Made in the Shade

Ah, shade. Especially at this time of year we humans love the shade. Cool respite from the sun relaxes us and creates such beauty in the world. However, our plant friends have different preferences for sun. Some like it sunny, some like it shady. https://artofstonegardening.com/garden-landscape-install. Here in the Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont there is a […]
Rose Rosette Disease

The Rose has long been considered the most beautiful flower in the world and is often referred to as “The Queen of the Garden.” Its beauty has inspired poets, artists, composers, and lovers the world over — but to have a variety of roses in a garden here in Northeast Georgia can take quite a […]
For the Love of Cooking

The Clarkson’s house in Hall County, GA sits on a high bluff overlooking Lake Lanier. The lake side of the lot is steep, the front approach to the house is level. It is a two-story, contemporary style house, probably built in the 1980s. Additions have been made to it over time. The husband’s passion for […]
Invasion of the Invasives

Eeiii!!! Run for your life! We’re being invaded by invasives. Invasive plants creep into the yard, into the garden, often unawares. They are kind of like weeds but only more so. They “take over” an ecosystem, causing major disturbance to areas where they are present. They lack natural predators that would keep them in balance […]
The Earlynn Miller Project: Life Changing Work

Meet Dr. Earlynn Miller: Dancer, teacher, visionary, lover of life. Earlynn came into my life as my fathers’ partner. She passed in the spring of 2021. Earlynn Miller was an incredibly creative and artistic soul who retired from a 30 year career as full time dance faculty at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Art […]
Secret Wall, Secret Garden

This past year we had a client in Sautee Nacoochee that had a failing wooden retaining wall supporting a cracked and failing driveway. The yard, however, was a beautiful array of mountain laurel and native North Georgia foliage. Our job was simple: tear down the current construction and replace it with a wall and driveway […]
From Mudslide to Tranquil Terrace

Who’s ready to talk about drainage issues again? What can I say, water is everywhere and can do major damage to a landscape without proper guidance. In our many years of working on people’s yards, drainage is almost always a part of the project. Builders often create beautiful houses without giving much thought to the […]
When the Student Becomes the Master Gardener

“Master Gardener” sounds like quite the level of prestige but my friend, Terrie Thamer, is as down to earth as it gets… literally. With a garden in Gainesville known for its wild perennials, wonderful textures, and sprouting vegetables, Terrie is an amazing gardener and ally to the environmental community. She has worn many hats in […]
UGA Extension: We exist to serve you!

Ray Parker, Jr.’s lyrics* to the movie Ghostbusters say it all about the University of Georgia Extension service: If there’s somethin’ strange in the neighborhood (invasive wildlife) Who ya gonna call? UGA Extension! There’s somethin’ weird and it don’t look good (improper pesticide usage) Who ya gonna call? UGA Extension! UGA Extension is this amazing service […]
Cottage Style Garden in Cleveland

Have you ever seen a beautiful home with an unfortunate front yard? The layout of the house, the steps, the driveway, the front porch – it may all be pretty and well-constructed, but without green grass and pops of floral color to frame and punctuate its beauty, the building may look like just that: a […]