Calendar of Events

Pruning is a crucial practice for promoting the health, productivity, and aesthetics of your plants and landscapes. Join us at Bullington Gardens for an informative and hands-on class led by horticulture expert John Murphy. In this course, you will learn essential pruning techniques that can help control diseases, stimulate new growth, and maintain the beauty of your garden.  The class will include a walk and demonstration in the gardens.

John Murphy will guide you through the basics of pruning, including the best times to prune different types of plants, proper tools and their maintenance, and step-by-step methods for achieving optimal plant health and appearance. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this class will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to make the best pruning decisions for your garden. Questions and Answer session included.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your horticultural skills and ensure your plants thrive.

February 1, 2025, 2-4pm.

Led by a certified Inward & Artward Creative Facilitator, Tikva Kingrea, this second annual, pre-Valentine’s Day workshop offers space to connect + craft a love letter from the heart. We’ll talk about the history of love letters complete with examples, what elements go into its writing, how to find and capture meaningful moments, and provide the needed materials to complete a written letter. This is a multi-disciplinary workshop focused around writing. Playful. Meaningful. Connective. Open to lovers of all types! Participants will walk away with:
– creative letter-writing
– a wax-sealed envelope and letter
– meaningful connection exercises
– a shared experience
– snacks

You’ve visited famous gardens and gone on amazing residential garden tours. Remember that sense of magic – like stepping into another world? How did they do it? Join Amy Fahmy to learn how she builds the structure of a residential garden using time honored techniques from the world’s great gardens. With 30 years of experience in renovating old gardens, and designing and building new residential gardens, Amy will share how she listens to clients, identifies priorities and sets affordable goals. Leave with specific ideas for the changes you know will fit your own garden!

Bio:

Amy is a licensed landscape architect with extensive horticultural knowledge. She has gardened for Plant Delights Nursery, Richmond Hill Inn and The Biltmore Estate. She is a certified professional plantsman, a certified permaculture designer, and a registered Landscape Contractor with 30 years of hands-on gardening experience. For the last 12 years she has managed a wide range of fine garden design commissions at Sitework Studios Landscape Architecture Studio in Asheville. She is currently transforming her own garden to include more native plants, and she is attempting to live exclusively off her own vegetable garden

Feb 8, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00pm. $20.00. Class limit 40.

On The Inside Lingerie is back on Haywood Road for another pop-up at Clad! We had so much fun last time that we had to do it again, and just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Come on by and shop your favorite On The Inside pieces with Elise on Sat Feb 8th from 11-6 + Sun Feb 9th from 12-5. I will have a wide variety for you to try on in store and purchase, and lots of pieces perfect for Valentine’s Day :)

Plus there’ll be bubbly to sip on and tasty chocolates for your sweet tooth. Come on by, it would be great to see you! Clad is located at 797 Haywood Rd, West Asheville’s awesome intentional attire shop.

Show off your chocolate cake baking skills this February!
Enter the Friends of the Enka-Candler Library
Love Your Library Chocolate Contest
on Sun. Feb. 9th 2025
Bring your cakes at 2pm to Griff’s Kitchen & Bar
at 1390 Sand Hill Rd. in Candler
$5 to enter a cake.
~We’re giving prizes to 1st, 2nd, 3rd places~
All are invited!
Public sampling at 4pm for $10/head
Questions? Email [email protected]

Maintaining the Biodiversity of the Mountains – planting native, removing invasives, restoring habitat and using environmentally friendly landscape management practices.

Western North Carolina is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world. Unfortunately, development and increasing population are threatening the delicate ecosystems of the area. Many of the landscape methods that we utilize have negative environmental repercussions. We can do better.

In this series of classes Steve will discuss how to manage your landscape in the most environmentally friendly way possible using sustainable gardening practices. Also learn about tree health care and maintenance.

By making simple changes, such as choosing native over exotic plants and removing invasive plants, we can begin to restore habitat at home, at our businesses and throughout the region.

By cultivating and protecting healthy diverse habitats for pollinators, for wildlife, for healthy flora and fauna, we benefit the individuals who live in and enjoy these spaces and for our community, as a whole. By creating natural areas in your yard and leaving the leaves each fall you can benefit many kinds of insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals which depend on the native plants and their fallen leaves and seeds for shelter, food and habitat.

Join Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show and Podcast to learn how we can do things better!

February 11, 2025, 1:00-3:00pm.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Soprana Rooftop with live jazz by Trevor Darden, a specially curated Valentine’s Day menu, cocktail specials, and stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Join us on February 14th from 6 to 9 PM for an unforgettable evening. Book reservation today.

