2021/9/27 - ASHEVILLE GARDENS
SPIDER FREE THEATRICAL RELEASE

This is the Spider Free Theatrical Release for this album, meaning I have included only the highest quality photos and cut the arachnids. I have trouble culling down even this far - because I get emotionally attached to the memories - but I do it all for you, the viewers. If this isn't quite enough photos for you, visit the longer Extended Edition at ASHEVILLE GARDENS - DIRECTOR'S CUT EXTENDED EDITION.

In September/October of 2021 I took a trip to Asheville, NC and walked my poor feet as much as they could take up and down the Appalachian mountains. Having spent the first day hiking a half marathon with significant elevation, I decided to "take the day off" by walking the same distance in relatively flatter botanical gardens instead. I started in the early morning at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, which was very quiet due to it being late September, cold, and overcast. This is something which doesn't bother me, because I get to hunt around for sleepy bees who have yet to awaken from their slumber on their goldenrod, still covered in dew.As the sun rose and the air warmed, more and more insects began to wake up and search for food.

I then drove to the impressively large North Carolina Arboretum and walked just a portion of their 434 acres. Although the "point" of gardens is the plants, I am incredibly enthused to find and photograph the highest quantity and variety of insects and animals - and these gardens did not disappoint. They also have quite a few beautiful, shady trails where I found quite a few beautiful, shady mushrooms. Even in the mountains in autumn, there were plenty of plants still flowering and bugs attending to them.