HISTORY IN THE MAKING

2012

• Board of Directors begins its work, hiring a landscape architect firm, starting garden design work and continuing to raise money.
• Bridge Preservation and Enhancement Plan is created by the Board and presented to Town Council for approval and then to the NC State Department of Transportation (DOT).
• Volunteers plant first plants in the east gardens at the Lake Lure end, install split-rail fencing and dry creek bed for drainage, and prepare ground on each side of walkway for future planting.
• Garden design team of five volunteers begins working on planter themes and plant choices, making visits to other gardens and nurseries.
• Design for Bridge gardens is completed and local stonemason begins construction of Bridge planters.
• Historic 1920s lamp and post from original Lake Lure Elementary School are installed in the garden.
• Research is done to find the best organically made potting soil. It has to be rich, drain well and be affordable as five tractor trailer loads of soil will be needed to fill the planters.
• Fundraising: Founders Circle opportunity ends and Pathfinder Brick donation drive begins (donation of $200 for an engraved brick along west end pathway). First annual fundraising mailing is sent. The first plant sale takes place on the bridge.

2013

• Bridge planters are completed by local stonemasons.
• Volunteers waterproof the planters, install drainage system and add soil.
• Garden design team completes themes, makes plant selections and orders plants, which are installed in April.
• Further planting development takes place for the east end. Potting shed is installed at the west end. Soil is added and gardens are planted on each side of shed. Split-rail fence, bench, chairs and container garden are installed on old roadbed near potting shed to make entrance attractive.
• Irrigation is installed by volunteers: drip in planters on the Bridge and overhead rotating sprays in east end gardens.
• First bench is made by local craftsman and installed in east garden.
• Grand opening takes place on October 19
• Creative projects: pumpkin people, fairy gardens, holiday decorations.
• Low-voltage lighting system is installed in east garden and raised beds are added on the bridge.
• Fundraising: plant sale, annual donor drive and sale of pathfinder bricks. Two donation boxes are installed.

2014

• Further planting is done at east and west ends of the Bridge.
• First organized group tours with docents are held.
• First organized classes are offered.
• Tall lamps and planter baskets are installed on Bridge rails.
• Numbered plant identification tag system in planters on the Bridge is introduced. (Plant varieties have a number that corresponds to number on a list on a plaque in each garden).
• Bridge becomes recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by National Wildlife Federation.
• Creative projects: pumpkin people, fairy gardens, planted chairs, holiday decorations.
• Fundraising: plant sale, annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks.

2015

• Encroachment plan is created for old right-of-way on west end to develop new structures and gardens and approved by the Town of Lake Lure and Rutherford County.
• NCDOT approves creation of two arbors, one atrium, pathways and educational kiosk.
• Paving of west end path continues as funds allow.
• Bridge is certified as a Monarch Waystation by Monarch Watch.
• A Flowering Bridge mural is designed by local artists, painted by artists and gardeners and installed beside the potting shed.
• Creative projects: pumpkin people, fairy gardens, holiday decorations.
• Fundraising: annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks, last plant sale.

2016

• West end atrium is constructed and installed by volunteers and a wrought iron dome ordered from local craftsman. West end gardens are planted.
• Cell phone and sensory tour for visually impaired visitors is completed by volunteers.
• Lake Lure Lions Club donates and dedicates lion’s head fountain in honor of Helen Keller.
• West end path pavers continue to be installed as funds allow.
• Welcome Terrace structure, benches and paver patio are completed by local craftsmen, and garden is planted.
• Secret Garden is designed and planted.
• Plans for educational kiosk begin content, design and fundraising.
• Creative projects: pumpkin people, fairy gardens, painted doors, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”
• Fundraising: annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks, kiosk construction grants.

2017

• Arbor 1 is constructed and installed by local craftsman. Gardens are planted.
• Steps to riverside gardens and Broad River are constructed by local craftsman.
• Fundraising for kiosk: local organizations, Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) grant.
• Paver path to Boy’s Camp Road is completed.
• Mural created by Lake Lure artists and gardeners is dedicated as a mural on the Appalachian Mural Trail.
• Two new gardens in the west end are designed and planted: shade country and sun country, the latter with new bench, arbor and patio.
• Annual giving tree is designed and installed by local craftsman.
• Atrium chandelier is designed and installed by local craftsman.
• Creative projects: pumpkin people, scarecrows, fairy gardens, holiday decorations.
• Fundraising: annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks, Town of Lake Lure parks allotment, booth at Lake Lure Arts and Crafts Festival.

2018

• Fifth year anniversary celebration is held on the Bridge.
• Arbor 2 is constructed and installed by local craftsman. Gardens are planted.
• Kiosk design team is selected. Content and design are finalized.
• Kiosk is built by local craftsmen.
• Creative projects: pumpkin people, scarecrows, luminaries, fairy gardens, holiday decorations.
• Fundraising: annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks, Town of Lake Lure parks allotment, booth at Lake Lure Arts and Crafts Festival.

2019

• Kiosk panel signage is completed and installed.
• Removal of dead tree in the sun country garden creates Petunia’s Hideout, a stump for the bear to live in which includes a living roof.
• Kiosk is dedicated in April.
• Creative projects: “The Language of Flowers” books/painted bricks, “Windows to Somewhere Beautiful,” pumpkin people, scarecrows, holiday decorations.
• Fundraising: annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks, periodic craft sales.

2020

• Covid pandemic closes the Bridge from March to May. Gardeners are able to work in groups of three.
• Spending is restricted due to fewer donations.
• Record numbers of visitors, likely due to more families traveling locally. Signs let guests know that face coverings were required to visit the Bridge.
• Creation of River’s Edge Dog Garden is made possible by a local family donation.
• Creative projects: “Bunnies on the Bridge,” “Here Comes the Sun” fundraiser installation (suns painted by Lake Lure artists were auctioned online in October), pumpkin pets, “Happy Holidays from our Gnome to Yours.”
• Fundraising: annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks, periodic craft sales, fall online auction.

2021

• Cottage garden beside potting shed is redesigned as Peter Rabbit Children’s Garden. Plants chosen are from Beatrix Potter’s early 1900s garden. Features include rabbits from Peter’s family, a large Peter Rabbit mural, activities for children and Mr. McGregor’s Potting Shed mural.
• New mural in white garden is designed and painted by local artist with a blue background and white flowers
• Construction and installation of a chimney swift tower is made possible by a NC family donation.
• Pollinator Garden is reconfigured using an English garden design. Plants are returned; a new path is designed and installed; a patio, pergola and Adirondack chairs with a trellis backdrop are added.
• Creative projects: “Sleds in Beds,” “Bunnies on the Bridge,” fairy gardens, “Loaded for Bear” (Lake Lure artists handcrafted wooden bears are displayed and later auctioned online in October), pumpkin pets, holiday-themed displays.
• Fundraising: “Say It with a Brick” discounted brick promotion February – March, annual donor mailing, sale of pathfinder bricks, online art auction.