Six Hours on the Ridge is back for its 8th year!  Are you up for the challenge?  This annual race features the 6 mile JFA trail with just over 800 feet of elevation gain and fast rolling single track making it the perfect setting for this endurance event. Riders will ride as many laps as they are able within the 6 hour time window.

This race has sold out the past two years so don’t delay sign up today!

THERE WILL BE NO DAY OF REGISTRATION.

The 22nd annual Business of Farming Conference, presented by ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project), will be held Feb. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference will take place at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, Henderson County, NC—which is a location change from A-B Tech, as originally announced. The A-B Tech Conference Center is undergoing repairs after serving as a disaster relief location during Hurricane Helene.

The conference focuses on the business side of farming, offering beginning and established farmers financial, legal, operational, and marketing tools to improve farm businesses and make professional connections. This year’s conference will also have a strong emphasis on resilience planning and resources for post-Helene recovery. More than a dozen workshops will be led by innovative farmers and specialists, including You Can’t Do It All: Hiring and Keeping a Productive Team and Planning for Farm Resiliency. A full list of workshops is at asapconnections.org.

Registration is now open at asapconnections.org. The cost is $75 by Feb. 1 and $95 after, with a discount for farm partners registering together. Scholarships are available for limited-resource and BIPOC farmers. The registration price includes a locally sourced breakfast and lunch. Lunch is sponsored by Farm Burger.

Support for the conference is provided in part by Dogwood Health Trust, NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Thursday, February 27 from 9am-3pm

Food Connection and Loving Food Resources are collaborating to bring you a one-of-a-kind fundraiser! Brunk Auction House will be offering their appraisal services for $15/item or $40 for 3 items!

Choose the hour time slot that works best for you and bring in family heirlooms, high-valued finds, and other antiques to be appraised by the professionals! All proceeds from tickets sales go to Food Connection and Loving Food Resources and participants may have the option to consign their items through the auction house and make some money themselves!

BRUNK AUCTIONS – 117 Tunnel Rd, Asheville

Brunk is a private auction house specializing in the sale of fine art, jewelry, Asian art, antique furniture, coins, and countless other areas of collecting – ranging from Contemporary Art to Antiquities. Excellence in connoisseurship is the hallmark of our specialist staff. Consistent and thoughtful client service is the foundation of our 40 years in business.

Ross Gay is interested in joy.
Ross Gay wants to understand joy.
Ross Gay is curious about joy.
Ross Gay studies joy.
Something like that.

Ross Gay — Poet, Essayist, & National Book Critics Circle Award Winner — will visit ACS with a profound mission: to explore and understand joy.

Ross Gay is the author of four books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; Be Holding, winner of the PEN American Literary Jean Stein Award; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. In addition to his poetry, Ross has released three collections of essays— The Book of Delights was released in 2019 and was a New York Times bestseller; Inciting Joy was released in 2022, and his newest collection, The Book of (More) Delights was released in September of 2023.

Ages 5+

Suitable for Beginners to Advanced Birders

This outing takes place at Lake Julian Park from 8:30-11:30 am. Get to know the birds of Lake Julian, one of Buncombe County’s birding hotspots!  We will start with a walk along the shore of Lake Julian and ends with birding on the lake from Lake Julian’s pontoon boat.  Free, Registration Required.  Binoculars are available upon request but supplies are limited. Dress for the weather!

Registration opens 30 days prior to activity.

For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.

EcoGardening: Principles in Practice (3 Sessions)

with Nina Shippen

ON-SITE  |  Sundays, February 16, 23, + March 2  |  10 am – 1 pm

Ecological gardening is a way of thinking in which gardens are no longer seen as a collection of plants, but as an interdependent community of plants, soils, environment and animals. The class introduces ecology-based methods employed in the design process of site assessment, design, installation, and maintenance. A variety of garden conditions are covered in this comprehensive overview. Gardeners of all levels of interest and ability will find this class valuable for learning ecologically-sustainable practices that can be adapted and applied in a variety of landscapes.

Birding for Beginners with Ben Bafaloukos

ON-SITE  |  Tuesday, March 4  |  9 – 10:30am

Join us on this birding walk around the NC Arboretum gardens and trails in search of a very common year round resident of North Carolina: Carolina wren. We will take an in-depth look at these noisy and “mousey” birds to observe their behaviors while also looking for other common winter bird species in our area. Bring your own binoculars but if you do not have a pair we have some loaner binoculars available to use during the program.

This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.

