The Wetlands Garden at the UT Botanical Garden in Knoxville has been established in a low-lying area that once had been a difficult space to maintain. Now this area is working in harmony with nature. It features a series of ponds, plus a wide variety of native plants that together form a sustainable ecosystem that filters water and provides habitat for wildlife. Troy Marden tours the area and gains tips for homeowners who may have a situation on their property with water run-off and retention.
The team at UT Botanical Garden in Knoxville Tennessee have put together a garden area that is delighting children, and piquing their interest in plants and gardening. This zoo garden features those plants that have a common name associated with an animal such as monkey grass and Lamb's Ear.
Every bit of this urban yard is part of the garden design, whether its the front yard with a definite 'wow' factor, the planted strip along the driveway, or the secluded sanctuary at the rear property line. In this garden, the right plants are in the right places. There's a rhythm and flow between the spaces, and each part leads you on to the next pretty spot.
Troy Marden showcases what was once a typical, grassy residential lot that was transformed by the homeowners into a gorgeous collection of display beds and borders with desirable plants and lots of artistic touches. Japanese maples are definitely the darlings of this garden.
We tour the home garden of a self-described plant collector. Her goals for the design were cohesiveness, some symmetry, a bit of formality, and accessibility. She achieved all that, and the garden is beautiful. It features a central circular bed with four paths radiating out. Each has a plant palette sure to please.
Rita Venable visits with a homeowner who began gardening during the pandemic. She had inherited her landscaping when she purchased the home. Now a native plant enthusiast, she's converted those existing landscape areas into garden beds where native plants, shrubs and trees are performing well.
What a treat to tour the many thoughtful garden beds at a residence that sits on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau at an elevation of 1,900 feet. Rita Venable visits the couple who designed and installed a long and flowing border bed that takes advantage of the grand view just beyond. In a section of side yard, they've allowed nature to be nature. It's full of no fuss, mostly native, herbaceous perennials. Also highlighted are trees and shrubs that support wildlife.
Ever thought about the flexibility and control you would have if all of your landscape plants were in individual containers? We tour the unique and beautiful backyard oasis that a couple of plant enthusiasts have created by planting up 542 individual garden containers!
Providing a sustainable habitat for wildlife begins with plant selection, and continues with natural gardening methods. Rita Venable introduces us to a native plant enthusiast who is maximizing his efforts by installing garden beds from the curb to the rear property line. He's finding that he's inspiring others too.
We tour the island beds and border beds of a long-time gardener in Murfreesboro, TN. She's looking to make the maintenance of the grounds more manageable. Plant selection is part of the plan. Another part is getting down a layer of mulch for weed control. We look at some dependable plants, including peonies, allium, ferns, trillium and hosta.
We're introduced to a couple who have planted their yard in native plants that nurture wildlife, yet the landscape fits well in the subdivision setting. The front yard is more uniform with colors of white, purple and pink blooms. A newly planted border bed along the side of the house features shade plants. The largest space, the backyard, features bordered vegetable beds and vignettes filled with pollinator-friendly plants.
