#11- Change of Seasons – Spring
Spring in Asheville can really bring a mixed bag of weather. Temperatures can reach 70 degrees and get you all excited to put away your winter clothes. But there is still a chance of snow and certainly a chance of frost. The time has changed and it is light out after work but frequently it is too chilly late in the day to enjoy the extended daylight. T.S. Elliot called April the cruelest month of the year and I think these conflicting expectations may be the reason why!
April can also be beautiful. Everything is starting to turn green again, flowers are starting to think about sprouting, and the air is sweet with expectation and the smell of new blossoms. It is also a time of spring rain showers. Our local weather is greatly affected by our surrounding mountains and can be very unpredictable.
Another way to enjoy spring is by taking a scenic drive. A leisurely drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway towards Graveyard Fields in one direction or Grandfather Mountain in the other will provide you with long range views in addition to wildflowers galore. Bring a picnic lunch and stop at one of the many overlooks or better yet get out and stretch your legs, go on a hike and have lunch by a stream or a waterfall. The diversity of wildflowers on the parkway is truly amazing. Blooming starts in late March and actually extends all the way into October. It seems that our high rainfall totals, rich soils and moderate climates make this an environment where many species can coexist together.
One thing that can be predicted is that more than 100,000 tulips will be in bloom at the Biltmore Estate. The annual Festival of Flowers runs from April 2 through May 15th and draws locals as well as tourists from all over the country. It is a visual feast of white, purple, pink, yellow, red and orange tulips. Descriptions and pictures really can’t do it justice – you just have to see it to believe how incredibly beautiful it is!
Other spots to check out the wildflowers include the Botanical Gardens where the ten acres offer a half mile walking trail that is easy enough for anybody to do. Also the NC Arboretum with its 434 acres of public gardens offers miles of trails to explore. The season is changing and we can tell it by using all of our senses. Warm sun, cool breezes, the thawing of the ground, colorful flowers, the sound of birds, and the smell of new blossoms await us. Spring in Asheville provides a treat for all of our senses! Get out there and enjoy it!
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” ~John Ruskin
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