This picture was made last May at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. Asheville was in full spring bloom while it was still winter in the higher elevations. I got a kick out of seeing the weather changes as we traveled through the mountains but the lush flowers of the Biltmore gardens were positively thrilling.
There were a lot of people out that day so I was excited to frame a quiet view of the formal gardens through this window.
I suppose it’s true that the little things do make us happy.
Visiting the North Carolina Arboretum was sort of an afterthought. We had spent the day exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway and were looking for something interesting to do before dinner. This was on my list of interesting places and it was open till 9 p.m. so we set out for a much needed walk after a day spent largely in the car.
This 400+ acre arboretum has beautiful flower gardens and trails, offering something for everyone. There are lots of water features as well as nooks and crannies that feel like secret gardens and spaces to get lost.
Plus there are so many amazing sounds of birds, frogs and crickets that create a soundtrack like no other.
It’s paradise.
They do have an education center that was closed for a special event. There’s also a restaurant and bonsai garden that were already closed for the day. That was fine by me because we had a terrific time out exploring the pretty flowers and woodland trails.
Parking is $16 per car. You can get lots more information by visiting their website. I took so many pictures, you’ll likely see more here in the future.
If you are in Asheville, I highly recommend this place. It’s great for all ages and, if you take kids, look for the treasure hunt maps to help them stay engaged and on the lookout for interesting things!