Featured Blog Posts (321)

Carolina Gardener magazine

I do like Carolina Gardener magazine, even if I don't get it regularly (and I should). Asheville's own Peter Loewer is a regular contributor and you should check it out. In the current issue he has an article titled "Garden Art with Water: Add a dramatic touch to your garden with a water feature." "Windowsill Herb Gardens" by Rita Pelczar also sounds intriguing. One particularly useful feature is a listing of Carolina gardening events:… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on November 21, 2009 at 1:04am — No Comments

Want to make a wreath?

It’s wreath-making season, and if you’re interested in a wreath workshop, they abound. A sample from the Home & Garden Calendar (disclaimer: first and last ones not technically wreath workshops, but they are similar): THANKSGIVING TABLE DECORATION WORKSHOP: Artist Tamsin Allpress demonstrates making whimsical decorations out of all-natural materials, 2-4 p.m. Nov. 17, Bullington Center, 33 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville. Materials provided for participants to make their own. $20… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on November 8, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Insignificant flowers

It’s like learning to drink port or sherry as you grow older. I’ve always been a flower person, but foliage for the sake of glorious foliage also has its place, I have learned. When reading about a certain plant here or there, one runs across the term “insignificant flowers.” OK, what gives? Well, plants with insignificant flowers often have other gifts, like wondrous variegated foliage. I recently installed one such plant in an urn, in a prominent place in my garden. And I even put a solar ligh… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on October 31, 2009 at 6:50am — No Comments

Garden club announces its Christmas Greens Market

It's not even Halloween yet, but I'm not complaining. The French Broad River Garden Club just sent in their announcement about this year's holiday greens market: The French Broad River Garden Club will host its traditional Christmas Greens Market Saturday December 5th and 12th from 9:00-2:00 at Clem’s Cabin, 1000 Hendersonville Rd. in Asheville, NC. Local crafters will be offering fresh boxwood wreathes, evergreen garlands, live table centerpieces, ornaments made from natural materials as well… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on October 14, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

More details on National Chrysanthemum Society Show in Asheville

I just spoke with Ray McKenzie-Wilson, of Horse Shoe, president of the N.C. Chrysanthemum Society, who tells me there will not only be the show but a national National Chrysanthemum Society Convention in Asheville, beginning Oct. 15. It will be headquartered at the Holiday Inn Airport. But back to the show, which will be held Saturday-Sunday at the N.C. Arboretum. Between 100-200 exhibitors are expected. Folks, this is going to be a really big show. Ed Norton, of Waynesville, is coordinator of… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on October 13, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Arboretum to host national chrysanthemum show

OK, we’re used to the N.C. Arboretum hosting flower shows for local clubs, or even regional shows, like the just-concluded bonsai expo this past weekend. Now comes word that the arboretum will host some 200 exhibitors from all over the country for the National Chrysanthemum Society Annual Show Oct. 17-18. This is news indeed! According to a press release: “The popular annual show showcases hundreds of chrysanthemum blooms in vibrant and varied colors. The exhibits will be judged by National Stan… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on October 12, 2009 at 4:01pm — No Comments

Reminder: Carolina Bonsai Expo this weekend

I wanted to remind everyone about the Carolina Bonsai Expo this weekend at the N.C. Arboretum. It happens 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 10 and noon-4 p.m. Oct. 11, and will feature 14 regional bonsai clubs, including the Blue Ridge Bonsai Club, of Asheville. The expo will feature a juried display of bonsai by clubs, a bonsai marketplace, workshops, free demonstrations and an ikebana exhibit. Here’s a recap of some schedule highlights: Oct. 10 9 a.m.-noon: Shimpaku juniper bonsai styling workshop at… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on October 9, 2009 at 5:13pm — No Comments

Plantoberfest this weekend

I heard from the folks at Meadowbrook Nursery in Marion, who are bringing in two guest speakers for their Plantoberfest event, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 10). - At 11 a.m., Alison Arnold, owner of gardens & landscapes and former director of horticulture for the NC Arboretum will give a talk about fall flowering perennials and grasses. - At 2 p.m., Jamie Oxley, owner of Meadowbrook, will give a talk about plants for steep landscapes. Both are timely topics. Fall can be a really great seas… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on October 7, 2009 at 11:07pm — No Comments

Asheville Garden Club has lots of stuff going on

I just heard from Pam Benes, president of the Asheville Garden Club, about a number of events, including one coming up very quickly. Here’s the lowdown: Wednesday (Oct. 7), starting about 11a.m., the club will hold a program about standard flower shows at the North Asheville Community Center. “Martha Anderson of Hendersonville, the Garden Club of North Carolina District 1 Director and a Master Flower Show Judge, will give a program on Designing for a Standard Flower Show. This program will be… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on October 5, 2009 at 7:29am — No Comments

The secret scientific names of plants

Not being a botanist can hamper a gardener a bit. We all end up learning the importance of attaching the correct scientific name to a plant. Well, those passalong names can be pretty cute, too, but what one person calls bluebells another one calls something else entirely different. And so on. I'm no expert in botany or plant scientific names. Ask Peter Loewer for specific questions; I consider him a true expert. But I did run across this very informative sign about plant names at the N.C. Abore… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on September 30, 2009 at 12:48pm — No Comments

