HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Covid 19 Pandemic:

• Closed the Bridge from March to May; gardeners able to work in groups of 3
• Restricted spending based on insecurity of visitors and donations
• Posted 8 signs saying “Facecoverings Required to Visit the Bridge”
• Saw record number of visitors, likely due to families traveling locally

New Garden Project:

• Cleaned up Riverside Garden hill
• Created the River’s Edge Dog Garden (donated by local family)

Creative Projects:

• Bunnies on the Bridge (removed early due to closing Bridge)
• Here Comes the Sun (suns painted by Lake Lure artists and auctioned in October; yellow decorations throughout gardens
• Pumpkin Pets
• Holiday Theme: Happy Holidays from our Gnome to Yours

Fundraising:

• Annual donor drive
• Pathfinder Bricks
• Donation Boxes
• Here Comes the Sun auction

Projects completed:

• Redesigned the Cottage Garden by potting shed to Peter Rabbit’s Children’s Garden. Planted plants consistent with early 1900’s from Beatrix Potter’s Garden; created activities for children; used rabbits of Peter’s family; created Mr. McGregor’s Potting Shed mural (painted by Amy Wald).
• Designed and created new mural with blue background and white flowers for the White Garden (designed and painted by Amy Wald).
• Constructed/installed Chimney Swift Tower (donated by NC family).
• Redesigned and built new Pollinator Garden. Used English garden design, replanted plants; built new path patio and pergola; installed adirondak
  chairs with trellis backdrop.

Creative Projects:

• Bunnies on the Bridge
• Fairy Gardens
• Loaded for Bear (bears painted by Lake Lure artists and auctioned in October)
• Pumpkin Pets
• Holiday Themed Displays; sleds in beds

Fundraising:

• Pathfinder Bricks: Say it With a Brick (Feb-March discounted by 20%)
• Annual Donor Drive
• Donation Boxes
• Loaded For Bear online art auction

Created an Education Center Task Force to design, plan and install an onsite-education center:

• Initial meetings focused on working through exercises to help create the framework for the center.
• Researched many building types; firmed up the size of 24 ft x 36 ft with 14 ft x 36’ covered front porch.
• Hired engineer Kim Warner to create plans for center.
• Worked with State DOT and State Parks to try to secure the land across Boys Camp Road for visitor parking.
• Worked with the Town of Lake Lure on permits, council updates, and to create a lease agreement between the Town for use of Town land by the Bridge.

Projects completed:

• Built and installed Rainbow Bridge (Amy Wald) across the culvert by the River’s Edge Dog Garden. Installed signage with Rainbow Bridge Poem and description of our Rainbow Bridge. This was instantly popular with visitors and featured in many media publications. Multiple dog tags/collars have been hung on the Rainbow Bridge in memory of beloved pets who have passed.
• Installed paver patio in River’s Edge Dog Garden.
• Installed trellis build by volunteers and class participants (class taught by Amy Wald).
• Installed patio walkway in east end near the butterfly mural.
• Installed new trellis over the bench dedicated to Charlene Efird.

Conducted group Ambassador Training (history, organization, garden walks) for anyone involved in the bridge. Many volunteers have been trained to be garden guides.

Education/Tours:

• Conducted onsite classes, outside, April – October and well attended by public and volunteers.
• Conducted small and large group tours led by volunteers.
• For Visual and Hearing Impaired week, visitors came from all over with guides and our volunteers were in the gardens walking through with the
  groups.
• Partnered with Polk County YMCA and hosted approximately 130 campers who participated in guided walks, learning about plants, creating
  a take-home art project and going on a scavenger hunt.
• Conducted special educational events for Earth Day (April) and Pollinator Week (June)

Garden Co-Chairs (Kathy Tanner, Debbie Clark) conducted garden walks with each garden area chair to brainstorm plans for each space; notes typed and distributed to chairs for implementation.

Creative Projects:

• Tip Toe Through the Tulips
• A Tisket a Tasket A Bridge Full of Baskets
• Fanciful Fairy Gardens (using repurposed containers)
• Pumpkin People
• Holiday-themed vignettes

Fundraising:

• Pathfinder Bricks: Say it With a Brick (Feb-March discounted by 20%)
• Annual Donor Drive
• Donation Boxes; added new one to Rainbow Bridge area
• Another Bear Affair online art auction

10 th Year Anniversary Celebration

• Not Your Typical Garden Party – 160 tickets; silent auction; catered buffetmeal, desserts, open bar; live music; Riverside Event Center; all proceeds
  toward the Education Center
• Created a 10-year Time Capsule

Education Center:

• Fundraising and planning continued

Projects Completed:

• Created the A. P. Whipple Azalea Garden featuring 30 native azaleas

Education/Tours:

• Conducted special educational events for Earth Day (April) and Pollinator Week (June)
• Conducted six onsite classes that were well attended by public and volunteers.
• Conducted small and large group tours led by volunteers.

