Asheville Bed & Breakfast - North Carolina Bed & Breakfast in Asheville near Blue Ridge Parkway, Chimney Rock Park, Pisgah National Forest, Great Smokey Mountains Park

May Newsletter & Calendar of Events

What's Happening Here (at the Inn)
April was a crazy month in Asheville, mainly due to the weather. One week, the temperatures were in the 60's and 70's, the next week, we saw record lows that killed off or wilted many of the plants, flowers, and trees that had begun to bloom. Some are starting to come back including the hostas and azaleas, but I am concerned about our Japanese Maples. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Earth Fare, Westgate, and the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) are teaming up to host a benefit cookout for area farmers affected by the harsh freeze that took place in early April. The benefit will be on Friday, May 4th from 5-7 PM on the patio at Earth Fare in the Westgate shopping center. In addition, we had high winds for a couple of days with gusts up to 60 mph. The Inn lost power over night and did not have cable or internet service for 1-1/2 days as a result of many downed trees and power lines in the area. We lost half of a tree that took out a section of fence on the street side of the house. It also landed partially on the roof of the kitchen and damaged some gutter outside the Holly Room (see photo of tree).

On a lighter note, we had air conditioning installed in the three original bedrooms in the main house (the Magnolia, Dogwood, and Lilac Rooms). In May, we are having the hardwood floors resurfaced and stained in the Holly Room. We're going to have new hardwood floors installed in the Breakfast Room and we'll be replacing the carpet in the living room of the Carriage House Guest Suite with laminate flooring.

Calendar of Events
  • Tapestry Weaving Demonstrations - Folk Art Center - 5/5 @ 11:00; 5/12 - 5/13
  • Festival of Flowers at the Biltmore Estate: 4/7 - 5/20 (Timed Entry days will be 5/26 & 5/27)
  • Decorated Birdhouse Competition at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa: 4/10 - 5/13
  • Great Southeastern Hiking Festival - Sutton Avenue in Black Mountain: 5/3 - 5/6
  • Mountain Sports Festival - Carrier Park & Festival Village: 5/4 - 5/6
  • French Broad River Festival - Hot Springs Campground & Spa - 5/4 - 5/6
  • Space Day 2007 - Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute - Pisgah Forest: 5/5 @ 9:00 am
  • Cherokee Visitor Appreciation Day - Cherokee Welcome Center - 5/10 @ 9:00 am
  • Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) - near Black Mountain - 5/11 - 5/13
  • BMW Charity Pro-Am at the Cliffs - The Cliffs Valley, The Cliffs @ Keowee Vineyards in SC, & The Cliffs @ Walnut Cove in NC - 5/17 - 5/20
  • Blue Ridge Hydrangea Society Annual Lecture & Plant Sale - NC Arboretum - 5/19
  • Grandfather Mountain Naturalist Weekend - 5/19 - 5/20
  • 4th Annual Montford Arts & Music Festival - 5/19 @ 10:00 am
  • Garden Jubilee - Historic Downtown Hendersonville - 5/26 - 5/27, 9-6 pm
  • Sandburg Folk Music Festival - Carl Sandburg National Historic Site - 5/28 @ 10:00 am
May Specials
Check out our Specials Page for a full listing of Specials, Discounts, and Packages

  • Purchase a Spa Package between 5/1 - 5/31 and receive a FREE reflexology treatment ($35.00 value).
  • Pre-Summer Getaway Special - Stay 2 nights between 5/1 - 5/24, get the 3rd night 50% off (may not be combined with other specials or discounts).
  • Mother's Day Brunch Package - Stay 5/12 & 5/13 and Mom will receive a $30.00 Gift Certificate to Kathleen's Tea Room (48 hours notice required & we'll make the reservations for you).
April Contest Winner
Congratulations to Sara Sutherland, our April Contest winner! Sara won a FREE basket of Pretty Baby soaps and lotions from our Gift Shop for answering the following questions correctly in relation to the Blue Ridge Parkway:

The Blue Ridge Parkway meanders for hundreds of miles through several states. It starts and ends in two national parks and intersects Asheville at US25, 70, and 74.
  1. What two national parks provide the starting/ending points of the Parkway? Shenandoah National Park & the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  2. How long (in miles) is the Parkway? 469.1 miles
May Contest

Answer the following two questions correctly between May 1 - May 31 and you could win a Blake House Inn Gift Certificate for $50.00 which can be used on a future stay or in our Gift Shop. The Gift Certificate will be good for one (1) year from the issue date.

Questions:
  1. What mountain has the highest peak east of the Mississippi River?
  2. How tall is this peak (in feet)?
The state park named after the mountain in #1 is part of the Black Mountains, formed more than a billion years ago. Although the Black Mountain range is higher, its length and breadth do not equal the Blue Ridge or Great Smoky Mountains. The range is shaped like a 'J' and is only 15 miles from end to end. (This information was taken from this website.)

Submit your answers via email to blakehouseinn@charterinternet.com or use our Fast Form on the Contact Us Page. Be sure to include your name, address, and email address. The winner will be drawn on June 1st from all correct entries and the basket will be mailed to the winner.

GOOD LUCK!

Interesting Facts
  • Average temperature in Asheville during May is 63 degrees and the average amount of rainfall is 3.3 inches.
  • Parents and students face the daunting prospect of high costs and years of debt as they shop for colleges this spring. With that in mind, the Princeton Review has released its 2008 edition of AmericaÕs Best Value Colleges, selecting 165 institutions from its assessment of 650 colleges and universities, and offering two Top 10 Best Values lists, one for public colleges and one for private schools. UNC Asheville is ranked third in the nation among the Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges. It is the only North Carolina college or university to make the public list; no North Carolina colleges or universities were named to the list of Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges. This is the second year in a row UNC Asheville has been ranked among the Top 10 Best Public Colleges.
  • Asheville has recently been named Relocate America's number one spot to live in the country.
  • Spring and summer mean more outdoor time and more open windowsÑand more chances for people to come in contact with wildlife, including flying bats. In recent years, human cases of rabies in the United States are almost exclusively linked to bats, although only 3% of all bats tested in NC had rabies.

Archive

March Newsletter
April Newsletter