My Indoor Amaryllis Garden

An amaryllis is always waiting to delight and surprise you, even when your world seems cold and dark. - Susan Meissner

Every winter I plant and cultivate amaryllis bulbs for their exquisite beauty and ease of growing. My amaryllis season begins in early November, when I buy bulbs that will bloom by late December. These beautiful plants, native to South Africa and South America, have large bulbs that are easy to find at garden centers as well as on many online websites starting in the fall.

There is a great variety of amaryllis bulbs from which to choose. Some produce flowers that have single petals, while others have enormous double petals. There is an especially beautiful amaryllis known as Nymph with many layers of lush petals. Another amaryllis, the Cybister, has a flower of a different shape, with long thin petals that look like a star.

With such variety, you can create a spectacular display of amaryllis blooms of many shapes and colors. By spacing out the dates when you plant the bulbs, you can have blooms from December through March.


Plant Amaryllis in the Fall

Once I pot the first bulbs in early November, I water them about once a week, touching the soil first to see how dry it is. When growth begins, I check the soil more frequently. If it is still dry, I water a little more, but not too much. I know that with good soil, fertilizer, water and bright sunlight, the bulbs will always "wake up." At first, it seems like nothing is happening, but after a few weeks, a tiny green tip will appear at the top. That shows the growth is beginning.

My indoor garden takes at least two months to produce flowers, but it is always worth the wait, as these beauties fill my conservatory with their charm, color and very large blooms that can sometimes be eight inches across! My anticipation of seeing the amaryllis plants bloom goes on for weeks, until one day, they are fully opened and perfect.

The Flowers Appear

The growth of the amaryllis fascinates me, starting with the large bulb from which small green shoots emerge, to the tall, thick green stalk and handsome curved leaves that spill out over the pot. The final act is the slow opening of the flower. It is a magical experience watching an amaryllis grow from a bare bulb to a flower with large, delicate petals.

As the stalk rises, I can see the formation of the flower tucked inside the leaves of the bud. When the morning light illuminates the bud, I study its graceful shape. Once the bud opens, four flowers appear. Each day they spread and get bigger. Fully open, the flowers will hold their shape for several days. After the first blooms fade, a second stalk appears with more buds. This floral display can continue for several weeks.

The word "amaryllis" is from an ancient Greek verb, amarysso, meaning to sparkle or shine. How appropriate! It is a joyful experience to see these exquisite flowers on a cold, snowy day.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

Poinsettias Symbolize the Holiday Season

Poinsettias symbolize purity, joy, and the spirit of giving. Their vibrant red color captures the essence of the holiday season. - Lula's Garden

Every fall, festive catalogs arrive in my mailbox signaling the start of the upcoming holiday season. Usually these catalogs arrive early in October with colorful pictures of wreaths, evergreen swags, candles, amaryllis blooms and especially bright red poinsettias.

It all seems too early for me, but I realize many stores and garden centers have to prepare well in advance for this time of year. One summer, I was shopping at a garden center and I came upon a huge greenhouse full of small poinsettia plants. Since poinsettias need 12-14 hours of darkness each day to produce flowers, it isn't until the longer nights of October that their blooming cycle can begin. Preparation must start early for the month of December.

The poinsettias we most associate with the holidays display characteristically colorful leaves called bracts. The small nub in the center of the bracts is the actual flower, or cyathia. The vibrant red bracts against the dark green leaves have a universal appeal because they provide a colorful antidote to the dark days of the winter solstice. This is probably why poinsettias take center stage in the marketing effort to remind us of the holiday shopping season.

Many Different Poinsettia Colors

But red is only one color out of dozens available. There are over 100 different cultivars of poinsettias in white, pink, cream, peach and various shades of red, as well as marbled poinsettias with different color combinations. Botanists spend years cross-pollinating poinsettias to achieve a variety of colors for consumers to buy. This plant, whose scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, Latin for "most beautiful", is treasured all over the world.

Originally native to Central America, the poinsettia grows wild in tropical climates. Many years ago, when I worked in Hong Kong, I was surprised to see large woody shrubs with brilliant red bracts growing outside in the warm climate. I had always seen poinsettias as potted plants in stores, so it was exciting to see these ten foot high shrubs covered with bright red bracts.

Origin of the Name Poinsettia

The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first ambassador to Mexico from the United States as well as an avid botanist. After seeing poinsettias in Mexico, he learned to propagate them in his greenhouses at his home in South Carolina. He sent a plant to a botanist in Philadelphia, who introduced it to this country at a flower show in 1829 and named the plant after Poinsett. Since then, the poinsettia has become the best-selling Christmas plant in the world. In 2002, Congress declared December 12 to be National Poinsettia Day, to honor Joel Roberts Poinsett and to commemorate the day that he died.

Many cultures around the world associate poinsettias with Christmas as a symbol of holiday cheer and goodwill. In the 17th century, missionaries in Mexico used poinsettias to decorate churches for Christmas Eve. They called the poinsettia "Flower of the Holy Night”, and Mexican legends relate how the shape of the colorful leaves symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. When you see poinsettias displayed everywhere, you will know that the holiday season has officially begun!

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville magazine.

Fall is the Time to Prepare Peonies for the Spring

The sight of a peony has an inescapable lure for me. - Alice Harding, author of The Peony, 1917

Peonies always bloom in the spring, but did you know there is important work to do this fall to help them bloom magnificently next year? There are many different tasks, and November is the best month for this work, so here are some tips to get you started.

How to Cut Back Peonies

Pruning your peonies needs to be done at the correct time in the fall because the plant is storing energy and nutrients to prepare for growth next spring. The time to cut back peony foliage is after the first frost, not before. For herbaceous peonies, cut the foliage to the ground. For Itoh and tree peonies, cut to a height of about six inches, leaving the woody stems. Place all the dead plant material in the trash bin, not the compost bin, in case there is a disease like Botrytis blight on the leaves.

It is prudent to sterilize your pruning shears to prevent the spread of any bacteria or fungi that can cause disease in plants. Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol or soak your shears in a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) for 30 minutes. After pruning, clean your shears with water and dry them.

