3070 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746

Open 7 days a week & always free

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March 2024

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

We've Got Spring Fever!

Spring is the season that reawakens our senses after the dreary winter months. With everything "springing" back to life, it's the perfect time to visit the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. You'll love seeing over 20 varieties of daffodils blooming during March!

Spring has arrived! 10 reasons to visit this season

Enjoy our spring blooms and get ideas for your garden.
Breathe in our fresh mountain air.
Hold hands and wander our beautiful walkways.
Chat with other visitors and make new friends.
Look for our photo ops and capture those memories.
Treat your family to an experience they'll always treasure.
Find a quiet bench, relax and take it all in.
Meet our volunteers and ask your gardening questions.
Listen to the birdsong.
We are open 24/7 and we are always free!

Don't Miss Birds of a Feather

We're excited about our first seasonal feature for this year. Wooden fence sections highlight bird species common to western North Carolina, include examples of bird houses favored by these birds, and children will like our special scavenger hunt. Now through April 30th!

(Above) Each fence section includes an informational sheet about the specific bird species.

(Left) Volunteers braved the cool, misty weather during installation.

Know Your Zone

The United States Department of Agriculture recently revised its Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the first time since 2012. The USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive in a location. Many planting zones changed with this revision, and Lake Lure is now in planting zone 8a (previously 7b), whereas some of our neighboring towns are now in zones 7b and 7a. Before you start planting this season, find your zone at the link above.

Getting Ready to Build Our Ed Center

We see the Bridge as a living classroom, and since it was first established in 2011, volunteers and invited presenters have conducted over a hundred classes and workshop. Building an onsite Education Center is part of our vision for the Bridge.

Since late 2021, we have been hard at work designing the new facility as well as obtaining the necessary permits for approval by the Town of Lake Lure to begin construction. The Friends of the Flowering Bridge has set aside monies, secured several grants and hosted successful fundraisers to achieve this goal.

Our vision is now about to become a reality! Watch for news soon on when we'll officially break ground and start construction on our new Education Center (rendering below).

To prepare for parking lot regrading and Education Center building construction, our tool shed and Swift Tower were recently relocated.

We have designed this year's education program to take full advantage of the gardens and features that are designed to support a diverse ecosystem, such as our pollinator garden, bee house, and water features. Please check out these upcoming class offerings and mark your calendar to join us.

Own a Brick Book for Your Garden

Volunteer Spotlight: Becky Melton

We have lots of unique art throughout our gardens, often created by local artists, but did you know that some of our visitors’ favorites are some of the smallest pieces on display? If you look carefully when strolling our gardens, you’re sure to see our many brick books. These pieces have been refurbished and created by Becky Melton, a three-year LLFB volunteer.

Having a mother who was an art teacher meant that Becky grew up surrounded by all things artistic. She took art classes in high school, but took a different professional route working as a clothing buyer and later as a computer programmer. She and her husband, Ron, a native North Carolinian, returned to this area in 2018 from Clearwater, Florida.

"I had been painting rocks and bricks to decorate our home garden and when I saw the brick books at the Bridge, I had to make some of my own!”

This wee visitor was quite intrigued by one of our brick books.

“Most people request a book that has special meaning to them, and that makes the project feel important to me,” says Becky.

With spring coming soon, you may be thinking about sprucing up your garden and adding some art. You can now own one of these unique collectibles for yourself or give one as a gift. Becky accepts special orders for her brick books, which cost $35 and usually take about a week to complete, with 100% of the proceeds going to support the Flowering Bridge.

You can find an order form here. Books can be picked up at the Bridge on Tuesdays or Thursdays, when our volunteers are working. Due to their weight, we regret that we cannot ship.

Mr. McGregor Says...

Hey kids! Now that it's spring, I'm starting to get really busy in the Peter Rabbit Garden. Did you know that rabbits also get "spring fever" and really like to eat during the cool spring days. Come by and help me keep those pesky rabbits away from my garden!

Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge is a volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations to help preserve and maintain the Bridge gardens and to support our new Education Center are always appreciated – and tax-deductible.

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