A Garden Among the Trees

It’s early spring in this ‘beech grove garden’ belonging to a pair of garden enthusiasts in Raleigh, North Carolina. The prevalent tree of this woodland garden is the native American beech that provides food for wildlife. It’s evident that spring has just arrived as there are pops of color with early bulbs and Japanese maples. We get tips on reliable performers that are also deer-resistant.

Plants Featured in this Clip

ACER palmatum 'Shin Chishio'
HELLEBORUS foetidus (Stinking hellebore, Bear's foot)
LORAPETALUM chinense (Chinese fringe flower)
LEUCOJUM aestivum (summer snowflake)
ACER palmatum 'Kristen Star'
VERONICA umbrosa 'Georgia Blue'
PARROTIA persica (Persian Ironweed) 'Biltmore'
CERCIDIPHYLLUM japonicum (Katsura tree) 'Pendulum'

Gardener Extras

Beech Grove Garden is a 4 acre woodland garden in the Piedmont region of NC zone 7b.
Fagus grandiflora (American beech) produces beech nuts that are eaten by birds adn mammals. It's an important food for chipmunks.

Annette Shrader

Born and raised on a farm, I’ve always appreciated the smell and feel of fresh earth. When we purchased our home 35 years ago, it had some land, but not a single flower. I began the process of plotting and planning garden beds and borders, and have not stopped. Looking out at this mature landscape, it gives me a sense of accomplishment here in my own botanical garden. On her producer role with Volunteer Gardener, Annette says “These are treasured experiences. The passion that people have for their gardens sends me home feeling refreshed, and challenged.