Like dahlias? Here's a great place to check out blooms

Debra M. Davis and Diana S. Conard write that Haywood Community College is awash in dahlia blooms: “Haywood Community College’s Dahlia Garden is brimming with colorful blooms. The blooms will last until the first frost. The garden is located directly across from the Student Services building and everyone is invited to come on campus to view this spectacular fall scenery.” So if you’re looking for some fall garden splendor, it sounds like a great place to hang out. Here are some of the dahlia p… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on September 25, 2009 at 1:16pm — No Comments

My new find: Opal azaleas

As I have said before, I was slow to appreciate azaleas. They only bloom for a time, then seem to take up a lot of space in the garden. In Georgia, where I was raised, the place was lousy with azaleas. Mostly I didn’t like the way the white ones looked, when the blooms were fading. I came to realize I really don’t like white flowers at all because they look so dreary and brown on their way out. In the past 5 years or so, I’ve come to like azaleas and have incorporated them into my garden. Of cou… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on September 24, 2009 at 6:58am — 2 Comments

Master gardeners gear up for 'Fall Garden School'

Was your garden a wash this summer (literally, with all this rain)? Find new inspiration at the Asheville-Buncombe County Master Gardeners' Fall Garden School, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct 3 in Ferguson Auditorium on the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College campus. The day-long program will provide information about best gardening practices for Western North Carolina, and is designed for both novice, and gardeners new to the region. Sessions to be offered include the following: · How Did You… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on September 10, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Dahlia show this weekend

Dig dahlias? Head to the N.C. Arboretum Saturday and Sunday for the WNC Dahlia Society show. I went to it last year and boy! Those dahlias really knocked my socks off. As the press release says, (literally) "hundreds of dahlia blossoms in rainbow colors and multi-bloom variety bouquets are on display." Some flowers will be available for purchase, if you are so inclined. And Dahlia Society members will offer advice and resources. The show runs noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the arboretum''s… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on September 9, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Volunteers needed for West Asheville Garden Stroll

Fifteen gardens in five West Asheville areas will open to the public 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 12 for the first West Asheville Garden Stroll. Best of all, the tour is free. But volunteers are needed to help with the stroll; volunteer opportunities are listed at www.WestAshevilleGardens.com. For more information, call West Asheville Branch Library, 250-4750. The event will kick off at 10:30 a.m. at the West Asheville Branch Library, 942 Haywood Road, with a ceremony honoring the library's longtime v… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on August 28, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Sept. 12 shaping up to be a big day for gardeners

Just looking over the Home & Garden calendar for this Saturday, I see lots of events folks will be interested in that day. There's everything from the much-anticipated West Asheville Garden Stroll, a new event this year, to a plant sale an open house at the Bullington Center in Henderson County. Here's a preview: FALL PLANT SALE AND OPEN HOUSE:10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 12 at at The Bullington Center, 33 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville. More info: 698-6104 or www.bullingtoncenter.org.… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on August 26, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

A tale of plant confusion

My friend Pantha Penley, who also lives in West Asheville, called me with a breathless news tip Sunday. She was just about certain pot was growing outside of a neighborhood business. Well, but she wasn’t sure, having never seen it before in person, exactly. For some reason, she thought I might be able to verify one way or the other. I was raised as a teenager in the 1970s, she reasoned. I was tired, having company all weekend, and started to dismiss it. But it was too intriguing and got the bett… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on August 24, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

‘Speaking of Gardening’ symposium, Aug. 28-29

Alison Arnold of the N.C. Arboretum wanted me to remind everyone about the “Speaking of Gardening” symposium coming up Aug. 28-29. Symposium topics include private and public garden design, new plants from NCSU plant research program, designing with grasses, new perennials from Jelitto and the Human Flower Project. Registration includes seven lectures, a book signing, plant giveaway, lunches and snacks and is $98 for Arboretum Society members and $114 for the general public. The symposium is lim… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on August 19, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Heirloom tomato workshop this Friday

Organic production of heirloom and heirloom-type hybrid tomatoes is the topic of a workshop, 10 a.m. Friday at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. Dr. Jeanine Davis, associate professor and Extension specialist, and Dr. Dilip Panthee, assistant professor in the horticultural science department at NC State University, will lead the session. “This year, 11 heirloom tomato varieties and 9 new heirloom-type hybrids are being grown with an organic insect and disease control strategy that we… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on August 18, 2009 at 3:12pm — No Comments

Orchid society to hold auction

This just in from Ralph Coffey, Asheville orchid grower extraordinaire who is very active in the WNC Orchid Society: The WNC Orchid Society will hold its annual auction at 1 p.m. Sept. 20 at the N.C. Arboretum. A preview will start at noon. The auction, open to the public, will feature more than 100 quality orchids, most in bud or bloom. There will be a wide variety of orchids available from easy to grow hybrids to unusual species. No reserves or minimums will apply. Members of the WNCOS will b… Continue

Added by Polly McDaniel on August 18, 2009 at 1:03pm — No Comments