FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lake Lure, NC (September 23, 2025) – One year after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina and destroyed the iconic Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, the non-profit behind the gardens is entering a vibrant season of renewal. Volunteers, partners, and neighbors will gather for a community replanting day on Thursday, September 25, 2025, to restore the beds and begin establishing signature plantings at the site.
“Helene changed everything here, but it also reminded us how deeply this place matters,” said Kathy Tanner, board chair of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. “From the ‘survivor plants,’ those rescued after the storm and lovingly cared for this year in one of our volunteers’ yards, to the return of the Rainbow Bridge, a cherished space for honoring beloved pets, our story is one of community, hope, and healing.”
Rebuilding the Rainbow Bridge
As part of the restoration, the Flowering Bridge is rebuilding and rejuvenating the Rainbow Bridge and its surrounding gardens. Originally crafted by local artist Amy Wald in 2022, the bridge was a cherished site for families to honor and remember pets who “crossed the rainbow bridge” by leaving their collars. After Helene washed away the original bridge, nearly 140 pet collars were later recovered from storm debris and are now being cleaned by volunteers for return to the site when it is re-established.
To support rebuilding efforts, Southern Living® Plant Collection is donating plants for a new pet-friendly garden adjoining the Rainbow Bridge. Designed as a space for tranquility and reflection, the garden will serve as a living tribute where visitors can find comfort while remembering beloved pets, surrounded by plants that are pet-safe.
Volunteer Replanting Day – Sept 25
Community members, civic groups, and corporate teams are invited to take part in hands-on community replanting on Thursday, September 25, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Plants and soil will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves, tools, and enthusiasm. Foundational plantings, including camellias, loropetalum, and hollies from Southern Living Plant Collection, will add year-round seasonal interest to some of Lake Lure’s gardens on the east side close to the town of Lake Lure. In case of inclement weather, check the garden’s Facebook page for updates and information.
While Lake Lure Flowering Garden remains closed to the public pending the completion of vital safety and structural improvements, the garden’s organizers invite the community to follow progress on social media, donate to the rebuilding efforts, and to stay tuned for a fall celebration and kick-off replanting.
“Above all, we hope our story inspires others across the Southeast who are still rebuilding,” added Tanner. “We are proud to share our garden’s new growth with everyone who loves the Flowering Bridge and the community it represents.”
For media inquiries, please contact Becky Paxton: [email protected], 610-444-3040.
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The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge is a non-profit garden founded in 2013 to give renewed purpose to a decommissioned historic three-arch bridge and its surrounding landscape in Lake Lure, North Carolina. With themed gardens spanning an acre and welcoming more than 180,000 visitors annually, Lake Lure Flowering Bridge has served as a certified wildlife habitat, Monarch Waystation, and a destination along both the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail and Appalachian Mural Trail. In 2024, the gardens and bridge sustained major damage during Hurricane Helene, and renewal efforts are currently underway. Guided by its mission to welcome, inspire, and educate the public, the Flowering Bridge is committed to re-establishing its gardens as one of Western North Carolina’s most beloved destinations. To learn more and support rebuilding efforts, visit lakelurefloweringbridge.org
The Southern Living® Plant Collection provides gardeners with innovative new plants designed to solve specific landscape challenges and to excel in Southern gardens. Want your gardens to look like the pages of Southern Living? These plants deliver.