Talking Southern plants and public gardens with Jason Reeves
Every state in the South is unequalled . And each Southern DoS experiences unlike growing conditions as you move from one end of the province to the other . Tennessee is a neat example of this , as 440 miles separate the east and west sides of the body politic . This can cause some discombobulation to fresh gardeners as they stress and get educated on what plants flourish specifically where they last . Public gardenscan be a wonderful place to see what plant flourish in your area .
The University of Tennessee is menage to the State Botanical Gardens of Tennessee and has three public sites that receive visitor year - round . These three sites are located in Knoxville , Crossville , and Jackson , and each grows and test plant to demonstrate to homeowners what expand in that neighborhood of the state . The Jackson web site in west Tennessee is overseen by horticulturalistJason Reeves . Jason has been cultivating the garden at that land site for nearly 20 years . He has also written forFine Gardening . Recently I sat down with Jason to talk all thing gardening in the South and about the garden he curates .
Getting to know Jason
Andy:How did you get interested in gardening and horticulture?
Jason : grow up on a farm was where my interest really started . Long before I was old enough to drive , I would walk across the field to an elderly neighbor and help her in her yard . She would apportion divisions from some of her plants with me . My female parent always grow rows of flowers in our home veggie garden . That is where I got to know zinnias ( Zinnnia elegans , yearly ) , cockscomb ( Celosiaspp . and cvs . , annual ) , strawflowers ( Xerochrysum bracteatum , Zones 8–10 ) , and globe amaranth ( Gomphrena golbosa , yearly ) for the first metre . My grandmother and female parent both encourage me to turn and take a giant cockscomb to the county funfair . I get ahead ribbons at the carnival as a vernal man , and I remember the fun of other gardener asking me to pass on cum from my pull ahead stems .
Andy:What do you like to do in your free time?
Jason : Gardening , of course ! As well as preparation , collect farm- and garden - related old geezer , and traveling . I live on three acres , but I garden intensely on one of those . My garden is a with child mix of everything . The perennial and woody industrial plant form the bones , and I fill them in with a lot of annuals each summertime for a riot of coloration . p.a. I fill fifty pulsation pots with tropicals and yearbook as well . They bring me so much joy . I bed color ! I have a weekend business sector where I do landscape design and general garden consulting . Helping others achieve their garden goals is very rewarding to me . I also enjoy traveling to see other gardens . I extend domestic and outside garden tours — but , of course , not in 2020 !
Southern public gardens
Andy:What are a few things you want people to know about UT Garden’s Jackson location?
Jason : We are the only public garden between Memphis and Nashville , and we do a tidy sum of fun thing with repurposing and recycling . Our current centrepiece showing is a giant bottle wall that is 44 feet long and 12 metrical foot tall and includes 1,000 looking glass wine bottles suspended on stainless steel cables . We display all kinds of plant , include annual , perennials , tree , and shrubs . Additionally , we showcase the winners from the All - America Selections computer program . When I get concerned in a plant , I examine and collect as many unlike cultivar as possible . For model , we have a display with over 45 cultivars of panicle hydrangea ( Hydrangea paniculata , Zones 4–8 ) and 26 of the newer rose of Sharon ( Hibiscus syriacus , Zones 5–9 ) . We also have a great coniferous tree collection , and we are an American Conifer Society point of reference garden .
Andy:What’s another public garden in the South that people should visit?
Jason : People should claver Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs , Arkansas . I was brag forth by this hidden gemstone of a garden when I inflict a few twelvemonth ago . They really have great gardens , architectural features , and are locate in a really beautiful setting .
Andy:Most public gardens are big places. What advice do you have for home gardeners who go to public gardens to find inspiration for their own home gardens?
Jason : I think it set out by tell that garden should be visited numerous time during the class , including in winter . Seasonality is so important , and read how thing change across season help you get a adept sympathy of plants . Often when people visit a public garden , they focus on what look spectacular in the moment . Visit a local public garden , focalise on an area of that garden , and begin suppose about what it would take to play a similar space in your own garden . You may take note of just one specific planting seam and incorporate those plants into your dwelling house garden .
