Gardener by Nature Presents
Special sessions of the workshops listed below as well as shorter presentations on a
variety of gardening topics can be arranged for garden clubs and other interested
groups. To learn more about special native plant and wildlife gardening presentations,
visit our Habitat Steward page.
Blooming Shade
Most of us appreciate the shade of a front porch or a hammock under the trees for relief from the
sun and heat. However, we often think that all plants need full sun for brilliant flowers. We'll
demonstrate you don’t have to sacrifice color for comfort as we explore plants that thrive and
bloom in shade. Special considerations for planting around and under trees will also be discussed.
Woodland gardens are good for the environment and provide restful oases for gardeners, birds, and
other wildlife. Join us to see just how bright and beautiful they can also be.
Brown Side Down: Soil Preparation and Planting Basics
Ensure your gardening success and protect your investment by giving plants the right foundation.
Participants will see first-hand the proper way to prepare planting areas as well as gain an
overview of soil amendments and mulches. Special attention will be given to challenging soils
such as red clay and to the benefits of building healthy soil.
The Busy Gardener’s Maintenance Planner
Confused about when to prune your hydrangea . . . are you wondering if a shot of Epsom salts might
help the gardenias? Timely maintenance is important, but it shouldn't overwhelm you and take the
fun out of gardening. Part one of this two-session workshop covers the “what and how” of basic
garden tasks including pruning and fertilizing. In the second class, participants will learn to care
for plants in their own gardens as they develop a personal maintenance calendar.
Designing Your Paradise
Are you longing for more than a lawn, some foundation plantings, and a few scattered flower beds?
Could your back yard be a Shangri-la if you only knew where to begin? In this session, John shares
fundamental design principles to help you gain the confidence to rethink your landscape.
Participants will see first-hand how these principles were applied in the creation of Swiftbrook
Gardens. Dale wraps up the session from a Plantswoman’s perspective with Do’s and Don’ts to
consider when selecting and placing your plants.
Divide to Multiply: Fall Perennial Maintenance
Increase your perennials the thrifty way and improve their health and performance by lifting and
dividing them at the proper time. Class discussion will cover the basics of when/how to divide
widely grown perennials, and students will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned.
Participants will gain strategies and plant suggestions for “lower-maintenance” gardens.
Falling for Ferns . . . & their Shady Companions
Fall is the perfect time to plant ferns in the South. Often relegated to duty as fillers for perennial
beds in summer, ferns can also be focal points in the winter garden or the backbone of a four-
season container. Dale and John will share a love and knowledge of ferns—deciduous and
evergreen, exotic and native—gained from growing them in their own and clients’ gardens. Learn
to know and grow these rewarding perennials and meet some of their easy-growing companions—
mosses, sedges, and more.
Inviting Native Plants
Identifying and encouraging native plants in your garden or natural areas not only benefits
wildlife, it also connects your garden to the surrounding natural community. Participants will
spend time exploring a woodland garden and learn to identify some Piedmont native plants likely
to return in reforesting areas. Resources for information on identifying and growing natives will
be shared and attention will be given to recognizing and controlling invasive exotic plants.
Making a Winter Garden
Gardening year round is one of the special pleasures of living in the Southeast. Mild temperatures,
fewer chores, and no mosquitoes make winter a great time to appreciate the flowers, shrubs, and
trees that brighten the cooler months. Participants will consider key aspects of the winter garden
while learning to select, site, and grow such hardy beauties as Hellebores, Camellias and Prunus
mume.