Start making plans now, for the AHS National Convention...
in Asheville, NC!  June 25-28th, 2014... will be here before ya know it!

Thanks to the good folks in the Western NC Daylily Club (as well as many more throughout the Carolinas), we'll ALL be enjoying the opportunity to have our annual extravaganza in one of this country's most beautiful locations! 

Nestled in a broad valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains created by the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, Asheville has become a magnet to people of the creative mindset.  Proximal to more public land than any other US city, the scenery just can't be beat!  Arts of all types flourish here in the "Land of the Sky," and so do daylilies!

Being among the highest peaks of the East and enjoying a wonderful temperate climate, the city has become the "best" on many lists... to retire, see folk art, taste micro-brewed beer, hear heritage music, eat famous southern BBQ, and of course... garden!  It's not easy to find good deals on hotels during peak summer season in such a hugely popular town... but where there's a will, there's a way!  Our organizers have secured an entire 83-acre resort with a brand new convention facility (and just a stone's throw from downtown), exclusively for us!  With its own golf course, zip line, spa, indoor salt water pool/tennis courts, and award-winning chef... feel free to come early or stay late, at the same low rate!

Asheville sports an amazing jewel... "the largest private home in America" that you've likely heard about: The Biltmore House.  A fantastic estate (to say the least) built by the Vanderbilt family during the Gilded Age.  For those who've not had the opportunity to see it, here it is!  Our auxiliary bus tour of the entire estate on June 26th is "all inclusive", and at a very fair price!   

Naturally, we've some WONDERFUL gardens here as well!  The planning committee has designed two days of bus tours to allow enough time to truly enjoy the 6 gardens that have been painstakingly prepared for your lily-lovin' pleasures, as well as the company of friends from all over the world that we see only once a year.  The best of both worlds, for sure!

Our "Up the Mountain" tour will take you just north of Asheville to visit two fantastic neighborhood gardens, and in just one stop!  Already the subjects of discerning garden tours in the past, Faerhill (a uniquely roomed "artist's garden", owned by John Cole)...

... and Laughing Crow Gardens (an official "Wildlife Habitat" in a mystical woodland setting, owned by Sue Vrooman) are just a short walk from each other...

Each is quite private and distinctive!  You're sure to find them quite pleasing, and coming home with some great ideas!  From there it's just a short ride to the incredible garden of Bob Selman, owner of "Blue Ridge Daylilies."  Many of you likely know Bob, as he's been providing daylilies to lovers of "dinner plate daylilies" for decades!  His gardens are phenomenally stunning...

 Bob has been very hard at work adding spectacular new full-range gardens that now surround his thousands of massive daylilies, and he's quite excited to show them to you all!  Bob's own introductions are to die for too, so be sure to check 'em out at www.blueridgedaylilies.com!  He also carries the full works of Dale Hensley (who's been hybridizing daylilies for decades as well), and can be seen on Bob's website as well!

The "Down the Mountain" tour will provide some fantastic mountain scenery on your way to three very unique locations!  Paul Cranford has a beautiful garden and daylily collection which will surely have everyone inspired...

... and Kim & Mickey Webb's "Bear W Daylily Garden" will have you wanting to move here! 

The Webb's garden has fantastic Southern character and charm... a true taste of Southern heritage!  Check it out in advance, at http://www.bearwdaylilyfarm.com!  The third garden on this tour is this author's "Slightly Different Nursery".  Enough travelin' from sea to shining sea (and beyond) to show pictures of what's been goin' on here... it's time for you to SEE IT, before it kills me off!

Over 30K daylilies (and mega perennial companions) in a setting that you simply MUST see to believe!  You can get an idea of the lay of the land (and much more) at http://www.slightlydifferentnursery.com.

One thing is for sure... with such an awesome location, venue, and gardens, we will be hitting our maximum in registrations of 600 rather quickly.  Don't dally, use the registration form enclosed in the bag of this issue ASAP... or you'll be missing out on a FABULOUS AHS Nat'l, in the Land of the Sky—Asheville, 2014!