Friday, May 3, 2013

Christophers Mountain in NC

BY SKEETER
 Garden Bloggers Spring Fling 2012 Asheville, flingers may recognize this spot. Well, those that were lucky enough to be able to hang out until Sunday afternoon before they had to get back to their gardens around the country.  
 Gardeners are the best when it comes to allowing visitors into their gardens! Even on a cool drizzle rainy day, nothing was going to stop Christopher, Outside Clyde nor his mother Bulbarella from strolling around their mountaintop with us. Jackets and umbrellas in tow and off we go...
 Plants on the mountain were a bit behind Biltmore Gardens. But to be expected as the mountain is way up there!
 Snapping photos while holding an umbrella, keeping ones balance on a soggy mountainside was a challenge. How surprised I was to see this beautiful photo when loaded!
 Bluebells were all about the mountain.
 Flingers may recall seeing this old chimney in the Wild Meadow. Little did we know about Geocaching at the time a year ago. While on our trek through the meadow with this visit, the Saint made his way to the chimney to sign the ledger and leave a little Pansy Pin as a treasure for future hunters to find.
 Near the chimney is where we learned something new. I try my best to retain information when in someone's garden but the mind "aint" what it use to be. I am happy to say that the story of this plant has been logged into the mind and shall remain for years to come! The Saint and I learned about Ramp. Ramp (allium ampeloprasum) is a sort of leek, wild onion or garlic type plant. According to Christopher, Ramp Festivals call in hundreds of people to celebrate these wild plants. He says word is, "They are running out of Wild Ramp". Difficult to believe as the meadow is full of it and it multiplies rapidly. I just assumed this was a plant known in the mountains of NC but after a little Google Search, I see Ramp Festivals in NC, VA, TN, SC and even PA. It seems to grow in Canada as well. Later that day, we saw a sign on the side of the road with Ramps "for sale" from a persons car trunk! Click HERE to learn more about this interesting plant!
 A pink beauty spotted along the stroll.
 Trillium and May-apple were flourishing all over the mountain!
 I spotted this Fungi and could not help but see a bird feeder with my imagination. Hum, or maybe a home for a gnome with moss roof...
Candytuft
 Taken more then enough time away from Christopher and Bulbarella, we said our goodbyes. Again, Thank you so much Christopher for traipsing around in the rain with us on your glorious Mountain!
 We had a few more geocaches set into our GPS a bit on up the Mountain. Christopher suggested we continue on that way and go back down into Asheville via another route instead of back tracking. We found a cache near this sign in the town of Trust.
Another Cache was found at the St. Jude's Chapel of Hope.
Built by a Cancer survivor in honor of her recovery crediting St. Jude's Hospital. This little Chapel sits along side a little stream and made for a wonderful setting.
 This little Cottage was across the driveway of the Chapel. Not sure of the story behind this place. We did not want to trespass if private. The Saint and I would love to retire in something this charming!
 The drive around the mountain showed scenes of Appalachian life and untouched Nature! Not to mention all the Rocks that were calling out to me to transport them back to my GEORGIA GARDENS. Of course the Saint would not allow that.
 
The Saint and I ended the day at The Hop (West) savoring that Salty Caramel goodness we discovered at the Fling a year ago.
 
Drizzle Rain, who cares! We had a great day starting out with CHRISTOPHERS MOUNTAIN, In the Garden...  
 
Stay tuned for a bit more from Biltmore and blogger visits.

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

27 comments:

  1. What fun to get to see Christopher's and Bulberella's garden during early spring. It brought back fond memories of the ASF. Oh and the ice cream. MMmmmmmmmmm The little stone clad house is charming. Wouldn't you love to be able to plant a garden all around that place??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Lisa, all it was missing was a nice little cottage garden!

      Delete
  2. In spite of a drippy day what a fun outing. I was quite surprised to see many of the same woodland wildflowers we have here in Bluff Country....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. troutbirder, It was a fun outing indeed! Seeing mountain during early spring was a wonderful treat...

