Calendar of Events

Bullington Gardens is known for our expansive collection of dahlias. Each year our volunteer dahlia crew work tirelessly to ensure we have the best crop possible. These amazing plants take quite a bit of work to be successful, and it starts with dividing your tuber. Join Kim Biggerstaff and Isaac Wyatt as we walk through the culture of dahlias. We will also have a tuber dividing demo after the class. Participants will get a chance to divide a clump of tubers and take one home!

April 1, 2025, 1:00-3:00 pm. Fee: $30.00

Join us as we raise a glass to one incredible year at Soprana Rooftop Cucina! 🍹✨ We’re celebrating our first trip around the sun with a sunset toast, featuring Aperol Spritz and a night full of fun.

What to Expect:
🍹 Food & Drink Specials
🍊 Aperol Spritz Towers – because one Spritz is never enough!
🎶 Live DJ Set until 9 PM with Hotbread Selectors
🎟️ Raffle Prizes & More Surprises!

Plus, we’re giving back! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Asheville Poverty Initiative ❤️

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening of great drinks, stunning views, and good company. This event is free to the public. RSVP to let us know you’re coming.

Beginning Botany with Alexandra Holland

Friday, April 4  |  1 – 4pm

It’s a tough life for a plant: make dinner, create and nurture offspring, fight off predators, deal with the neighbors. In Beginning Botany we’ll explore how plants handle these daily challenges using and modifying only leaves, stems, and roots. We’ll cover the basics of plant structure and function.

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.

Southern Appalachian Birds Through the Seasons with Carlton Burke

Saturday, April 5  |  12 – 4 pm

Since birds are capable of long distance flights and many engage in annual migration rituals, their presence in our area often changes in relation to the seasons of the year.  In this class we will discuss the seasonal patterns of southern Appalachian birds and focus on some of the major species and their annual life cycles. As part of this program, there will be a “lab” portion where students will be able to meet some live birds and participate in other hands-on components to deepen the learning.

Edible Wild Weeds with Abby Artemisia

Sunday, April 6  |  10 am – 1 pm

Appalachia is a hotbed of biodiversity and our weeds are no different! Except weeds are the most sustainable to harvest! Abby will give you some basic introductory botany tips for identification, along with sustainable harvest and processing tips. This will demystify the often but unnecessary complications of learning Botany and even make it fun! Bring your field guides!

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

EcoHopeful with Liza Wolff-Francis

Sunday, April 6  |  2 – 4 pm

In a climate disaster like a hurricane, there is chaos and moment to moment survival and often fear. Immediately afterwards, there is often a gathering of self, an assessing of the situation. Then comes grief, loss, and uncertainty. Much later, the outer world expects things will all get back to normal, though we may not feel we are quite “back” to what we were. In fact, we may feel deeply changed. In all of these stages of a disaster, we assess what is happening and how we are doing and what we need to do going forward.

In this quick 2-hour workshop, we will come together in our resiliency to normalize how we have responded to the disaster and to learn and practice tools to calm our nervous systems in order to feel stronger in our current assessment of what’s next for us. Join us for a gathering in community, strength building, and resiliency boosting, as we continue to weave Helene into one of the stories we carry with us, not one that carries us.

Natural History Interpretation (3 sessions) with Brad Daniel

Tuesdays, March 25, April 1 + 8  |  12 – 4 pm

Natural history interpreters provoke interest and curiosity in our natural and cultural heritage. This course will introduce the basic principles of environmental interpretation and is designed for Blue Ridge Naturalists who will be leading nature walks, teaching natural history to adults or children, and delivering talks to community groups. Participants will learn how to create nature education talks or walks that are purposeful, enjoyable, informative and organized. Students will be given an opportunity to develop their own programs and practice their presentation and communication skills. This class fulfills a Capstone Core requirement for the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate and should be completed near the end of a student’s studies in the program.

Discover the delicate and fleeting world of ephemeral flowers, mosses, and ferns that grace our landscapes with their beauty. Join Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show and Podcast and learn to identify these early spring wonders, understand their unique lifecycles, and explore their roles in the ecosystem.

Local, regional, and national organizations will present information and ideas about advocacy and volunteer opportunities. Q&A and social hour will follow. Food and drinks will be available. Free and all are welcome!

Using a Key to ID Wildflowers with Scott Dean

Thursday, April 10  |  10 am – 1 pm

Identifying wildflowers can both be an art and a technical field of study. Most popular field guides include some kind of key to help users identify flowers that they see out in nature but learning how to use one can be a challenge. Join Scott Dean on this brand new class on how to use the non-technical keys found in two wildflower field guides: Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide and Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast. Also bring your hand lens/jeweler’s loupe to inspect plants up close and we recommend using a 7 – 10x power lens for this class.

We will have a few copies of each guide and some hand lenses to borrow but please bring your own if you have them.