Lunch & Learn: Hurricanes and Climate Change With NCICS scientists

ON-SITE  |  Wednesday, March 5  | 11 am – 1 pm

This Lunch & Learn session, led by Carl Schreck from the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, will begin with a presentation and discussion on hurricanes and climate change, with a focus on Hurricane Helene. Discussion topics will include hurricane-related trends, impacts, responses, and resilience. Participants will then head over to the Climate Reference Network (CRN) station on campus (weather permitting), where scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information will describe the history and purpose of the CRN station, the instruments used to measure the weather, and answer any questions. Note that attendees can drive to the weather station, but a small amount of walking is necessary to access the equipment.

Maintaining the Biodiversity of the Mountains – planting native, removing invasives, restoring habitat and using environmentally friendly landscape management practices.

Western North Carolina is one of the most biodiverse regions of the world. Unfortunately, development and increasing population are threatening the delicate ecosystems of the area. Many of the landscape methods that we utilize have negative environmental repercussions. We can do better.

Join Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show and Podcast to learn how we can do things better! In this series of classes Steve will discuss how to manage your landscape in the most environmentally friendly way possible using sustainable gardening practices. Also learn about tree health care and maintenance.

By making simple changes, such as choosing native over exotic plants and removing invasive plants, we can begin to restore habitat at home, at our businesses and throughout the region.

By cultivating and protecting healthy diverse habitats for pollinators, for wildlife, for healthy flora and fauna, we benefit the individuals who live in and enjoy these spaces and for our community, as a whole. By creating natural areas in your yard and leaving the leaves each fall you can benefit many kinds of insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals which depend on the native plants and their fallen leaves and seeds for shelter, food and habitat.

March 6, 2025, 1:00-3:00pm.

The Olivette Farm 5K & Fun Run, hosted by Asheville Cryotherapy and Recovery, will take place on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 9:30 AM. This unique race offers an early spring challenge for both competitive and novice runners with an on-and-off-road course through the beautiful Olivette Community and Farm. After the race, attendees can enjoy an after-party featuring local vendors, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. All proceeds will support the sustainable farming mission of Olivette Farm.

Winter Warm-Up | Saturday, March 8 | 1-4 p.m. | Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Road, Arden | Bring your family, friends, and love for the outdoors to enjoy s’mores, hot chocolate, crafts, play, and more and celebrate the changing season. The program is free, and no registration is required.

Hi Wire Biltmore Village is throwing a Mardi Gras bash you won’t want to miss! Join us on Saturday, March 8th, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, for a festive celebration filled with live music, themed cocktails, and plenty of good vibes.
Get ready to groove to the sounds of Commander Voodoo, serving up live jams that’ll have you dancing all afternoon. Sip on our brand-new Hurricane Sour—a party in a glass—and other themed cocktails, or enjoy your favorite Hi Wire beers.
Costumes are highly encouraged, so break out your beads, masks, and most colorful attire to get into the spirit of Mardi Gras! Whether you come with your krewe or fly solo, this is the place to be for a day of fun, flavor, and festivities

Bonsai Demo: Resurrection of the Chase Grove with Arthur Joura

ON-SITE  |  Sunday, March 9  |  2:30 – 4:30 pm

In 1997, the Arboretum received a donation of a bonsai tray landscape featuring Dwarf Hinoki Falsecypress. The donation came from a well-known bonsai artist in Pennsylvania named Chase Rosade. This large and popular planting was often on display in the bonsai garden, until 2021 when it was taken off display because the unique fabricated container in which it was planted began to crumble. A new container has been made and now it’s time to rebuild the landscape and get it back on display.

Meadows don’t have to be massive to contribute to the biodiversity and beauty of a landscape. Many gardeners are learning how to incorporate meadow style plantings in their home or small business landscapes. Join us for our engaging workshop on creating a meadow style landscape feature. Learn from Crissy Dzielak, Vice President and co-owner of Landmark Landscapes about the plants, installation techniques, and maintenance practices that bring these vibrant, naturalistic landscapes to life.

Topics covered include:

Plant Selection: Understand which grasses, wildflowers, and perennials are ideal for meadow-style plantings, focusing on native and drought-tolerant species that thrive in our region.

Installation Techniques: Learn step-by-step methods for preparing your site, sowing seeds, and planting plugs to establish a thriving meadow.

Maintenance Practices: Gain insights into sustainable practices for managing weeds, supporting plant diversity, and maintaining the health and beauty of your meadow over time.

This talk is perfect for gardeners and landscape enthusiasts looking to create low-maintenance, ecologically beneficial, and visually stunning meadow landscapes. Join us to explore meadow style plantings and how they can transform your garden into a haven for wildlife and a feast for the eyes.

