I love Hot Springs because

Some people refer to Hot Springs, NC as the banana belt of Western North Carolina. While this is a "figure of speech," and we do not indeed grow bananas here, we are nestled into a protected valley which allows for hotter summers and more temperate winters than the surrounding areas. Many people seem to expect Hot Springs to be a colder place than nearby towns and cities. Perhaps this is due to the windy mountain roads that bring you here, but our elevation is low, and the weather is warm. For example, one year it was so warm on Christmas that Jenna and I decided to do some post-stocking canoeing. Luckily we wore life jackets because the river was up and just past the "Sand Bar" we wiped the F out. We saw some waves ahead of us whose crests were about at eye level, and I knew that our little patched up lake canoe would not stay upright. No way no how. The French Broad flows north from Asheville through Marsall and then Hot Springs to Newport. That friggin water from Asheville was very very cold, and when we wiped out, the temperature of the forceful water knocked the breath right out of us. We had to swim that long rapid until the water was still again and we could get to shore. We heaved ourselves out of the water at the base of a cliff and found a deer skull with antlers. After climbing the cliff up to the road, we walked home in soaking clothes and life jackets. The canoe was lost, but later found, and that's another story. I meant to tell you that it can be pretty warm around here even in the winter.
Like yesterday, I was at work at the Mountain Magnolia Inn, where I have been tending the grounds for 12 years now. It warmed my heart to find an "Apricot Nectar" rosebush in bloom and kickin out hella new buds to boot. There was also a little Teddy Bear sunflower by the lamppost fall display holding its own against the wintry looking mountains in the background.
I love the gardens there, which boast a hearty hedge of large rosemary bushes and pineapple sage that overwinters (or at least did once.) I think we are even in a different growing zone than surrounding areas. It can be really nice this time of year.