3070 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746

Open 7 days a week & always free

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Our mission is to maintain gardens that are enjoyable, inspirational and used to educate people about gardening and its health and environmental benefits.

January 2023

A Gateway to Somewhere Beautiful

Cheers To 10 Years

2013-2023

January: Trust the magic

of new beginnings

In this month's newsletter:

Happy New Year

Pretty Pansy Pots (January 10 – February 28)

Planning to Celebrate Our 10th Anniversary

Announcing Our 2023 Class Schedule and Seasonal Features

Why You Should Visit This Winter

Mr. McGregor's New Year's Resolution

We are welcoming 2023 with much anticipation! Although the gardens are quieter and there's not as much gardening to do, volunteers are hard at work on various activities that we think you'll be excited about. Keep reading to see what they are.

Don't Miss Our Winter Seasonal Feature

Pretty Pansy Pots

January 10 – February 28

Pansies are surprisingly hearty in cold weather. They can survive a frost and even single digit temperatures. Visit soon to see these wonderful winter flowers.

A Decade Behind Us...A Brand

New Year Ahead

Fulfilling Our Mission

While our gardens have undergone many changes in the last 10 years, our fundamental mission to educate people about gardening and its benefits has never changed. Our 2023 Educational Class Schedule keeps that mission in mind. Starting at 10 am and usually lasting about an hour, classes are open to the public and are always free (in some cases a materials fee may be required). See box at right for everything you need to know.

Building Toward the Future

We are grateful for the many donations we have already received in support of our Education Center project. If you'd like to make a donation, please click on the button at the bottom of this newsletter. Thank you!

Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary

This fall we celebrate 10 years of enjoying our beautiful Bridge and gardens. A 10th Anniversary Committee is already at work planning celebratory events, educational activities for all ages, and choosing commemorative merchandise to sell. We promise a celebration you won't want to miss!

Save the Date!

10th Anniversary

Garden Party

June 2, 2023

Educational Class Schedule

March 28 – Seed Starting and Propagating Plants

May 23 – Drip Irrigation

July 25 – Sun Printing on Fabrics

August 22 – Harvesting and Preserving Herbs

September 26 – Winterize Your Garden

October 24 – Making Seasonal Wreaths

Special Educational Events

April 22 – Earth Day Celebration, with children’s activities from 10 am – 1 pm

June 24 – Pollinator Week Celebration, with children’s activities from 10 am – 1 pm

Seasonal Features

January 10 – February 28

Pretty Pansy Pots

March 2 – April 11

Daffy Ducks

April 11 – May 30

Bridge Full of Butterflies and Baskets

June 6 – September 5

Fairy Gardens

October 10 – November 2

Pumpkin People

November & December

Holidays in the Gardens

Watch this newsletter, our website, and social media for more information on these activities and more.

Why You Should Visit This Winter

You might think there's not much to see in the garden during winter. Think again! Many plants have their own special appeal during winter, and often a plant's branch structure is more interesting in winter when the leaves have died back. Look for the weird, twisted branches of the Harry Lauder Walking Stick in the Whimsical Garden.

While flowers may not be as plentiful now as in summer, look closely for many winter blooms. Plants with berries provide valuable food sources for wildlife. Evergreen plants and those that bloom in winter provide color and fragrance among their deciduous neighbors. Plan to visit this winter; we think you'll find much of interest in the gardens. But just remember, there's lots going on underneath the frozen ground, and you'll see a miracle come spring.

The flowers on the Edgeworthia in the Fragrant Garden have a gardenia-like fragrance.

Evergreen herbs maintain their delicious scent even in winter. You will find this rosemary plant in the

Herb Garden.

Ornamental and native grasses provide food and shelter for pollinators

and birds.

Winter Garden

I planted flowers to watch them grow.

But now the ground lies white with snow.

I said “Daddy, they’ll freeze the snow’s so deep.”

“No, my child, they’re just asleep.

Be patient now until the robins sing.

You’ll see a miracle come spring.”

Today I looked across the field.

It was in bloom with a daffodil.

The trees, fresh green, rustled in the breeze.

Everything thawed from winter's freeze.

I heard the song the robins sing.

Like Daddy said, "Just wait for spring."

by Jeannie Lewis, LLFB Volunteer

Mr. McGregor's

New Year's Resolution

Hey, kids, do you know what a New Year's resolution is? Well, it's when someone makes a pledge to change or to do something differently in the new year. Have you made a New Year's resolution for this year? I have! My resolution for 2023 is to work harder to rid those pesky rabbits from my garden!