Miss Mary’s meatloaf. There are many things that bring people together at Haywood Street Congregation in Asheville, North Carolina, Miss Mary’s famous meatloaf is one of them. Helping to lead the Downtown Welcome Table ministry, Mary is the central figure in the Haywood Street fresco. The fresco depicts how the Haywood Street ministries brings community together to feed the body and spirit, and the Haywood Street Congregation’s mission, “Relationship, above all else.”

The warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze make it difficult to remember the chilly winter days only a few weeks ago. Turning my face upward to feel the sun, I notice a flock of birds flying above. They have recently returned from their winter homes. I imagine the things they have seen on their journey, the change of colors and terrain. From their aerial perspective, the landscapes below often resemble an abstract painting of colors and patterns. There are, however, hidden art and messages to be seen only from above. These are not only found in ancient Mayan ruins or in midwestern crop circles. Many of these hidden art forms and messages are found right here in the Carolinas.

When thinking about exotic plants, the Venus Flytrap tops the list. This carnivorous plant is intriguing to observe as it attracts, traps and consumes its prey. The “trap” is made of two hinged lobes at the end of each leaf. These lobes have an aroma that attracts insects looking for food, such as flies. They do not attract insects that are looking for pollen or nectar. Each lobe is equipped with hair-like projections that when stimulated cause the two lobes to snap shut, trapping insects between them. The traps are edged with small bristles that interlock when the trap shuts, ensuring prey cannot escape. The unusual character of this plant stirs the imagination and even inspired the horror story, “Little Shop of Horrors”.

It is no surprise to find magnificent works of art within the walls of the grand cathedrals of Italy, Michelangelo’s frescoes at the Vatican, the works of Giotto at the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. It is expected that such impressive architecture would be home to these amazing treasures. But sometimes the most beautiful treasures are found in the most unexpected and ordinary places.

My travels in Ashe County, North Carolina, took me along winding dirt roads, past hillsides of grazing cattle, to a quaint little country church, Holy Trinity Episcopal, in Glendale Springs. This charming white-clapboard country church is surrounded by a neatly manicured lawn and white picket fence. Standing outside, one would imagine the interior to be modestly furnished and equally quaint. Few would imagine based on its external appearance, that within its walls are amazing works of art that rival those of Italy’s great cathedrals. Yet, one step into the chapel and you will be immediately mesmerized by the grand fresco of The Last Supper by Ben Long.