Breakfast:
In the Galax Dining Room.
Morning:
Welcome to the World of Flowers with naturalist, Bobbie Pell! Today we begin our gardening adventure by creating a foundational layer for the week. First, we will consider our approach to nature: Scientific (plant ID), Aesthetic (Artistic, Beauty), Physical (Gardening labor, walks), and Philosophical (Spiritual, Folklore). Throughout the week we will be visiting many gardens, so it is good to be familiar with different types of flowers (terminology), the differences between perennials and annuals, the advantages of using native species, and learning the basic principles of planning a garden space. After our morning break, we move into Designing Your Garden: Landscape Archetypes, Design Elements, Garden Art. We will look at effective design principles that allow for personal expression through plants. You can create a variety of garden spaces, each with its own personality, through additions to your plant choices through structures (arbor, trellis, bower, glider, seat/bench), artwork (wind spinners, chimes, whimsical ceramics, glass and metal works), water features, bird feeders, and borders (shape/form). Primary design elements will be covered, applicable to any size garden. This will lead into the history and background of the North Carolina Arboretum, our afternoon field trip, which sits in the middle of a 434-acre public forest and garden located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, surrounded by lush folds of the botanically diverse Southern Appalachian Mountains. Be sure to check out their website!
Lunch:
In the Assembly Inn dining room.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will board the vans for a visit to the North Carolina Arboretum. It displays the largest collection of Japanese bonsai trees (and a few plants) in the Southeast's grandest collection of such botanical wonders in a beautiful, specially designed pavilion that salutes their classic beauty. We will then visit the beautiful Quilt Garden that is re-designed twice a year, once for spring and once for fall displays. We'll end our adventures for the day with a visit to our first private garden.
Dinner:
In the Assembly Inn dining room.
Evening:
An evening program with a local storyteller or musician/band will entertain us as we relax after a busy day. The remainder of the evening is at leisure, with opportunities for fellowship in the lobby of the Inn.