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Still Some Good Fall Color at Lower Elevations
A Foggy Morning in Jonathan Valley, as seen from Utah Mountain
There is still some fall color left at lower elevations. It gets to totally brown as you go to higher elevations, and mostly gone on the highest mountains. The weather has been extremely dry and warm. In my 42 years here, this is the warmest October I can remember. Highs this week are in the 70’s for most of the week, trailing off to the 60’s by this weekend. At least that’s what the weatherman says. Next week is cooler with highs mostly in the 60’s. That is very warm for the second week in November. If this trend continues, I won’t need to have a fire in the fireplace for Thanksgiving. We may have to cook the turkey on the grill and eat out on the deck!
My father, who was born in Grayson County Virginia, remembered taking a horse-drawn wagon across New River on the ice, and later taking both Model T and Model A fords across the river when it was frozen solid. I have only seen the New frozen solid once in my lifetime. I think I was about 14 years old, and there had been lots of snow that winter. In fact in High Point, NC, where I was raised, it snowed every Wednesday in March. We had 2 or 3 feet of snow on the ground through most of March, well into April. We were out of school for so long the state legislature shortened the school year so we wouldn’t have to attend class most of the summer.
Global warming? Short-term weather pattern fluctuations? You be the judge.
Come on up to the mountains, but maybe bring your Bermuda shorts.
Fall Color Report Mid-October
The above photo is from the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooking Graveyard Fields and Yellowstone Prong taken earlier this week. This is close to 5000 ft. elevation. The colors are starting to change, but even at this altitude fall color is still not at its peak. Down in Maggie Valley at about 3000 ft. elevation, the maples, birches, cherries, and a few other trees are starting to turn, but we still have a long way to go before full-color season. I think the peak season at 3000-4000 ft. elevation will be in a couple of weeks. That would make the peak here in Maggie Valley the last week in October. Hurricane Matthew gave us a little bit of much needed rain (about 1 inch at my home), but thankfully, we didn’t get much wind. The color at 5000 ft. to 6000 ft. should be peaking from this weekend until next weekend. That would be a great time to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. Remember too, the further north you travel on the Parkway, the earlier the color season. Boone usually peaks about 7 to 10 days before we do. The National Park Service has done a great job of opening up the views on many of the Parkway overlooks. There should be many places to pull off the road and take photos, or take a blanket and a picnic to enjoy the cooler Fall air. If you’re on the Parkway, look out for those motorcycles and bicycles! Remember, the Parkway is not an interstate. Take your time and enjoy the ride.
Fall Color Update, and Local October Events
According to exploreasheville.com, Fall color has begun at 5000 ft. and above. We have had some cooler temps this week (in the 40’s the last two mornings) which should help bring out the colors. Poplar, birch, and magnolia are starting to turn at the higher elevations, with sourwood and maples following close behind. I believe we are still at least 2 to 3 weeks away from peak color here in Maggie Valley. Craggy Gardens, north of Asheville on the Parkway is showing some color with the Mountain Ashe which is loaded with red berries right now. Sometimes you will see the Mountain Ash trees with broken limbs where the black bears have climbed into the tree to consume the berries. (There was a nice-sized bear in my front yard a few weeks ago eating wild cherries that had fallen on the ground.)
For a nice road trip tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 1st) head south of Waynesville on Hwy 276 toward Brevard. In the Pisgah National Forest you will pass the Cradle of Forestry. Fall Festival Day is tomorrow. Exhibitors, craftsmen, and forestry students usually have a really nice Fall Festival. There is a small admission charge.
In Waynesville, Friday, October 7th is Art After Dark until 9 PM. Several art studios and galleries will be open that evening showcasing local arts and offering refreshments to visitors. There is usually street music also. If you haven’t been, it’s a really nice evening. Saturday, October 8th is the 33rd Annual Church Street Art & Craft Show. (Don’t be fooled by the title; it’s actually held on Main Street in Waynesville.) The following weekend, Saturday, October 15th is the Apple Harvest Festival in Waynesville. This is always a well-attended event in Downtown Waynesville.
Here in Maggie Valley, tomorrow, Saturday, October 1st is the 43rd Annual Fall Regional Shelby/ Mustang & Ford Meet. All you “Blue Oval” fans will not want to miss that. On October 15th and 16th is the Maggie Valley Arts and Crafts Show at the Festival Grounds. This show usually has lots of unique exhibitors.
Fall Color Season is Coming!
It is now the middle of September, and already a few trees are turning at the highest elevations. Peak color at our elevation here in Maggie Valley usually occurs about the third week of October. However, fall color is dependent on elevation. The peaks at 6000 feet and above will start to turn toward the end of September. The color season then meanders down the mountains to the valleys. Even Asheville, although it is only 850 feet lower in elevation than Maggie Valley, the peak color will usually occur about one week after our peak here in Maggie Valley.
