suggestions for north carolina?

hi everyone

so i've been keeping myself concentrated with work for the last week but have now allowed myself enjoy guiltless fun. we are in waynesville now. about 30 miles outside of ashville. and 2 hours north of atlanta. i haven't even been to ashville. do any of you native know of a place to go. i've heard of the arboretum and the botanical they're on the list for friday.

oh my gosh though let me comment on those hibiscus people have growing here. they're incredible. i am sorely tempted to get cuttings. if only i believed they'd survive the trip home.

Keep them wet and in some good potting soil with root stimulator, and check them every time you stop for gas, and I bet they'll make it. Stop and knock on some doors.....I'll bet you get a bunch of good cuttings..hee, hee...get an extra or two.

"eyes"

You're in Asheville and looking for something to do? Go to Biltmore! We've been there twice and love it.

Touring the house will take around 2 hours, and the rest of the entire day will be spent touring their immense gardens.

Dave

ack!!!!

someone asked me if i wanted to go to biltmore today
they told me it was an old inn. i though they were going to look at antiquesn so said no.

bummer. but thats okay i guess i can go on my own.

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asheville has a *great* farmer's market, lots of very cool plants, too. be sure to check it out.

Oh, Quynh, definitely don't miss the chance to go to Biltmore House. It is one of the most wonderful private homes and estates in the US, and as someone said above, touring the gardens could easily take most of a day, if not two. And the house is spectacular, when you see all the "modern conveniences" and opulent furnishings that are inside, it's amazing that anyone could afford to build it as a private residence. So there you have my two cents' worth. It's great to hear from you, and I hope you're enjoying your trip!!!!!

Hey, Quynh... I thought you were gonna call me when you got to Asheville! (If you don't still have my number, send me an email with the Waynesville 'phone number... I check email early mornings, evenings after work, and sometimes before bed. I'll get back to you promptly.) Would love to meet you.

Do check out Biltmore Estate if you have the time and money. (I think it is about $35 per person, and will take most of a day. The gardens are wonderful. The house tour takes a couple of hours or more if it is crowded.) The NC Arboretum also great, and free; it encompasses many, many acres so take a lunch and take a leisurely stroll. There is a local botanical garden, but I was quite disappointed....

Several wonderful nurseries in the area... and a hosta grower. I'll fill you in...

darius

This message was edited Wednesday, Aug 1st 7:32 PM

Few nice Brugmansia in from Leicester as well, or perhaps the rumor about the Biltmore having a few choice Brugmansia in the garden is true as well...Good luck on your trip.

The Biltmore gardens and greenhouses are to die for. I've often thought about applying for a job there just to work in the gardens. They are awesome!!!! I've got one of those HUGE hibiscus that you've seen and am saving seed. Email me when you get home and I will send you some when they are ready. Welcome to North Carolina. It's beautiful here. vic ps...if you do go to the botanical gardens you will pass the Farmers Market on your left. The Farmers Market is really neat but right across the street is Jesse Israel's. The plants and flowers are a bit pricey but top quality and beautiful. Also lots of water garden stuff, gifts, etc. Have Fun!!!!!!

This message was edited Wednesday, Aug 1st 8:56 PM

They have Brugmansias in massive 5'x5'x5' wooden containers in the stable area at Biltmore. The brugs are at least 15 feet tall and very handsome.

I figure they must use a forklift every spring/fall to move those containers indoors.

I am about 25 miles from you in Lake Toxaway. Biltmore has exceptional gardens, the arboretum's cool and so are the botanical gardens at UNC-A. Also Asheville has lots of cool nurseries, an amazing number actually. One great one is called Sandy Mush, lol. Contact me and we'll go exploring.

Lake Toxaway is near Brevard, in Transylvania County, a/k/a "The Land of Waterfalls"

I'm dying to find out just what you end up doing Quynh...Biltmore? Arboretum? Market? Go to Brevard and see Pishah Forest? Slide down Sliding Rock? See LookingGlass Falls? Connestee Fall? (Buy land and move to NC?) Fill us in when you can, okay? I'm sure you're having a great trip!

wow
thursday i went whitewater rafting with noc on the chatooga river. that was a blast!! probably because our boat was the only one that didn't have someone fall out of it or flip.
friday went to the arboretum and accidently snuck into the quilt show they had at the visitors center. oh my gosh those quilts were amazing i'm inspired to do a quilt. today were headed out to knoxville to see an old friend of adrian's from the navy they havent seen each other in about 6 years.

darius!!!!! i completely forgot my great apologies. were heading back into ashville again tomorrow (sunday) can i give you a call then? i'll email you with our phone number (i don't know the one at the house). our if you email me with yours i'll make sure to give you a call. woodspirit you too.

and yes karma that may be the idea. i've had lots of plants that i've been so tempted to take home with me but couldn't. i thought about sending it back home but i've still worried if the plants i have there now will survive. would you be interested in receiving cuttings and rooting them for me? you can keep most of them i would just like one or two.

horseshoe were getting ready to go oh a week long hike!! starting right by sliding rock and then down to art loeb.

hey i got to head out now, but have an idea. would darius, vic, horseshoe, and woodspirit and any of you in the area like to get together for a sunday brunch? or some other group gathering?

q

thank you so much for being here

I'd love to but I'm 4 or 5 hrs away...I know the area cuz that is where I grew up w/grandparents (I remember when Sliding Rock was just where you pulled over and parked on the side of the road and weaved your way thru the greenery to get to it...now I understand it is quite the tourist area complete with bath houses and such). Woodspirit, I sure hope you can make it tho...you could show them around so much in your area! Keep us updated ya'll!

quynh...If you are coming back near Paducah,KY there is the Museum of the American Quilter's Society there.And believe me....you have never seen such quilts. My mom is a tour guide there and if you'll let me know,I can make arrangements for a private guided tour.

That goes for anyone out there too!!!

Let me explain about Biltmore. It was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt during the time he began to buy up vast amounts of clear cut timber land. He decided that we needed to learn forest management like he had seen in Europe. So he hired first, Gilbert Pinchot, and later Carl Schenck from Germany to start up a forestry school. He built many of the ranger's cabins in the German style and they are architectural treasures. Eventually he sold the forest land to the U.S. Government. There is a museum area, best approached from the Brevard side, called the Cradle of Forestry with a visitor's center, some of the original building and many other interesting things to see.
But he retained a beautiful portion near Asheville and built the largest home in America; over 300 rooms I think. He traveled throughout Europe buying antiques and other art treasures to furnish it. He even has a tapestry that once belonged to Cardinal Richelieu and the chess set that once belonged to Napoleon. I don't think he ever totally thought of the house as just home, but more of a place to show off his priceless finds. So it is fitting that the family now runs it as a museum.
Because his descendants wanted to keep Biltmore in the family, they have had to find a way to handle estate taxes. I think one way was to keep the estate in debt so they built a nice hotel on the grounds. I haven't seen it yet, but I bet it's built to match the rest of the architecture on the estate.