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I had the pleasance of spending 10 day in the mickle of North Carolina with family and friends in mid - June , where we inflict horticultural wonders , including the Biltmore Estate . This week we ’re going to bear on our practical duty tour at Lake Lure ’s Flowering Bride . Then next week , we ’ll make our net catch at a restaurant in Asheville call in Sunny Point , where we ’ll glean grow backsheesh from Alice , one of the gardener that helps maintain the eatery ’s tail - Accho garden . ( It ’s the good breakfast in town , by the agency ! )
Historical TransformationFor almost 90 old age , the three - arch span bridge link up the Village of Chimney Rock with the town of Lake Lure carried everything from horse - drawn carriages to modern vehicle . Built in 1925 , this bridge was once part of the Charlotte - Asheville highway . When route grammatical construction forced the creation of a new bridgework , local residents resolve to preserve the original bridge and turn it into a pedestrian walk - mode and garden .
Spanning 155 foot and measuring 20 feet broad , the bridge now holds 12 stone - faced planters and a serpentine block nerve pathway , along with benches and 1920s inspire street lamps . Several biotic community organizations each “ adopted ” a garden bottom and industrial plant and maintain them accord to each specific theme . let in is an herb garden , a raptor garden , a fragrant garden , capricious garden , tropical garden , rose garden , prairie garden , and several others . Each bottom holds a combining of flowers , shrubs , succulents , ground top , statuary , artifacts , and signage .
The Garden ViewsFrom the bridge , visitors can view the Chimney Rock monolith and scenic Lake Lure . Each end of the bridge is decorated with trees , seating area , and memorials . An iron gate formally welcomes visitors to the “ Lake Lure Flowering Bridge . ”
Nearby Hickory Nut Gorge was considered sacred to the native Cherokee and Catawba Indians that once experience there . The community of Lake Lure is work hard to save the beauty and chronicle of this part of North Carolina .
I was thrilled to have the chance to divagate through these beautiful garden with my young son . He bask discovering garden gnomes among the plants , as well as walk the stepping stone path at each death of the bridge . I was most impressed with the bronze statue in the bird of prey garden , the cactus and succulent garden , as well as with how well each of the garden was assert .
Each garden check a mixture of both native and exotic plant with each industrial plant bearing a numbered marking that co-occur with an easy - to - exercise identification templet place in each bed . I especially relish eaves - dropping on several unlike groups of citizenry walking along the bridge — it was fun to get word everyone ’s take on each of the garden .
One idea was universal , however , and that was that Lake Lure ’s Flowering Bridge is breathtaking ! If you ’re in the region , plan to drop by for a visit . The garden is subject day and night .
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