Color is beginning its swift migration down to elevations below 3,000 feet and we are on our way to peak time around Asheville and Black Mountain, NC, which typically arrives between October 21 and October 31.
You may have heard about the rain we had last week…actually, it was ten full days! We were fortunate not to experience any flooding at the Inn, and while the Blue Ridge Parkway closed for a couple of days for workers to clear the roadway of any fallen trees, it is back open and offering great views of fall foliage at elevations between 3,500 and 4,500 feet.
Hey! It’s time for this year’s fall color reports! Why the exclamation points, you ask? Well, usually, our first week report doesn’t have much to share in the way of color. Early fall in the mountains of North Carolina brings little bits of fall foliage here and there, while goldenrod and aster and cardinal flower generally make up for the mostly green landscape during the first week of fall. This year, however, is another story.
Sure, October is the month where Mother Nature transforms the mountains of Western North Carolina into a brilliant work of art with her color palette of golds, reds and oranges, but it’s also when the colorful work of our local artisans is celebrated, during American Craft Week.
We are proud to support the arts community in the Asheville area. At Inn on Mill Creek, you will see all kinds of artwork displayed (and for sale!) by local artists. From time to time, we also like to feature our artists on our blog. Norman Gill is one such artist.
If you like Pinterest, check this out — we have a new board on our Pinterest page celebrating all things summer around Asheville.
The Botanical Gardens at Asheville is one of those places that we consider to be a true gem in our area. It’s not as big or as well-known as, say, the gardens at Biltmore Estate or the North Carolina Arboretum. But it’s a wonderful spot for people who want to experience nature in a leisurely setting.
Most people think of Biltmore House when they think of Biltmore Estate, but the gardens are magnificent and well worth spending some time exploring. Acres and acres of gardens, including formal gardens, park-like gardens spaces, and a beautiful azalea garden are all part of the grounds.
While the Asheville area is known for natural beauty — hiking trails, waterfalls, the Blue Ridge Parkway — it is equally known for its superb arts culture. Asheville is recognized annually for its art and craft on various “top ten” lists.
It’s Spring, which means it’s time for the annual celebration at Biltmore Estate known as Biltmore Blooms. Biltmore, located in Asheville, NC, is an 8,000-acre estate owned by descendents of George Washington Vanderbilt. And much of the estate grounds is like a big nature park, allowing for visitors to meander along different pathways, surrounded by spring-blooming shrubs and flowers.
