Popes Garden Center is an ideal location for garden talk! Garden clubs, groups and classes are welcome to hold meetings at Popes Garden Center. Set in our outdoor nursery amidst trees, shrubs, perennials and native plants, groups can see first-hand as they learn about the world of gardening. In cooler months, our greenhouses serve as a cozy and warm spot for clubs to gather. Often times, Popes consultants will serve as speakers for workshops and seminars, as well.
For information, contact Marianne Spence at 865-982-9217 x 25.

Saturday, December 5 @ 11:00 @ Popes Garden Center (Maryville): Learn unique ways to use greenery for holiday cheer and decoration. From table tops to mantle pieces to stairway swags, bring the charm of greenery into your home. Workshop leaders, Sher Kelly and Jennifer Sawyer, will enlighten while they educate and entertain!

RSVP by Friday, December 4.

Entertaining at home is an affordable and worthwhile way to spend your weekends! