Rooted In Bloom: How Volunteers Shape A Mountain Town

A beautiful town rarely happens by accident. We sit down with Anne Drummond of the Black Mountain Beautification Committee to pull back the curtain on how 135 volunteers design seasonal displays, care for street trees, and make public spaces feel warm, walkable, and wonderfully inviting. Anne’s story weaves childhood summers in Montreat, a return to the North Carolina mountains, and a love of gardening that found new purpose in community service.

We dig into the engine behind curb appeal: smart plant choices, thoughtful placement, and partnerships with public works that keep costs lean and standards high. Anne shares how the committee paused its town funding after storm Helene to ease the budget crunch, then kept momentum with grants and hands‑on work. From community improvement awards that spotlight local effort to seed‑money microgrants that help businesses refresh storefronts and banks, you’ll hear how small investments multiply into a stronger Main Street and better visitor experience.

Beyond the beds and borders, we celebrate what makes Black Mountain easy to love: dog‑friendly patios, strollable blocks, and a vibrant mix of independent restaurants and pottery studios. Anne gives trail picks in Montreat for all ages, favorite spots for an outdoor meal, and the joy of buying gifts from local makers. The throughline is purpose—how volunteering turns neighbors into friends and transforms retirement into a season of impact. Subscribe for more stories of people who shape the places we call home, share this with a friend who loves small towns, and leave a review to help others discover the magic of the mountains.

Best Buy Metals is the industry leader in long-life metal roofing and siding materials. With seven manufacturing locations, they deliver high-quality products at everyday low prices and at speeds others can’t match. But what truly sets Best Buy Metals apart is their people—a dedicated team committed to providing exceptional service for projects of any size, every single day.

Transcript

Meet Anne And The Mission

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Good morning, Anne Drummond. I am so glad you're here. Good morning. And I met you in the parking lot of the visitor center. And you are one of the people who makes our whole town, but especially the visitor center, beautiful. You're from the Black Mountain Beautification Committee. And the reason I wanted to have y'all come is because y'all, I get phone calls about y'all and you don't even know it. And I get phone calls and people say, I was in your town this week and it is the most beautiful town. How do you keep all of it looking so perfect? And I have to always, I usually say, well, I do it on the weekends, and then I say, actually, I don't. We have a whole group of people, men and women, who come and do it. So I wanted to bring you today and get to that. But I first want to talk about, tell me your story and where you're from.

Northern Roots And Montreat Ties

SPEAKER_01 1:24

Well, I consider myself growing up in northern Michigan, but have been to a variety of different places. My husband's English. We lived in England. When we came back to the states, we very purposely wanted to come to the North Carolina Mountains. So we've been here for about 15 years, although it was not new to me as a kid. My grandfather had a cottage up in Montreat. And this is where we would come to, would spend a month in the summer enjoying the mountains and the actually got to swim in Lake Susan, right? You can't swim today anymore. Get in trouble from that. And it was pretty cold, but you know, that was when you're a kid, that didn't matter. So when my parents then retired, they came here. So they lived here in Black Mountain in the 80s and 90s. So as my my husband, he this is the part of the United States he got to know. And when we were coming back here, this is where we wanted to come. So we've been here 15 years. We love the small town. We love all of the activities in the town. Now that I'm retired, the service-minded uh community is huge. There's a lot of activity to you know to keep us busy. Beautification is part of that. I love to garden. So there's only so much garden gardening you can do in your own garden. And this gives me a real outlet to help maintain some of the gardens around town. So I love that part. Especially one. Especially one. The cheese. One in particular. I love being over there. And particularly if it's an early morning before the uh visitor centers open, I we still get people pop in and say, you know, where do I go to breakfast? And where's the best hike? So that's cool. Uh so I I I'm glad that I can be prepared and alright.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

I guess we need to bring you in and do the whole volunteer training for the desk, and then you'll know how to do all of that stuff too. That's cool.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

Well, yeah, that would require me to be indoors too long. I like being out. Wow, I get that. So I love the walkability. We live in town. So for walking the dogs to walk around the lake, to walk the greenway. It's just really uh, you know, it's what we like to do. And of course, then to be able to walk into town to go to the restaurants. That's I feel very privileged to be. Yeah, we don't have very many ref restaurants. Oh my gosh. We're spoiled for choice.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

