I have registered to attend the Asheville Orchid Festival/AOS Spring Meeting April 14-17. This will be the first AOS sanctioned exhibit in over 30 years. I figured it was time to visit with "real" orchid growers/experts. The show coincides with my wife's 66 BD, so this will make it a special time for both of us. The Asheville area should be gorgeous by mid-April and the weather mild.

One of my son's lives in Asheville, it is a wonderful town. If you really want to splurge for Kathy's birthday stay at the Biltmore.

There is the Biltmore and then there is the Grove Park Inn, just as pricey. The orchid show is at a brand new Hilton that opens mid-December and at the NC Arboretum. The room rate/package includes shuttles back and forth to the Arboretum as well as free garage parking. The price isn't cheap but certainly not on the level of those uber-expensive hotels. Believe me, Alice, this is splurge enough considering the expense of driving or flying.

I would see how long the hanging plants get to stay in the sunroom before I made a reservation

Hey, I might not purchase a single plant at the show.

Nothing is cheap in Asheville but both the Grove Park and the Biltmore are to be thought of as experiences. We've never stayed at the GP but have eaten dinner there which was wonderful. We celebrated a big anniversary a number of years ago at the Biltmore and the ambiance and the food was worth it - once. We had a ground level terrace room that looked out over a grassy field and a wedding was being held there. The bride, who was of Indian descent, wore a flowing, brilliant red sari embellished with many, many diamonds. She actually had body guards surrounding her trying to be discreet. I don't know who she was but she must have been the daughter of someone very important.

The arboretum is beautiful and there is a smaller botanical garden closer to downtown that has mostly native plants.

and if the tulips and daffodils are blooming...they plant millions of them...stunning!

We have been to Asheville several times and have eaten at the Grove Park Inn. That may have been the most expensive meal my wife and I have ever had. Of course, add in couple glasses of fine Champagne and a bottle (or was it two) of good wine..........well, it gets pricey fast. We have eaten at the Biltmore, but not in their fine-dining restaurant. We'll try to get in this time around.

You have to pay the full gate admission ($50 each) at the Biltmore to get in the grounds, even just to eat dinner.

OK. We took a four hour tour of the grounds/old house and had a 12 hr. pass with that tour price. I don't know what the pricing structure is now since this was about 5 years ago.

The greenhouse is usually full of gorgeous plants. I wish I didn't have to pay $50 just to get in the gates to see it.

We spent some time in the greenhouses the last time we were up there. It was part of that "tour" package that we purchased. I think between the AOS exhibits and the NC Arboretum, I'll see plenty of tropical plants, Alice.

Seriously? Can you ever see too many?????

I only have so many hours in a day, Alice. This trip is an "orchid-adventure". I have already seen their greenhouses/plants and I doubt they'll be that much new stuff to see. Besides, I see plenty of tropical plants on a daily basis right outside my doors.