Gardening in the Autumn

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus

Autumn heralds many changes in the garden. Once October is underway, the changes become dramatic as we move quickly into the fall season. The days become shorter, and cooler temperatures for both day and night bring relief in many ways. The intense heat of summer fades, so it is easier to work outside for longer periods. Destructive insects die off so that cabbages and other fall vegetables have a chance to thrive without lacy patterns chewed into their leaves.

Many Vegetables Grow Well in the Fall

By October, the cool weather seedlings that I bought at my local garden center in August are a good size. I like to grow broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale. I buy seedlings because starting these plants from seeds in August doesn't allow enough time for them to mature before the cold weather begins. I have always been pleased and somewhat surprised that these seedlings grow so well in the fall.

My favorite plant of all of the cool weather vegetables is the magnificent red cabbage with its enormous leaf span. When I plant the tiny seedlings in mid-August, I have to remind myself to give them plenty of space, because by October the blue leaves with their red veins spread wide across the ground. As the handsome leaves unfurl and reveal a cabbage head in the center, insects do not eat them. Even with the cold temperatures of November and December, this plant survives beautifully and the head is delicious to eat.

Another change in the fall is that weeds no longer have the tenacious hold they have during the summer. Most have dried up and died, making them easy to remove. Some weeds have been covering important pathways, so I weed these areas first so I can see where I am going. I can then extend my weeding to other areas of my garden beds.

The Benefit of an Autumn Garden

An autumn garden also provides an important emotional benefit. By early November the leaves are falling from the trees and the winter landscape emerges. While I always admire the bare tree branches, they are a stark reminder of the approaching winter. As a contrast, my autumn garden is green and lush! The large and handsome cabbage and broccoli plants remind me that there is more growth to enjoy before winter arrives.

The cooler October temperatures allow additional opportunities for garden chores like dividing perennials and removing dead plant material. I use this time to cut back plants like peonies. They have finished for the season, so I pile the removed foliage in the back of the yard for creatures that will need shelter over the winter. It is also the perfect time to install new plants because the soil is still warm but the days are cool.

In October I always feel a bit wistful because the earth has visibly changed and summer is gone, but I appreciate extending the growing season with my autumn garden. Are growing vegetables this fall? Please let me know which ones in the comments below!

Judith Canty Graves is an Asheville gardener with a background in photojournalism. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily.

Find Your Sanctuary

I have a room all to myself; it is Nature. ~ Henry David Thoreau, January, 1853

Finding a peaceful spot in a natural environment is important for me, as I imagine it is for most gardeners. Nature is soothing, so I spend as much time outdoors as I can. Most of all, I want a quiet place to gather my thoughts and enjoy the sun and the sounds of nature.

Your Personal Retreat

The dictionary defines the word sanctuary as a place of refuge or repose, a place where you can find peace. The origin of the word sanctuary is from the Latin sanctuarium, and sanctus, meaning holy. A natural location, such as a garden or a park, can be a retreat from the world where you experience the beauty of nature and emerge rested.

In the back of my yard there is a bench where I sit and listen to a small waterfall on a nearby creek. This spot is a place to take a break or to have a conversation with a friend. The bench and the creek are my sanctuary.

Your sanctuary can be a balcony, a patio or even a porch with container plants that you enjoy. This is the spot where you unwind and appreciate the world around you. Recently, as I visited a friend, we sat outside on her porch on a perfect summer day. The breeze was cool and the clouds were slowly moving overhead. We remarked on the beauty of the clouds, the blue sky and the peaceful setting, surrounded by her colorful flowers.

Any time of year when we spend time outside in our outdoor space, our senses are heightened. We can appreciate bird calls, breezes, water flowing or chimes tinkling in the wind. Certain visual features in the landscape are powerful as well, such as a path, a trellis, stone fences or an attractive bench. I love paths that meander through a property, leading a visitor from one garden area to another.

Express Your Creativity in Your Garden

We can also add artwork to our gardens to enhance the natural setting and to express our creativity. On a recent garden tour I enjoyed seeing one gardener's creative sculptures featuring imaginative faces and creatures on pathways in her garden. It was a joyful experience walking around her property and finding these surprising and colorful pieces of art. In other gardens on the tour I saw a personal temple area with hammocks for relaxing and a private place on a hillside with comfortable chairs.

Even if you don't have a suitable yard or patio, you can find your personal sanctuary in a public park or a conservation area. One of my favorite spots in past years was Mount Misery in Lincoln, Massachusetts, a place where Henry David Thoreau frequently spent time and wrote about. The paths through the woods and past the ponds where he walked are magical, uncrowded and peaceful. They became a sanctuary for me that I enjoyed throughout the year. Find your own sanctuary in your yard or somewhere else, and visit it often.

Do you have you own peaceful sanctuary in nature that you call your own? Share it with me in the comments!

Judith Canty Graves is an Asheville gardener with a background in photojournalism. This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily.

Summertime Abundance

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer.... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

August is when we experience the fullness of the summer season. All the initial growth from late spring and early summer is now steady, vigorous and strong. Plants have thicker stems, broader leaves and many blossoms. As I walk around my yard, I feel like they are vibrating with energy. This is a season that I truly savor each day because there is so much richness around me.

What’s Growing in August

In the morning the squash plants are spectacular with their orange-yellow blossoms. Their enormous leaves hide the growing squash fruit. Dozens of bees pollinate, tendrils curl, and thick stalks grow stronger from the ground to the leaves. As the squash foliage reaches across the walkway into the zinnia bed, I remind myself to leave more room next year when I plant the tiny seeds.

During August the sunflowers produce spectacular blooms that are noticeable because of their size and beauty. The flowering zinnias are striking with colors of red, purple, yellow, pink, lavender, white and orange. There is color everywhere in the summer landscape.

With more blooms out, butterflies and bees arrive to enjoy the nectar and pollen. Hummingbirds appear briefly, then dart away before I can get a good look. Finches also appear, inspecting the sunflowers to see if the seeds are ready. The amount of plant growth, pollinator activity and bird calls seem to increase daily.

