North Carolina is a state of many virtues.

If you want to spend a weekend in the mountains, go west.

If you want to spend a weekend on the beach, go east.

At this time of year, people from all over the country – in fact, from all over the world – go to Asheville to enjoy the gardens on the Biltmore Estate.

This past weekend, this writer and his wife were among those.

And what we found there – our first springtime experience there, by the way – in no way disappointed us. It is an experience everyone should grant themselves.

But, as we drove home Sunday afternoon, and then as I walked out into my own backyard Monday morning, as I drove to the newspaper a few minutes later, and, about mid-morning, as I drove from Ahoskie to Suffolk for a meeting, it occurred to me that what we enjoyed in Asheville we also enjoy right here at home.

As we pulled into our own driveway Sunday night, we were amazed at how much our own yard had changed from the time we left it late Friday afternoon.

It was – and is – an explosion of color. The grass is greening; the azaleas are a pink to which no artist could ever do justice; the dogwood is a glory unto itself; and flowers are blooming and adding to the palette.

Yes, if you can, you owe it to yourself to travel to the Biltmore.

But whether or not you are able to do that, know that what you find right here at home – and what you see between here and there – is just as glorious.

However you do it, you owe it to yourself to pause and appreciate what nature is doing right now.

And take it from someone who has lived elsewhere, you live in the perfect place to do that.

This editorial was written by Publisher David Sullens, who is still new enough to North Carolina to be in awe of all it is and has to offer.