Be Careful with the Peony’s Eyes

You can order bareroot peonies from nurseries in the fall, but before you plant them, first soak the roots in lukewarm water for about an hour. Then be sure to plant the peonies in a sunny spot with compost added to the soil. The cost of bareroot peonies is reasonable, but they may take a few years to mature and produce blooms.

When planting peonies, make sure that the peony "eyes" are close to the surface. These pointed red tips produce the stems and the buds, so they are critical for the plant's development. If covered by too much soil, they will not produce blooms the following spring. Be sure to keep the eyes covered with no more than two inches of soil, and water the roots after you plant them.

Fertilize peonies in the fall with bone meal or a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Use only a tablespoon per plant. You can also add a light layer of mulch to both newly planted peonies and established peonies to protect them from the winter cold. Then next spring, as the weather warms and the plants begin to grow, remove the mulch. Every March, I always look forward to seeing the eyes emerge and the plants rapidly growing taller every day.

Since I grow many peonies, November is the month when I like to sit on the ground and inspect my plants to make sure the eyes are close to the surface. Their bloom time is always in May, but I have learned that peonies need careful treatment in the fall to grow well. Since peonies are my favorite flower, I am willing to put the time and effort into making sure they are comfortable for the winter and ready for next spring.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

Beneficial Plants for Your Garden

Everything is alive; everything is interconnected. - Cicero

All the plants in my garden plots are connected. They share a space and sometimes grow into each other. On a deeper level, they have characteristics that can be beneficial to each other. Companion planting, a practice that goes back thousands of years to ancient Greece and Rome, is a way to use these characteristics to enhance a garden. Native Americans also practiced companion planting with corn, beans, and squash.

There are many examples of companion planting, but for this column I will describe how I use marigolds and nasturtiums to protect my vegetables. Every spring, I plant marigolds and nasturtiums around the borders of my two vegetable beds. While they are visually appealing, and produce flowers that attract pollinators, each provides a specific benefit to the other plants in the beds.

Marigolds and Rabbits

In the springtime, the scent of marigolds repels rabbits and other rodents that would otherwise be eating my tender lettuce, peas and herbs. There are several families of rabbits on my property, so this is no small service. I have observed rabbits approach my garden, then turn around and leave. I consider the marigolds to be the guardians of my garden!

Marigolds also discourage insect pests such as aphids, flea beetles and mosquitoes, so they are great companions for vegetables and even humans. This potentially reduces the need for pesticides you might use on your vegetables, but even better, makes organic gardening easier. If you regularly remove the spent marigold blooms, it encourages more flowers with that important marigold fragrance.

Nasturtiums and Pollinators

Nasturtiums offer a similar benefit. Their scent covers up the fragrance of other plants and keeps many destructive beetles and cut worms from finding my vegetables. Nasturtium scent also attracts aphids, keeping them away from the vegetables. In addition, the nectar in the nasturtium flowers encourages pollinators, always a good thing for any garden.

The cost of nasturtium seeds is reasonable. The large round seeds are easy to plant and typically germinate within ten days. I choose seeds that produce a variety of colorful flowers and large circular leaves. Planting marigold seedlings is bit more more expensive than seeds, but for me it is worth it since the plants are already growing and producing flowers. Plus, this brings instant color to an early spring garden.

Both nasturtiums and marigolds can handle the summer heat. Of course I water them when I can, but they seem to do well all summer even if I don't have a chance to water. Both plants have a long growing season from spring through October, and even into November, until there is a killing frost.

Another aspect of planting marigolds and nasturtiums as companions for my other plants is that many of my vegetables and herbs are green, and having nasturtiums and marigolds in the beds adds an important visual accent of color at the beginning of spring, during the summer, and when other plants die off in the fall. But their role as the guardians of my garden is what I most appreciate.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article also appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

Gardening Can Be a Healing Experience

The garden is my healing place. There's nothing like getting your hands in the soil to feel productive. It makes me feel whole. - Jo-Ann Pouliot

People garden for various reasons. Some of us like to grow our own organic food, others like to be outdoors in the sunshine and many people love to grow their own flowers. For Jo-Ann Pouliot of Fletcher, North Carolina, gardening began when she wanted to improve the appearance of a weedy front yard. But over time, she was motivated to garden for other reasons, even though she was not a gardener.

Jo-Ann and her husband Jim decided to move to Fletcher from Wisconsin 28 years ago after a series of heartbreaking life events, including losing two sons. But they began to feel lonely in their new home. Jo-Ann was looking for something positive to do to help with her feelings of grief and loneliness.

The Beginning of a Garden

As she looked at her front yard, she decided to tackle cleaning up that area first. She met a gardening friend through her job who helped her. She quickly realized that working in her yard and spending time in nature was a way to focus her energy in a new direction. Her faith guided her to make the choice to be positive. Then, as she said, "One thing led to another."

After weeding her front yard, Jo-Ann started planting a garden. Gradually she expanded her garden, both in front of the house and in the back. She decided to work in one spot before moving to another. Her garden has gone through cycles, depending on her health and the weather. After a number of illnesses and surgeries in recent years, she had to temporarily stop gardening, but slowly she recovered and went back to work. Working in her garden helped her to heal physically and emotionally.

During the year, there are seasonal changes in Jo-Ann's garden. Spring brings plants with many different shapes and textures of green, such as ferns, hostas and trilliums. Summer brings more color with plants such as Black-eyed Susans, hydrangeas, Virginia Bluebells and phlox. Jo-Ann says that she enjoys the beauty of all these plants. Her garden peaks at the beginning of July.

She makes detailed records of her garden. "It's very important to keep a diary of what you're planting and what the weather is like," she said. This way she can reference what worked and what didn't work the previous year.

Garden Inspiration

Inspired by the beauty of her plants, Jo-Ann started to express her creativity by adding walking paths lined with stones, and a collection of yard art featuring small statues and bird baths. Once again, one thing led to another. Her creativity flourished as her garden expanded.

Throughout this experience of working in her garden, Jo-Ann was guided by her faith and her desire to feel whole again, in mind, body and spirit. Creating this garden was a turning point in her life that has given her purpose and joy. Her garden has truly become her healing place.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville magazine.

The Pleasures of a Home Garden

The main purpose of a garden is to give its owner the best and highest kind of earthly pleasure. - Gertrude Jekyll

I create a garden for its beauty, for its life force and for its inspiration. When I am in my garden, I am immersed in nature at its best, with healthy vegetables, colorful plants and busy pollinators. The many living plants and animals in the small ecosystem that I have created inspire me.

I can enjoy my garden almost year-round in the mild climate of Western North Carolina, but especially in August, when all the previous months' work and growth culminate in an impressive display of flowers and vegetables. As the warm weather progresses, my harvest is bountiful, starting with Sugar Snap Peas. The small tender pods of early May turn into the larger pods of summer, filled with sweetness. As I open each pod, I enjoy looking at the delicious peas inside.

In July, zucchini and summer squash produce exquisite large yellow blossoms that attract many bees. Later in the month, fruit grows out of these blossoms, sometimes too much of it. It is important to check these plants regularly so the squashes don't become too large, as their growth can be rapid in the summer heat.

Garden Fragrances

Gardens don't just provide pleasure for the eyes, but also for the nose, with many different fragrances. One scent I love is that of tomatoes. When I come close to a tomato plant on a warm summer day, I can smell its strong fragrance. The basil seedlings that I planted in the spring are usually three feet tall by August with dozens of large, fragrant leaves. Other herbs, such as dill, cilantro, and rosemary also produce a pleasing fragrance.

Of course, gardens give us many different tastes to enjoy. The Sungold cherry tomato is one of the tastiest. Other tomatoes I enjoy are the ones bred for the climate in Western North Carolina such as Mountain Pride, Mountain Fresh, Mountain Merit and Mountain Majesty.

Pollinator Garden

By August, my tithonia sunflowers are over six feet tall and covered in bright orange blossoms, which means they are covered in butterflies. Colorful zinnias also attract pollinators with their large blooms. Many varieties of sunflowers begin blooming in August. All these flowers attract Monarch, Swallowtail and Fritillary butterflies, as well as a variety of bees.

Gardens inspire me with their constant change and their natural cycles of growth and decay. The cycle begins in the spring with seeds and small seedlings, and progresses until growth ends in the fall with a killing frost.

Once I start a garden, I feel a responsibility to be a good steward, so I tend the garden frequently to bring out the best in the plants. It is enjoyable to have a vision for a garden, execute that vision and then watch the plants grow. This process is always satisfying, with great rewards of beautiful plants, tasty food and a serene environment.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville magazine.

Panicle Hydrangeas Enhance a Summer Garden

Hydrangeas are the flowers of gratitude, grace, and abundance - Anonymous

Every summer I look forward to the prolific blooms of panicle hydrangeas, the true stars of my garden. Their peak occurs in the month of July, but their blooms can last well into the fall. This perennial is one you can depend on to provide beauty for your home garden.

I grow both macrophylla and panicle hydrangeas, which are different plants that bloom at different times. The macrophyllas bloom in June but they fade in July, when the panicle blooms take center stage. I am always impressed that these flowers can tolerate full sun and heat, making them the perfect plants for July and August.

Panicle Blooms

The panicle hydrangea takes its name from the shape of the flower. The bloom can be up to eight inches tall, tapering at the top to a small point. The base of the bloom also measures eight inches across, so it forms a triangular shape. Most panicle plants have branches with more than one flower, so the appearance of a mature hydrangea resembles a small tree of large blooms. Use a tall, sturdy vase for a display of hydrangea flowers.

The size of panicle blooms depends on their location on the shrub. The largest blooms appear at the top, and lower down on the shrub the blooms appear smaller. Some of my mature hydrangeas are now approximately ten feet tall and almost as wide! Plan to give these shrubs lots of space when you install them in your garden.

Different Types of Panicle Hydrangeas

My favorite hydrangea is the Limelight, which is a mostly white flower with subtle shades of green. A mature Limelight hydrangea can grow very tall and wide. These plants respond well to pruning, so if you cut them back in the early spring they will grow back bigger. The blossoms always grow on new wood each spring, so frost is not a problem.

I also grow Pinky Winky hydrangeas. Its flowers are a combination of pink and white, with the pink on the bottom. This plant loves full sun and it can grow up to six feet tall.

Quick Fire hydrangeas are similar, with two toned flowers, a large size, and tolerance for sun and heat. The flowers start out pure white, then gradually change to pink. This plant can grow tall, but it is possible to buy smaller varieties.

Of course, when buying any plant, be sure to study the information on its mature size. I have been surprised buying a one gallon or three gallon potted plant, and then a few years later, having it grow much larger than I had first imagined it would be! Study how tall and wide the plant will grow, then be sure to install it where it will have the space it needs.

After just a few years, panicle hydrangea blooms multiply dramatically, creating a magnificent display of large flowers on each shrub. The effect in my yard is stunning, both when I look at them from a distance and when I enjoy them up close.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville magazine.

Three Historic Gardens in Maine

The love of outdoor work and collaboration with Nature brings a peace and satisfaction that can seldom be attained. - Beatrix Farrand, 1954

Last September I traveled to Mount Desert Island in Maine to tour three gardens related to Beatrix Farrand, the first female landscape architect of the early 20th century. Farrand began her career in New York City in 1896, establishing herself as a garden designer for many prominent clients in Gilded Age society.

Although there was no formal training for landscape architecture at the time, Farrand found many skilled tutors and mentors to teach her. She also traveled extensively in Europe with her mother and her aunt, the novelist Edith Wharton, to study garden design, especially in Italy.

One of Farrand's first jobs was to consult on her aunt's gardens at The Mount, Wharton's home in Lenox, Massachusetts. Wharton designed the gardens and her niece designed the entry drive for carriages as well as a large kitchen garden. Farrand also advised her aunt on the placement of the flower gardens so they could be seen from the windows of the grand house. From there, she designed gardens for estates in the Berkshires, Long Island and Newport, Rhode Island.

