peak, you won’t want to miss that showing!
Festival of Flowers is officially on between April 5th through May 18th, on Saturdays and Sundays they also have live music in the garden between 11:30a.m. - 3:30p.m. If you’re in the area, take some time “to smell the roses” and enjoy this stunning garden.
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