Glorious gardens can be found throughout state

RALEIGH - Spring is upon us. Flowers are in bloom across North Carolina. What better way to view the vibrant colors of tulips, daffodils, orchids and an array of other flowers than to take a visit to one of the splendid gardens across the state.
No matter where you are in the Tar Heel state, you're likely to be only a short drive away from nature's artwork. With the price of gasoline these days, short drives are a good thing.

In the mountains, you'll find the Festival of Flowers going on at Biltmore Estate or the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Along the coast, you'll be able to enjoy the upcoming N.C. Azalea Festival in Wilmington.

In New Bern, tulips are in full bloom at Tryon Palace and Gardens. In Belmont, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden offers its orchid conservatory.

"Our tulips are in full bloom," said Lisa Wimpfheimer, head horticulturalist at Tryon Palace and Gardens. "There are a variety of additional bulbs in bloom, including daffodils and Persian buttercups."

Tulips are also in bloom at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, which recently opened its orchard conservatory, giving visitors to the garden an enhanced year-round experience.

"Orchids don't exist in a vacuum," said Jim Hoffman, garden spokesman. "They exist with other plants."

Visitors to the garden can also enjoy 110 acres of trails, roadways and gardens. There are about 12 acres of manicured gardens, Hoffman said, including a subtropical garden and perennial gardens.

"We have these gorgeous cherry trees that are blooming right now," Hoffman said. "You don't have to go to Washington to see cherry trees."

The Stowe Garden will be holding its annual flower sale in a few weeks. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19-20.

Likewise, a flower sale is coming up soon at Tryon Palace and Gardens.
The annual fundraiser, the Heritage Plant Sale, will occur at Tryon Palace and Gardens April 11-12. Wimpfheimer encourages garden lovers to come early to get the best selection of plants and flowers.

"We'll have a wide variety," she said. One of the favorites is the Lady Banks Rose, which is a spring-blooming, light yellow, climbing rose.

"People see it and want to have one," Wimpfheimer said. "It's one of my personal favorites because it has no thorns."

The flower sale will coincide with Garden Lovers Weekend, April 11-13. Visitors to North Carolina's first capitol will be able to enjoy the gardens for free from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Interior tours, however, will require the purchase of a ticket.

Members of the Fife & Drum Corps will be on the palace grounds from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 12-13.