Design

The front perennial beds and the raised beds with herbs and vegetables are looking great.  It's so nice to have the front of the house softened by green, a welcome change from its previous mulched condition (see below). early July, 2011 Here's a photo of our new gardening assistant looking out the door! when there was just mulch (not to mention the gravel driveway, now covered with mulch and raised beds)

A visit to the Fall Plant Sale at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, a wonderful 50+ year old garden devoted to native plants resulted in more than a number of purchases. The bare edge next to our house in the mountains gained Heuchera , Viola pedata , and Rudbeckia 'Henry Eiler.' One of the gardeners was pretty darn happy digging and planting. We had secured an approved design for adding perennials to an open, full sun expanse (our small mountain house is in an historic district), but weren't actually intending to buy so many plants. They were quite irresistible. We added a nice mix of perennials in the front as well as next to the house and along the side yard (blueberries!) This photo doesn't show how nice-looking the new bed actually is. The sale, supporting the Gardens, features various local native plant nurseries (both retail and wholesale), local garden clubs, and the Gardens itself. We snagged birdsfoot violet, Celadine poppy, an Appalachian carex, a great s...