Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont NC
was on Barbara’s list of things to do in the area.
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| garden entrance with temporary Chinese display |
We weren’t sure how much, if
anything, would be in bloom in September, but we thought we’d give it a try and
we weren’t disappointed. USA Today listed it as one of the nation's top 10
places to "welcome fall with a flourish.” We were surprised by their abundance
of blooming things for this time of year both inside and outside.
A building on the property
housed the Orchid Conservancy. An employee held an orchid under our nose for us
to confirm that it smelled like chocolate and we enjoyed seeing the other
creatively displayed orchids and tropical plants.
The garden’s current event
is a Chinese Lantern Festival – an evening program with lit up Chinese and
animal figures. We missed the festival which was scheduled to begin that
evening, but saw all the figures throughout the garden and a stage rehearsal
for a Chinese program. It probably looks cool all lit up at night.
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| roo (Barbara’s trailname) meets roo (a Chinese festival display) |
Hummingbird feeders hung
near a huge tree with reddish flowers. The hummingbirds put on quite a show for
us. We don’t remember ever seeing so many in one place.
This 380 acre property lies
near the shore of Lake Wylie a large reservoir on the North and South Carolina border. A
trail in the back of the garden led to the lake and connects to a Carolina
Thread Trail. We had been on a small section of the Carolina Thread Trail
previously.
This garden opened less than
20 years ago, but it is well established and maintained.
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statue in Myrtle grove
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We had a lovely, peaceful
day there.
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| sign on a bench |