Spoiled, rotten. Yeah. Well, that's cool. That's cool. One of one of the things this makes me laugh every time. I am not an expert on plants. I'm not good at them at all. In fact, I can kill a plant faster than anybody else. You didn't have to agree, but thank you for joining in. Anyway, but one of my favorite things that y'all did that makes me laugh to this day is you said, Cheryl, we put this cool pot out in front and it's got flowers and it's pretty, and it's got this little, I mean, it was gorgeous. It had little plant that was climbing over the side of the pot. And like, I was just beautiful. And I looked at you and I said, That's really sweet, but you know I can't keep that alive. You're like, you just have to water it every day. That's all. And I thought, girl, you don't know me. And then y'all said, actually, we do. And that's why we put it next to the water bowl for the dog that you have to replace every day. So why don't you just dump the water from the water from the dog bowl into the pot? I'm like, oh, she gets me. So I was super happy that y'all actually it made it really pretty. Now it's almost time we get a new one.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

Maybe I can handle it again this year. I saved one of those plants. So we may be able to reuse one of those plants, the one that draped over as you call. I don't know climbing out of the pot. It was cute.

Why Beautification Matters For Tourism

SPEAKER_00 5:12

So yeah, I mean, I I I just love that you y'all, that's one of the things I loved about or I love about the beautification committee is that you you do love doing what you do, but you also think about me or the people who are gonna have to maintain it. I don't have to maintain anything except that one pot.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

And you thought of me, and that was really thoughtful. Well, a lot of our gardens around the business district, so we like to be in cognizant of what's happening around those gardens so that we can participate with the with the community.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

So I I don't usually talk about like work so much on this, but the beautification committee is so important to tourism and the visitors who come here. Um, I've had garden clubs call and one of them called and said, How do we send the money? We our garden club came to Black Mountain to go to a restaurant. I think they were going to veranda that day, and they they said we stopped the car and got out and walked around the the park. What is it called? Town Square. We stopped the car and we walked around town square and it was gorgeous. It was beautiful. We want to donate to whoever that is. Is it a garden club? Is it and I got to talk all about the the beautification committee. So that was cool. We also, you've been in magazines, and I think, I mean, while it may not directly say your name, that's how you end up in Southern Living and Garden and Gun for a town when they can see the whole town just because y'all have taken care of the public parts that are gorgeous.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Well, beautification, there's 135 members with beautification. So it's certainly not uh, you know, a small group at all. And the membership likes to do a variety of things. Some are litter pickups, some don't like to get their hands dirty and are in or really novices when it comes to planting, but we have a community that supports them. And we also do the uh the fall decorations, the Christmas decorations. So it we like to, we're we definitely feel we're part of the community. We get supported by some of the town budget to help offset some of our expenses. Otherwise, we do fundraising in different ways just to support our our gardening needs.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

I heard a rumor that last year after Helene, you all told the town to take you out of the budget or whatever for the year because you knew that the town was struggling so much. I appreciated y'all doing that. I wish that I could do the same thing, but I just was really impressed that y'all were able to do that.

SPEAKER_01 8:03

Well, we looked at our finances and knowing that the town was really struggling after all of the expenses of that incurred after Helene, we they were very grateful and it was an easy thing for us to do. Um that, you know, even though we we want to be continue to be supported by the town, I mean, because we work hand in hand with public works. Now that we've taken over the exterior of the police station and the fire station, uh, you know, you you you get to know the people that are serving our community. Right. And we're part of that.

SPEAKER_00 8:41

Right. And I I just I just I don't know. I thought it was really cool that y'all did that. And I'm glad to know that it's true. I just didn't know if it was true or not. Tell me about the community improvement awards. I I see the signs, but I don't really understand what they are. So tell me about that.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

Well, there obviously there's only so much that we can do as a committee. So part of so we want to encourage other businesses and residents to uplift their own part of this this town. So that, and that's what we do it through the community improvement award to recognize those that have really done an incredible uplift. Um, some of them are businesses, some of them can be gardens that we happen to walk by on a daily basis. We also have uh one of our projects is what we call it the seed money, and that's where we will provide grants to organizations, to businesses. This is pretty much uh geared toward the businesses around town that will help them with some of their exterior projects so that you know we continue in that uplift. And sometimes it's a matter of planting up a a bank that uh you know that's been overgrown with weeds and such. Other times it's helping them uplift their their storefront with pots and and puts next to dog bowls. Yeah, pots next to the flowers.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

Am I the only person that or they did like create that for me, or was that no?

SPEAKER_01 10:19

I think there ate there are a lot of dog bowls around town. I thought it was special.

Funding, Helene, And Town Partnership

SPEAKER_00 10:24

Okay. Well, anyway. Well, I love I love that y'all do all of that. And then is is Kathy Phillips and the tree thing, is that part of y'all?

