Mountains of mums at Arboretum, Oct. 17-18

The North Carolina Arboretum is ablaze with color in fall, and the North Carolina Chrysanthemum Society’s Annual Show, held October 17 and 18, is a perfect occasion to celebrate the fall foliage season. This year will be very special, as the local chapter hosts the National Chrysanthemum Society Annual Show. Some 200 exhibitors from all over the country are expected to exhibit exceptional blooms and displays, in addition to the normal excellent presentation made by the local chapter. Expect to see tree and cascade exhibits as well as displays of chrysanthemums, bonsai, educational exhibits and a special section on photography.

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 17, visitors are invited to enjoy talks on the North Carolina Chrysanthemum Society’s “Outreach to Schools” program. This program, presented by the local mum chapter, is designed to encourage local high-school-student participation in growing and showing chrysanthemums and has met with significant success. A program on how to grow mum bonsai as well as mums in miniature will be presented by a national Chrysanthemum Society expert.

The popular annual event showcases hundreds of chrysanthemum blooms in vibrant and varied colors. The exhibits will be judged by expert, Accredited National Chrysanthemum judges from all over the United States and Canada, following strict NCS standards that highlight the exceptional variety in size, shape and color of these popular fall flowers. The show is a perfect opportunity to learn more about how to grow display or show quality chrysanthemums.

Guests to The NC Arboretum will be able to enjoy the shows and flower sales as well as trail walks, family activities, and exhibits. The Chrysanthemum Show is free for Arboretum Society members or with the standard parking fee ($6 per personal motor vehicle). Visitors are encouraged to explore the Arboretum’s 65 acres of cultivated gardens, 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, engaging exhibits, and bountiful opportunities to connect with nature.

For information, call 828.665.2492 or visit www.ncarboretum.org.

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.

About Margaret Williams
Editor Margaret Williams first wrote for Xpress in 1994. An Alabama native, she has lived in Western North Carolina since 1987 and completed her Masters of Liberal Arts & Sciences from UNC-Asheville in 2016. Follow me @mvwilliams

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.