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

April 12: Garden Design, Planning, and Prep

This class covers garden planning essentials, including layout design, budgeting, and succession planting. Participants will learn to choose crops, determine planting quantities, and start plants from seeds or transplants. Topics include essential tools, hands-on transplanting, and perennial edible care

Arboretum Excursions: Highlands Biological Station with Patrick Brannon

Saturday, April 12  |  1 – 4 pm

Since 1927, the mission of WCU’s Highlands Biological Station has been to foster education and research focused on the rich biodiversity of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Through its Nature Center exhibits, hands-on educational STEM programs, and immersive biological field experiences, HBS seeks to instill a greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation of our region and the natural world. Participants in this workshop will have opportunities to tour the Station’s facilities such as the Nature Center exhibits, research laboratories, and Botanical Garden Trails – which feature more than 500 species of native plants including old-growth hemlock trees.

Although scientists working at Highlands Biological Station have conducted research on a wide variety of species over the years, no group of animals has been studied more thoroughly than salamanders. After the tour, participants will learn about the region’s high biodiversity including salamanders, and then be given an opportunity to collect and identify species in an onsite stream. Please bring shoes that can potentially get wet (these need not be “water shoes”; old sneakers are fine).

Please visit www.highlandsbiological.org for additional information.

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

Grab your four-legged friend and come out for some fun and friendly competition at the Buncombe County Sports Park Dog Park.  There will be a small and large dog division and division will have approximately 30 minutes to find as many hidden eggs (filled with treats) as possible. In addition, dogs who collect the most eggs will receive a special prize. Free, Registration Required.

Forest Bathing Retreat: Celebrating Mother Earth with Asheville Wellness Tours

Saturday, April 12  |  2 – 5pm

April is Earth Month, a time to honor our precious planet and take action to protect her. Celebrate spring while cultivating your relationship with Mother Earth, yourself, and others, during this rejuvenating afternoon nature immersion retreat.

Your guide will lead you on a gentle journey through the spring forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) and nature therapy together for a restorative afternoon on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience in community, enjoying a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.

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

Get ready to move, get inspired, and get your game on!

Discover your inner athlete and ignite your path to wellness at the Asheville Sports + Fitness Fair presented by Asheville Parks & Recreation! Step into the recently renovated Memorial Stadium as it transforms into a vibrant hub of energy showcasing the world of local sports leagues, fitness opportunities, and healthy living.

Explore youth and adult sports leagues, learn about organizations focused on wellness and active living, and discover a wealth of resources dedicated to improving well-being. Uncover hidden gems in the local fitness scene and learn about exciting new ways to stay active and engaged.

At 6pm, join the City of Asheville for a special ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony celebrating the renovation of Memorial Stadium and revitalization of Mountainside Park. It’s a chance to be part of Asheville’s commitment to health and recreation.
If your organization is interested in participating in the fair, please email [email protected]. Space is limited.

Standup Comedy Picture Show with headliner Cayla Clark
Comics on the show do standup with pictures to illustrate their sets!
Wednesday April 16, 7:30-9p in The Orange Peel’s comedy basement. PULP is a bourbon speakeasy (400+ varieties) located under the iconic stage. No food is served but we do have free snacks while they last and outside food is permitted (no drinks of any kind).
$17 tickets available at door or The Orange Peel’s website
Host is Hilliary Begley voted repeatedly Asheville’s Favorite comic in the Mountain Xpress. Film debut in the Netflix original Dumplin’ as Aunt Lucy, or “Jennifer Anniston’s fat sister,” and Austin Film Festival winning movie When We Last Spoke with Cloris Leachman, now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Headliner Cayla Clark is an Asheville-based playwright, comedian, creator, and producer. While she is still new to the world of stand-up comedy, she has enjoyed exploring various other forms of comedy over the years, including sketch comedy, improv, and more. Since moving to Asheville, Cayla has had the opportunity to produce and host local comedic dating shows like Blind Date Live and Bad Date Mic. You can check out her hilarious Asheville centric comedy videos on instagram at @blinddateliveavl
Also on the show is Ryan Gordon, Roman Fraden, Sarah Love & other great comics showing it all!
tix: https://theorangepeel.net/…/pulp/asheville-north-carolina/

The Radical invites guests to The Roof, Thursday through Sunday (7-9pm) for live DJ sets, craft cocktails, nostalgic bites (see menu here) and unbeatable views as the sun sets over Asheville. Whether guests are celebrating a bday or just catching a breather, there’s no better place to unwind and groove. Guests can also enjoy a live DJ late night at after/glow on Fridays and Saturdays from 8-10pm.

Unleash your creativity at Bullington Gardens by learning to craft your very own hypertufa open roof planter! This hands-on class will guide you through the process of mixing and molding hypertufa—a lightweight, durable material perfect for garden containers. All materials are provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to create a unique piece for your garden. Whether you’re looking to add a rustic touch to your outdoor space or simply enjoy a fun afternoon of crafting, this class is perfect for all skill levels. Join us for a memorable experience and take home a beautiful, handcrafted container! April 18th, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. $ 45.00. Class limit 10.