The sun still sets late every day. I enjoy working outside in the cool evening air until about 8:30. There is plenty of light. At this point, summer feels endless. My senses are heightened with the sunshine, the warm air and the plants in my garden. Spending time in my yard is a sensory experience as I listen to the birds and take in the bounty of this magical season.

Summer Pleasures

Tailgate markets are bursting with produce, every dinner at my house features fresh vegetables, and best of all, it is peach season! I know the peaches won't last too long, but I treasure every bite. Tomatoes and squashes are plentiful, so I look for new recipes for how to cook them. Also, eating some fruits and vegetables raw is even more satisfying because their flavors are so strong and delicious.

Panicle hydrangeas reach their peak in August. I have several Limelight hydrangeas that grow to about ten feet tall. They reliably produce handsome white blooms with a light green tint that last for weeks. Arranging floral bouquets is one of my favorite things to do, especially in the summer when the flowers are right outside my door. I enjoy having the bouquets in my kitchen to remind me of all the flowers outside.

Another great joy of summer is sharing my flowers and vegetables with friends. My garden overflows with abundance; there is simply too much to keep! Having this bounty to share makes summer a perfect season of the year. Do you share flowers and vegetables with your friends? It is fun to do!

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

Be Patient with Moonflowers

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience – Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of the most exotic plants that I have ever grown is the mysterious and stunning moonflower. This is not an easy plant to germinate, but it is worth the effort. Several years ago I bought seeds and planted them as I usually do. Nothing happened and I didn't know why until I did some research. I discovered that the seeds need to be soaked for several hours, and then their hard shells need to be cut open. What a fussy plant! The next spring I used nail clippers to snip a bit off each seed after soaking, and this time they sprouted.

A Nocturnal Bloom

A unique feature of the moonflower is that it blooms at dusk and each bloom lasts for only one night. However, the effect of seeing these large white blossoms of approximately eight inches wide at night is magical. Nighttime pollinators, such as moths and bats, are attracted to the moonflower's sweet scent.

Since the moonflower is a vine, I plant the seeds at the base of my trellis in May. It seems to take a long time for sprouts to emerge, but eventually they do. Large handsome leaves appear as the plant climbs over the trellis. Finally, in late August, I begin to see buds. By mid-September, the blooms began to unfurl as evening approaches. The bud opens quickly, which is a thrill to watch! By dawn the next day the flower fades. Seeing an open moonflower at night under the full moon is a glorious sight.

Moonflowers do well in a Southern climate. In Western North Carolina, the blooms keep coming throughout most of October until the nights become cool. Then the moonflower season is over. It is a long wait from planting seeds in May to the appearance of blooms in September and October, but a gardener's patience is rewarded by the beauty of this nocturnal-blooming plant.

Two Types of Moonflowers

Gardeners should be aware that there are two different plants referred to as "moonflowers," with names like devil's trumpet, jimson weed, devil's weed or loco weed. One is Datura stramonium and the other is Ipomoea alba, which is the one that I grow.

There are significant distinctions between the two plants. Datura blooms during the day and grows low to the ground. Also, its flower is a different shape than Ipomoea. More importantly, all parts of the Datura are highly poisonous to both humans and animals. Even Ipomoea can be mildly toxic if ingested, but it is safe to touch, so it is a much better option for the gardener than Datura. When you buy moonflower seeds, be sure to read the packet carefully to see which variety you are buying.

Many cultures have associated the moonflower with a sense of mystery, love and spiritual enlightenment. If you have a trellis in a sunny area and you are willing to be patient, consider growing the magnificent Ipomoea alba moonflower.

Have you had success growing moonflowers? Please share any tips you may have in the comment section below.

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

A Lost Plant is a Gardening Opportunity

The seeds of resilience are planted in the way we process the negative events in our lives.
- Sheryl Sandberg

Over the Christmas weekend in 2022, Western North Carolina had a major freeze for two days and nights due to a bomb cyclone named Winter Storm Elliot. During that weekend the temperature dropped from fifty degrees to zero degrees in only eight hours as a powerful cold front moved in. This sudden drop in temperature is known as a flash freeze. Forecasters called Elliot a "once in a generation" weather event.

Watch the Weather

As a gardener, I always watch weather forecasts carefully and I was anxious about possible damage to the plants in my yard. There was no way to put row cover on many sensitive plants, especially with the high winds that came with the temperature drop. There was nothing I could do, so I waited through the Christmas weekend hoping for the best.

Over the coming days I walked around my yard to inspect the plants. I was shocked to see damage on many broadleaf evergreens such as rhododendrons, camellias, skip laurels, acubas, and two mahonia plants. The mahonias were about to open their small yellow flowers in late December, but the freeze killed them. All the mahonia leaves turned brown a few days later and dropped to the ground.

During the next few weeks I found videos online of garden experts describing the damage. VolunteerGardener.org in Tennessee had an excellent video explaining how the arctic cold killed the cells in the leaves of broadleaf evergreens. Ending on a positive note, the video host pointed out that a lost plant is a gardening opportunity. That advice resonated with me and the idea of a gardening opportunity became the inspiration for this column.

Gardens Change

By March many of my damaged plants were showing signs of life, forming new buds for leaves and flowers. Nature is resilient, so I was hopeful that at least some of the plants would revive, especially once spring began. But I noticed that my mahonia shrubs still showed no sign of life. Even scraping the bark did not reveal green inside. These were lost plants and no amount of waiting would bring them back. So I began to think about what opportunity this gave me. As I have written before, our gardens are constantly changing, so we must adapt to changes as they happen.

I began to imagine what I could put in this new opening in my garden, which was a pleasant exercise. I took my cue from a group of hydrangeas nearby, and I decided to fill in the space with more hydrangeas.

This is a process that gardeners embark on every spring after a winter of dreaming about their gardens. Of course, there is the hard work of digging, pruning, and cleaning out the winter debris, but that is the foundation of the creative side of gardening. Losing the two mature mahonia shrubs with their handsome evergreen leaves was a big loss, but it also created an opportunity for additional hydrangea blooms in my yard.