The Rockefeller Garden

Farrand's childhood summer home, Reef Point, was located in Bar Harbor, Maine, so she was familiar with the area. Many wealthy clients with summer homes on Mount Desert Island hired her to design their gardens. One of the most famous couples, John D. and Abby Rockefeller, had her design their garden and grounds at Seal Harbor, Maine, known today as the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden. Farrand designed the landscape and the hardscape of this garden between 1926 and 1930. It is one of the most enchanting places I have ever visited.

The Rockefellers had traveled extensively in Asia, and they returned with many statues from Korea, China and Japan. The result is a traditional three acre English garden with flower borders as well as Asian statuary, lanterns, and temple roof tiles surrounding the central garden. Today, the Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve maintains this magical place for the public to enjoy from June to early September. Reservations are necessary.

Thuya Garden and Asticou Azalea Garden

The Preserve also maintains two nearby gardens related to Beatrix Farrand, Thuya Garden and the Asticou Azalea Garden. Thuya Garden is located at the site of an early 20th century summer house named Thuya Lodge after the white cedar trees (thuja occidentalis) in the area. Maine resident Charles K. Savage created the garden on the grounds around the lodge using plants he brought from Beatrix Farrand's Reef Point after she dismantled the house and grounds in 1956.

Savage also created Asticou Azalea Garden, highlighting azaleas he transplanted from Reef Point. In the spring the vibrant colors of the azaleas are reflected in a centrally located pond. Influenced by Japanese garden design, Savage created a "sand garden" among the azaleas, and incorporated many Japanese stone features, similar to the Rockefeller garden.

The Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve continues Beatrix Farrand's legacy of garden design by maintaining these gardens for the public to enjoy. If you are planning a visit to Maine, they will be one of the highlights of your trip.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville magazine.

An Abundance of Flowers in May

The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.
- Edwin Way Teale

Spring truly is the season of renewal and hope as the landscape around us turns green. There is new growth everywhere uplifting our spirits, especially after the destructive hurricane last fall. Now the earth comes alive again with May's promise of nature's revival.

Flowers begin to open this month, with colors, shapes and sizes that we haven't seen in nearly a year. The early spring blossoms fade as new ones appear, to our delight and inspiration. Perennials seem like old friends returning after a winter season. We are happy to see them!

Different Flowers to Look For

One of my favorites is the clematis that lives on my trellis, with its star shapes in pink, lavender, maroon and white. This plant climbs high and produces large flowers. Peonies also begin to open with various colors and delicate, cloud-like blossoms. I grow both herbaceous and Itoh peonies that are yellow, pink, red and white. Over time, the flowers fade but the evergreen foliage lasts throughout the summer.

My Siberian and bearded irises display their variety of colors in May. Lupines show their tall yellow and blue forms with distinctive palmate-shaped leaves and multiple leaflets radiating from the center.

What a treat it is to stroll through my yard or to visit public gardens such as the North Carolina Arboretum. There is a visual feast of color everywhere, especially with dogwood and magnolia trees opening pink and white blooms. Native viburnum shrubs, including the Arrowwood, Mapleleaf, Blackhaw and Witherod, put on a spectacular floriferous show for our senses.

Blooming Shrubs

Azaleas are another shrub that blooms in May displaying a wide variety of colors. The orange flame azalea, which is indigenous to Western North Carolina, appears in many locations in May. Much more rare is the pink-shell azalea, which has flowers that are "the color of apple blossoms, and [in appearance] is exceedingly graceful," writes Elizabeth Lawrence in her classic book, A Southern Garden. This azalea is native only to the mountains of Western North Carolina, particularly Grandfather Mountain.

May is also the month of roses, which everyone loves. My yellow and pink Knockout roses begin to bloom every May. During the winter I prune them, then they grow rapidly in April, and by May they have grown enough to produce perfect blossoms. I grow the Knockout variety of roses because they are disease-resistant and produce blossoms throughout the spring and summer.

The Kalmia, or mountain laurel, another North Carolina native, produces pink and white bell-shaped flowers. You will see mountain laurels along the Blue Ridge Parkway and on mountainsides in the spring.

Last, but not least, the rhododendron puts on quite a show during the later part of May with pink, white, lavender and red flowers. The best way to experience the many colors of rhododendrons and mountain laurels on a spring day is while hiking mountain trails. Be sure to get outside this month and enjoy the unfolding beauty around us.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

A Garden is an Expression of Ourselves

Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are. - Alfred Austin, English poet

Recently someone told me that she admires my garden because it is unique. That caused me to reflect on how my garden is an expression of myself and what I like to grow. Then I realized that all gardens are expressions of ourselves and our creativity. I believe that is true because of all the choices gardeners make throughout the gardening season. In this photo, I am holding a vase of Limelight hydrangea blooms surrounded by other plants that I love.

How to Plan a Garden

The first step is to want a garden and begin to visualize it, just like with anything else. It all starts with our imagination. We consider our garden plot and how we want it to look. We can choose a vegetable garden, a flower garden, an herb garden, or a combination of the three. That is first step.

Once we make that decision, then we consider the vast array of plants to grow, each requiring a different plan. For example, whenever I plant squash seeds, I always allow plenty of room for the squash vines to spread out, because that's what the plant needs. For tomato plants I will install a cage or stake as they grow, since it is important to keep the tomatoes off the ground as they ripen.

The same is true for flowers. In my planning, I consider their height and width and then plant them in what I consider to be a good garden design, giving each plant enough space to thrive and mature. Since I like to grow a variety of sunflowers in many colors and sizes, I plant them in the back of my garden bed because they are tall. I plant shorter flowers, such as zinnias and marigolds, closer to the front.

Consider Which Plants You Like

Years ago, when I was part of a community garden, I decided to have two rows of colorful zinnias around the edges of my plot that everyone could see. At first their green foliage was enough to attract attention, but the blooms of red, yellow, orange and purple attracted even more attention! It was fun to design a floral display that others could enjoy. Before I planted the seeds, I could visualize these handsome zinnias in the summer months of July and August. I knew these plants would do well in this sunny location.

