Bound for Asheville, North Carolina!
Today I am gassing up "Lady Bug" as we take off for an interview with tea room owner, Tami-Jo Halliman of "Kathleen's Tea Room" in North Carolina- two miles outside of Asheville! We are expecting rain today, but I have never been disappointed in the scenic views between Tennessee and North Carolina. It takes my breath away every season whether it is foggy, raining, resplendant in full Fall colors or Spring time when the Red Bud trees are in bloom! Today it is a beautiful array of lush greens. We have finally had enough rain to make for the last two years of drought here.
I am taking my fourteen year old daughter, Olivia, as she knows almost as much about teas and tea rooms since we actually live in the upstairs of our 105 year old tea room in Tennessee! Her passion is horseback riding, so she is excited to meet Tami's husband, Daniel, who works at Biltmore Estate and is in charge of the Equestrian program.
If you haven't been to Asheville, it is worth a trip. It is an eccletic balance of traditional and new age. The original "Mast General Store" is downtown along with interesting Art Galleries, holistic herb shops, organic grocery stores and some great restaurants. "Mast General" is worth a visit as it houses an old fashioned candy section with everything from Mary Jane's to licorice whips and toys of yesteryear such as Radio Flyer wagons. It also has two floors of outdoor gear for the hiking enthusiast.
But besides the sleepy urban downtown side of Asheville, my true favorite spot is Biltmore Estate. We have annual passes and enjoy going for a quick day trip since we are only one hour away. The house is always magnificent, but my heart belongs to the formal gardens and herb shop!
My husband, Keith, and I went just last weekend to view the four new rooms in the mansion that are now open to the public as well as smell every rose bush on the estate. We sat in on a floral arranging class as well as an herb and container gardening class at the Garden gift shop. During the holidays, I watched in awe as the floral designers showed us how to create a signature wreath, just like Biltmore. "Right!" I told my daughter. "Somehow I don't think it is as easy as they make it look!" But I loved the class anyway, despite my shortcomings in the craft department. I am working on it, though!
Keith and I purchased several unusual specimens of lavender- a French Fringe Lavender, a healthy rosemary bush and pineapple sage- it truly smells like pineapple! And it will grow six feet tall with red trumpet flowers that attract hummingbirds! I cannot wait since we have a back yard full of Cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, and robins. You really have to follow our porch cat, Lily' s blog, at www.MissMelaniesTeaRoom.com to get a full bird report! That's another story!
Be sure to read about our first "Tea Room of Distinction" in our June Newsletter. Tami is a wonderful person with quite a story to tell and "Kathleen's Tea Room" is top notch.
Until Our Next Pot of Tea,
Melanie
I am taking my fourteen year old daughter, Olivia, as she knows almost as much about teas and tea rooms since we actually live in the upstairs of our 105 year old tea room in Tennessee! Her passion is horseback riding, so she is excited to meet Tami's husband, Daniel, who works at Biltmore Estate and is in charge of the Equestrian program.
If you haven't been to Asheville, it is worth a trip. It is an eccletic balance of traditional and new age. The original "Mast General Store" is downtown along with interesting Art Galleries, holistic herb shops, organic grocery stores and some great restaurants. "Mast General" is worth a visit as it houses an old fashioned candy section with everything from Mary Jane's to licorice whips and toys of yesteryear such as Radio Flyer wagons. It also has two floors of outdoor gear for the hiking enthusiast.
But besides the sleepy urban downtown side of Asheville, my true favorite spot is Biltmore Estate. We have annual passes and enjoy going for a quick day trip since we are only one hour away. The house is always magnificent, but my heart belongs to the formal gardens and herb shop!
My husband, Keith, and I went just last weekend to view the four new rooms in the mansion that are now open to the public as well as smell every rose bush on the estate. We sat in on a floral arranging class as well as an herb and container gardening class at the Garden gift shop. During the holidays, I watched in awe as the floral designers showed us how to create a signature wreath, just like Biltmore. "Right!" I told my daughter. "Somehow I don't think it is as easy as they make it look!" But I loved the class anyway, despite my shortcomings in the craft department. I am working on it, though!
Keith and I purchased several unusual specimens of lavender- a French Fringe Lavender, a healthy rosemary bush and pineapple sage- it truly smells like pineapple! And it will grow six feet tall with red trumpet flowers that attract hummingbirds! I cannot wait since we have a back yard full of Cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, and robins. You really have to follow our porch cat, Lily' s blog, at www.MissMelaniesTeaRoom.com to get a full bird report! That's another story!
Be sure to read about our first "Tea Room of Distinction" in our June Newsletter. Tami is a wonderful person with quite a story to tell and "Kathleen's Tea Room" is top notch.
Until Our Next Pot of Tea,
Melanie
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