Rhododendron in bloom usually in April/May
March 20th marked the first day of Spring and it is certainly showing here at the Wildberry! The birds are singing more, the goats are being more playful and the butterflies are finally starting to arrive. Don’t get me wrong, the inside of the lodge is absolutely marvelous but the epic beauty of the property can be summed in three words- folk mountain paradise.
Cone Flowers (Echinacea) bloom all summer long
The beautiful Echinacea and Rhododendron greet you upon arrival and sometimes you even get a friendly pooch to accompany you to the front door. The back of the property showcases stunning views of the Smoky Mountains while the side is hugged by woodlands of birch, pine and tulip poplars. Within these woodlands you have access to a hiking trail and a cozy fire pit with two tier decking and lounging chairs. I love being up there because it seems to serve as a little getaway where I can relax in nature and just breath in peace and quiet. Upon spending some time in the woods we realized we have an impressive variety of plant life which we plan to begin marking this year, such as the very rare Wild Hydrangea.
Spring flowers and an old fashioned water pump
A stone’s throw from the front porch is a wildberry favourite, the outdoor Jacuzzi! For your convenience we keep it close to the lodge but far enough away to give you some privacy. Our outdoor Jacuzzi is like its own little spa. A place to bring your wine and de-stress underneath a star light sky.
A delightful development I am excited to share with you is the upcoming addition of an aesthetic and edible garden! I am beyond thrilled about this for several reasons. Firstly, more flowers means more beauty and you can never go wrong with that. Secondly, with the addition of an edible garden you will be able to have a more hands on experience as you walk through the garden. As an herbalist I would love to share with you some fun stories and simple remedies that these plants can offer. And of course we plan on using many of the garden varieties in the delicious breakfasts made for you, with love.
Spring view – things are beginning to “green up”
And with this I leave you with one of my favourite quotes by Khalil Gibran.
“Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.”
Written by Kate Randall
