Moss Creations WIN AGAIN at the 15th Annual NC Mountain State Fair

NEW MOSS WINNER! I am delighted to announce that MOSS wins again at the
Fair this year. This is the second news flash about moss because it is
the second time moss takes "Best of Show." Go Green With Moss!

Moss Creations WIN AGAIN at the 15th Annual NC Mountain State Fair

Moss is moving up in the world. Judges at the 15th Annual NC Mountain
State Fair select mosses over flowers for BEST of SHOW for the second
time. Mossin' Annie's innovative creation featuring bryophytes (mosses)
in a bird bath is the winner of "Best of Show" in the 2^nd session of
the flower show competition this week. Last week, a "mossy" hollow log
took the same top honors over all the other incredibly beautiful flower
and plant entries in the 1^st portion of competition.


The "Best of Show" moss bird bath is two-tiered with textures of
Dicranum, Sphagnum, Thuidium, Bryum argentium and Leucobryum mirroring a
mountain landscape. A healthy Carolina Hemlock seedling graces this moss
garden along with a Renaissance fern. The "Best of Show" moss winners
contrast each other – the first moss log reflecting mosses in a natural
setting such as native restoration projects while the moss bird bath
exemplifies mosses in a creative, yet, more formal presentation.

All mosses and native plants incorporated in these blue ribbon moss
creations have been rescued from high impact areas in the region
supporting responsible land stewardship with environmentally-concerned
developers and property owners. To further the concept of "Going Green",
all the indigenous mosses used in these award-winning displays could
actually become features in a sustainable landscape for year-round
green. The aesthetic and practical aspects of eco-friendly mosses offer
new options in landscape designs.

The flower show at the Fair is sponsored annually by the Buncombe County
Master Gardener Volunteer program of the NC Cooperative Extension
Service. Annie Martin is a native of Asheville and currently lives in
Brevard where her home boasts her own moss garden which she started over
eight years ago. She recently completed her certification as a Master
Gardener Volunteer in Transylvania County. The WNC Agricultural Center
is located across from the Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher, NC.
While you are visiting the fair this year, please stop by the Flower
Show Tent to see this winning moss creation. Join Mossin' Annie in her
quest to "Go Green With Moss."

Annie Martin, Transylvania County's resident moss artist, creates unique
moss dish gardens to illustrate the myriad of textures, shapes and
shades of green that can be achieved featuring moss in a sustainable
landscape. Mossin' Annie promotes the rescue of indigenous bryophytes
and creatively uses these unique plants in public and private gardens.
She shares her fascination with moss with others through public
presentations and workshops. On September 20, two different
opportunities are available to make your own Mountain Moss Dish Gardens.
Kids from 4-12 can have fun making their own moss dish garden with
Mossin' Annie at Brevard College through the Community Education Fall
classes. That same Saturday afternoon, adults can also learn about these
fascinating plants and make their own dish garden at Summer Brooke
Gardens located on West Main Street in downtown Brevard. For more
serious moss enthusiasts, a 3-part class is being offered on moss
gardening in September and October at Brevard College. To register for
classes at Brevard College, call 828.884.8256. To register for the
Summer Brooke Gardens workshop, call 828.884.2625.

For further information on moss, contact: Mossin' Annie, Mountain Moss
Enterprises, 828.577.1321