Forest Bathing Retreat: Spring Awakening & Renewal with Asheville Wellness Tours

ON-SITE  |  Saturday, March 22  |  1 – 4 pm

The changing seasons are rich with wisdom and guidance. Winter is a time for rest and dreaming, followed by spring, ripe with opportunities for renewal and growth. Cultivate those winter dreams and invite them to birth into reality during this enlivening afternoon retreat. Let your most authentic Self emerge from within and flourish amidst the beauty of the early spring!

Your guide, Kelly Bruce, will lead you on a gentle journey through the awakening forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) and nature therapy together for a restorative afternoon at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the Spring Equinox 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 gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Soil Health for Gardeners with Laura Lengnick

ON-SITE  |  Saturday, March 22  |  1 – 4 pm

Blue Ridge EcoGardener – Core

Learn why healthy soils are critical to the well being of our communities and how to cultivate landscapes that promote soil health. This practical, hands-on course will teach you how to conduct simple soil tests using tools you can find in your kitchen to monitor the health of your soil. Participants can bring a soil sample from their garden to test in this class.

Gunter Theatre
Saturday, March 22 at 3:00 pm
Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 pm

PROGRAM
Julie Davila: Dimensions for Tambourine
Thierry De Mey: Musique de tables for Percussion Trio
Ivan Trevino: Watercolor Sun
Nebojsa Zivkovic: Trio per Uno

The percussion section of the orchestra is arguably the most fun to watch, with its moving parts, tight traffic patterns, and its cornucopia of instruments! We never cease to be amazed by the excitement they add to the orchestra, so why not feature them? Get everyone in the family together to enjoy this fun and interactive program that will have you on the edge of your seat.

GUESTS
Furman Percussion Ensemble
Omar Carmenates, Director

*perfect for ages 7 to infinity!

Lunch + Learn: Wildfire Mitigation in Southern Appalachia with Troy Harrison

Sunday, March 23  |  12pm – 1pm

The Southern Appalachian ecosystem is home to a diverse landscape filled with a unique combination of wildlife and vegetation.  It is hardly surprising that Western North Carolina is a popular destination for those seeking a pace to settle down or build a second home.  However, living in close proximity to nature can carry a risk of damage or loss from wildfire.  This program will explore a brief history of wildfire suppression in our area, along with specific measures anyone can take to reduce risk of property damage.

Gunter Theatre
Saturday, March 22 at 3:00 pm
Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 pm

PROGRAM
Julie Davila: Dimensions for Tambourine
Thierry De Mey: Musique de tables for Percussion Trio
Ivan Trevino: Watercolor Sun
Nebojsa Zivkovic: Trio per Uno

The percussion section of the orchestra is arguably the most fun to watch, with its moving parts, tight traffic patterns, and its cornucopia of instruments! We never cease to be amazed by the excitement they add to the orchestra, so why not feature them? Get everyone in the family together to enjoy this fun and interactive program that will have you on the edge of your seat.

GUESTS
Furman Percussion Ensemble
Omar Carmenates, Director

*perfect for ages 7 to infinity!

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.

Introduction to Appalachian Ecology with Dan Lazar

ON-SITE  |  Wednesday, March 26  |  1 – 4 pm

From the flood plain of the French Broad River to the summit of Mount Mitchel, we will explore the diverse ecological communities that make up the Blue Ridge Bioregion. We will learn why spruce trees are found only on the summits of our highest mountains: why the Southern Appalachians are the lungless salamander capital of the world; and how deer and ants determine where trilliums grow. Part illustrated lecture and part on-site field trip, this class serves as an introduction to all Special Topics in Ecology classes offered through the Blue Ridge Naturalist Program.

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.

Discover the secrets to keeping your orchids thriving! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the essentials of orchid care, from proper watering techniques to ideal light conditions. We’ll guide you step-by-step through repotting your orchid into a provided terracotta pot with fresh potting media. Bring your own orchid, and leave with the skills and confidence to keep it blooming beautifully! Perfect for beginners and orchid enthusiasts alike. Let’s grow together!

