Summer is in full bloom, and so are Asheville-area flower farms and greenhouses. For fresh cuts of everything from peonies and poppies to zinnias and dahlias, the sources are abundant. Flower farms provide their wares at farmer’s markets across the area, or through flower bouquet shares (similar to CSA shares). Some farms also offer [...]

Every Fourth of July, the Asheville area plays host to a multitude of Independence Day celebrations, with an array of activities to delight young and old. Choose from one of these Fourth of July fetes, and you’re sure to have a blast! (Unless otherwise noted, all events occur on July [...]

Asheville is home to many parks large and small, some replete with sports fields, others boasting an abundance of green space, and a number perfect for playground time. Following, a few of the area’s popular parks – as well as some lesser-known gems. Many of these parks are located in [...]

Since 1970, when a grassroots demonstration initiated by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson marked what we know today as Earth Day, millions of people have gathered around the world every year to participate in events and activities focused on improving, cleaning up and celebrating the environment. This month, [...]

Studying the Earth’s past in order to improve its future may be a tried-and-true strategy, but The North Carolina Arboretum brings fresh perspective to the process in its exhibit Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science., on display through May 6, 2018. The national traveling exhibit, proudly sponsored by Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty, educates visitors about the ways in which traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and cutting-edge Western science are intertwined to enhance the natural world.

On display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily inside the Arboretum’s Baker Exhibit Center, Roots of Wisdom spotlights four indigenous communities, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The exhibit features the voices of elders and youth, engaging video interactives, and hands-on games, whereby visitors can learn about and take part in the growing movement toward sustainability and the incorporation of age-old yet timeless practices into today’s world to restore vital ecosystems, provide sustainable food sources and improve human health.

Each of the indigenous communities featured in the exhibit holds a sacred relationship with its homeland, and it’s the traditional knowledge gleaned from this relationship that helps to complement Western science in its quest for solutions to a multitude of ecological and health challenges. Visitors to the exhibit will come away with a new perspective on some not-so-new methods for drawing from the Earth’s resources for the greater good.

The North Carolina Arboretum, located just south of Asheville on 434 acres of public gardens, has an ongoing history of and keen interest in working with native indigenous communities. Most recently, its Germplasm Repository has joined forces with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, United South and Eastern Tribes, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to assist in conserving traditional ecological knowledge through a variety of initiatives. It is this inspiring collaboration to help preserve the Asheville region’s botanical diversity that continues to shine through in exhibits like Roots of Wisdom.

The central mission of the Arboretum, an affiliate institution of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system, is to cultivate connections between people and plants. A standard $14 per vehicle parking fee is required for non-members; no other admission fee is required for entry to the exhibit. For more information on the Arboretum and Roots of Wisdom, visit www.ncarboretum.org or call (828) 665-2492.

For more information about our area or about real estate in Asheville, please contact Mike Figura at Mike@MyMosaicRealty.com or call him anytime at (828) 337-8190.

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Cyclists in Asheville have plenty to enjoy around the city. From Asheville’s bike path infrastructure to its greenways, opportunities to cycle around town are growing. Spearheading the pro-pedal movement is [...]

Western North Carolina is renowned for world-class hikes to suit all tastes and experience levels. Living in Asheville affords easy day trips to every manner of mountain trail. But what if you just want a quick lunchtime loop or an easy afternoon jaunt without going far? Asheville and the immediate area around it are replete with [...]

On Monday, Aug. 21, for the first time in 26 years, parts of the U.S. will experience one of nature’s most amazing celestial events: a total eclipse of the sun. If you’re lucky enough to be in the [...]

Looking for a summer river adventure to keep the body cool and the blood pumping? Asheville’s awash in them! Thanks to the city’s proximity to the region’s major rivers, there are plenty of ways to get your water sport [...]

Daily life can get quite hectic, even in easy-going Asheville. But you can rise above it all – quite literally – in the neighborhood of Ventana. Nestled in the Blue Ridge at an elevation of 3,000 feet, the North Asheville neighborhood offers a private, gated community of uniquely luxurious homes situated seamlessly in a stunningly scenic [...]