      Delete
  3. What a delightful trip! Too bad it rained, but you made the best of it. Thanks for sharing your tour.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cameron, we lived in Europe for 6 years. If we let the rain keep us inside, we would not have done too much during those 6 years. I don't melt from a bit of rain. :-)

      Delete
  4. Salted caramel! Trilliums! Quaint cottages! Christopher C's gardens! I'm sitting here, green with envy...but so happy that you all had a great trip, even with the murky weather. Trilliums are one of my favorite flowers--his are gorgeous. I think our forest needs more trilliums. And I think my family would love geocaching--sounds fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie, don't be Green or a Frog may try to hop off with ya. :-) I gained a new appreciation of Trilliums on that mountain visit! We have them in our woods but only a few and not nearly as large in size...

      Delete
    2. Forgot to mention Julie, the kids would really enjoy Geocaching and a great way to get them off the couch and out from in front of a computer...

      Delete
  5. Next time I go to N.C., I'm going to FIND Christopher! Loved the pictures here - and hope to find the Chapel, too.

    Did you happen to see my pictures of the labyrinth at the Labyrinth Center we visited outside of Ashville?????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rebecca, The drive up the mountain is a nice drive that makes the ears pop but worth it for the beauty. I tried to find your Labyrinth posting but did not see it. :-( In the Biltmore Gardens, they had some type of hedge either Labyrinth or maze near he winery but the feet were too tired to check out...

      Delete
  6. It's very nice to meet someone with a proper appreciation of Christopher C's (and Bulberella's) gardens! And nice to see photos from someone else's perspective as well. Thanks so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thistleandthron, I love it up on the mountain and could see myself enjoying a summer home in the cool mountain air. I must hit that lottery as I so enjoy my winter home here in GA. It is fun to see another persons view on the same things...

      Delete
  7. Beautiful photos!! That little cottage was adorable!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cherry, the Saint and I agreed that one day we would love a similar cottage on a lake front. Ah, so quaint...

      Delete
  8. What fun and how nice of Christopher and his mother to host you all. Who knew that fireplace had a cache??? I remember it vividly as the Saint (always the eagle eye) pointed it out to us all--remember. I've heard of ramps but I don't think I've seen them growing. A pretty neat thing to see so many!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Tina, The Saint does have an Eagle Eye and believe it or not, he points out many things to me even in gardens! Someone mentioned a Geocache on one of the Spring Fling Postings from last year. That was the first time I had ever heard the term. I thought it was some type of Mineral or something such as that. LOL. Little did I know we would ever be back up on the mountain hunting down a cache by the Chimney! Ha. Ramps were very interesting to me and to think, after just learning about them, we saw them for sale on the roadside!

      Delete
  9. Better to go for a walk in the garden in the light rain than sit in the house all day long.

    I can understand over harvesting is hurting wild ramp populations. They are just so dern easy to grow it doesn't make any sense. I have collected seed and started new patches, so can people who wild harvest them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Christopher, if Ramps are harvested out, then you will have the running supply on them and can get rich! LOL Your mountain is something really special and I see why you and Bulbarella call it home...

      Delete
  10. Thanks for the tour, Skeeter! Looking forward to visiting there in a few weeks to see the rhodys and all the other beautiful goodies in the forest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn, I can only imagine how beautiful it is on the mountain with the Rhodys in bloom. Those bushes are huge and will indeed give you a show to remember! Cant wait to see your posting on them...

      Delete
  11. Love those ramps.They are good pickled also. Did that.
    Love the old chimney. So glad you got to visit with Christopher & his mom. They have a beautiful mtn. Your pics show more. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, so you have heard of Ramps Lola! This was news to me and the Saint and we enjoyed learning about them. We must try them some day when cooked by someone that knows what they are doing. Maybe we will hunt down a Ramp Festival and try them at that time! Yes, that is one beautiful unspoiled mountain

      Delete
  12. Looks like a wonderful time! I just love that Fungi....it totally reminds me of a gnome house. If it were in my garden I would just HAVE to put a gnome in there! I also really like that cottage...so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great photos. That looks like it was an exhilarating tour. Love the little church and the cottage.

    Have a wonderful weekend ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brilliant post and photos! I especially liked the ones of the flowers.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
  15. That was definitely a gnome home. Crafty little fellows. I enjoyed Christopher's garden when I visited. It is a beautiful location and so wild and free.

    ReplyDelete

ALL SPAM WILL BE PROMPTLY FRIED. PLEASE DO NOT LIFT PHOTOS OR WORDS. THANKS!