Arbor House News and Views

Wow we had a great May and June is looking good. The gardens are looking very nice since I had a freind helping me pull weeds . Tonight there was a nice rain to water in the new annuals and sounds like another shower tomorrow.
Some of my friends and I are doing the Parks booklet of 30 Trails on the Mountain to Sea trail.
It runs from Mt. Pisgah to Mt. Mitchell. I don't know if we will finish it this year but we are going to give it a good try.  There are so many good hiking trails in our area it's hard to pick which ones we want to hike .

Hope you had a nice holiday weekend.  Our guests enjoyed sittings around the table this morning sharing stories and the other mornings they enjoyed sitting outside on the deck soaking up the sunshine while listening to the water fountain on the lake and looking up to the mountains. 

Come see the gardens and stroll around the lake on the half mile path.

Love a good cup of coffee. In Black Mountain there are several good places to get a cup and relax. The Dripalator is located downtown Black Mountain , The Roasting Company another coffee shop actually roast and grind the beans in house.  Ingles has now added a Starbucks along with a top class wine department.

The Black Mountain shops are in walking distance from Arbor House . While in town check out the two new eateries. Trail Head and Ale House.   Both have local brews and a big selection on tap.  Want to catch a music perforance in a big garden then look on  line Pisguah Brewery not far away on Old Highway 70.

What a busy fun weekend with great weather.  Come next weekend to check out the Old Depot Arts and Crafts fair.  The city pool opened this weekend and the golf course looked really green and inviting.

There is always something fun to do in the mountain. Come check it out for yourself.

Old Depot Arts and Crafts Show coming soon.

 Sutton street will be closed off on June 2 and 3 for the annual Arts and Crafts fair hosted each year but the Old Depot supporters.  There will be new vendors and crafts showing this year at the fair.
Usually they have lunch for sale and the shops of Black Mountain will have their doors open for shopping also.

See the mountain behind the depot. That is High Top and you can climb to the top by way of High Windy.  Today several of my friends and I hiked the 2.5 miles up and back down . If was a great day to hike , not to hot and missed the afternoon rains.  I have lots of good hiking trails to share with you.
Bring you hiking shoes and poles and come check up out.

April showers brought on these pretty May flowers. Snapdragons are one of my favorite floweres.
This morning I planted two more flats of annuals and now will sit back for the rains this afternoon to water them in the ground.
 It was a great morning to walk around the lake and see the baby ducks . The clouds were swirling around the mountian tops on the Craggy Mountain tops and the mountain air was cool and refreshing.
Our guests had a nice breakfast sitting out on the deck this morning and stayed for extra teas and coffees because they felt so relaxed they didn't want to go anywhere.

Come hang out on the deck and enjoy the views.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms. 

What a busy weekend at the B&B,  a wedding, two graduations and lots of friends gettting together.
The cool rain didn't bother them all and the pictures in the garden looked great. 

Looking forward to finishing up planting more annuals in the flower beds this week and then sit back and watch them grow.  I am always amazed how pretty the flowers look through the fall.  We are taking reservations for October now so keep that in mind if you know your travel plans coming to WNC for the leaf season.

Flowers that keep on giving are wonderful.  I planted this snapdragon last year and it returned big and stong this year with lots of blooms.  Yesterday the nursery salemans had a big grin on his face for this was my third visit this spring and each time I came away with a cart load of plants.  With all the gentle spring rains we have been having I have not had to water my new plants and they are looking great.
The garden should be a show stopper this summer and fall. Come check it out.

Can't beat this wedding fern for gracefully beauty on the front porch. Today we had a nice rain to water in all the annuals I have been planting. After a slow start from the two heavy frost this spring the gardens are starting to look green and good again.
We had a great hike today at the arboretum today. With a trail name like Hard Times you expect to have a little discomfort hiking up and over a mountain but it is worth the time and effort. The woods are turning green from all the new leaves and streams have plenty of water to make that wonderful babbling brook sound that can put you to sleep. 
Come hike the wonderful trails around us or just hang out on the deck and listen to the waterfall from the fountain on the lake.  Either way you will relax and unwind.

Pretty in pink, this year I decided not to buy the usual red geraniums but instead found these lovely pink trailing ones to hang instead.  The hostas are coming back from the heavy frost we had and the green ground cover is lush and full doing it's job on the hill side.  On the wall on the window trellis the Lady Banks Rose did a wonderful display of yellow flowers for almost 3 weeks.  Most years it blooms in May and then last only a week in the hot sun.

Today the Black Mountain Farmers Market opens, can't wait  to walk down to see what is growing this time of the year.  Fresh seafood is brought up from the Outer Banks , fresh flowers and other local products will be for sale. The market is open 9  -12 every Saturday through the fall.