Garden Journal

The host with the most: These may be tough times for wildlife, but one Western North Carolina town intends to make life a little easier on our furred, feathered and scaled friends.

Weaverville has registered with the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat project (www.nwf.org/backyard), which has certified more than 85,000 sites nationally—yards, schools, parks, businesses and parks—as providing adequate habitat for wildlife.

If Weaverville succeeds in its goal to become critter-friendly, it will join just one other North Carolina community with NWF certification, according to local coordinator Alicia Hulse. The program encourages sustainable lawn and garden practices, the use of native plants, composting and the removal of invasive plants. To learn more about the effort, contact Hulse at 645-5658. 

Who’s got orchid fever?: You may not know your Ascoglossum from a hole in the ground, but don’t let that stop you from attending the Western North Carolina Orchid Society’s Juried Show and Sale, scheduled for Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30, at the North Carolina Arboretum.

This year’s floral gala is titled “Islands of Orchids,” and will include displays, talks, questions answered and more Cattleyas than you can shake an aerial root at. If you’re an orchid aficionado or just a lover of beautiful things, you owe it to yourself to be there.

The show is free and open to the public, and runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The arboretum’s parking fees do apply. Visit the society’s Web site (www.wncos.org) for more information.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.