What I have learned from these experiences is that gardeners should carefully consider which vegetables they like to eat and which flowers they enjoy looking at in planning their gardens. It is that simple. Your choices will reflect your personality and interests. Your creativity will be on display in a garden design that showcases the beautiful plants you grow.

All of my decisions reflect who I am and what I like to grow in my garden, both for visual appeal and for eating tasty vegetables. The same will be true for you. Use your garden to express who you are!

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

The Lenten Rose

I have been growing hellebores in my garden for over 30 years...No matter what Mother Nature throws at them, hellebores keep on blooming." David Culp, Author and Hellebore Breeder

The evergreen hellebore plant produces attractive blooms during the long winter season. When the earth is bare and brown, hellebores provide a welcome surprise for me as I walk around my yard and notice a cluster of green and white blooms, pure white blooms or cream and rose colored blooms

There is a lot about hellebores that makes them unique. These perennials are hardy in the cold and snow for Zones 4 to 9, plus they bloom during the winter! They are tough plants that are easy to grow, require very little care and they are not attractive to deer and rabbits. Appearing as small mounds, the blooms are close to the ground and tend to turn down, so it takes some effort to get a close look. But I feel it is worth the effort because you can always depend on them for handsome blooms and foliage.

My Favorite Hellebore

I grow three different types of hellebores, but my favorite is the magnificent Helleborus orientalis or Lenten Rose. The delicate colors of these large blooms are mostly cream and pink with some darker red. The center of the flower, containing the stamens, is bright yellow. The Lenten Rose is an attractive perennial that can grow between 12 and 18 inches tall with outward facing flowers, so it is easier to see than other types of hellebores that face down and are shorter. The blooms will last for eight to ten weeks.

Named for the season of Lent before Easter, the Lenten Rose grows well in partial or full shade. When I walk in my yard and I see a clump of these pink and cream flowers on a cold winter day, I always feel uplifted. They may look like roses, but they are actually members of the buttercup family.

New Types of Hellebores

There are 20 species of hellebores, and in recent years, breeders have produced an amazing array of new types of hybrids with stunning colors that range from purple, pink, yellow, green, white and red. The flowers can be single or double in shape as well as turn down or be outward-facing. Some flowers have dark red dots toward the center of the bloom. The variety of new hybrids seems endless.

Hellebores can be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses but I have read that they have to eat a large amount before it causes problems. Their poison can affect humans too, so be sure to wear gloves if you touch them and wash your hands carefully later. My approach is that I leave them alone in my yard and they do fine.

When you do your garden planning, consider planting different types of hellebores in a shady spot in your garden that will offer color in the winter and early spring with an attractive evergreen foliage year round.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

Snowdrops Bloom in February

The early flowers have a special beauty. I always shake with excitement when I find the first clump of snowdrops, fragile, pearl-pure, bending their heads lightly toward the icy, dark ground. - Gladys Taber

One of the earliest flowers to bloom in the winter is the tiny snowdrop, also known as galanthus. You will see its many white blooms along a creek or a road in full sun or partial shade on a chilly February day when the rest of the landscape is brown and bare.

Even though February is always a short month, it can feel longer with the cold, wintry weather. If there is too much snow and ice, that feeling intensifies. Western North Carolina tends to have mild winters, but in February there is usually a persistent raw chill in the air.

Look Down to See Snowdrops

Occasionally there are sunny, warm days this month, so I enjoy getting out to inspect the landscape. That's when I notice tiny white galanthus flowers appearing. They are approximately eight inches high with pretty white flower heads that turn down. If you are walking along and looking at the horizon, you will miss them. This tiny plant requires a deliberate observation of looking down as you walk.

When I come across large masses of snowdrops, they are easy to see with the pure white flowers against the winter landscape. That's when I feel excited, as this flower is a sure sign of approaching spring! Of course, there are other early bloomers in the mountains, such as crocuses and hellebores. But snowdrops bloom first, even in the snow, because they are hardy.

One reason they are so hardy is that they have a natural protein in their sap that prevents ice from forming and damaging the cells in their flowers and leaves. Also, the leaves have a hard tip that can penetrate through the frozen ground and snow. Snowdrop flowers will droop and turn down during very cold spells, then become upright when the temperature warms.

Snowdrops produce nectar and pollen for bees and other early pollinators after a long winter. On a mild February day in Western North Carolina, I have seen honeybees emerge to pollinate snowdrops, so these are important early flowers.

Milk Flower of the Snow

The name galanthus is from two Greek words, "gala" meaning milk and "anthos" meaning flower. The botanist Carl Linnaeus named the snowdrop Galanthus nivalis in 1753 because "nivalis" is the Latin word for snow, so this snowdrop became known as the "milk flower of the snow." For those who have a serious interest in snowdrops, there are many types from which to choose. Look closely, and you will see differences among them.

People have been fascinated with snowdrops since the time of the Greeks and Romans. These plants have been used for medicinal purposes and have had symbolic associations for purity, rebirth, and hope. For many, they also symbolize resilience since they appear so early, emerging through the snow, as they signal the start of a new spring season.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

The Winter Garden

Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening and even the most experienced gardener can learn from the unrestrained beauty around them. - Vincent A. Simeone

How can there be a garden in the winter? Many people ask this question, but I have discovered a few hardy plants that create a satisfying garden experience even when the landscape is bare. With these plants, you can add color and interest to your yard or to your patio if you live in a mild climate such as we have in Western North Carolina.

Among my favorite winter plants is the Hellebore, which has evergreen foliage and pink and white flowers that bloom during the winter. On warm days in December, I have even seen bees emerge to pollinate these flowers. Another favorite is the Nandina, a perennial shrub with handsome leaves and abundant red berries that appear in November, just in time for the holidays. Other shrubs with beautiful red berries are winterberry, holly and euonymous. I especially like the Silver King euonymous with its variegated foliage and bright red berries that grace my indoor winter arrangements.

Evergreen Foliage

I appreciate shrubs that add the color of their evergreen foliage to the winter landscape. Two standouts are the Mahonia, with striking leaves and yellow flowers that bloom in the winter, and the Acuba with its large yellow and green leaves. The foliage on these shrubs last long after all the hydrangea leaves in the yard have fallen to the ground.