March 12, 2025, 1:00-3:00pm.

Fishes of the Southern Appalachians with Carlton Burke

ON-SITE  |  Thursday, March 13  |  12 – 4 pm

Blue Ridge Naturalist – Wildlife of the Blue Ridge Core Credit

The Southern Appalachian region is rich with a variety of fish species. These include not only the better known species of game fish that we love to catch for sport or food, but also include an incredible diversity of smaller, lesser-known non-game fish, which play an important role in the ecology of our aquatic mountain habitats. In this class we will discuss many of the fish species found in the mountain region and learn about their classification, habitat, life cycles, and their identifying features.

This program includes a lab portion of the class where students will see some features of fish hands on with real fish specimens.

Protecting our Native Hemlocks: Treatment Demonstration with Hemlock Restorative Initiative

ON-SITE  |  Friday, March 14  |  1 – 4 pm

Blue Ridge EcoGardener – Elective Credit

Join Hemlock Restoration Initiative staff for a demonstration and workshop in the Arboretum forest to learn the fundamentals of treating hemlock trees to protect them from the invasive insect, hemlock woolly adelgid. Designed for a general audience, this workshop is great for homeowners who steward hemlocks on their property or for anyone interested in learning treatment basics. Today hemlock management is simpler and less expensive than ever before!

🍀 Get Lucky With Us This St. Paddy’s Day! 🍀
Bring your crew, wear your green and get ready for a day full of green drinks, shamrocks, and epic bar-hopping fun— let’s make this St. Patrick’s Day unforgettable! 🍻

https://www.facebook.com/events/1810760669750657

Get ready to experience the ultimate St. Paddy’s Day celebration! On March 15, join us for an unforgettable bar crawl filled with green drinks, shamrocks, and non-stop fun! We’ll be hopping between the best bars in Asheville, enjoying exclusive drink specials, festive giveaways, and all the lively energy of St. Patrick’s Day.

Gather your crew, don your green, and get ready for a day packed with good times and great company. Whether you’re sipping on Irish whiskey, clinking glasses of green beer, or dancing to festive tunes, this crawl is the perfect way to make the most of St. Paddy’s Day.

From the first pint to the last toast, it’s going to be a day of good cheer, new friends, and unforgettable memories. Don’t miss out

Drawn to Nature with Matt Reyna

ON-SITE  |  Sunday, March 16  |  10am – 12:30pm

Join us for a Sunday morning reserved for creative self-care. Using basic mark-makers (pencils, graphite, etc) we’ll explore the instinctual, yet undervalued act of drawing–through the lens of nature. Choose your own focus – capture grand mountain views from our classroom, work on a collective nature still life, or hone in on the small details of nature on your own. Weather depending, students may choose to sketch outside.

Basic art materials, hot tea, and a welcoming atmosphere will be provided. All skill levels welcome! Feel free to bring your own materials, but kindly keep wet media (paints, etc) at home.

This program takes place both indoors and out. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Scouting the First Signs of Spring with Lauren Lampley

ON-SITE  |  Tuesday, March 18  |  2 – 4 pm

Blue Ridge Naturalist – Elective Credit

Spring is an exciting time of the year and even more so this year after the destruction following Tropical Storm Helene last year. Join Lauren on an exploration to find the first signs of spring! During this class we will also discuss the study of phenology and it is important to record the timing of spring’s events especially for climate scientists.

This program takes place outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Acclaimed author and retreat leader Renée Trudeau leads an embodied spiritual experience exploring ways to connect with the Divine in everyday life — including through song, gentle movement, meditation and more. Part of Kanuga’s Lunch & Learn series, the Thursday, March 20 event begins with a nature immersion gathering (weather permitting) at 10 a.m. Trudeau’s “Soul Tending” presentation will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a buffet lunch in Kanuga’s dining hall. Bring a journal, pen and an early childhood photo of themselves. Registration and more info at kanuga.org/events.

Leading a Nature Hike 101 with Lauren Lampley

ON-SITE  |  Friday, March 21  |  1 – 4 pm

Blue Ridge Naturalist – Capstone Credit

Leading a group on a hike in nature comes naturally to some people but for others it is a skill developed over time. In this class we will talk about best practices for how to safely and efficiently lead a group on a hike in nature as well as what planning is necessary before the day of the hike. We will discuss possible hazards to keep an eye on and what to do in case of an emergency in “front country” hiking areas such as many trails in the Asheville area.

This program takes place both indoors and out. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.