The North Carolina Arboretum, just off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC, hosts the Western North Carolina Orchid Society Annual Show from 9-5 on March 31 and April 1, 2012. This year's theme is The Secret Garden of Orchids, and will celebrate the 50th anniversary of WNCOS and the 25th of the NC Arboretum. See
www.wncos.org for further details, or feel free to post or PM me questions on this forum.
Admission to the show is free, though Arboretum parking fees of $8/car will apply (free to members of any American Horticultural Society affiliated garden). In addition to spectacular AOS-judged displays, plant sales, and fantastic raffle prizes, the show includes a variety of free lectures each day for all interests and skill levels.
Confirmed vendor lineup includes:
-Carolina Orchids
-Carter and Holmes
-Ironwood Estate Orchids
-Marble Branch Farms
-Marriott Orchids
-Orchidview
-Owens Orchids
-Seagrove Orchids
-Woodland Orchids
Come out to see us! We've got an extremely friendly, knowledgeable society membership and all are welcome. Asheville is a great place to visit, with the Biltmore Estate, gorgeous hiking, and 10+ microbreweries in and around town. We're about 2 hours from Knoxville, 2.5 hours from Charlotte, and 2.5 hours from Columbia, SC; the Arboretum is easily accessible from Interstates 26 and 40.
--Nat