WLOS-TV in Asheville quotes Beverly Collins, the new fall foliage forecaster for Western Carolina University, as saying “If our warmer-than-normal weather continues into fall, the colors will be later, more subdued and spottier.” She went on to say however that if the drier than normal weather pattern persisted, and fall weather brings cooler days and colder nights, the drier than normal pattern could produce bright fall colors. Some long-range forecasters are predicting a cold snap around the middle of October. That would be very good for producing colorful leaves.
So there you have it. The colors may be more subdued, or they may be more brilliant than normal. So the expert opinion is maybe yes, maybe no. There is only one way to be absolutely sure of the colors— come on up and see them for yourselves!
The Great Medical Facilities in WNC- Part 2
The above is a photo of the Owen Heart Center at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. This state-of-the-art 5 story building is actually heart-shaped. How cool is that? On my last blog post my wife was scheduled to have coronary bypass surgery on the 10th of August. I am pleased to report the surgery went well. She was in intensive care for 4 days, and in progressive care for 3 days. She has now been home for 2 weeks. I cannot say enough about the excellent care she was given while in the heart center. Her surgeon, Dr. Ely of Asheville Heart, was excellent. Her care, both in ICU and in progressive care was top-notch. I have never been so impressed with a hospital and the staff caring for Barbara. She is now in post-op care. In post-op care she goes back for blood work and visits to determine exactly what drugs, and what dosage is best for her. In 9 days she will begin heart rehabilitation at Haywood Regional Fitness and Rehab Center here in Waynesville. This program consists of 3 months of exercise and rehab specifically designed for recovering coronary bypass patients.
In my last post I reported that Owen Heart Center was in the top 100 in the country. It is actually in the top 50! We are so fortunate to have such wonderful facilities here in our beautiful mountains. Many of our clients and friends are retirees. Naturally they are concerned with health care availability in our area. I can say without a doubt that state-of-the-art health care is alive and well in Western North Carolina.
The Great Medical Facilities in WNC
The photos above are (L to R) The Haywood Regional Medical Center (A Duke LifePoint Hospital) in Waynesville and Memorial Mission Hospital complex in Asheville. I am extremely proud and thankful that we have such great facilities in our area.
A little over 5 years ago I was diagnosed with a rare cancer in my upper sinus cavity above and behind my eye. My doctor here send me to a ear, nose and throat doctor in Waynesville who diagnosed the cancer and arranged for surgery at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem. After the surgery I was directed to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville for chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I found the doctors there to be excellent. I had a Chemo Oncologist and a Radiation Oncologist who were both thorough, caring, and helpful. After 5 plus years, I am still diagnosed as cancer free. I feel as if I owe the last 5 years, and any years I may have left, to my wonderful doctors.
Next week my wife must go for coronary artery bypass surgery at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. Her surgery will be done in the Owen Heart Center by the Asheville Heart team of world-class cardiothoracic surgeons. This state-of-the-art, award-winning facility is ranked as the only Top 100 Heart Hospital in the Carolinas. The Owen Heart Center Tower has 60 private rooms for heart patients, a 16 bed cardiac intensive care unit, 6 cardiothoracic operating rooms, a 40 bed cardiovascular progressive care unit, 20 bed cardiovascular intensive care unit, an amphitheater for physicians, staff and community education programs, family conference rooms and a chapel.
The surgeons at Asheville Heart do approximately 1000 surgeries a year, around 20 per week. They are rated in the top 2% of thoracic surgeons for positive patient outcomes. My wife is understandably nervous about the surgery, as am I. I do, however, have total confidence that she will be in the excellent hands of her surgeon, and the highly trained staff in the heart center.
Many clients moving here from Florida and other states are retirees with health issues. I am often asked about medical facilities in our area. I confidently answer, “They are great!” (More about her surgery next month.)
Danny
So You Want to Make an Offer on a Home, What’s Next?
Your Realtor has shown you several homes you like, but you fell in love with one of them. It’s time to make an offer; how much should you offer? The most important factor in making an offer is knowing the market. How are homes selling in this neighborhood? What was the selling price of comparable recently sold homes in the neighborhood? How long has this home been on the market? The answers to all these questions help determine an offer price. Your Realtor should be able to answer all these questions and assist you in a successful negotiation. One important thing to remember in a negotiation, is do not start with an unreasonably low price. This practice often serves to alienate sellers and make the negotiation more difficult, if not impossible.