Creative Projects:

• Pretty Pansy Pots
• Daffy Ducks
• Bridge Full of Butterflies and Baskets
• Fairy Gardens
• Pumpkin People
• Holidays in the Garden “A Storybook Christmas”

Fundraising:

• Pathfinder Bricks
• Annual Donor Drive
• Donation Boxes
• Dogwood art online art auction (October)
• Two plant sales

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene forever changed the landscape of our beautiful gardens. The store wreaked unprecedented devastation throughout the Hickory Nut Gorge in Western North Carolina, extensively damaging the towns of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. More information included below.

Education Center:

• Task Force turned project over to Construction Committee
• K Enterprises, a local Lake Lure contractor, was selected to build the new facility
• All permitting was completed to begin building
• A Groundbreaking Ceremony conducted on June 6

Projects Completed:

• Constructed new volunteer parking area
• Expanded the potting shed/potting area
• Relocated Chimney Swift Tower to native azalea garden
• Restructured many irrigation zones

Creative Projects:

• Birds of a Feather
• Secret Fairy Trails
• Pumpkin Pirate Adventures and Christmas Around the World were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene

Education/Tours:

• Conducted special educational events for Earth Day (April) and Pollinator Week (June)
• Conducted four onsite classes that were well attended by the public and volunteers. Three classes were cancelled due to Hurricane Helene.
•  Conducted small and large group tours led by volunteers.

Fundraising:

• Pathfinder Bricks
• Annual Donor Drive
• Donation Boxes
• Plant Sale during Pollinator Week Celebration
• Rainbow Bridge personalized certificate commemorating placement of a collar or tag on the RB

Aftermath of Hurricane Helene (September 27):

• The Flowering Bridge sustained much damage with most of our 30 themed gardens being washed away or buried under massive amounts of
  sand and debris
• The old bridge, which connected the west and east gardens, sustained much structural damage leaving no structure connecting the bridge to the
  land on the other side where many of our gardens were. The old bridge was deemed unsafe by Thrasher Engineering for pedestrian use and
  closed immediately.
• Developed Talking Points for consistent messaging and to “control our narrative” in response to much media attention:
  • Emphasize that we are in a recovery phase with no timeline for  rebuilding due to many unknowns
  • Emphasize that the Rainbow Bridge was just one feature of the Flowering Bridge and that we lost much more. This was in response to so much media interest in the loss of the RB and collars.
  • Use of social media platforms (Facebook & Instagram) for up-to-date communications. Followers on both platforms substantially
    increased following the storm.
  • Emphasize that we are a viable and strong organization, and we do intend to come back
• Some plants were recovered, dug up, and relocated to the home of volunteer Debbie Clark.
• The Education Center withstood the storm but sustained flooding damage which was corrected by K Enterprises.
• The Kiosk and Atrium (west side) withstood the storm.
• The Guardrail Gardens (east side) have most of its azaleas, hydrangeas, grasses, and special red bud trees. The weeping bald cypress trees, the
  Franklin tree and the Jane magnolia appeared in good shape after the storm.
• Suspended volunteer recruitment efforts, pathfinder brick sales, tours, classes
• Suspended active fundraising efforts; however, many donations were received organically following the storm. Several fundraising “scams” were identified and immediately communicated on our social media.
• Created Recovery Team to work with Board of Directors, Lake Lure town leaders and others to provide oversight and leadership through the
  recovery process.
• Nonprofit Spokes of Hope volunteers were instrumental in sand and debris removal, power washing walkways, and mulching.
• Small garden areas on both west and east ends were planted with spring flowering bulbs, and pansies and ornamental kale for winter

At the beginning of the year, we remained in a recovery mode with still many unknowns that impact redesigning and rebuilding efforts. Media attention has significantly decreased, and we use social media as our main communication method.

We selected a garden theme for 2025: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”

We continue to emphasize that we are a viable and strong organization.