April 19: Soil and Water Management and Plant Care

This class covers soil management, including natural amendments, composting, vermicomposting, and raised bed techniques. Participants will learn to create, clear, and revive garden beds—hands-on experience included!

The purpose of the Hendo Earth Fest is to promote community education for all ages on environmental and sustainable practices, inspire action, and renew and expand commitments to protect our planet. Local and regional environmental allies focus on participation/hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to educate, renew and expand action to protect our Western North Carolina environment and natural resources. In our first inaugural 2023 festival, we saw approximately 2,000+ participants!

Come on out and support our local people! Local artisans, crafts, produce, specialty foods, skin care, ets.

Grand Opening of Asheville’s ONLY professional Obstacle Course Race Training Center! Stop by and try out the new obstacles, enjoy food, fun, games, and giveaways. Great for the whole family!

Celebrate with the whole family at The Horse Shoe Farm’s Silo Cookhouse this Easter with a delicious brunch buffet crafted from farm-fresh ingredients. Gather with your loved ones around the table and indulge in delightful Southern favorites, from honey roasted ham to house biscuits with savory jam and butter. Guests can build their own omelets at a bespoke station, select from an assortment of fresh salads, and enjoy tasty desserts like carrot cake cupcakes to get into the easter spirit. Most excitingly for the little ones, guests to the Silo Cookhouse Easter Brunch can participate in a fun-filled easter egg hunt on the property starting at 2pm!
Sunday April 20 from 11am to 3pm, reservations required. $85/adults, $50/kids age 3-12.

Give back this Earth Day with Buncombe County Parks and Recreation.  Volunteers are invited to assist in clean-up and service projects.  Volunteers groups are limited in capacity so Volunteer Registration is required.  All tools and materials will be provided.   More details coming soon!

Post Helene, nurturing and repairing our relationship with and to Nature is vital for our children and our community. Gather with us at Kanuga to celebrate the wonders of Mother Earth! The fun begins at 3:30 p.m. Come meet our local animal ambassadors, catch critters in the stream, sow native seeds, and learn in our mini-ecology classes.

Support our organic garden by purchasing native plants.

We can’t wait to welcome you and your family to Kanuga!

Geology of the Blue Ridge II with Anton DuMars

Wednesday, April 23 |  12 – 4 pm

The second class of this two-part Geology course builds on fundamentals from the first class, Geology I. We progress to a model of Southern Appalachian Mountain building and include an overview of geologic processes such as earthquakes, mass movements, and floods. We wrap up with a summary of the Spruce Pine Mining District and the Sparta, NC Earthquake of 2020

Mark your calendars for Bullington Gardens’ Annual Spring Plant Sale, a must-visit event for gardening enthusiasts! Discover a unique selection of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, veggies, and tomatoes, all carefully curated to inspire your garden. This year, we’re also highlighting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants to support local ecosystems and bring life to your outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, our sale offers something for everyone, with expert advice on hand to help you make the most of your selections. Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate beauty and sustainability in your garden!

This is an in-person program, held at The Learning Garden

Program: Growing Vegetables in Containers

Presenter: Barb Harrison, Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers

Program Description: So, you don’t have a lot of space to grow fresh vegetables. Growing vegetables in containers is an easy way to have fresh vegetables all through the summer. If you only have a small space to work with such as a patio, balcony, alleyway, sidewalk or even a rooftop, you can still grow a bountiful garden choosing the right variety of vegetable plants.

We will cover types of containers that work best for vegetables, sun requirements which impacts what vegetables you can grow, growing media, watering, the best vegetables to grow in containers, and the benefits of mulch and a fertilization plan.

After a brief presentation we will then visit the Vegetable Garden and plant some vegetables in containers while reviewing the basic principles.

Portions of this program may be held outside; please dress appropriately for the weather. The classroom size is limited so register to reserve your seat!

The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration using Eventbrite is required.

If you have questions, contact the Buncombe County Extension office at 828-255-5522.

iNaturalist: An Amazing Tool for Identification in Your Pocket with Lauren Lampley.

Thursday, April 24  |  2:30 – 4 pm

BRN + BREG – Elective

Learn how a smartphone app, iNaturalist, can both be a very useful identification tool and a way to participate in Community Science! Submitting observations to iNaturalist helps scientists learn more about species by crowd-sourcing information from users all over the world. During this class we will look at the different versions of the app and website as well as take some time outside to practice submitting your own using your own smartphone. The City Nature Challenge will take place from April 25-28 and is a great way to submit iNaturalist observations in a global effort as well as earn a Bioblitz patch from Science Across North Carolina! https://scienceacrossnc.org/

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