Terracotta pot and potting media included.

March 28, 2:00-4:00. Maximum of 20 students.

24th Asheville Orchid Festival “Orchid Arcadia”

March 28, 2025 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.

March 29 – 30, 2025 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Education Center

The Western North Carolina Orchid Society (WNCOS) and The North Carolina Arboretum will once again host one of Western North Carolina’s greatest annual plant shows: the 24th Asheville Orchid Festival “Orchid Arcadia” from March 28-30, 2025. This will be an American Orchid Society sanctioned judging event.

World-class orchid growers and breeders along with regional orchid societies will exhibit at the annual festival, with hundreds of orchids presented in carefully crafted displays.

Admission to the Asheville Orchid Festival is $5.00 for everyone over the age of 12 years old, and free for Western North Carolina Orchid Society members. A regular parking fee for The North Carolina Arboretum applies for all attendees with the exception of Arboretum Members.

Thousands of orchids will be for sale by vendors from Ecuador and across the United States. There will be something for all orchid lovers, and attendees should expect rare species and cutting-edge hybrids. All orchid exhibits, orchid programs, and educational lectures are included with the admission fee and children 12 and under can enter free. All admission proceeds benefit WNCOS, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and help expand the society’s mission of “sharing the excitement and joy of cultivating orchids and promoting orchid conservation

For more information, please visit wncos.org

Born continents and cultures apart, this dynamic duo delivers a captivating fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas and more. Venezuela-born Larry Bellorín is a legend of Llanera music, a rhythmic folk tradition from his home country. Forced to seek political asylum in North Carolina, the multi-instrumentalist met Grammy-nominated bluegrass and old-time musician Joe Troop, founder of the acclaimed “Latingrass” band Che Appalache. Together, their stories converge through a unique blend of musical traditions — demonstrating that music truly knows no borders.

LISTEN: Hear the artists perform and learn more about their unique stories — including how their destinies intertwined — in this episode of NPR’s Here & Now: wbur.fm/3X2fB6e

“Their virtuosity is jaw-dropping live … they both take great, transcendent joy in making this music together, and that kind of joy is contagious.” — Folk Alley

Wortham Presents Larry & Joe.

24th Asheville Orchid Festival “Orchid Arcadia”

March 28, 2025 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.

March 29 – 30, 2025 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Education Center

The Western North Carolina Orchid Society (WNCOS) and The North Carolina Arboretum will once again host one of Western North Carolina’s greatest annual plant shows: the 24th Asheville Orchid Festival “Orchid Arcadia” from March 28-30, 2025. This will be an American Orchid Society sanctioned judging event.

World-class orchid growers and breeders along with regional orchid societies will exhibit at the annual festival, with hundreds of orchids presented in carefully crafted displays.

Admission to the Asheville Orchid Festival is $5.00 for everyone over the age of 12 years old, and free for Western North Carolina Orchid Society members. A regular parking fee for The North Carolina Arboretum applies for all attendees with the exception of Arboretum Members.

Thousands of orchids will be for sale by vendors from Ecuador and across the United States. There will be something for all orchid lovers, and attendees should expect rare species and cutting-edge hybrids. All orchid exhibits, orchid programs, and educational lectures are included with the admission fee and children 12 and under can enter free. All admission proceeds benefit WNCOS, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and help expand the society’s mission of “sharing the excitement and joy of cultivating orchids and promoting orchid conservation

For more information, please visit wncos

Did you know that April is national Native Plant Month, celebrating the fabulous beauty and diversity of our native flowers? If you’re new to the area or just interested in learning more about your woodland neighbors, try out Marc Williams’ upcoming class at Asheville Botanical Garden, March 29, 1 to 4:30 p.m., to learn more about the plants around us. Nearly 350,000 species of flowering plants are known to global science, and these species have been grouped into over 400 flowering plant families. Learning to recognize plant family patterns helps to demystify the “green wall” of plant species around us. In this class, Marc Williams will focus our attention on the top 30 plant families growing around us, teaching us to recognize plants everywhere we go. After an indoor presentation on the major plant families common to the Southeastern U.S., Marc will reinforce our plant identification skills with a walk in the Garden to observe family patterns in leaf, flower, and fruit types. We’ll also discuss edibility, medicinality, craft, wildlife support, and landscape beauty as you gain a more holistic understanding of the major plants comprising Southern U.S. flora and their potential ecological and ethnobotanical applications. Preregistration is required. Visit https://ashevillebotanicalgardens.square.site/classes to register.

Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers with Alexandra Holland

ON-SITE  |  Saturday, March 29  |  1 – 3 pm

Spring is here, and the natural world is waking from its winter rest! Naturalist and botanist Alexandra Holland leads this wildflower walk at the Arboretum, pointing out the array of spring wildflowers emerging and in bloom. Learn some basics of wildflower ecology and identification while taking in the beauty of spring.

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

Join us for an easy morning bird walk in the Garden led by Dr. Andrew Laughlin, longtime birder and UNCA Associate Professor of Environmental Science. He will guide us with tips about habitat and habits, as we look for, listen to, and enjoy the birds. Participants will learn to recognize songs and calls. Field guides are helpful but not required. Bring binoculars if you have them and dress for the weather, from drizzle to sunshine.

24th Asheville Orchid Festival “Orchid Arcadia”

March 28, 2025 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.

March 29 – 30, 2025 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Education Center

The Western North Carolina Orchid Society (WNCOS) and The North Carolina Arboretum will once again host one of Western North Carolina’s greatest annual plant shows: the 24th Asheville Orchid Festival “Orchid Arcadia” from March 28-30, 2025. This will be an American Orchid Society sanctioned judging event.

World-class orchid growers and breeders along with regional orchid societies will exhibit at the annual festival, with hundreds of orchids presented in carefully crafted displays.

Admission to the Asheville Orchid Festival is $5.00 for everyone over the age of 12 years old, and free for Western North Carolina Orchid Society members. A regular parking fee for The North Carolina Arboretum applies for all attendees with the exception of Arboretum Members.

Thousands of orchids will be for sale by vendors from Ecuador and across the United States. There will be something for all orchid lovers, and attendees should expect rare species and cutting-edge hybrids. All orchid exhibits, orchid programs, and educational lectures are included with the admission fee and children 12 and under can enter free. All admission proceeds benefit WNCOS, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and help expand the society’s mission of “sharing the excitement and joy of cultivating orchids and promoting orchid conservation

For more information, please visit wncos

Early Spring Tree ID with Lauren Lampley

ON-SITE  |  Sunday, March 30  |  10 am – 1 pm

Each tree species grows their new leaves in unique ways and each spring we are reminded of that fact as the tiny leaves emerge from their buds. The timing of the spring “leaf-out” depends on many different factors and the weather plays an important role in if those first leaves survive to the summer or if they are burned by a late frost or snow. In this class we will look at which trees are leafing out first and how those leaves compare to the summer leaves we know. We will also discuss how to identify different tree species based on their new leaves and their bark.

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

Join me in honoring the New Moon by immersing yourself with the healing vibrations of a Sound Bath! The New Moon is a perfect time to set intentions for growth and new possibilities.

Join your host Kristin Hillegas, for a one-hour Serenity Sound Bath and experience a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience. A sound bath can cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.

Note: Please bring a yoga mat/pillow/blanket since you will be lying on the floor. Wear warm, comfortable, and flexible clothing.

The Sound Bath will take place upstairs in the Education Building. Choose your space starting at 12:45 PM, doors close promptly at 1:00 PM.

This service is being offered on a Love Offering basis. (Suggested Value $25) Donations allow us to continue to provide these immersive experiences.

Accessible parking is available in the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville upper parking lot. The entrance to the upper parking lot is off of S. Bear Creek Rd between Science of Mind Way and Sand Hill Rd.
There is a boardwalk walk-way from the upper parking lot to the building entrance.