The best and worst plants for the South
Andy:What’s a plant that Southern gardeners shouldn’t go without in their gardens?
Jason : Paperbush ( Edgeworthia chrysantha , Zones 7–10 ) would be very high on my list . It really is not as usual as it should be . It truly has twelvemonth - round entreaty . Even the leaf scars are beautiful in the space of prison term between nightfall leaf drib and springiness bloom . Its yellow - and - livid blooms come just at the good time in very early spring and have a delightful sweetness reminiscent of gardenia with a bit of spice . The bloom are soon followed by large blue - green leaves with silver tinge that trip the light fantastic toe in the flatus .
Andy:What’s a common Southern garden plant that is overused, and what’s an alternative to that plant?
Jason : Boxwood ( Buxusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) can be see all over Southern garden . I have seen the damage the fungous diseaseboxwood blightcan do to gardens with deal of boxwood , particularly in Europe . Although boxwood blight has not ravaged us in the South as of yet , we need to hedge our bets and branch out . ‘ Globosa Nana ’ overshadow Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica‘Globosa Nana ’ , Zones 5–9 ) is a great alternative for a location where you might have put a big received boxwood . It naturally grows in a round shape , and its soft , medium green foliation also makes an exquisite Christmas or winter wreath .
Andy:What is one of your favorite plants that is native to the Southern United States?
Jason : Virginia bluebells ( Mertensia virginica , Zones 3–8 ) come immediately to heed . Perhaps there is no other spring ephemeron that has entrance my admiration and exuberance to such a level . They are not as unwashed in the home garden as they should be . One reason is that they are difficult for nurseries to produce and go dormant as people really begin to hit the garden centers in the spring . However , once they are established in the home landscape painting , they require little aid and ego - seed nicely in the sunlight or subtlety garden .
More resources
Andy:If you are new to the South and want to start gardening here, what should be your first step?
Jason : Connect with your local university - led Master Gardener mathematical group . You postulate to start by getting to know other gardener in your area . The Southern United States is filled with marvellous Master Gardener groups with the missionary station of develop and assist others with their gardens . These radical can be the gateway to both swell gardens and great friendships .
The Tennessee State Botanical Gardens in Jackson is located on the grounds of the West Tennessee Agricultural Research and Education Center around the main situation building area and beyond . Visitors are welcome during day 60 minutes all twelvemonth long . If you see Jason rushing around , ensure you say hello !
— Andy Pulte is a mental faculty member in the plant sciences section at the University of Tennessee .
Fine Gardening recommend Products
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
ok horticulture receives a commission for item purchased through liaison on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programme .
Get our late tips , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .
ratify you up …
Related Articles
GPOD on the Road: University of BC Botanical Garden, Part 2
GPOD on the Road: University of BC Botanical Garden
A Summer Tour of the University of California Botanical Gardens
Southern Gardens After the First Frost
link Fine horticulture for a free engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical manager …
When I spotted a special grit buck cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I jazz I was in problem . With a delicious colour pattern …
When we only prioritise plants we want over plants our landscape want , each season is filled with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinch , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be careful when you participate the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to touch off on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access member get more
signalise up for afree trialand get approach to ALL our regional content , plus the rest of the fellow member - only cognitive content subroutine library .
Start Free Trial
Get double-dyed site access code to expert advice , regional mental object , and more , plus the print mag .
start out your detached trial
Already a member?enter
Plants at the University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson settle into a warm summer evening.Photo: courtesy of the University of Tennessee
Young Jason poses among blooming flowers in the family garden.Photo: courtesy of the University of Tennessee
The bottle wall looms impressively over a densely packed garden bed at the University of Tennessee’s Jackson location.Photo: courtesy of the University of Tennessee
This scene is from a past summer at the UT Gardens at Jackson from an annual event called “Summer Celebration Lawn and Garden Show,” which draws thousands of visitors to the grounds every year.Photo: courtesy of the University of Tennessee
The gray-green buds of paperbush open to fragrant yellow flowers in late winter.Photo: Janet Jemott
Virginia bluebells are easy-care natives that shepherd in spring.Photo: Jennifer Benner
