As every Road Trips Gardener knows, in the early spring — before the trees are full — the hillsides are warmed by the sun and the wildflowers are in full bloom.

A Spring Wildflower Symposium will be held May 18 through 20, 2012, at Wintergreen Nature Foundation, R.R. 1, Box 770, Roseland, Virginia (directions). Cost is $120 per person.

Instructors for the weekend include well known botanists, authors, and artists, each prepared with a full weekend of activities and lectures that will reconnect you with nature.

“Taste of the Trail”, the current exhibit in Trillium House at Wintergreen, showcases the edible and medicinal uses of some common forest plants.

The Wintergreen Nature Foundation, which functions as a research and education facility, encourages the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the natural and cultural resources of the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia.

Consider checking out Wintergreen Resort as a place to stay. During the symposium, the Resort offers a 20 percent discount off room rates for the weekend.