Apples to AppleJack

| Flower Roberts

Mr. Flower and I decided to take a trip up the mountains to buy apples this afternoon.

We traveled on one of Mr. Flower’s favorite curvy roads, Brushy Mountain Road.

We spotted a new sign along the way. It was for an apple distillery, Holman Distillery.

We pulled off the road and down a gravel drive to find a large barn-like building.

The establishment was run by a UNC graduate with a chemistry degree.

It would have been inexcusable to just leave after my taking a few photos.

We were obliged by Tarheel decorum to stay for a tasting.

It would have been rude to take up the man’s time without buying anything.

I should have taken notes on how he made his delicious grenadine. The secret was orange peels.

We did eventually make it up the mountain to get apples.

I love to find folks who follow their dreams, don’t you?

https://www.holmandistillery.com/

FLOW

By the Light of the Moon

| Flower Roberts

I was fortunate to return to the little town of Belmont for the last night of ‘Moonlight on Main.’

The entire park had been transformed by white and blue lights with the moon glowing in the background.

There was a stage set up for performances of various songs under the heading ‘Music of the Night.’

Folks were busy enjoying the twinkling park and glowing moon.

Families started to gather on the hill above the stage in anticipation of the performance.

It was a magical scene, lit by the light of the moon.

FLOW in the GLOW

Orchid Heaven

| Flower Roberts

These beauties live in a glass pavilion at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.

Orchids were everywhere, in pots, on trees, on the walls, hanging around.

I wanted to post their names, but their identification is beyond my realm.

I have always been fascinated by orchids.

Their shapes, their colors, their pollinators.

One of my favorite books is The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean.

I understand why folks have obsessions about them.

These flowers seem other-worldly, angelic, heavenly…

Flower

To Bloom or Not to Bloom?

| Flower Roberts

That is the question for Bromeliads.

Some have big, bold blooms.

Some have colorful bracts, sepals, or leaves instead. Their tiny blooms are inconspicuous.

Some have tanks full of water, while others depend on constant humidity.

Some are terrestrial.

Some are epiphytes.

They all belong to the pineapple family, but so does Spanish moss.

I am wondering about this family. There seems to be too much variety to be related.

Bromeliads have beauty in many forms.

FLOWER

Fall Deco

| Flower Roberts

Fall has its own decor. It includes dried hay and corn stalks, yellow and orange mums, pumpkins and gourds.

It sounds so simple, but it takes skill to conjure up a seasonal mood from such simple ingredients.

I always applaud such skill. Let’s look at some lovely examples.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden entrance

This says it all. They know it’s fall.

This is a bounty of fall beauty. Eclectic excellence.

Symmetry and synergy!

Even the hay maze is dreamy.

The folks at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden know how to do fall.

Hooray Halloween!

Flow

The Belmont Moon

| Flower Roberts

Belmont, North Carolina has its own harvest moon this month.

They have installed an inflatable moon downtown in Stowe Park.

The moon is an exact replica of the actual moon which is lit up at night.

The whole town has decorated in the ‘Moon Glow’ theme.

I may have to head back down there one evening just to see this moon lighted.

FLOW

Banner Elk Winery

| Flower Roberts

We found an interesting winery this past week.

Banner Elk Winery is located in a peaceful spot.

It has a pond and picnic tables.

The children there were very busy playing as their parents relaxed.

Someone smart designed this place.

There is a lovely little creek running into the pond with a stone bridge across it.

There is a centrally located fire pit.

The entrance features a life-sized, driftwood sculpture of an elk.

Inside the building is cozy with a giant stone fireplace.

It is the perfect respite for folks who want to visit while their children romp through nature in full view.

The bartender with an “I hate you” tattoo even gave me their Sangria recipe.

It was worth zig-zagging on mountain roads to find this jewel.

FLOW

FALL HERE

| Flower Roberts

Sometimes I take things for granted.

I am guilty of this when it comes to fall here in North Carolina.

Of course the leaves turn colors in October.

Of course it is gorgeous.

I forget what an unusual treat it is until I notice the ten-fold increase in traffic in the mountains.

Then I see what everyone else sees with new eyes.

The cold comes. The green goes into the tree and the other colors are left out in the leaves.

I hope I will remember this lesson about other things.

I live in a beautiful place surrounded by kind folks. I am lucky.

FLOW