Did the freeze last winter affect your plants too? Let me know in the comments below.

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

A Treasured Perennial

The rose must yield first rank to the modern peony, which by reason of its sheer wealth of splendor and majesty of presence is now entitled to be called the Queen of Flowers.
- Alice Harding, The Peony Book

One of the most exquisite plants for the spring season is the elegant peony. Nothing else compares to its beauty. I love many flowers, but peony blooms capture my heart. Alice Harding, who wrote two books on peonies in 1917 and 1923, was a passionate gardener who became an authority on peonies.

Types of Peonies

Most gardeners grow herbaceous peonies that are approximately three feet tall. A different variety, the tree peony, has a woody stem that can reach up to seven feet high. A third variety is the Itoh peony, named for Toichi Itoh, a Japanese botanist who crossed a tree peony with a herbaceous peony in the 1940s. There are seven different types of Itoh peonies that all produce large and plentiful blooms.

Dating back to 1000 BCE, peonies were originally native to China and were later introduced to Japan. Because the Chinese emperors grew them in their gardens they became symbols of wealth, honor and nobility. Herbaceous peonies arrived in Europe in 1548 and tree peonies in 1789, when the botanist Sir Joseph Banks planted one in Kew Gardens, London. Now peonies are beloved all around the world.

Peonies bloom beginning in May or June depending on where you live. The range of colors, the types of blooms, the fragrance and the handsome foliage all delight the senses. Every spring, this intense period of large ethereal flowers captivates me.

Fall Chores for Peonies

But I have learned that there is more to peonies than spring blooms. Each fall, I spend a lot of time preparing these beauties for the winter and the following spring. This is important in order to have good blooms in the future.

One of my fall tasks is to cut back the foliage of herbaceous peonies close to the ground. Then I like to sit on the ground next to each peony and look closely for the plant's "eyes." These are the tiny red buds that will produce next year's flowers. These buds need to be near the surface of the soil.

Once I locate the eyes of each plant I make sure they are no more than two inches from the surface. Eyes that are covered with too much dirt or mulch will not produce blooms the next spring. As far as I am concerned, the eyes have it!

Also, fall is the best time to buy bare-root peonies from local nurseries or mail order garden shops. These are the dormant roots of an established plant that have been dug up and refrigerated before selling. They will need to be planted in a location with full sun and at a depth that is not too deep.

If you perform your fall tasks well, by early spring the eyes will turn into maroon colored stems about an inch high. At this point, the stems grow rapidly as the plant responds to the warm rays of the sun. According to Alice Harding, when she could see the red tips of her peonies growing, she knew the garden season had begun. I agree with her!

What kind of peonies are you growing?

This article appears in The Laurel of Asheville. Follow @TheObservantGardener on Instagram to see new garden photos daily! It also won second prize in the columns category from the National Federation of Press Women in their 2024 Communications Contest.

Choose Native Plants for Your Garden

Native plants give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours. I want Texas to look like Texas and Vermont to look like Vermont. — Lady Bird Johnson

In recent years there has been an increased awareness of native plants as we learn about the effect of climate change and environmental stresses on pollinators. Gardeners everywhere are trying to reverse the trend of pollinator decline by selecting plants that are appropriate to their home environment and region.

Our Yards Are Complex Eco Systems

Like so many others, I am learning about the importance of native plants in our environment, but my awareness is growing beyond that. As I research this topic, I am becoming aware that our own yards are complex ecosystems. The birds, insects, flowers and the soil are interdependent. Our gardens and yards are living habitats where these elements all depend on each other.

As gardeners, we need to think in terms of what plants are best suited for our yards. There are many shrubs, trees and flowers that are indigenous to the mountains of North Carolina. Having a variety of vegetation that is appropriate to our region can create attractive environments for beneficial insects and many types of birds.

Resources for Gardeners

One excellent place to find out about local flora is Carolina Native Nursery, located in Burnsville, North Carolina. Bill Jones, the Founder and President, talked to me about why people should be interested in native plants. He said "A lot of us moved here for the natural beauty of Western North Carolina, so it makes sense to continue this in your own landscape. Native plants do better because they have evolved over the millennia to the weather, soils and environment. Indigenous plants support the indigenous flora and fauna. These plants have evolved to the nutrient level of the soils and the type of weather."

On my visits to Carolina Native Nursery I have noticed a great variety of healthy looking plants for sale. Bill and his staff are a knowledgeable resource for gardeners wanting to learn more. Their website is www.carolinanativenursery.com.

Another important resource for gardeners interested in supporting local plants and insects is The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman, founder of EcoBeneficial. The book explains the details of pollination and how to attract and support bees, butterflies, bats and other pollinators. This is a must-have book for gardeners! You can learn more about this book at www.ecobeneficial.com/pvg. The website and book are full of great ideas to help you become a better ecological steward of your landscape. The website also contains a comprehensive list of native plants for the Southeast as well as other parts of the country.

Many homeowners are now replacing their grass lawns with meadows of local flowers. The idea is that these meadows will create a thriving ecosystem for native bees, honey bees, wasps, birds and butterflies. Even renters who have small spaces can create container gardens with native plants on their patios. Regardless of your situation, take a good look at your home landscape this year and consider how you can improve your environment with plants that are indigenous to your region.

Do you plant native plants in Spring? What are your favorites? I would love to know.

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

Early Spring in the Mountains

These March winds, which make the woods roar and fill the world with life and bustle, appear to wake up the trees out of their winter sleep and excite the sap to flow. - Henry David Thoreau, Journal of March 9, 1852

I enjoy reading the Journals of Henry David Thoreau, who lived in Concord, Massachusetts, from 1817 to 1862. His many volumes contain various descriptions about life in that era, especially details of the natural world. One of my favorites is Early Spring in Massachusetts, which records Thoreau's observations from late February through mid-April over a period of many years. His book inspired my title for this column.

