Abbington Green Weblog

At Abbington Green, we continue to offer a special Biltmore Estate “2-Consecutive day” daytime pass for the price of a one-day ticket to Biltmore. It’s a great way to see this magnificent part of America’s history surrounded by some of America’s most beautiful scenery. You can take your time, enjoy the many aspects of this impressive estate, but also without the pressure of seeing it all in a single day.Because as a special passholder, you have two days to see it at your own pace.
Don’t forget to let us know if you wish to purchase tickets when you book online. Just email us at info@abbingtongreen and we will set aside tickets for you.

We have Abbington Green Bed and Breakfast Inn Gift Certificates. Run out of ideas for a very special person on your gift list or for an anniversary or birthday? A gift certificate at Abbington Green will be a memorable way to give a loved one some rest and relaxation in Asheville.
To purchase, please call us at 1-800-251-2454.

This is the time of year when, as they say, ‘Summer is winding down’. The days are already shortening enough to notice. And in our bed and breakfast gardens – and probably in yours, too – flowers are still in great abundance. Although it’s hard to compare to Spring’s first burst of life, late Summer and early Fall provide lovely happenings in the garden.

Annuals are still bright, bold staples now and will be until frost. And let’s not forget our roses. The shrub roses bloomed earlier but still are producung lovely blooms of bright red, pink and rose-colored lights until they freeze later in the Fall.

But some perennials are just coming into their own now. My favorite canna lily is called “Bengal Tiger”. The name comes from its fabulous green and bold chartreuse striped foliage. The foliage has been around for a while, providing a showy addition to the garden. At this time of year it produces tall flower spikes with amazing bright orange flowers. It’s hard to imagine that it needed any more to enhance its boldness… but the flowers are more!

Also, this is the time for “Sweet Autumn Clematis”, a viney plant with masses…I do mean masses…of small white blossoms. On a fence or trellis or growing up a tree, this is its best moment of the year.

Crepe myrtles are sometimes left as bushy shrubs while others are trimmed up to produce a more tree-like form. Blooming now, they provide a fairly wide spectrum of color around Asheville, North Carolina. Some are quite red, while others are white, and others a salmony-pink. But my favorite is a dwarf that has bright lavender blooms. We are all pleased to see them recovered and doing well, especially since on April 1st and 2nd, 2007, extreme freeze combined with extreme winds decimated so many crepe myrtles, Japanese maples and boxwoods, and about every tulip and daffodil that had bloomed with vigor in that early warm Spring.

Canna

In and around Asheville are some really wonderful places to ride dirt bikes and road bikes.  There are books and maps and internet sites to look up specific places to go that will suit your skill and stamina…and some that will really test your skill and stamina!

The Dupont Forest has some beautiful places to ride and some great waterfalls, so you can get cooled off part way through your trek. Or for road bikes, just ride the road along the French Broad River from Asheville up toward Marshall.  The road winds and the river edges form a small canyon-like area along the side of the road.

So if you’re thinking of bringing your bicycles to Asheville, doa little checking online to scope out the places that will fit your plan. Whether you just want a little scenery as you take a leisurely ride, or whether it’s flat out, heavy workout that will make your day, Asheville has all that nearby.

And, show-off the cool gear, too…

My sons-in-law Bob and Joe after an Asheville ride