NC Arboretum Kicks Off Second Year of Spring Weekend Programming March 14

The North Carolina Arboretum opens its second annual "Spring Into the Arb!" season today with Nature Play Day, launching a string of weekend events that will carry the 434-acre property along Pisgah National Forest through April, May and June before culminating with Bonsai in the Blue Ridge.

The season brings plant shows and sales, science and nature activities, music and art to the Arboretum each weekend. Most programming is included with the standard $25-per-vehicle parking fee; Arboretum Society Members enter free. Two events, the Asheville Orchid Festival on March 28-29 and Bonsai in the Blue Ridge in June, require additional admission, though specific ticket prices for those were not announced.

Upcoming highlights include the Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, April 11, where visitors can learn how trees function in local ecosystems and how to care for trees on their own property. Native Azalea Day invites guests to watch plein air artists paint and sketch in the gardens, join a walking tour of the azalea collection, and take part in hands-on activities suited for children and adults. Music in the Mountains Day will feature live performances by local musicians set against the Arboretum's mountain vistas.

Beginning in April, the Arboretum's free Group Guided Walks program resumes, running through October. Trained volunteer guides lead small groups along woodland trails through varied forest types, offering a close look at what the Arboretum calls its botanically diverse landscape.

The Arbor Eatery, located inside the Education Center, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those hours extend to 5 p.m. starting April 1.

Inn at Amari's Farms has announced a partnership offering guests who book two or more nights between March 15 and April 30 a complimentary Arboretum pass for their stay.

The full Spring Into the Arb calendar is available on the North Carolina Arboretum's website at the Exhibits and Events page.