They say timing is everything, but in my world it’s usually
a toss‑up between plants and history. Last year, I fully intended to make it to
the Asheville orchid show, and then the SCA called. A friend was receiving a
major award, and honestly, that’s one of the few things that can pull me away
from a room full of blooms.
Fast forward to a few weekends ago, and the stars finally
aligned. Lorelei and I loaded up for our very first road trip together, heading
west to meet up with Carol.
For someone who spends so much time hovering over my Milsbo and Rudsta cabinets, tweaking humidity levels for my “indoor jungle,” it’s funny that I had never been to the North Carolina
Arboretum. It’s a stunning place, even if Mother Nature insisted on reminding us that mountain spring is still firmly in the “medium/light jacket” category. Once we made it inside and out of the wind, I was so proud to see the Triad Orchid Society display. As the newly appointed Digital Media Manager, I might be biased, but it really was something special. The water feature at the center added this gentle movement that drew people in and showed off the plants in a way static displays just can’t match.But the best part of the trip wasn’t the plants. It was catching up with Carol. It had been far too long. There’s a certain energy that sparks when you get orchid people together… that mix of geeking out, troubleshooting, and swapping stories that just doesn’t happen when you’re adjusting humidity alone. I’ve managed to get both Lorelei and Carol into (or back into) orchids recently and watching them navigate the show was a highlight for me. Caring for 50+ orchids is one thing; having a little “crew” to share the obsession with is something else entirely.
Naturally, none of us left empty‑handed. We each “adopted”
several new orchids and eventually snagged a table in the café to rest, which
quickly turned into our own mini exhibit. We spread out our new treasures like
proud parents at show‑and‑tell, comparing notes on where they’d live at home
and which ones we were most excited to see bloom that weren’t already in bloom
when we got them.
By the time we’d had our fill of the crowds and the chill, our heads were full of ideas and our bags full of plants. We headed to the Moose Café for a late lunch, exactly the kind of comfort food you want after a morning in mountain air. Afterward, we swung back by the Arboretum to drop Carol off at her car. It’s always hard to say goodbye when the conversation is that good, so before we parted ways, I suggested to Carol and Lorelei that this needs to become an annual tradition.
Lorelei and I retreated to our motel for a quiet evening, letting the day’s excitement settle. The next morning, we took things slow, wandering into Asheville for pastries and coffee. And of course, I couldn’t leave town without a stop at the Asheville Bee Charmer. It was the perfect final “research” stop before we pointed the car east and headed home. There’s something so restorative about a weekend like this. Between the historical “bones” of the Arboretum, the technical thrill of the show, and the simple joy of spending time with friends who share your obsessions, it was exactly the trip I’d been waiting for since last year.
It was a great time!! Lorelei.
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