Okay, we have negotiated a price. You are spending a little more that you would have liked and the sellers are getting a little less than they would have wanted. This is a successful negotiation, both sides compromised a bit. When the offer has been signed by the sellers, and the buyers or buyers’ agent has been notified of the sellers’ signing, we have a contract. In North Carolina most contracts have a Due Diligence Period. This is a period of time for the buyers to do all necessary inspections, and to secure final approvals if they are financing. The period usually runs from 10 to 45 days. (30 to 45 days normally for banks to get paperwork and appraisals completed if the buyers are financing). During the Due Diligence Period the buyers can cancel the contract for any reason. After home inspections, if repairs are indicated, repairs are negotiated between buyers and sellers. After the Due Diligence Period, comes settlement. The settlement date is determined in the original offer. Settlement is when the money changes hands. The bank (if a finance deal) sends a wire transfer to the closing attorney. (In NC, all real estate closings must be done by an attorney.) If the contract calls for a cash deal, the buyers would have their bank wire transfer the funds to the closing attorney. After Settlement is Closing. Often these are both on the same day. Sometimes closing is the day after settlement. Closing in NC is when the attorney takes the new deed to the county courthouse and records the property under the name(s) of the buyer(s).
The above represents the buying process in a condensed form. If you have any questions, please let us know. We will find the answers for you. Come see us in the mountains!
Waynesville Has Some Great Craft Beer Taverns and Breweries
Most of us who occasionally enjoy a craft beer know that Asheville, NC was voted Beer City USA in 2009, and has swept the competition in most years since. Over 100 local beers can be enjoyed in Asheville, with more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city. We now have some great beer venues in Waynesville for those who don’t want to drive 30 miles to Asheville for their craft beer.
The Tipping Point Brewery and Tavern
Located at 190 N. Main St. in Waynesville (828-246-9230)
You might try their “Punch in the Face” IPA
Boojum Brewing Company
50 N. Main St. in Waynesville (828-246-0350)
Try their Chocolate Milk Stout, Blueberry Coffee Porter, or Double IPA
They also offer tours and tastings in their brewery at 357 Dayton Dr. by appointment. (828-944-0888)
Frog Level Brewing Company
56 Commerce St. in Waynesville (828-454-5664)
Try different craft beers from their IPA to a smooth Scotch Ale. They don’t serve food, but you are welcome to bring your own.
Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop and Beer Garden
(Named after “Mad Anthony” Wayne, the revolutionary war general for whom Waynesville was named.)
124 Branner Ave. in Waynesville (828-246-9249)
40 Craft brews and Cider on Tap plus music and entertainment.
The bottom line is: ENJOY !! Life is short at best. Drop in and see us when you get here.
Come Join Us for 4th of July Fireworks on Monday!
On Monday July 4th we will be have a spectacular Fireworks Show at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds almost across the street from our office. (The Festival Grounds are located at 3374 Soco Road.) The show will begin at dark and admission is free. You can bring a cooler, but no alcoholic beverages are permitted. (Coolers will be checked.)
There will also be a Fireworks Show at Lake Junaluska. The Lake Junaluska Assembly stages a Fireworks Show each 4th of July, also at dark, and admission is free there also. Probably the best place for this show is to sit near the cross across from the Lambuth Inn. Get there early though, as this spot fills up quickly.
I hope everyone has a great 4th of July. Enjoy the fireworks, the cookouts, and your loved ones.
Nature’s Air Conditioning
For the last 2 weeks we’ve had unusually warm temperatures here in the mountains. This past Sunday it was 88 degrees in Waynesville, and 93 degrees in Asheville. Those are record-breaking temperatures for our area. On Sunday afternoon, Barbara and I put Dakota (our 75 pound Golden Doodle baby) into the car and hit the Blue Ridge Parkway. We headed north of Asheville on the Parkway to Craggy Gardens. The views were outstanding, with a few puffy clouds in the distance. The temperature at Craggy Gardens was 72 degrees with a cool breeze blowing. The Mountain Laurel and the Rhododendron were both in bloom, putting on quiet a show for all us tourists. We even saw a motorcycle with a small side-car for a puppy. The puppy was wearing a pair of red goggles and a small red motorcycle helmet. After leaving Craggy Gardens we drove a short distance north to the entrance of Mt. Mitchell State Park. The views driving up the road to the parking lot at the top were absolutely gorgeous. At the parking lot (photo above) there is a concession building, and a small museum telling about the area. The thermometer at the museum read 64 degrees. There are many trails in the park, including the trail to the observation tower at the summit. The grave of Elisha Mitchell, for whom the mountain is named, is also at the summit. His body was found at the base of a waterfall not far off the mountain. He was heading back down to the Toe River Valley after one of his many trips to the mountain. He had an on-going disagreement with Thomas Clingman over the bragging rights as to which mountain was taller- Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains, or Black Dome in the Black Mountains (later renamed for Mitchell). Elisha Mitchell died before knowing that he had won that argument. Mt. Mitchell is actually 6683 ft. above sea level, while Clingmans Dome is only 6644 ft. above sea level. Mt. Mitchell is the highest mountain in the United States east of the Mississippi River.
To my original point- yes, we have some hot days here in the mountains occasionally. However, we have the option of getting on the Blue Ridge Parkway, or other roads, and going to higher elevations to enjoy nature’s air conditioning. If you live in Florida, you don’t really have that option on a hot afternoon. Let us know if you would like to join us. We’ll keep the open sign on for you.
