Hi GPODers!

We’re back in Black Mountain, North Carolina to see more of Gail Bromer’s spring garden full of color and life despite a devastating end to the growing season last year. If you missed yesterday’s post, check out Part 1 here. And below is a refresher on the impact that Hurricane Helene had on her community in Western North Carolina:

Our small community of 47 homes had 14 landslides. 3 houses were totally destroyed. Another 5 have been declared uninhabitable. House and vegetative debris are still lying where they landed 6+ months ago. And we’re all still waiting for some encouraging world from FEMA.

We’re among the lucky ones. No one died here. Our community has bonded in a way it never did before. Those of us whose homes were spared do suffer some survivors guilt, but were blessedly spared from the total devastation of our lives.

In the midst of it all my gardens have largely survived and flourished. Yes, trees and shrubs were lost, but the colors of spring have arrived to remind us that life goes on. My wish for my neighbors who have lost so much is that they can rebuild their lives and feel the hope that springtime offers. My hope for my nation is that we all remember that we are stronger supporting each other.

Starting off with the opposite view of the sloped bed with concluded with yesterday. I will forever be impressed with the beauty Gail created in all of her sloped beds, and even more impressed now that all of her plantings survived Hurricane Helene so well.

In a shady corner of Gail’s garden a variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum ‘Variegatum’, Zones 3–8) is sprouting vigorously and is already covered in buds.

While peonies here in Connecticut are just starting to send out stems and buds, in North Carolina Gail already has some amazing blooms from her Japanese forest peony (Paeonia obovata var. alba, Zones 3–8).

Blooms are already a plenty in Gail’s garden, so early bees have a wealth of options to choose from. This looks like it might be the perfectly round, snowball-shaped bloom clusters of a burkwood viburnum (Viburnum × burkwoodii, Zones 4–8).

Foliage and flowers are in full effect. I’m also happy to see Gail’s incredible rusty frog sculpture (peaking out from behind some plants on the right side of this photo) was safely stored during the storm and didn’t get swept away.

Another great instance of light purple and bright green in the garden. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata, Zones 4–8) adds glorious spring color to the bright green leaves above.

This is one part of the steep hill in front of our house. The other part is full of wildflowers which you have featured before. (Check out that submission here: Replacing a Lawn With Wildflowers)

Thank you so much for sharing all these beautiful photos as well as your inspiring story of resilience and community, Gail! It’s unimaginable what your neighborhood went through, and I’m happy to see your garden thriving against all odds.

No matter what your fall and winter looked like, there is never a guarantee that all your plants will emerge in spring as happy and healthy as they did last year. The anxious anticipation is all a part of the excitement of the season. How are your plants fairing so far this spring? Share your spring successes and failures by following the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.

 

We want to see YOUR garden!

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

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