SPEAKER_01 10:34

Now that's a new this year. Okay. Because of the trees downtown and and also the challenges the town's had since Helene, the care of those trees was becoming too onerous for them. So we took that on. Some of them needed replacement. We got that very nice grant from Circle K to add to some of our trees and replace that beautiful maple that was uh that we lost with their building. So yep.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Well, cool. And so she is part of that. That that whole thing is part of you.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

Yes. Okay, yes. And obviously we're we're thrilled to have Kathy because she's uh she's very energetic.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

That's a really good word. Passionate is what people usually say about me when they're when they're trying to say energetic or loud or obnoxious, but she's none of those. She's just passionate and actually passionate. So tell me something else totally unrelated to the beautification committee that you love to do here that is not work or beautification.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

Well, I have great neighbors. I am, you know, and it's one of those things where you sort of fall into that. You don't interview your neighbors ahead of time of purchasing a house. So I feel very fortunate with who I have in our neighborhood. It's a a really social group. We get together frequently for uh different gatherings and picnics in the summer. So I feel very fortunate for that. So what do y'all go do when you're when people are here? Well, we do a lot of walking, sometimes hiking. I personally put my guests to work. This is spring, it's gardening season. So Deb has been out on yesterday. We did a beautification project, and then then I took her back to my garden, my garden, and we did mulching. So good. You have to keep your de guests busy. I know. I mean, we go, we definitely eat out. Um there are times that we'll hit the Biltmore, the Arboretum if we wanted more extended. But it here in Black Mountain, we have a lot to be able to do. What restaurants do you like to take them to? Well, we like my father's pizza. Uh we certainly like the trailhead. There's some new places that are opening up, uh Bev's Steakhouse. Went there for my anniversary. That was a rare treat. So, you know, cousins cafe. There's just so many great places.

SPEAKER_00 13:23

Yeah. Yeah. You don't have to name them all, but I just I do like to know where people take people. I like to know where, you know.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

Right. Last week I had lunch at Pure Improper and the Bistro, particularly when the weather is nice to be able to sit out. They cool.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

Good. All right. When you go hiking, where do you go? What's your secret favorite trail?

SPEAKER_01 13:50

I like the ones in Montreat. I mean, I just because I know them. Is it nostalgia or is it that those are really your favorite? Well, I know them and maybe I'm kind of lazy. There's some, you know, in terms of driving very far. And so that's part of it. And when my guests are here, that's kind of where we'll we'll go. Up, you know, the gray beard or lower piney. Definitely look out. Well, yeah, you have to do that. Right. When my cousin was here, it was his 80th birthday, and that's what he said. He said, I want to hike look out. And he was 80. He he and he he was the first one up.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

That's awesome. That was my mom's goal when she hit 80. She said, That's what I'm gonna do for my 80th birthday. And anyway. And that was years ago when she said that. So I love that you just threw that one in there. That's cool.

SPEAKER_01 14:39

So did you get to go to clubs when you were a kid? Oh, I definitely. So when we were here for that, you know, months. What is clubs? Clubs in Montreat. Oh, yes, definitely. And when my kids were young, they came up with the one at a time that spent a week at my mother's and they would go to the Montreat clubs.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

My dad got to go to clubs, and my children got to go to clubs. I never got to go to clubs. I'm gonna figure out a way to get in there one day. It's guarding for life, hasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 15:12

Not really, but I'm a little jealous. That's for sure. Well, I'm getting excited. My grandson is almost old enough that he'll be able to come up and enjoy it and spend a week going to schools.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

It's tradition. It's tradition. You gotta do it. Well, good. When you go downtown and you wander around, what what stands out to you?

SPEAKER_01 15:36

Things are unique. The I love doing my Christmas shopping in Black Mountain. I mean, my kids know that if I can't buy it in Black Mountain, they it's not on the their Christmas list. Ah, you are my poster child. I need you. So sometimes it's just uh silly socks that they get. But uh, CW Moose. That's where the silly socks are. Yeah, yeah. I mean, there's several stores that actually have silly socks, but you know, I love going around. I mean, that I've done it probably twice now, going around and getting socks that are unique to that individual. Okay. That will that's fun. So yeah. Other uh I've also gotten some very nice pottery for gifts for my kids and favorite pottery place, which one is it? I love Sarah Sunshine, who doesn't? So, and sometimes I don't know the other ones.