I have always felt that early spring is its own special season. It is the time of transition between the end of winter and the warm weather of late spring that we all cherish. The bridge period is the month of March.

Living In WNC

The Western mountains of North Carolina can experience harsh winter weather in March despite being in the South. Spring begins tentatively in late February with mild days and emerging flowers, but March often roars in like a lion with gusty winds, cloudy days, freezing temperatures and sometimes snow, especially in the higher elevations. It feels like winter will hang on forever, but just before the Equinox in mid-March the tide begins to turn and Nature moves forward into the new season with green grass everywhere and a steady warmth.

The warm February and March days allow plants to swell their buds and then open, leaving them vulnerable to the killing frosts that can often occur in March. This can be a nerve-wracking time for gardeners. New blooms, such as daffodils, are so fragile and delicate that my only defense is to pick as many of them as I can for floral arrangements before they perish in a freeze.

Early Spring Changes

Early spring brings with it signs of change everywhere, even though they can be subtle. Tiny white snowdrop flowers appear with crocuses. Birds return and sing throughout the day. Buds on trees grow bigger. Occasionally a bee or a small moth appears in the garden. The biggest change is that the sun is higher in the sky and stronger. Each day is longer. Sitting outside on a mild March afternoon in the sun is a blissful experience after a long and dark winter.

Yet, we cannot assume it will be like that every day. March, and even April, demand that we be aware of sudden changes in weather. Such is the reality of early spring: the roller-coaster ride of fluctuating temperatures. Gardeners have to pay careful attention to the weather during those months to protect plants with row cover or bring plants inside in case of abrupt temperature changes.

Early spring is an unpredictable season with many weather changes, but it is also full of promise for what is to come. We always hope March will exit like a lamb into a warm and spring-like April! Are you experiencing warmer days now where you live? Let me know!

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

Plants Improve Our Lives

Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul. - Linda Solegato

One night in June when I was picking peas in my kitchen garden, the title for this column came to me. I was moving around the trellis, admiring the handsome pea leaves and enjoying the search for pea pods. Some were fat and round, others were still thin and tender. It was a delightful and calming experience to spend time with the peas I had first planted in February.

I then reflected on how I enjoy my garden. Each morning in the spring and summer, I walk around the yard checking for new blooms, looking for seeds that have germinated and watching the green tomatoes get bigger. It is a rewarding experience to nurture seeds and seedlings to maturity and observe all the changes in between.

Gardens Are Relaxing Even In Winter

Gardens are relaxing places. Being outdoors is a calming experience as the light, the smells, the sounds and the touch of plants align us with nature. I especially enjoy the songs of birds, the physical sensation of touching leaves and looking at the beauty of flowers as I walk around my yard. Spending time outside in all seasons, even in the winter, is essential to my sense of well-being.

It is also possible to have a similar experience inside our own homes. Indoor plants nurture us all year round. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen that improves the quality of the indoor air. I find indoor plants to be especially uplifting in the winter with their graceful green leaves and colorful blooms.

Houseplants Reduce Our Stress Levels

Research tells us that houseplants reduce our stress levels and improve our moods. Caring for houseplants by watering or repotting them provides a soothing and restful activity. Vibrant green leaves on a dark winter day are a counterpoint to the cold and brown environment outside. Over the course of the winter months watching houseplants, such as the amaryllis, mature and prepare to bloom is fascinating. When an amaryllis does bloom, it is always a treat to see the size and the color of the flowers.

Biltmore Estate Conservatory

One of the best places in Asheville to enjoy indoor plants is the historic conservatory at the Biltmore Estate. There are thousands of plants to admire year round with their lush green foliage and fragrant blooms. Tall glass ceilings let in abundant natural light as you walk from room to room. I like to look up and admire the spiky fronds of the palm trees against the sky.

During the winter months, visitors to the Biltmore conservatory will experience a visual feast of poinsettias, amaryllis, ferns and a variety of tropical plants as they wander from room to room. One of the most popular is the Orchid Room, with its abundance of exotic orchids of varying colors and sizes. The conservatory is especially appealing on a cold winter day.

Whether you have indoor houseplants or outdoor garden plants, you are creating a positive environment with better air quality and uplifting beauty. Even more significant is the connection you are making with nature.

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

Embrace The Winter Season

Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each... Open all your pores and bathe in all the tides of nature, in all her streams and oceans, at all seasons. - Henry David Thoreau

One thing I have learned over time is to appreciate the present moment as much as possible. It is pointless to relive the past or worry about the future. So many moments in our lives can be meaningful and pleasurable if we just slow down enough to notice them.

This is especially true for gardeners, as each season presents us with unique characteristics and possibilities. That is why I enjoy living in Western North Carolina where there are four distinct seasons and where each season shines, even winter.

Evergreen Plants

Spring, summer and fall are easy to like, but winter's cold and barren landscape can be a problem for some. It is easy to convince yourself that when the landscape is bare and brown, there is nothing to look at. But I disagree. Winter is the time to seek out plants that do well in the cold, such as evergreen plants with stunning foliage and red berries like the Nandina or Silver King euonymus. Mahonia plants also have evergreen foliage and small yellow flowers.

Another example of a cold-hardy plant found in many yards is the shield fern. It can survive snow and freezing nights. Other ferns go dormant in winter, but this fern keeps going regardless of the temperature. One plant that actually blooms in winter is the hellebore. I am always pleasantly surprised when I discover hellebore blossoms in a snowy landscape. When you know what to look for, you will find many signs of life in your yard to appreciate and enjoy.

Gardeners can plant ornamental cabbage in the fall to brighten a winter garden. These cabbages have many layers of attractive green foliage with colorful centers. I have grown Osaka Pink, White and Red for my garden, and I admire their cheerful colors on a January day. I also plant red and green cabbages, kale and broccoli that provide nutritious greens for the table, even in cold weather.

