The Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the re-launch of LEADS East! Starting on Thursday, August 19th, LEADS East will begin meeting every Thursday at 8am in the Community Room at the Hendersonville Co-op.

Visit The Learning Garden! The gardens are in full summer mode with ripening tomatoes, blooming roses, giant sunflowers, and many other perennials and plants of interest.

The Learning Garden is a dedicated, on-site teaching garden at the Buncombe Extension Center located at 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Asheville. It is managed and cared for by the Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers (EMGVs) of Buncombe County.

Everyone is welcome to visit the gardens Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12 when temperatures are cool and Master Gardeners are working in the gardens. Or come visit on your own Monday through Friday, 8 to 5.

The Learning Garden (TLG) surrounds the Extension building, includes 8 distinct gardens, and a composting demonstration site. Each garden offers plants that grow well in our region. You will gather new ideas and learn successful horticultural practices that lead to beautiful, healthy gardens.

Look for plant labels in the garden. Find more information and brochures at the kiosk near the building and in the garden mailboxes.

GARDENERS ARE IN THE GARDEN.

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.

With the convenience of being open year-round, 7 days a week, the WNC Farmers Market offers a selection of farm-fresh produce at the lowest prices in Western N.C. Our popular retail buildings, providing a selection of non-perishables, fruits, vegetables, crafts and more, are open daily.

A Life in the Wild  features more than 30 large-format images from award-winning nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen, who has devoted decades of his life to documenting wild places across the globe and the remarkable creatures that inhabit them. For this traveling retrospective exhibition of his works, Mangelsen has hand-selected several legacy photographs from his portfolio of more than 40 years, during which time he has captured thousands of breathtaking images of wildlife under natural — and sometimes harsh — conditions. With subjects ranging from black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains to plains zebras in the savannas of East Africa, this collection of photographs serves to remind us all to slow down and take a moment to connect with nature near and far. Named the 2011 Conservation Photographer of the Year by Nature’s Best Photography, among other accolades, Mangelsen has his work featured in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C..

A Life in the Wild is on display daily, May 15 – September 5, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Baker Exhibit Center. Face coverings are required for visitors ages 5 years and older.

Exhibit support for A Life in the Wild is provided in part by The North Carolina Arboretum Society, Asheville Citizen-Times, Biltmore Farms Hotels, Gasperson Moving & Storage, RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide and Smoky Mountain Living Magazine. 

THOMAS D. MANGELSEN – A LIFE IN THE WILD, produced by David J. Wagner, L.L.C., David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Curator/Tour Director.

Dear Orange Peel Family:

We find ourselves, once again, in an extremely challenging time to be in the business of bringing a crowd of people together for a shared experience.

For that reason, effective immediately, all public concerts and events at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue will be subject to new Covid-19 health measures.

For all shows, we will require:

• Vaccination -or- Negative PCR Proof at Entry.  We require either proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccination, or proof of a negative COVID-19 lab-conducted test taken in the prior 48 hours, upon entry into the venue.  At-home rapid tests are not as reliable and will not be accepted.  Patrons must bring a completed COVID-19 vaccination card, with their final dose at least fourteen days prior to the event, or a valid negative test result from no more than 2 days prior to the evening of the show in order to go inside. 
• Mask at All Times Additionally, regardless of vaccination status, customers will be required to wear a mask to enter, and masks must be worn at all times, except when taking a sip of your beer or beverage of choice.  Between sips, however, your mask must be worn. 

Quite simply, we feel it is necessary to enact these steps to keep our beloved venue open given the current spikes in Covid nationwide and the contagious Delta strain.   Our first priority is the health and safety of our guests, artists and krewe. To ensure that we can continue to operate safely to bring great music to WNC, these simple measures are the best we can do to minimize the risk and the spread of Covid.  Our previous policy included mandatory vaccinations and masking for staff, and this is an extension of those precautions.

We ask for your help and cooperation in enthusiastically complying with these safety precautions.  They will help keep us safe; they will help keep you safe; they will help keep our venue open.  Our music community and venue staff have already endured many months without nationally touring concerts and our plea is that fans support independent venues taking these steps for everyone’s protection, so that we can stay open to bring you all the amazing shows we have lined up for this fall.  For anyone who is unable or unwilling to wear a mask, and to either provide proof of vaccination or proof of a recent negative test result, we would be happy to offer you a refund.  Please contact us at [email protected] to request one.

When you arrive at the venue, please be ready and willing to follow the policies without argument.  Venue staff are working hard right now to do a challenging job in uncertain circumstances; please do not make it harder for them.  If you have feedback to share, you are welcome to email us beforehand.   We thank you for your support and compliance.  For more answers to specific questions about how to acceptably meet our requirements, please see our Covid-19 Policy FAQ

Fairy Trail 2021

Join us on the magical Fairy Trail where your imagination is the only limit.

Developed by Fairies and dedicated volunteers, Bullington Gardens’ Fairy Trail is a whimsical treat for the young and the young at heart. Featuring playful vignettes and villages, the fairy trail will charm you with its thoughtful design, eye catching displays and secret woodland trail.

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

Bullington Gardens and the Fairy Trail are closed on Sundays.

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Included with admission

A unique-to-Biltmore, large-scale outdoor sculpture will be crafted and installed in Antler Hill Village this spring by Patrick Dougherty. Over the last three decades, this internationally-acclaimed artist has combined his carpentry skills and love of nature to build over 300 of these wondrous works, captivating the hearts and imaginations of viewers worldwide.

Image: Close Ties (2006) Scottish Basketmakers Circle, Dingwall, Scotland. Photo: Fin Macrae
NOTE: This is an example of Patrick Dougherty’s work; the artist will create Biltmore’s unique structure in Antler Hill Village this spring.

Summer at Biltmore offers an abundance of opportunities to explore our 8,000-acre Blue Ridge Mountain backyard and create the kind of memories that last a lifetime. Wander through historic gardens, along winding trails, and within the spacious halls of America’s Largest Home^®. Enjoy extraordinary experiences and peace of mind in one spectacular setting: only at Biltmore.

Calling all Leicester artists! The Leicester Library is celebrating its 20th anniversary in November 2021. To celebrate this beautiful library and its pastoral views, we are seeking local artist perspectives for a fun project.

20 Views of the Leicester Library is looking for artists to create pieces that celebrate the views from the inside and of the outside of the library.

Art can be in any medium, by any artist, of any age. Paintings, photography, drawings, collage, sculpture, needlework, etc. are all welcome. We are looking for heartfelt, fun and creative views of this branch that show what it has meant to patrons and community members. We welcome art by self-taught artists as well as trained artists. Examples could be a photo of a child reading a book in the library, a watercolor painting of the mountains off in the distance, or a charcoal sketch of the building itself. Or something totally abstract and unusual – that would be welcome too!

We are looking for anything that captures the essence of what this library represents to you, the Leicester community.

Artists are welcome to visit the grounds or come inside to gather inspiration during the library’s open hours. The library is currently open Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m-8 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

All submitted art will be featured on the library’s social media accounts and displayed in the library as part of our 20th Anniversary Celebration in November 2021.

In addition, the Leicester Library will be offering a series of art classes at the library in August and September. The first class is Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. and will be a Creative Collage Workshop with visiting artist Evelyn Dufne. This class is free, but registration is required.

To participate or for more information, come by the library or email [email protected] for more information.

Graduate Show 2021: Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Program

Bender Gallery is honored to present One Day I Will Disappear, a solo exhibition of current paintings by Czech American artist Tom Pazderka. His captivating work is deeply personal and is an elegant metaphor for life’s darker side: of landscape, of nature, of memory. The exhibition runs from July 3 through August 31 during regular business hours. There will be an opening reception for Pazderka on Saturday July 3, from 6 to 9 PM by RSVP only.

Pazderka is a painter, an installation artist, an intellectual, and a writer who spent his undergraduate years in the Asheville area. He was born near Prague in 1981 during the waning of the Communist era in Czechoslovakia. He lived in a panelák, a Soviet-style concrete apartment block, until emigrating to the US in 1994 at the age of twelve. Contrary to what we may envision in America, Pazderka has fond memories of his time there. Although life was basic and creativity was not encouraged, his family was never in need and they enjoyed regular visits to their family cottage in the country. However, most of Pazderka’s life has been lived in the US and he also considers himself American. His work and life are deeply influenced by what he describes as the “incompleteness of the immigrant experience”. Pazderka explores humanity’s quest for a universal truth. The work reflects his reverence for history and the failed Soviet promise of utopia of his native land. It is thus a balancing act between this history and his assimilation into the capitalist consumer culture of the United States.