SPEAKER_00 16:35

I mean, obviously, Sarah Sunshine is the artist as well, so that I've been able to find so many that you there's so many places people come in the visitor center and they'll say, Where do I go for pottery? I'm like, Where do you not go? I mean, you've got Seven Sisters, you've got Mountain Nest, you've got all these places, and of course Sarah. But Sarah displays her things in the visitor center. So we are able to say, Look, they also this this pottery is from Sarah Sunshine. So that's the added value of being.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

I love that nice that's unique and that you actually feel that they can use, you know, a fruit bowl or such. So I uh you know, that's fun. That's great. I also I mean the restaurants that we have are very unique, they're different. You know, they're not the cookie critter chains that you know, open oven. I love their avocado toast that I get. Oh, I haven't tried that. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

It's always gets their uh what is it called with Hollandaise sauce and it's Benedict.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Ex Benedict. Yes, my daughter, that's what she always gets when she comes. So, you know, just the so you can have some unique meals in uh around town. So depending on the weather and whether or not soup is is what's on the menu or if it's something or in outdoor seating. I mean, obviously outdoor seating and certain times of the year is just a great commodity.

SPEAKER_00 18:04

I'll even sit outside at at Foothills Grange because in the middle of the winter, because they have those heaters out there. And you can actually sit out there and eat in the middle of the winter. I just think that's cool.

Life In A Walkable, Dog‑Friendly Town

SPEAKER_01 18:14

Well, and sometimes it depends on whether or not we have the dog with us. That's right. That's right. And so you're right, the Grange is a great place because you can sit there with your dogs. And our dogs have always been pub trained, and you know, the ones, particularly the ones that came in from England, pub training, pub train your dog, because they need to be civil. You know, they can't you can't have a dog fight in the in a pub on the kind of other fights, not dog fights basically.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

Well, that's cool. One of the things that that people don't know about Black Mountain before until they get here is that it is a dog friendly or a pet friendly community. I mean, there's most stores, like you said earlier, that most places have a dog bowl out front. But but uh see who is it? Uh Scott counts at Marywine Market. He says that's how he knows when somebody's a visitor, because they'll one of them will stay outside with the dog and the other one will go in and look around. He's like, bring the dog in. It's fine. Come on in. But most places are dog friendly, pet-friendly, whatever. I don't know. I've never seen a hedgehog on a leash walking around or anything, but mostly dogs. But uh, but anyway, that's one thing that people don't know. And most of the restaurants have outdoor pet-friendly seating. So that's kind of cool too.

SPEAKER_01 19:28

Right. Yeah, right, definitely.

unknown 19:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:31

So and now Mary Market. Mary Wine Market. Mary Wine Market. My husband went in there and he had the dog with him, which I think is a bit of a bull in a China shop. But because he then found me. I was working in Town Square and stopped by and he was proud of himself that he had gotten this nice bottle of French wine and you know, it was plans for dinner. And so All right. Did he make plans for dinner or did he make dinner? He made dinner. Oh man, does he cook? Yes, he does. Oh, that was kind of a grind because I don't cook.

SPEAKER_00 20:06

I don't either. I do. I just don't I'm not spectacular at it, but I mean, sometimes you have to.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Well, that's cool. Okay. So the other activity that I in town is it's opportunities for serving your community. Now we talked about Black Mountain beautification, but other organizations that support our neighbors, from Christian ministries to Bounty and Soul to Hearts with Hands. They you you really have no reason to be idle. And it's it's not only the social aspect of it, but the sense of purpose.

SPEAKER_00 20:48

I have a friend who's d who is struggling, male friend who is struggling with retirement, cannot stand the thought, what am I gonna do? And I said, You live in the town where that is not a problem. There is plenty for you to do. You can volunteer, you can do things, you can not do things. You can, you know, there's plenty to do here. So you're exactly right.

SPEAKER_01 21:10

I know, I have to admit, I I sort of was in that same boat is like really giving up that sense of purpose that you had with your job. But now I don't know how I had time to work.

SPEAKER_00 21:23

That's what everybody says. I'm busier now that I'm retired than when I was working. So that's funny. Well, is there anything I haven't asked you that you want to know or want to talk about or share or anything at all?

SPEAKER_01 21:35

Well, the roots that I have in this community are with the Presbyterian heritage, because my grandparents, actually several generations back, were missionaries in the Orient. I personally was born in Korea. My mother was born in Korea, and so I have some big footsteps to continue in terms of serving our fellow.

SPEAKER_00 22:01

Do you know Robert Hope very well? You need to meet no Robert, he uh he is the owner of CW Moose and High Hopes, and his parents were missionaries, and I think they were in they were in Vietnam, I think, which is not Korea, I know that, but very interesting guy, a lot of fun. Glad to have him on the podcast sometime too. Well, thank you very much for coming in. I'm really glad that you were here today. I know that I had to like twist your arm to You to come because you said I don't want to, but you did great. You're very interesting. I learned a lot of new things, so I appreciate it. Thanks for coming.

SPEAKER_01 22:37

It's great to be here.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

Thanks for joining us on Exploring the Valley. Until next time, keep celebrating the pride of our community and discovering the magic of the mountains. In the meantime, you're free to move about the valley.