Garden Goals

The important thing to remember is that winter can be productive if you maintain a positive outlook and perspective. Over the past few years I have focused on what I can do as opposed to what I can't do. I appreciate the quiet time inside to pursue garden and plant research, take virtual classes, review my notes from the previous garden season and study seed catalogs. Once I have decided on my garden goals for the new year, it is time to order seeds.

If you have not liked winter much in the past, changing your perspective and embracing the season fully can help you discover its many pleasures. I believe that each season is noteworthy, so I look forward to winter as much as the other seasons, especially when there is a beautiful snowfall that transforms the landscape.

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

Create Holiday Arrangements From Your Yard

Even in the depth of winter, when flowers are least plentiful, good room decoration may be done with but very few, or indeed with foliage only.
— Gertrude Jekyll: "The Gardener's Essential"

Flower arranging is a year-round activity that always gives me pleasure. The holidays, however, are a special time for making floral arrangements to decorate my home. As I walk around my yard in early December, ideas come to me as I see what is green and attractive. When I look closely, I see possibilities for holiday displays to supplement the traditional poinsettias available for purchase in stores.

The foundation of my holiday arrangements is evergreen foliage that I find in my yard. Nandinas have green leaves and colorful red berries in December. Other attractive plants are holly, boxwood, arborvitae, pine, magnolia, and spruce. The Silver King euonymus is stunning for its beautiful variegated leaves and red berries, which lends contrast to an arrangement. Consider adding pine cones for an accent. Once you find a variety of greens and berries, you can begin the process of creating a holiday display.

I also like to purchase flowers for my arrangements. Alstroemeria contrasts nicely with the greenery from my yard, plus it lasts a long time in a vase. Red or white roses add extra color as will a small amount of baby's breath. All these flowers look wonderful with a variety of greens.

A dramatic addition to a holiday arrangement is the bloom of an amaryllis plant. Their variety of colors and sizes is exciting. I always buy at least two new bulbs every fall to have indoor winter flowers. A red or white amaryllis bloom is an impressive addition to holiday decorating. Paperwhite bulbs are another option. They produce small white flowers with tall green stalks. You can add evergreens and red berries to a container of paperwhites for a colorful effect.

Of course, choosing an appropriate vase is essential for an attractive display. I have a collection that ranges from short vases to tall ones with both narrow and wide openings. Once you assemble a good combination of greens, berries, and flowers, plus the right vase, think about where to put your arrangement. When I create a floral display, I first try to visualize where it will go in my house and then I consider how much space is available. For example, I always like to have a lower centerpiece in a short vase for the dining table so guests can easily see each other. I place arrangements in a taller vase for a prominent spot in a hallway.

Finding attractive greenery and berries in the yard during the winter months keeps me outdoors and aware of my plants, even in the snow. You may be surprised to discover the many possibilities in the winter landscape if you look closely. Taking the time to select from among the plants in your yard for floral arrangements will bring a festive touch to your holiday decor.

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

Impermanence

Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.— Robert Frost

Impermanence is a concept in Buddhism that life flows from one stage of existence to another. Change is constant. When we grasp and try to hold onto to something, we will ultimately suffer because everything changes. Buddhism teaches that attachment is the cause of suffering and that we must be aware of impermanence in every aspect of our lives and try to accept it.

Gardens teach us about impermanence. Change is constant with soil, plants, weather and the natural world in general. We may think that something is stable and permanent, but the opposite is true. Sometimes the garden changes in ways that are small and imperceptible, but other times the changes are large and dramatic. Watching my garden change from season to season reminds me to embrace the changes in my own life and to fully appreciate every day.

I have had the privilege of observing the natural world closely for years. From day to day, not much seems to happen, but that can be an illusion. If I leave for two weeks on vacation, for example, I am always amazed at what I see when I return. One April, when I went away on a trip, the azaleas had not yet bloomed. When I returned, their pink flowers had burst open by the thousands! After a recent summer vacation, my plants had grown much taller and weeds had taken over everywhere.

All the plants I grow illustrate impermanence. The transition from summer to fall is especially rapid and dramatic in the garden. The plants diminish, changing every day. The first killing frost happens at this time of year, marking the final end to the growing season for the warm weather plants.

I have to accept the reality that nature is constantly in the process of flowing from one stage of existence to the next, and that by November the time of growth has passed. It is time to lose my attachment to the garden I have nurtured for months. When the next cold front blows in, I will watch the clouds race overhead and reflect on the various aspects of the fall season, especially the bare branches that emerge from the trees, revealing their structure.

The branches symbolize our losses. Sometimes I feel wistful looking at them, remembering the lush growth of summer. Autumn shows us how fleeting the seasons are, but I know that life will continue to evolve and I feel at peace with the world. As one situation fades away, a new one will replace it, especially with growth in the spring.

There are many lessons we can learn from the natural world.

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

Never Doubt the Power of Seeds

Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed... Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.
- Henry David Thoreau

Now that it is fall, I like to reflect on the past growing season. I feel that there is always a lot to learn regarding specific plants, how to prioritize my gardening chores or evaluating the result of my decisions about what and where to plant.

Lately I have been thinking about the growing experience. This spring I planted my seeds for flowers and vegetables, and by mid-June, I wondered if they would ever amount to much. Really, I should know better by now! I confess that I had doubts as my seeds seemed to take forever to germinate and then the seedlings looked so tiny as they started growing.

Rapid Growth in July

Throughout the month of June their growth seemed slow, but by mid-July their growth exploded. Tiny zinnia seedlings developed lush foliage and colorful blooms. Sunflowers gained more height every day as they reached for the sky. The squashes finally created both yellow flowers and fruits, covered by enormous leaves. The lesson I learned this summer is to never doubt the power of seeds.

As I look back, I keep asking myself, how could I have doubted these seeds? I think one reason is that I am impatient. I want seeds to produce flowers and vegetables quickly. When I visit the local farmers' market and I see vibrant floral bouquets, I wonder why my plants seem so far behind. I know that I shouldn't compare myself to the professional growers, but I do.

I have to remember that these farmers have a different situation than I do with warm greenhouses in the early spring and a schedule geared to commercial necessity. However, I still love my sunflower display in August and I appreciate the fact that sunflowers have their own blooming schedule. I need to keep that in mind and to be patient.

