Asheville Botanical Gardens

Located on the edge of the University of North Carolina – Asheville the Botanical Gardens at Asheville were a real treat to visit. First, the Garden is located about 10 minutes from downtown Asheville which made it an easy site to visit. Second, the trail is well tended, beautiful and relaxing. If you ran it the trail is maybe 15 minutes long. If you stroll then it’s as long as you’d like. Lastly, and most important, you get to see some truly spectacular native plants in their natural habitat including a very rare Pink Lady’s-slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule). As a matter of fact I saw FOUR with two still in bloom as well as several yellow and white lady’s slipper orchids that had finished blooming. To see them in their native habitat is rare enough. That some knucklehead had not come by and picked them is even more amazing. Some added treats include a large stone near the main stream that clearly shows the markings of its molten past and appears to be shaped like a dragon.