West Asheville Garden Stroll – PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON Tuesday, August 11, 2009
FIRST ANNUAL WEST ASHEVILLE GARDEN STROLL SPONSORED BY: West Asheville Business Association and Asheville GreenWorks
Will take place on September 12, 2009, from 11:00 AM to 4 PM RAIN OR SHINE KICKOFF CEREMONY at West Asheville Branch Library, 942 Haywood Rd. at 10:30 AM
The Stroll is FREE
Additional information on the web at www.WestAshevilleGardens.com , or call West Asheville Branch Library, 250-4750
West Asheville, NC – August 3, 2009 –
The popularity of urban gardening has been expanding recently and West Asheville reflects this abundantly and with a quirky edge. The First Annual West Asheville Garden Stroll, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, will spotlight the astonishing garden diversity thriving in this urban setting. The event runs from 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM, and kicks off at West Asheville Branch Library at 10:30 AM with a ceremony honoring the library’s longtime volunteer gardener Tom Jordan. Asheville GreenWorks Director Susan Roderick will present Jordan with an Environmental Excellence Award. NC Arboretum Horticultural Director Alison Arnold will speak on “The Resurgence of Urban Gardening: Bringing Community, Creativity, and Connection into Our Hearts, Homes, and Lives”. A special attraction of the Stroll will be Asheville’s zany comedy tour bus, the LaZOOM bus, which will be available to transport strollers between neighborhoods.
Home gardening, an essential element of sustainable living, has taken root throughout the community’s many neighborhoods. Approximately 15 gardens will be on view across five areas of Greater West Asheville: Vermont/Sulphur Springs, Falconhurst, Brucemont/Louisiana, Burton Street, and East-West Asheville. Each site offers a unique garden display that represents the multi-faceted nature of West Asheville. Gardens on the tour include community gardens, art gardens, business gardens, rock gardens, school gardens, and gardens with recycled and permaculture features.
West Asheville gardeners are keen to share the joy of gardening. The Stroll emphasizes sustainability in urban gardening, networking among neighbors, and inspiration for strollers. Strollers can learn from gardeners’ varied experiences through demos, talks, guided tours, question-and-answer sessions, and first-hand viewing. Strollers are also invited to participate in planting a new Haywood Road pocket garden.
Maps of the tour and information about the featured gardens will be available at West Asheville Branch Library on Sept. 12. All featured gardens are within a couple of blocks of Haywood Road in West Asheville. Centralized parking for Strollers will be available at Trinity United Methodist Church (587 Haywood Rd.), West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Rd.), and West Asheville Baptist Church (926 Haywood Rd.)
The West Asheville Garden Stroll is a non-profit endeavor led by a group of passionate gardeners. It is FREE and open to the public. Volunteers are needed to help with the Stroll; volunteer opportunities are listed on the website, www.WestAshevilleGardens.com. For more information, call West Asheville Branch Library, 250-4750, or visit the website.
CONTACT:
Anne Higgins Higgins Horticultural Services, LLC 828-713-8688 AnneHiggins@charter.net
Karen H. Loughmiller West Asheville Branch Library 828-250-4750 FAX: 828-250-4751 karen.loughmiller@buncombecounty.org