A Spark of Life in a Seed

In addition to having patience, observing seeds as they grow also teaches me about how nature packages her bounty. Seeds come in different sizes and shapes, from tiny lettuce seeds to large round nasturtium seeds. After I plant them I watch the new shoots appear and grow larger every day.

Recently, when I showed my garden to a neighbor and explained that I grew most of the plants from seeds, she was amazed. She couldn't believe that since many of the plants were at least six feet high. I am also amazed! It makes me wonder, how can a tiny seed produce such large plants?

Nature programs each seed to grow in a specific way and at a particular time. Once I place seeds in the soil and water them, the seed releases the plant embryo inside the hard shell to begin the process of germination. Such is the miracle of a seed, that each one contains a spark of life just waiting to grow when the conditions are right.

This is a lesson I will remember next year!

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

Our Gardens Transition to Fall

September... where fall and summer meet.
- Will Wallace Harney

September is a time of change in the garden. The changes happen rapidly this month, beginning with daylight and temperature. Even though the days are still warm and summery, the sun sets earlier and rises later. The nights are cooler.

As I notice these changes, I reflect on how the growing season has gone, and begin to prepare for the upcoming autumn. I want to believe that summer will last a few more months because the sunflowers and zinnias still have many blooms, but I can see that there are signs of the seasonal change as other plants die and decay.

The first to go are the squashes. I always love to plant their seeds in the spring, watch them emerge and produce lush foliage. Then later, I look forward to their orange flowers and delicious squash. By late August, however, their season is over and it is time to remove the dying plants.

Some tomatoes are also done by the end of August, but others continue, such as the San Marzano tomatoes. Gradually, I pull up the spent plants and their cages. I also remove any lettuce that has finished for the season, although sometimes the neighborhood bears perform that chore for me as they seem to have a taste for old lettuce plants.

In September, sunflowers turn their heads down and begin to produce the seeds that goldfinches love. They lose their flower petals, but the outer green leaves, called bracts, remain around the sunflower head, which becomes a magnet for birds as they devour the seeds. By mid-September it is time to start taking the tall stalks down.

The brilliant orange tithonia flowers begin to fade in late summer. By September their petals fall off and they begin to produce seeds. Zinnia blooms also fade in September, but the plants will continue to produce new blooms.

The nasturtiums that grow on the borders of my vegetable beds are also producing seeds by September, another sign of transition. In June and July their colorful blooms were vibrant. But now their season is over.

Throughout the month of September the sun sits lower on the horizon and the light changes daily. After the Autumnal Equinox there is more darkness as the sunset is earlier and the sunrise is later. As I work in the garden, I cast long, dark shadows as early as six o'clock in the evening. At this point the changes are rapid and dramatic.

The pollinator garden now feels different to me. After all the motion of butterflies and bees over the summer, suddenly there is no activity. I still see an occasional swallowtail butterfly here and there, but not many. There are only a few bees still looking for nectar among the remaining flowers. I sense a quiet and a stillness. The faded flowers and the seasonal changes of less sunlight and cooler temperatures have caused some pollinators to die and some to migrate.

By late September the weather is usually warm and sunny during the day, but the nights and mornings are chilly. Summer is waning, the changes are happening and I savor every glorious September day as the fall season begins.

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

Now is the Time to Plant Cool-Weather Vegetables

Half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination. You are always living three, or indeed six, months hence. - Alice Morse Earle, 1897

By August, many gardeners feel that the growing season is coming to an end. For some gardeners, however, late summer is just the beginning of a whole new season. They know that there are cool weather vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, rainbow chard, lettuce and Brussels sprouts that thrive in the fall. August is the time to extend your gardening season and harvest an abundance of tasty vegetables well into the cool months of fall and even winter.

Cool Weather Plants Thrive in the Fall

With so many plants having finished for the season by September, cool weather vegetables can become the dominant plants in your garden. I enjoy seeing them on a cold morning with their vibrant green leaves. I am always surprised and delighted that these plants can endure a frosty night or even a snowfall. A period of cold weather makes them taste sweeter.

Starting from seeds in August is usually too late for plants to mature into a fall crop, but in late summer most garden centers offer seedlings for cool weather vegetables. When I saw these seedlings last August, I experimented by planting some of my favorite fall vegetables such as cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts.

Once I planted the seedlings, I put row cover over them to protect the young plants from insects. In previous years, my early summer plantings of kale and cabbage failed because of insect damage. The benefit of fall planting is that the cool evenings kill off harmful insects, giving the plants a chance to mature. Not only that, but after the summer vegetables finish their season, the cool weather plants grow into the stars of the garden with their handsome foliage!

The red cabbage, one of my favorite vegetables, produces large blue leaves with dark red veins. Green cabbages produce heads that look like roses. Even after several frosty nights last November, my cabbages were still going strong. Lacinato kale, with its dark green leaves, is also a striking fall plant. I even discovered that parsley, which I grow all summer, grows well into the fall.

Many Plants Can Survive a North Carolina Winter

Last year was my first time growing cold-hardy vegetables through an entire winter. There were several snowfalls and many freezing nights in Asheville. After each snowfall I would walk out to the garden to inspect my plants. The large leaves of the cabbages and Brussels sprouts would be covered with snow. One morning, after a particularly cold night, there were ice crystals on the leaves, which was a beautiful sight. Throughout the winter, my vegetables were fine!

By April it was time to clear the vegetable bed and make room for a new season of planting, but my winter plants still had surprises for me. When I removed the Brussels sprouts, the stalks contained many tiny round sprouts. The red cabbages had heads hidden in the handsome leaves. The heads went into spring salads and the leaves went into the compost bin.

I now had a clean garden bed for the summer and a reward of Brussels sprouts and cabbage heads to eat! This August and September, keep cool weather vegetables in mind to extend your gardening season.

