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More Than a Winter Coat: Wild Strategies for Winter
Winter officially begins on December 21; however shorter day-length and cooler temperatures have already triggered the inner timepieces of our local wildlife. Gone from the trails at the Arboretum are the songs of hooded warblers and other migratory birds. Moths and...
Connecting People and Plants – and Presents
The holidays provide a great time of year to advance The North Carolina Arboretum’s mission of cultivating connections between people and plants – with presents. Below you will find a half dozen creative ideas for plant-based gift-giving for friends, family,...
Four Finds for Thanksgiving Weekend in Western North Carolina
The holidays are here in Western North Carolina and with that comes food, family, friendship and…free time! After the turkey has been carved and the pie has been sliced, you may find yourself looking for things to do with loved ones for the rest of the Thanksgiving...
Five Tips to Encourage Exploring for our Fine Feathered Friends
According to a study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, birding is the fastest growing outdoor activity in the nation, and both kids and adults are getting into the action. Oftentimes, we may find ourselves spending less time outdoors and in nature during the...
Five Tips to Inspire Learning During Winter School Break
With the start of November, many of us are beginning to think about the upcoming holidays and spending time with friends and family. But what about the winter break days when we will not be travelling or hosting visitors? This year, many schools have anywhere from...
Five Reasons to Fall in Love with Asheville
Red, yellow, orange – the bright hues of fall are now around us in Asheville and Western North Carolina. Over the past few weeks, we’ve welcomed cooler temperatures, which in turn, have transformed our beautiful forests into a canvas full of vibrant colors. Due to...
It’s a Bug’s Life – Arboretum Entomology 101
Often small, fast and camouflaged, insects make up nearly three quarters of animal life of Earth, yet they are easily missed due to their size and speed. This fall, however, Arboretum visitors will be able to see these creepy, crawly creatures up close and personal as...
Volunteer Spotlight: Where are they now?
Whether it’s a marriage, home purchase or birthday, anniversaries encourage us to look back, reflect on cherished memories and inspire us for the future. For the Arboretum, we are excited to celebrate our own anniversary this year. Thirty years ago, The North Carolina...
Staff Secrets for the Fall Garden
In the fall, I catch myself rushing. Rushing headlong with my swirling thoughts to clean up the garden; rushing to spruce up the tired summer garden and turn it into a presentable decorated fall tableau; rushing to harvest the last of the red and green tomatoes;...
Unraveling the Craft of Western North Carolina
With only a brief glance at Western North Carolina’s growing list of galleries, stores, studios and museums, one can easily see that the art and craft industry has a significant footprint in the region. From the Southern Highland Craft Guild to the Folk Art Center to...