The apple blossoms throughout Henderson County are in full bloom. The apple trees produce gorgeous delicate spring blossoms waiting on bees for pollination to produce some of the best apples in Western North Carolina.
The apple blossom varies in color according to the type of apple tree and is best recognized as white or pink.
The blooming season is a critical time to determine the size of the fall apple harvest. A driving tour of apple orchards is the perfect way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon.
Enjoy a self-guided driving tour in and around Henderson County’s apple country view the orchards in bloom. After the blossoms disappear it takes from 100 to 200 days to reach harvest depending upon the variety. The Henderson County apple harvest season runs from late-August through mid-October. Three self-guided driving tours are available of the apple country, ranging from 7.5 to 25 miles’ long.
North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state in the nation and Henderson County is the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina and grows 85 percent of the apples in the state. Henderson County is home to approximately 106 apple growers with an estimate of 1 million producing trees. According to Henderson County Extension Service and Agribusiness Henderson County statistics, there are about 4,000 acres of apple trees planted in Henderson County.
Peaking right behind the apple trees are the flowering dogwood trees, state flower of North Carolina. The popular dogwood tree is native to eastern parts of North America. There are several varieties of the dogwood tree, some varieties are pink in color but most found primarily in the wild are white.
The Dogwood Trail, self-guided driving tour is 23 miles of beautiful spring blossoms, historic sites and lovely neighborhoods. The optimum time of year to view the dogwood trees is mid-April.
Both tour maps are available at the Visitors Center, located at 201 South Main Street in Hendersonville or online at visithendersonvillenc.org.