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

The Landscape Changes and So Must We

The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.
- Kakuzo Okakura

I have learned over many gardening seasons that the landscape of my yard is constantly changing. Over the course of months and sometimes even years, the trees and plants are always either growing or dying. These changes happen slowly and incrementally, but they are real and they add up.

Rethinking My Garden

As an example of this change, one day I realized that a part of my yard that had always been sunny could no longer support plants that needed full sun. This was a spot where I had successfully grown tithonia, a tall and wide shrub also known as the Mexican sunflower. For three years tithonia grew well in this location. Then one summer I noticed that the plant was leaning over, as if straining to reach the sun. The next year it was not producing flowers. I looked at the surrounding evergreen trees, and realized how dramatically they had grown during the previous five years. To my amazement I realized that this sunny spot had now become a shady spot!

I was forced to rethink what I would plant there. I had assumed that once I got to know a section of my yard, that the light there would not change, but I was wrong. So, this spring I transplanted many shade-loving hostas to this location. It is my new shade garden.

Another time two years ago, a snowstorm with high winds uprooted three large trees in my side yard. The next day, as I stood surveying the fallen trees, I could see a new kind of garden immediately in my mind's eye. I realized that this area, which had been covered by the trees, now had the possibility to become a full sun garden. Since I had previous experience with changes in my yard, I began to make plans for this area.

Making a New Pollinator Garden

I decided to create a place that pollinators would love by planting a variety of sunflowers as well as gold and orange tithonia. This new garden, with sunflowers as high as twelve feet, was a joy for me all summer. I watched the sunflowers grow from seeds, then mature, then reach for the sky as they towered over me. Some sunflowers produced multiple branches with many blooms. They kept blooming all summer.

Meanwhile, the tithonia also grew rapidly. On a hot dry day they seemed to double in size. By mid-July they began to produce their vibrant gold and orange blooms, which attracted many bees and butterflies. The pollinators just kept coming, from early morning to dusk. This spot was full of activity and beauty.

There are times when I reflect on the changes in my yard, realizing that much of what I learn from gardening I can apply to my own life. When unexpected events happen, like the trees falling, I need to adapt to the change. We have all experienced life taking a turn we don't see coming. Can we be flexible to accommodate a new situation? Can we see things from a new perspective? These are important questions. I look to my garden for lessons on how to adapt to change.

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

Zinnias Create Summer Color

When I was a child my mother gave me a packet of zinnia seeds to plant in our backyard. I planted them and watched them grow with amazement. I was probably about five years old, but I have a strong memory of their brightly colored flowers. This was my first gardening success and I was hooked. I am still amazed by what I can grow from seeds.

My childhood interest in these annuals has become a serious exercise in garden planning and design. Now I create sketches and study websites so I can maximize the garden beds in my yard. One garden website that I have found helpful is www.gardendesign.com.

Planting Zinnia Seeds

At a corner of my house I have an open and sunny space that I fill with zinnias every summer. I plant the seeds in late May or early June once there is no danger of frost, then I carefully watch the seedlings emerge and grow.

After a couple of weeks the seedlings are noticeably larger and buds start to appear. Once the July heat and sun work their magic, the explosion of growth is rapid. Suddenly, colorful zinnia blooms appear and I am enchanted by their appearance. Every day I notice the variety of colors, shapes, and designs of the blooms. I combine a mixture of seeds from different seed companies in this bed to produce a variety of heights, colors and types of zinnias.

Zinnias do best in full sun, and since my yard is very sunny, I plant lots of zinnias. I choose taller ones for the back of a plot, such as Benary's Giant Mix from Pinetree Seeds that have spectacular, big blooms and can reach a height of four feet.

I then plant slightly smaller zinnias in front of those, such as the Purple Prince, Orange King, and Yellow Canary Bird zinnia elegans plants. These will reach a height of between one and three feet. In front of these I plant Cut and Come Again zinnias, which will grow to about two feet. I can get these varieties from both Pinetree Seeds and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

When I want even smaller zinnias, I plant Persian Carpet Heirloom Butterfly zinnias. These grow about a foot high and have a mixture of colors. Other choices for smaller plants are Thumbelina Mix at 12 to 16 inches and Pixie Sunshine zinnias at about 8 inches. These work well in containers. They are all available from Renee's Seeds.

Different Types of Zinnias

I am learning that zinnias have many different shapes and sizes of blooms. The flowers can be single, double and semi-double. Interesting varieties with unique blooms are the peruviana, the elegans, and the cactus zinnia.

In addition to being colorful and attractive, zinnias attract pollinators throughout their long growing season. I enjoy seeing many types of bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds flock to these plants. This year, consider planting zinnias for their ease of care and beneficial presence for pollinators. You will enjoy their colorful display and continuous blooms in your garden throughout the summer.

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

The Clematis Climbs in May

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

The month of May brings many colorful blooms to Western North Carolina. There is always a new flower or tree blooming every week. One of my favorite spring flowers is the alluring clematis, which graces gardens in many sizes and colors.

I first saw a clematis several years ago on a garden tour and I was amazed at its stunning beauty, so I decided to grow one in my garden. Since the clematis is a climbing vine, I planted it at the base of my garden trellis. This plant, a Dr. Ruppel, produces blooms starting in early May. It is such an impressive sight that I think of the clematis plant as the queen of my spring garden! I look forward to seeing its blooms return every year.

Large Clematis Blooms in May

Beginning in March I notice tiny leaves growing at the base of the trellis. By mid-April I am always excited to see large buds appear as the vine begins its climb up the trellis. In early May the clematis continues climbing and the buds begin to open, revealing blooms that are seven inches in diameter! It is a spectacular show as my trellis becomes covered with pink and white blooms. This is a gorgeous plant to have in a prominent place in any garden or yard.

There are dozens of different types of clematis plants. The variety of colors is dazzling, including white, pink, red, lavender and even dark purple. Some have multiple colors such as pink and white. The White Flower Farm catalogue and website have many photographs of different clematis plants. Their description of this plant is "versatile vines with unforgettable flowers," which is an accurate statement.