In addition to shrubs, many ferns grow in my garden. Some die off during the cold months, but others, like the Autumn Brilliance and Shield ferns, endure. These hardy plants produce large leaves that glow in the late afternoon light. I enjoy studying them up close and seeing the many spores on the back of each leaf.

There are also cool weather vegetables that can tolerate frosty nights. Kale, cabbage and other brassicas like Brussels Sprouts can thrive throughout a mild winter. Ornamental kale and cabbages come in vibrant colors. I don't eat them because they are bitter, but the pink, lavender, white and green outer petals brighten any winter landscape.

Winter Color

While most flowers require warm temperatures, one flower that does well in the cold is the pansy. I buy containers of them in the fall and plant them in pots outside. Since the winter in Western North Carolina is usually mild, pansies can bloom for a long time, providing many different colors. If the forecast is for colder temperatures, I just bring the pots inside until it warms up.

Perhaps the ultimate winter flowering plant is the Yuletide Camellia. I have not grown it, but one year I admired the vibrant red blooms with a yellow center in a neighbor's front yard. It blooms in December and will bring uplifting color to any Southern garden.

Just because we have entered the cold, dark days of winter, doesn't mean that the gardener has to give up green foliage and colorful flowers. With a little care and foresight, anyone can have a winter garden to enjoy.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily.

When Nature is Out of Balance

Climate change is no longer some far-off problem. It is happening here; it is happening now. - President Barack Obama

Every month I write a column about gardening and the natural world. For this column, I am writing about Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. It affected all of us in the mountains in so many ways, some of which are still unfolding.

By the time Helene reached our region, it was technically a tropical storm but felt like a hurricane. Scientists have said that Helene intensified due to climate change. The water in the Gulf of Mexico was approximately 85 degrees as Helene passed over it. This record temperature fueled the storm.

Gardens, landscapes, trees and towns were devastated throughout the region as this monster storm barreled into our region on September 27. Even though my family was fortunate not to sustain injuries or have significant damage to our house, for weeks afterward I felt too overwhelmed by the storm's aftermath to continue with my usual fall gardening chores. I knew what needed to be done, but I just couldn't do the work.

Too Much Rain Before Helene

For two days before Helene struck, there was a rainstorm in Asheville that saturated the ground. An additional 17 inches of rain fell from the hurricane, triggering destructive floods and landslides. Tiny creeks swelled enormously; large rivers like the French Broad and the Swannanoa destroyed towns and businesses. Almost three months' worth of rain fell in three days. The natural world as we know it was turned upside down.

When climate-fueled storms occur, they can create catastrophic damage. Forests fall, landslides rumble onto roads, and ferocious rivers pulverize towns and streets. The unnatural intensification of Helene produced a power that was frightening and dangerous. Nature was out of balance, creating destruction.

Normally, there is an orderliness in nature all around us. Different plants grow and bloom at different times, showing us where we are in the yearly cycle. We depend on the order and harmony of the natural world to live our lives.

Nature is our foundation, so when that foundation is shaken, we are shaken to the core. All our systems of living change with a storm like this, from electricity, running water, Internet access and cell phone communication. When these systems fail simultaneously, as they did with Helene, we are lost.

Intense storms caused by climate change weren't supposed to affect Western North Carolina, or so everyone thought. The weather seemed perfect here, until it wasn't. Helene proved that destructive storms can happen anywhere because of our warming earth.

Looking Forward with Hope

A few weeks after Helene, I ordered several peony roots and tulip bulbs to plant this fall. That task helped me think about spring next year and what would bloom in my garden. Ordering these roots and bulbs took my mind off the destruction I had seen. Gardeners always look ahead, so I decided to buy these plants as an exercise in hope. Audrey Hepburn famously said, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." I want to believe that in the spring next year, the earth will be restored.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

A Killing Frost

The third day comes a frost, a killing frost. - William Shakespeare, Henry VIII

By early November, summer is definitely over. There are glorious warm and sunny days in the fall season, but they are followed by colder nights and shorter days. The weather forecast occasionally advises gardeners of a possible frost, but sometimes the frost doesn't happen. Or, if it does happen, many plants can survive a night temperature that only hovers around the freezing mark.

According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, a temperature between 29 and 32 degrees is a light freeze. This will kill only young, tender plants. A moderate freeze occurs between 25 and 28 degrees. Many plants will not survive a moderate freeze. But a killing frost is when the temperature drops below 25 degrees. This event officially ends the growing season.

Watch the Forecast

During November, the daytime brings in warmth and the nighttime cold. It is a time for gardeners to watch the weather forecast carefully, knowing that the growing season is almost over and to enjoy the plants that thrive in the autumn.

These plants, like nasturtiums, do well in cooler weather. The low temperatures allow nasturtiums to grow bigger with enormous round leaves and orange flowers. In my garden, they spread over the space given up by the less hardy plants that don't survive a moderate freeze. Marigolds also hang on, producing many golden and orange blooms.

Eventually a killing frost ends all growth. The nasturtiums collapse and the marigolds turn brown. This powerful event concludes the growing season that began many months before.

Prepare Outdoor Plants

It is possible for a killing frost to occur in late October, but it will certainly happen in November, so it is important to prepare. When there is a forecast of a nighttime temperature below 25 degrees, bring in potted plants to keep them alive. Cover other plants outside that might need protection. Most of all, you have to let go and let nature take its course. There is no stopping it!

In my yard, the plants in front of my house bear the brunt of a frost. The sunpatiens, that are my pride and joy with their lush foliage and vivid colors, just keel over and turn brown after one night of severe frost. This always happens by early November, but I am never ready to accept it.

Other plants, like tithonias and zinnas, are also done and turn brown. That's when I cut them down and gather them for the compost pile. Knowing this must happen always helps me appreciate their short, vibrant season each summer because their beauty is ephemeral.

