Designing Landscapes That Last

Recently, I read a blog posted by another arborist titled ‘Deforestation by Design’. His premise was that by planting the wrong plants, in the wrong way, and in the wrong place, we are essentially deforesting our landscapes. Or ensuring that we will have to plant again much sooner than if we did it right the […]
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 […]
Soaking in the Green

Do you love walking in the woods? Do you find yourself more at ease and at peace when in a quiet green space? Walking in the woods is what brings me peace. I moved to Dahlonega precisely because of its proximity to hilly wooded trails. Now I have a term to use for why I […]
I Speak for the Trees pt. 3

As a certified arborist, I guess you could call me a professional tree hugger. I recently attended the International Society of Arboriculture conference and I have a lot to share with you about trees. This is the final blog of my 3 part series. In the first part, I elaborated on the importance of trees […]
I Speak for the Trees pt.2

As a certified arborist, I guess you could call me a professional tree hugger. I recently attended the International Society of Arboriculture conference and I have a lot to share with you about trees. In part 1 of this 3 part series, I elaborated on the importance of trees and how they impact us and […]
I Speak for the Trees pt. 1

As a certified arborist, I guess you could call me a professional tree hugger. I recently attended the International Society of Arboriculture conference and I have a lot to share with you all about trees. In this 3 part series, I will dive into the reasons why we need trees, the types of trees we […]
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 […]