The works shown in One Day I Will Disappear consist of oil, ash, and charcoal paintings on burned panel and paper. They feature clouds, mountains, portraits, ephemera, and remnants of nature. They are conceptually dark, yet haunting and beautiful at the same time. Pazderka uses humble materials such as found plywood panels that he burns with a torch before beginning the painting process. He transforms the painting surface with the destructive, yet creative power of fire. He states, “Materials and process are components of the work that are as important as the image and what the work is about”.

Pazderka chooses to work in a colorless palette reminiscent of aged black and white photographs. He explains, “Photographs interest me because it is a tangible memory, but photographs are really residue of the photographic process.”  They are themselves a memory of a memory. Much of Pazderka’s work is based on old family photographs and photos taken from nature and architecture relaying the past, the present, and the hope of a better future. The work appears otherworldly and fleeting, like ghosts of his memories. In Pazderka’s words, “The present is all there is in the end.”

Pazderka holds a BFA from Western Carolina University and an MFA from U.C. Santa Barbara. He has received many awards and fellowships and has held residencies in the US, France, and the Czech Republic. He lives and works in Ojai, CA.

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Managing Water in Your Garden

Virtual attendance via Zoom video and audio internet connection

Presenter: James Wade, Extension Master Gardener^SM Volunteer

As the heat bears down on our gardens in late summer, watering plants seems like the only thing that will keep them alive into the fall. The mountains of Western North Carolina are unique as summer thunderstorms increasingly become more hit-and-miss. Moisture may come as light showers, severe downpours, or not at all.

Appropriate planning and forethought can reduce the consequences of too little or too much water in the garden. Garden design and maintenance should consider not only how much water a garden will need, but also when and from what sources. As city and well water becomes increasingly expensive, it is more important than ever to manage water use in our gardens in cost effective and environmentally sustainable ways.

This presentation explores the weather conditions of WNC and methods of effective water use for gardeners.

During the month of August Second Gear has selected RiverLink as their monthly non-profit partner! They will be donating 1% of all the proceed they receive throughout the month. We are so thankful for their generous support of our mission to protect the French Broad River! Both of our organizations share a passion for the environment and helping our community experience it’s beauty. Their support will help us ensure that the French Broad River continues to be an excellent source of outdoor recreation.

Second Gear is a locally owned, independently run store based out of Asheville, North Carolina where they’ve been proudly serving the community since 2004. They buy and sell outdoor gear and help people prepare for their next outdoor adventure. So go get some gear this month and help support clean water!

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

The exhibit was developed as part of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Juan Pardo expeditions. Several years ago, archaeologists identified a site near Morganton as the location of Joara, one of the largest Native American towns in what is today Western North Carolina.

Joara was occupied from approximately 1400-1600 A.D. Two Spanish expeditions led respectively by Hernando de Soto and Juan Pardo visited the town in the 1500s. The Pardo expedition was part of a larger effort to establish a string of forts from the coast of present-day South Carolina all the way to Mexico. In 2013, archaeologists confirmed that Joara was also the site of Fort San Juan, established by Pardo in 1567, nearly 20 years before the English settlement at Roanoke on the coast of North Carolina and 40 years before the settlement at Jamestown.

Through various artifacts uncovered by the archaeology, the exhibit showcases the Spanish occupation of Fort San Juan and the lives of the native people who lived in the Joara area.

The exhibit is on loan from the Exploring Joara Foundation Inc. Exploring Joara engages the public in archaeology in the Carolinas, and emphasizes the discovery of the Native American town of Joara and Fort San Juan. The exhibit will be on display at the Western North Carolina Historical Association’s gallery inside the Smith-McDowell House through December 15.

The gallery is open for visitation Thursday, Friday, and Saturday between 10:30am and 4:00pm. Reservations are recommended.