Once a killing frost happens, the season takes a turn toward a deeper experience of autumn. November hints at what is behind us, with midday warmth and color, but it also shows what is ahead, with cold nights and a barren landscape. While a killing frost signals that the growing season has ended, it gives us the opportunity to look ahead to new gardens next year.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

Autumn Brings Dramatic Changes to the Landscape

Then summer fades and passes, and October comes. Will smell smoke then, and feel an unsuspected sharpness, a thrill of nervous, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure. - Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938), “You Can't Go Home Again”


Each year I am amazed at the dramatic changes during the month of October. At the beginning of the month, the weather and landscape still resemble summer in many ways. Leaves are green, plants are still growing and the temperature is warm. Sometimes, the temperature and humidity feel too high for me.

Many flowers, such as zinnias and tithonias, continue to bloom in early October. There are lots of butterflies and bees still around. When the weather is warm and sunny, I try to convince myself that summer hasn't ended. All is well until mid-month, when changes that were imperceptible in early October begin to emerge in a more obvious way.

Changes Begin By Mid-October

In mid-October, shadows become long and dark in the late afternoon as the sun sinks lower on the horizon. As I walk around my yard, I am startled to see my long shadow across the lawn. It always surprises me with a Halloween feel to it! Hydrangea leaves begin to get brown spots on them. The leaves of my burning bush turn a vivid red. Japanese maples turn red or even yellow. Dusk arrives on an earlier schedule that accelerates daily. Sunshine slips away rapidly.

Toward the end of the month, other changes occur. Temperatures are noticeably cooler and sometimes there is a frost advisory on the weather forecast. Many plants that were dark green or rust-colored a few weeks earlier are now brown and withered. Hosta leaves turn a glorious yellow color, then dry up and become frail. The handsome leaves of the calla lily are now yellow and falling over. Ferns begin to fade away.

The mountain landscape around Asheville takes on a different look with tones of orange, red and yellow. Clouds overhead cast dramatic shadows on the mountainside. It is thrilling to see views of the fall foliage from the higher elevations on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The End of the Life Cycle

By late October the deepening fall season is upon us, marking the end of the life cycle for many insects and plants. The butterflies are long gone and there are fewer bees. The oncoming cold and dark are changes that we must heed to prepare for the approaching winter. I cut down stalks of zinnias, okra, and sunflowers for the brush pile. Each day there are fewer plants in my garden beds.

The pace of the fall season accelerates as the month ends. Leaves drop rapidly from the trees and daylight fades quickly each afternoon. The sugar maples, which were a vivid orange color weeks before, now are showing bare branches. Usually a cold front arrives, bringing gusty winds, along with a killing frost that signals a new phase of fall as we enter November.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

Late Summer Spiderwebs

The spider's humble handiwork shows fine with jewels girdling every airy line- Louise Imogen Guiney (1861-1920) "Cobwebs"

Do you know what an orb weaver is? It is a large spider that catches its prey in a circular web. Every year, starting in late August, I notice many orb weaver spiders and their webs around my yard. When the light hits the webs in just the right way, they are absolutely magical. Other times, when the light comes from a different direction, the webs are invisible.

Orb weavers are not aggressive spiders. They will leave their web if you approach, so they are not dangerous to humans and pets. The best places for their webs are near flowers and vegetables, which attract many insects. I tend to give them as much space as they need in my garden in order to encourage their web-building activity. I appreciate their ability to capture many insects in their webs.

Recently I wanted to cut some hydrangea blooms and I noticed an ambitious spider had created an amazing circular web between two branches of one of my hydrangea shrubs. I was grateful I had noticed it before I accidentally disturbed it, so I gave it a wide berth.

Webs Can Glisten in the Light

Around the same time, I also noticed a silvery web hanging over my compost bin. It looked like a Christmas ornament floating in the air. I grabbed my camera and sat down in the dirt next to the bin to photograph this incredible design with the spider in it. As I admired the intricacy of this web that was glistening in the light, I moved quickly to photograph it because I knew how fleeting the light can be. Later that afternoon the direction of the light had changed and I could no longer see the web.

An invisible web is one that insects will not notice before they fly into it. Once they do, the vibrations of the web strands notify the spider that prey has entered the web. The spider will bite and paralyze its prey, then wrap it in a silk cocoon to consume later.

Late summer is when the orb weavers are mature and capable of spinning enormous, complex webs. Most of the web is created using a non-sticky spider silk made of protein, but the final layer is sticky for capturing prey. If a web gets destroyed during the day, the spider will build a new one overnight.

Spiders are Beneficial Insects

All these spiderwebs appearing in late summer got me thinking about how beneficial spiders are for gardens and gardeners. They are voracious eaters that trap all kinds of annoying insects, such as mosquitoes, aphids, flies, beetles and wasps. The orb weavers protect you and your plants from many pests.

These spiders are very active this time of year, especially in the evening. When the light is right, their webs' intricate details appear. If you have a garden, be sure to notice them and appreciate the beauty and ecological balance they bring to your yard.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville.

Rearranging the Garden in August

The change always comes about mid-August, and it always catches me by surprise. I mean the day I know when summer is fraying at the edges, that September isn't far off, and fall is just over the hill or up the valley. -- Hal Borland

Every August I realize that it is time to begin the process of rearranging my garden to prepare for fall. It seems hard to believe since the summer weather is still warm and sunny, but I can see that certain plants are done for the season. It is time to remove them and replace them with plants for the cooler weather.

The first plant to fade is squash. This is one of the most vigorous plants that I grow. It produces very large leaves on tall stems, vibrant yellow flowers and plentiful fruit. But all the energy that goes into this production begins to wane by mid-August. The handsome leaves lie on the ground, there are few flowers and the squash fruit is minimal. Since squash takes up so much space, it is a good idea to remove it by late August to make room for new fall plants.

Many herbs such as dill and basil also begin to fade. Some of the tomato plants, which grew rapidly and produced delicious fruit, are also done for the season. The cherry tomatoes in particular, which ripen early in July, are no longer producing, so I remove their cages and pull up the plants. It can take several days to remove all the dead vegetation from my garden beds.

