With many people in Asheville making plans for spring gardening and visits to the local nursery, now is a great time to think about nurturing a native pollinator garden in your yard. Asheville GreenWorks – Western North Carolina’s most active volunteer environmental group and an organization that Mosaic has long supported – offers a Native Pollinator Garden Certification program, which allows you to certify your garden as a pollinator habitat. 

A bounty of benefits in a pollinator garden

The Native Pollinator Garden Certification program educates the community on the important elements of a beneficial pollinator habitat, helps beginner gardeners get started, and recognizes those seasoned gardeners whose pollinator gardens continue to flourish. Not only does creating a pollinator garden help the local ecosystem, but thanks to the fact that it’s already adapted to the region’s environment, a pollinator garden is easy to care for once it’s established, making it a breeze to boost your home’s curb appeal at the same time.

The Native Pollinator Garden Certification program has four tiers of habitat quality, allowing anyone, from patio-planter gardeners to large-scale cultivators, to participate and gain ground in their pollinator-garden aspirations. The requirements for a full-fledged pollinator habitat involve avoiding pesticides, removing invasive growth, and including native plants, nectar sources, trees or shrubs, larval hosts, water and shelter for pollinators. Once your garden meets the requirements, you will receive a certificate and the option to buy an official designation sign for your garden to spread awareness.

Break ground on your garden

You may already have a garden you’d like to certify, in which case you can visit https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/pollinator-garden-certification.html to understand tier requirements and decide which level you fall under. If you don’t yet have a pollinator garden, Asheville GreenWorks provides all the information you need to get started, including comprehensive lists of easy-to-find-and-grow plants. You can also visit their site to find local nurseries that carry native plants, learn about bloom times and invasive species, and see a map of certified habitats in the area.

Once your garden is established, you can fill out an application for review. The application fee is $10, with an optional $35 sign fee. Visit https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/pollinator-garden-certification.html for more information.

For information on real estate in the greater Asheville area, email Mosaic Realty at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828.707.9556

Search: Asheville Area Real Estate

Mosaic agent Craig Severance knows North Asheville. Not only does Craig boast deep roots here – his grandparents had a house in Norwood Park (known as The Fred D Severance House), where his father was born and raised – but he calls walkable North Asheville home, drawn to its convenient urban living coupled with serenity and space. Craig and [...]

The North Carolina Arboretum, the 434-acre public arboretum and botanical garden located within Bent Creek Experimental Forest just south of downtown Asheville, is pleased to unveil its one-of-a-kind exhibit Wild Art, an eclectic sculpture showcase inspired by nature and situated throughout its spacious gardens. The outdoor exhibit – of [...]

Mosaic agent Caley Bowman has done it all – zipline tour guide, filmmaker, bartender – and always she’s done it with a sense of adventure. It’s here in Asheville that Bowman has found fulfillment for her thrill-seeking spirit, integrating nearby adventure – both urban and natural – into everyday life. And she revels in helping clients do the [...]

Tucked at the base of Linville Gorge in the Blue Ridge Mountains is Lake James, a large reservoir offering myriad outdoor adventures against a breathtaking setting. The lake, with more than 150 miles of shoreline, is situated between Marion and Morganton, easily accessible via I-40, and only 45 minutes from Asheville. The lakefront communities dotting the area offer a peaceful retreat nestled in natural beauty.

Lake James, which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell counties, is named for tobacco tycoon and Duke University benefactor James Buchanan Duke. The lake, with surface elevation of 1,200 feet, lies behind a series of four earthen dams and was created by Duke Power from 1916 to 1923 as a hydro-electric project (still generating power today).

Lake James: plentiful water activities, hiking and camping

Lake James State Park is located on the lake’s southern shore. In 2004, the 605-acre park was expanded by 3,000 acres, making it the largest waterfront state park in N.C. The surrounding terrain is covered with hardwoods, pines and hemlocks; it is home to a range of wildflowers, as well as mountain laurel, rhododendron and flame azalea along the hilly terrain.

Paddy’s Creek and Catawba River are the park’s main areas to enjoy. Paddy’s Creek features a large, sandy beach and swimming area, along with a pavilion, restrooms and concession stand. Hiking and camping spots – including boat-in camping – are plentiful in both areas. Paddy’s Creek offers 15 miles of mountain biking trails for beginners as well as intermediate riders. Two miles east of Lake James State Park entrance sit two boat ramps, Hidden Cove and Canal Bridge, offering access for motorboats, sailboats and small watercraft.

A range of available homes in Lake James

Most housing development around Lake James is clustered along its southern and eastern shores, offering a range of styles including sprawling estates, rustic ranches, and green-build properties, many with long-range mountain and lake views.

Restaurants and breweries in and around Lake James offer a variety of options when you don’t feel like cooking at home. Among local favorites are Catawba Brewing, Lake James Grille, Slices Bistro, Fonta Flora Brewery and Root & Vine.

For information about real estate in Lake James, contact us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call us anytime at 828-707-9556.

Explore Lake James area real estate near Nebo

At first glance, Asheville may seem an unlikely backdrop for midcentury modern architecture, the style that embraces clean, simple lines and honest use of materials. But Mosaic broker Carol Marin, who has delighted in the organic aesthetic for years, has a knack for uncovering such homes, and she’s found many in Asheville. A former vocal [...]

Asheville’s Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty proves time and again to be a team of top producers, with the latest recognition coming from Movement Mortgage’s annual Top 100 Realtors. While only 5% of agents in Buncombe County earned the distinction of Top 100 Realtors in 2020, 33% of Mosaic Realty’s agents were recently recognized with this [...]

If you’re a homeowner in Asheville, it’s becoming a little easier to equip your residence with solar energy, thanks to a brand-new community-based initiative. A coalition of local organizations is launching Solarize Asheville-Buncombe, a group-purchasing solar campaign that makes solar energy and battery storage more affordable to both homeowners and [...]

Mosaic broker and North Asheville resident Megan Shook has many passions, which propel her both professionally and personally. While she works throughout the greater Asheville area, she’s particularly passionate about how the Beaverdam area of North Asheville offers the optimal balance of “city” and “country.” And as an ardent [...]

Located in the Smoky Mountains about 20 minutes west of Asheville sits the picturesque town of Canton, N.C. This Haywood County town offers dining, shopping and sightseeing along its historic Main Street, as well as iconic local hikes and other outdoor adventures. An idyllic, small-town feel coupled with close proximity to the [...]