BOONE, N.C. — This year, the Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Volunteers say the bridge is only one of two in the country like it and started after a man tried to save an old bridge that was being torn down by the state. 

What You Need To Know

  • A fundraiser is being held at the Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure

  • Paintings are being sold online to help build an education center

  • The bridge is celebrating its 10th anniversary

Linda Reandeau was a master gardener in Atlanta before moving to Lake Lure. She is one of many the volunteers who work on the more than 20 gardens now covering the bridge.

"Each garden has one volunteer who is their caretaker," Reandeau said. She says her garden is for dogs.

The bridge looked different back in 2011, when it was no longer used and was scheduled to be torn down. Instead, one resident fought to have it stay and turned it into a flowering bridge.

Now, still overlooking the river, the bridge creates quite a view.

"We are only the second flowering bridge in the United States. The original one is in Massachusetts," Reandeau said.

It's full of themed gardens, with some focusing on colors and one that is specifically for kids.

"It is modeled after Peter Rabbit's garden," Reandeau said.

Another garden is for the volunteers to add their favorite plant. Volunteer Debbie Clark, who cares for four gardens, including the country shade garden, says she added a hibiscus.

Although the gardens build year by year, there's one thing volunteers say they want to build most: an education center.

Throughout the gardens you will currently find a variety of painted pictures, which can be purchased to help raise money for the center.

"The education center will be offering classes year round for people, and I think it will be a great opportunity for not only people that live here but other people coming in," Clark said.

For more information on the fundraiser, click here.