How I Rearrange My Garden

I have discovered that there are steps to this process of rearranging the garden for fall growth. First, I remove the obvious plants that are decaying. Then I remove weeds. But after that I need to stand at the border and look at the space that I have created. Suddenly, parts of the garden are bare for the first time since early spring. Now my garden has a different appearance and I have to decide where I want to put in new seedlings, such as cabbage, for the cooler weather.

Also in August, sunflowers start to turn their large heads down as they produce seeds. This always attracts goldfinches that fly around the yard as they hunt for these seeds. I enjoy their chirping and the brilliant yellow plumage of the males.

Late Summer Changes

Although the pollinator activity is still strong in August, I am aware that in a few weeks the insects will begin to slow down or die off. I appreciate the bees and butterflies even more at this time of year knowing that they won't last much longer. Beginning in August colorful lavender New England asters bloom and feed the pollinators.

Late summer changes in the environment are subtle but real. Sunrise comes much later in mid-August and sunset is earlier. The change in daylight is a signal to insects, birds and animals that fall is coming. It's a signal for all of us to heed as we transition to a new season.

Judith Canty Graves is an award-winning columnist with a home garden in Asheville. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily.

Enjoy What You Grow

I enjoy what I grow most when I can place it in a vase or prepare it in the kitchen. No flower arranger or cook could ask for a better source of material. - Carolyne Roehm, At Home in the Garden

One of the most uplifting things gardeners can do is display what they have grown in the garden. Author David Culp writes that bringing flower arrangements into his home is one of the easiest ways to bring the outdoors inside, "...as vital to our way of living as food--food for the body, plants for the soul."

Creativity with Flowers

Flower arranging is a creative activity for me. It is the culmination of planning a garden, preparing the soil, planting seeds, recording notes, and watching the plants grow. At some point, I step back and observe how the plants mature, ripen and reach their pinnacle of growth. Once the blooms are at their peak, I create flower arrangements for my home and share extra bouquets with friends.

Over the years I have collected a variety of vases in which to arrange flowers. I have many glass and pottery vases to accommodate a wide variety of blooms. Once I decide on the flowers I want to arrange, then the experimentation and fun begins. I enjoy finding the best vase and putting the right arrangement in a prominent spot in my house.

I like photographing my arrangements to keep a record of how they looked and which flowers produced the best results. For example, macrophylla hydrangeas produce a range of colors from pink to blue to deep purple. The arrangements are always satisfying to me, even in photographs, long after the flowers have faded.

Sharing the Garden’s Bounty

When my garden harvest is plentiful, I share vegetables with friends and neighbors. Squashes, tomatoes, okra and herbs are fun to harvest and add to meals. The kitchen garden outside my door always produces a great supply of food for cooking, eating and sharing. This garden inspires me to study recipes for delicious dinners on the patio for family and friends.

The vegetable harvest begins in May with sweet Sugar Snap peas. Once the peas finish their season in June, other vegetables and herbs begin to mature, such as tomatoes and sweet basil. By July, the harvest bounty begins, and continues through September. Everyone appreciates the taste of vegetables that come fresh from the garden.

Flowers, vegetables and their foliage are uplifting both outside in the yard and inside the home. With areas of both full sun and partial shade, I can grow a wide variety of both sun-tolerant and shade-loving plants. Over the years, many of my shrubs, such as the hydrangeas, have matured and now produce more blooms than ever.

On my kitchen counter I have a large bowl for displaying the current crop of vegetables. In the summer, it holds a variety of different tomatoes, okra pods and squashes, ready for meals. The visual display of floral arrangements and colorful vegetables is a rejuvenating and creative activity for me.

I hope that you will enjoy the bounty of your garden this summer!

My award-winning column appears in The Laurel of Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily.

June is a Month of Growth and Wonder

Summer begins now, about a week past, with the expanded leaves, the shade, and warm weather.... Plants are rapidly growing, shooting. The first bloom of the year is over. It is now the season of growth. - Henry David Thoreau, June 1, 1853

There is an unfolding of nature during the month of June. The prelude occurs during the earlier spring season, but the fullness of summer in the South starts in early June. Plants that were new and fresh in April and May now become more mature. Leaves on the trees are completely open and lush. The landscape around us is a vibrant green, slightly darker than the new green growth only a few weeks before.

In June, summer temperatures hit their stride, showing us the wonder and growth of plants everywhere. A succession of blooms open and then fade, uplifting our spirits. Even though the calendar tells us that the solstice begins June 20, in the Southern mountains we experience summer weather weeks earlier.

The Earth Feels Alive

Days become longer and sunrise is earlier. The earth feels more alive, especially with insects buzzing and birds singing daily. Tree frogs are calling for mates. Tiny praying mantises start crawling around the yard after they hatch. We see and hear the changes around us. For gardeners, it sometimes feels challenging to keep up with June's intense growth.

The early blooms of peonies, daffodils and irises have passed. Now the warmer days begin and the grass grows more slowly. The foliage of the macrophylla hydrangeas and the panicle hydrangeas becomes more lush. By June the tiny hydrangea buds of May grow bigger with each passing day. I anticipate the large hydrangea blooms to come!

Ferns unfurl their magnificent leaves. The delicate fiddleheads, which appear in April and May, turn into graceful leaves. Different ferns have different rates of growth. Some are fully open by late April, but others take longer. By June all the ferns spread their glorious green leaves; hostas also are fully grown, with their magnificent colors and patterns.

In June I watch the seedlings I planted weeks ago become taller each day. Tomatoes, in particular, have darker green leaves and thicker stems. They produce tiny yellow flowers as signs of a future harvest bounty. Sunflowers and tithonias grow rapidly and seem established. Colorful calla lilies bloom with their curving shapes and striking spotted foliage.

June is Magical

Fireflies begin to flash their mating signals in the evenings. Late at night, in the dark, I see them twinkling up high in the trees. It is a magical sight. Bullfrogs croak loudly in ponds. Dragonflies are everywhere.

Although I have seen this before, it still seems miraculous. All the changes in the environment are a wonder. The genius of nature is on display every day as the plants, insects, animals and birds grow into maturity. April and May are the months of emergence, but June is the time of fulfilling growth as a new season begins.

Please let me know what is growing in your garden this month in the comments below!

This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily.