ABS Learning Seminars
Tours
Tours are guided field trips through the gardens. Join the people who made the North Carolina Arboretum great and see what makes it such a special place.
Tour the Arboretum with the Director
Drake Fowler
Saturday 9am-10:30am
In the early 1900s, George Vanderbilt bought the land that would become the arboretum for the Biltmore estate. Forest restoration started under his care and continued after the land became part of Pisgah National Forest in 1917. The North Carolina Arboretum was founded in 1986 as part of the University of North Carolina System and now covers 325 acres in the Bent Creek watershed in Buncombe County. The Baker Center and Education Center opened in 1990, followed by the first garden, the Plants of Promise Garden, in 1991. Over the years, the arboretum has grown and thrived at this beautiful site, even through storms like hurricanes Opal and Helene. Today, the North Carolina Arboretum is recognized as a world-class facility and continues to expand its mission. You are invited to join Executive Director Drake Fowler for a tour to discover its rich history and important role in the Asheville community.
Tour the Bonsai Garden with the Curator
Arthur Joura
Friday 2pm-3pm
The Bonsai Exhibition Garden, opened in October 2005, is a highlight of the Arboretum and showcases up to 50 bonsai at once. Many of these are native Blue Ridge plants like American hornbeam, red maple, and eastern white pine, which help bind the ancient art of bonsai to Western North Carolina. Join Bonsai Curator Arthur Joura for a guided tour and learn about both the art of bonsai and the Arboretum’s unique approach. As Joura explains, the garden is meant to enhance the bonsai experience, and the trees look their best when displayed here. Arthur has led the bonsai program since it began in 1992. This is a special chance to see the collection through the eyes of someone who has dedicated over thirty years to it and to discover the connection between the collection and the Arboretum’s setting.
