John “Punnyman” Le left the puns to the anchors and did a decent little story on a beautiful Madison County lotus garden during the Friday night news. Problem is, as usual, he left the news out.
Is it open to the public? When? How do I get there? There was some mention of a festival – when? C’mon, dude. What you do is called “info-tainment.” That means I need a little frickin’ “info” here.
Folks, this is why you need Ashvegas. We do the work so you (and Le) don’t have to.
Jack Jarvis turned his old tobacco farm near Hot Springs into a beautifully landscaped Japanese garden. He welcomes visitors, according to a couple of web sites I found (828-689-3859). His lotus festival is June 24 and 25, next Friday and Saturday.
Here’s a snippet from one of those sites:
There is a large collection of bonsai – one is over 500 years old. The lotus ponds are full of life! Koi swim near the bank and frogs rest on lotus leaves. Varieties of lotus bloom in profusion from mid June til August. Native and import plants grow in combination: Pogodas, statues, and a trickling spring of water fall contribute to a sense of peace and tranquility in the garden.
For the second time since its creation, Jack will celebrate the garden with the Lotus Festival. There will be guided tours by Jack himself. The Classic Thai Cuisine will be on hand to serve those who wish to have lunch at the festival.
Sounds awesome. Little gems like this lotus farm are what I love about Ashvegas and its surroundings.