Queen of the Vines

The clematis name comes from the Ancient Greek word klema, meaning a climbing plant or vine. The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus first named Clematis viticella in 1753. Originally from China, by the 17th century the Japanese were growing clematis, and it wasn't much later before it was introduced to Europe. In England, the plants were popular during the Victorian era. Today there are over 250 species, and the plant, known as the "queen of the vines," is grown around the globe.

In popular culture the clematis represents ingenuity or cleverness because it can climb anywhere and grow to great heights. All you need to do is provide a trellis, a post, a pergola, or a gazebo since clematis has twining leaf stems that cling to almost any structure.

The many varieties of clematis all have different characteristics such as bloom time, height, and the size and color of blooms. Some clematis bloom early in the spring, like mine, but others bloom later in the summer. By carefully choosing varieties with different bloom dates, it is possible to enjoy clematis flowers all summer long. Just provide a spot with full or partial sun and something to climb on, and you will be rewarded with magnificent flowers in your garden. If you have clematis in your garden, please let me know what types you are growing!

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

A Gardener's Spring Cleaning

We dream of having a clean house, but who dreams of actually doing the cleaning?
— Marcus Buckingham

I believe that gardening is a continuous activity throughout the year. While many people think only of spring planting, summer watering and fall harvesting, there are also two other phases: winter planning, and in early spring, preparing for the coming growing season. This starts with clearing away the accumulated winter debris from the planting beds, but for me extends into the cleanup of my gardening workspace.

Organizing in the Spring

Along one wall of my garage I have a space with a table and some shelves where I make decisions and find tools that I need to get my garden jobs done. It is where I store the labels of plants I have grown and keep my records of different bulbs that I have planted. This is my gardening "office," and by late winter my office is a mess. Last spring I even found some dahlia tubers that I had dug up the previous fall and forgotten about. They were hidden under a pile of tools and half empty fertilizer bags!

After months of winter hibernation, heavy clothes, cold days and dark nights, it is time for some significant spring cleaning, both in the yard and my gardening office. I consider this double spring cleaning. It is not a pleasant task because there is so much work to do, inside and out.

By early April I can't ignore the piles in the garage any longer. All winter I look at catalogs and order seeds and other items I will need for the upcoming season. I store the new seed packets inside but all of last year's are in my office, where they sit in piles on the table for my future reference. Add to that garden tools, pots, plant labels, gloves and fertilizers. Because of the colder temperatures, I don't spend much time in the garage, so the piles, which started last summer, get bigger and messier.

Warm Weather Helps Me with Cleaning

I know I must keep my tools and supplies somewhat organized if I want to get beautiful blooms or delicious tomatoes in the summer. Once the weather turns warm, I depend on these tools and supplies to carry out the plans I spent all winter thinking about. Finally one day the weather suddenly improves and my hour of reckoning arrives: I must clean up my space, I must get organized! When I start misplacing my gardening gloves, trowels and seeds, I resolve to tackle this job head on and stick with it. After months of adding to the piles of garden-related clutter, I have to wade through it all to prepare for my spring yard work.

Planning and organization in any endeavor is the key to success, and gardening is no exception. I do better when my workspace is clean and orderly. There is a definite schedule for planting certain seeds and seedlings in order to reap the harvest of flowers and vegetables later. Having an orderly workspace ready in early spring is essential for keeping to this schedule. A successful growing season is always my reward and my motivation for spring cleaning! Have you also had this experience with your garden spring cleaning? Please let me know!

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

A Long and Glorious Season

At the end of winter, there is a season in which we are daily expecting spring, and finally a day when it arrives.
- Henry David Thoreau, Journal of March 8, 1853

Spring is a long and glorious season in the southern Appalachian mountains. It can begin as early as late February, but gets fully under way in early March despite occasional cold and snowy days. The earth is soft, the birds begin to sing, and this is the time I plant my pea seeds. You see, peas like the cold weather. While the nighttime temperatures in early March can be just below freezing, the daytime temperatures are usually mild. It is true that the day and night temperatures in March can vary, but the peas don't seem to mind.

March is the transition from a cold and snowy February to increased warmth and new growth everywhere. At this point the landscape is still mostly bare and brown, but color is creeping onto the trees and on the ground, in fact everywhere. You just have to pay attention to notice it.

Most people are aware of daffodils in the spring, but there is more to see for the observant gardener. By mid-March, the peas are germinating and poking their tiny green heads above the soil. The burgundy tips of peonies also start appearing. Looking closely, I can see small green catnip shoots near the circular leaves of my autumn sedum. The Knock Out rose bushes in the front yard are unfurling dark red leaves.

By the third week of March many flowering trees are coming to life, such as the Weeping Cherry and Star Magnolia. Their glorious blooms last about two weeks, then they fade and are replaced by green leaves. Robins appear with joyful birdsong every morning as the birds call to each other.

With April comes a burst of colorful growth, green lawns, and leaves on trees. By mid-April the Appalachian Redbud is the most vivid flowering tree with its tiny pink blooms. Dogwoods and cherry trees put forth their white and pink blossoms. The daffodils are fading by then, but at that point, colorful phlox covers the ground with tones of vivid pink and lavender. As soon as some plants finish, others begin in a succession of vibrant color, such as the azaleas that begin blooming in April and continue into May.

April also heralds the return of many different types of insects, which I look forward to. One notable and visible insect is the swallowtail butterfly that appears. This is the month that bees begin their season of pollinating flowers.

May brings accelerated growth and blooms with a nonstop display of beauty. In my yard, the climbing clematis, the Siberian and Bearded irises and exquisite peonies take center stage, while the hydrangeas begin to show their blue, pink and white flowers that last throughout the summer.

In Asheville, spring extends into June. I can tell because my peas are still hanging on. Early June is when fireflies begin to appear and the Oakleaf hydrangeas begin to bloom. Tiny praying mantises walk around after hatching. The earth is now fully alive with plants, insects, and birds. By mid-June the summer heat begins, putting an end to a long and exciting spring season.

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