Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.

“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.

“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.

“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”

A celebration of bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, and other species that help pollinate more than 1,200 crops and about 90% of all flowering plants that rely on pollinators for the survival of their species. Pollinators also support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, and support other wildlife. During June, people of all ages can learn more about the interdependence between humans and pollinators. Especially in our agricultural area, this is a subject of interest related to the food we eat and the economically important crops we raise.

Pollinator Month activities range from gardening tips, free seeds, honey-tastings, walks along nature trails, and valuable information about bees and beekeeping. A complete schedule of events is available at here. For questions about Pollinator Month or to volunteer, contact [email protected].

Hendersonville’s Pollinator Month events are coordinated by Bee City USA-Hendersonville, a program of Bullington Gardens and Hendersonville Tree Board.

Pollinator Trail

A brand new self-guided tour of eco-friendly gardens, green spaces, farms, garden centers, restaurants, breweries, and other local destinations that highlight the importance of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators is now available at www.hendersonvillenc.gov/pollinator-trail. If you have established a new pollinator garden, to be considered for inclusion in the next edition of the Trail, please get in touch with us prior to Pollinator Month in June.

Honey Tasting and Live Honey Bees

Saturday, June 3, 8am – 1pm 

Presented by HoneyBee Bliss, Randy and Pam Knowles.

Location: Hendersonville Farmers Market at the Historic Train Depot, 650 Maple Street

Cost: no charge; no registration required

At this vendor’s booth, taste pure, raw, local honey, and safely observe a live honey bee hive.

Lewis Creek Preserve Nature Walk

Wednesday, June 7, 9am – 11am

Presented by MountainTrue and Conserving Carolina

Location: Edneyville Community Center, 15 Ida Rogers Drive, Edneyville

Cost: no charge; registration required at https://mountaintrue.org/event/lewis-creek-preserve-nature-walk-in-hendersonville-nc-6-7-23/

Bob Gale, MountainTrue’s Ecologist & Public Lands Director, will lead a slow hike along the nature trail and boardwalk, interpreting plant life, wildflowers, a rare Southern Appalachian Bog ecosystem, and the value of pollinators on this property. From the community center parking lot, the group will go to Lewis Creek Preserve trailhead a short distance away. Suitable for all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.

Native Plant Identification Walk

Saturday, June 10, 9am

Presented by Rachel Meriwether and Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway

Location: Patton Park, 1730 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville

Cost: no charge; no registration required

Meet at the pavilion next to the basketball courts. Rachel will lead a pleasant walk on the Oklawaha Greenway suitable for all ages, identifying plants along the way. Water, sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. For more information visit OkGr-Events- (friendsofoklawaha.org)

Returning a Meadow to Pollinators

Saturday, June 10, 9am – 4pm

Presented by Echo Hill Farm
Location: Echo Hill Farm, 529 Pace Rd., Hendersonville

Cost: no charge; no registration required

Explore the emerging pollinator meadow reconstruction, looking for native plants and identifying invasives with input from Snow Creek Landscaping. Appropriate for all ages. Visit https://www.facebook.com/echohillfarmnc for more information

Garden Club

Monday, June 12, 4– 5pm

Presented by Henderson County Public Library

Location: Henderson County Public Library, 301 N. Washington Street, Hendersonville

Cost: no charge; no registration required

This is a special Garden Club event for families and children grades K – 5. Play Pollinator Jeopardy and make pollinator-friendly waterers for the library gardens.

Visit https://hendersonpl.libcal.com/event/10515952 for more information.

Green River Bee Company Installation Event

Saturday, June 17, 2023

9:00 AM 1:00 PM

Presented by: Jon Gleman – Green River Bee Company

Installation of a Trailhead, Pollinator Habitats and an Educational Board at Bullington Gardens, 95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville, NC . We will have a Q & A session during each install. Green River Bee Company Events.

Audience Served: All Ages

Cost: Free

Registration: None Required

Walnut Creek Preserve Speaker Series – Making Your Garden a True Home for Pollinators

June 24 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. Free.

Location: Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve

Speaker: Kim Bailey, avid wildlife habitat gardener, environmental educator, and owner of Milkweed Meadows Farm

Explore the life cycles and habitat needs of our native bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds while learning to create a garden that’s not just friendly to pollinators, but irresistible!  Kim Bailey (AKA nectar bartender and pollinator chef at Milkweed Meadows Farm) will share secret ingredients and recipes for serving up a bountiful buffet from spring through fall. The key is not just providing nectar-producing plants to attract adult pollinators who will fly by “the bar” for a quick sip then move along. You also want to offer a kids’ menu to entice pollinators to stick around and make your garden their home. This means growing critical “baby food” plants (such as milkweed!) and flowers with “carryout pollen” to cater to picky eaters!

**Kim will be bringing a selection of native plants to for sale following the presentation!

An avid wildlife habitat gardener and environmental educator for over 25 years, Kim Bailey has a true passion for pollinators.  In 2014, she moved to family property in Fruitland, NC and founded Milkweed Meadows Farm. Generations ago, the property was a working dairy farm.  Today, instead of producing milk, the farm grows milkweed as well as native wildflower seeds, open-pollinated heirloom vegetable seeds, pollinator-friendly potted plants, cut flowers, and specialty fruits. Living tunnels of passionvines, pipevines, and climbing milkweeds benefit a diversity of butterfly species while an orchard of over 100 pawpaw trees specifically nurture zebra swallowtails. Kim not only enjoys gardening for bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other wildlife at the farm, but loves sharing knowledge about creating pollinator habitats with others by regularly teaching classes and giving presentations.

In order to make this an enjoyable and educational experience for participants, space is limited to 100 participants and pre-registration is required.

*Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group).  Thank you.

Contact Pam Torlina, [email protected] with questions or for more information.

RSVP HERE!

Bee Wise

Saturday, June 24, 10am – 2pm

Presented by Caregivers of Mother Earth and Horse Shoe Gap Village

Location: Horse Shoe Gap Village, 3636 Brevard Rd., Horse Shoe

Cost: no charge; no registration required

Local author Elle Travis shares stories from her children’s books, including Bee Wise. A scavenger hunt with prizes, potted pollinator flowers for sale, an educational bee experience by a local honeybee expert, and much more will be offered.

Nature Walk and Talk: Bees and Beekeeping

Saturday, June 24, 10 – 11:30am

Presented by The Park at Flat Rock

Location: The Park at Flat Rock, 55 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock

Cost: no charge; no registration required

Park volunteer and beekeeper Will Garvey will discuss how the park supports bees, and how bees support the park … and how the park’s wildflower meadow, pollinator garden, native bees, and beehives work together to create healthy ecosystems. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Pollinator events are also scheduled in Asheville. Visit ashevillegreenworks.org  to learn more.

Voted “Best Place to Learn” by Outside, NOC Paddling School has taught more paddlers than anyone else, with 50 years of experience going into every class. Our commitment to the sport and to providing the best possible instruction has not waivered. So come and let us be your respected and experienced instructor.

Paddling School Course Types

Whitewater Kayaking Instruction

Youth Paddling Programs

Specialty Paddling Programs

Professional Training for Paddlers

Canoe Courses

Bryson City, NC

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.

“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.

“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”