 |  |
Our area is renowned for its natural beauty: waterfalls and creeks, shady hikes, and views. For those of us who are lucky enough to call the Tennessee Valley home, the spring season is an ideal time to both enjoy our surroundings and consider how our choices fit into the bigger picture.
To anyone who gardens in any capacity at all, I say good on you! Taking pride in a plot of land and improving it with labor and love is an act of care that brings us closer to the earth.
But before you plant that first plug of impatiens or another exotic annual, here’s a friendly question I think worth asking: Why not plant native this spring? The plants we cultivate need not be merely ornamental. Many species of trees, shrubs, and flowers have grown here for millennia, co-evolving and living interdependently with native birds, pollinators, and wildlife that also belong here. Together, they form the base of a much larger ecological web. By choosing what we grow with care, each of us has the opportunity to contribute to the health and resilience of that system.
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing; choosing to plant native doesn’t mean forsaking your beloved zinnias. Even a few native perennials tucked into a border, a pollinator patch near the patio, or a native shrub in place of a generic hedge can make a difference. Think of it as making room for nature to come closer, one plant at a time.
Not all non-native plants are harmful, but some invasive species are worth knowing and avoiding. Developers and big-box garden retailers often favor exotic species because they perform predictably across many regions, even though they offer little to no benefits to local ecosystems. Choose American holly over nandina for the birds. Nandina is toxic to birds and pets. Such invasive plants can spread aggressively and crowd out native plants in nearby woods, fields, and roadsides. If each of us planted with wildlife in mind, we would strengthen the pollinator pathway. Also, keeping invasives out of our landscapes helps protect the natural beauty that drew many of us to live here in the first place.
Native plants can be propagated by taking stem cuttings or dividing established plants. Better by far, visit Signal Mountain Nursery’s or Reflection Riding’s native collections, where plants are homegrown.
Tucked into an area of the mountain called Fairmont, this family-owned, world class, (judged by sensory appeal and visitor experience) garden center covers over 12 acres, and has more than 45 green houses. Signal Mountain Nursery is a true destination.
The roots of the nursery actually go back to a ship returning from England during WWII, where Ben Addie met Scotty Parry, a Brit. They were very taken with each other, and when the war ended, they married, and launched Parry Nursery on Signal Mountain in 1947. Their daughter, Laurel Parry Steele, and her husband, David Steele, returned to Signal Mountain when Scotty died.
In 1977, Parry Nursery became Signal Mountain Nursery under the ownership of Laurel and David. Today, their daughter, Kim and her husband, Mark Bonastia, are the managers. Celebrating its 79th anniversary this month, the nursery still sees many customers and visitors in every season who come if only to breathe in the beauty and seek inspiration for their own gardens.
Most of the knowledge and everything else you need to grow a garden is here. If a really enjoyable read is wanting, check out Doug Tallamy’s “Bringing Nature Home” or for more inspiration, almost anything by Wendell Berry or Robin Wall Kimmerer at Signal Mountain Library.
by Jane Lemoine
To anyone who gardens in any capacity at all, I say good on you! Taking pride in a plot of land and improving it with labor and love is an act of care that brings us closer to the earth.
But before you plant that first plug of impatiens or another exotic annual, here’s a friendly question I think worth asking: Why not plant native this spring? The plants we cultivate need not be merely ornamental. Many species of trees, shrubs, and flowers have grown here for millennia, co-evolving and living interdependently with native birds, pollinators, and wildlife that also belong here. Together, they form the base of a much larger ecological web. By choosing what we grow with care, each of us has the opportunity to contribute to the health and resilience of that system.
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing; choosing to plant native doesn’t mean forsaking your beloved zinnias. Even a few native perennials tucked into a border, a pollinator patch near the patio, or a native shrub in place of a generic hedge can make a difference. Think of it as making room for nature to come closer, one plant at a time.
Not all non-native plants are harmful, but some invasive species are worth knowing and avoiding. Developers and big-box garden retailers often favor exotic species because they perform predictably across many regions, even though they offer little to no benefits to local ecosystems. Choose American holly over nandina for the birds. Nandina is toxic to birds and pets. Such invasive plants can spread aggressively and crowd out native plants in nearby woods, fields, and roadsides. If each of us planted with wildlife in mind, we would strengthen the pollinator pathway. Also, keeping invasives out of our landscapes helps protect the natural beauty that drew many of us to live here in the first place.
Native plants can be propagated by taking stem cuttings or dividing established plants. Better by far, visit Signal Mountain Nursery’s or Reflection Riding’s native collections, where plants are homegrown.
Tucked into an area of the mountain called Fairmont, this family-owned, world class, (judged by sensory appeal and visitor experience) garden center covers over 12 acres, and has more than 45 green houses. Signal Mountain Nursery is a true destination.
The roots of the nursery actually go back to a ship returning from England during WWII, where Ben Addie met Scotty Parry, a Brit. They were very taken with each other, and when the war ended, they married, and launched Parry Nursery on Signal Mountain in 1947. Their daughter, Laurel Parry Steele, and her husband, David Steele, returned to Signal Mountain when Scotty died.
In 1977, Parry Nursery became Signal Mountain Nursery under the ownership of Laurel and David. Today, their daughter, Kim and her husband, Mark Bonastia, are the managers. Celebrating its 79th anniversary this month, the nursery still sees many customers and visitors in every season who come if only to breathe in the beauty and seek inspiration for their own gardens.
Most of the knowledge and everything else you need to grow a garden is here. If a really enjoyable read is wanting, check out Doug Tallamy’s “Bringing Nature Home” or for more inspiration, almost anything by Wendell Berry or Robin Wall Kimmerer at Signal Mountain Library.
by Jane Lemoine
RSS Feed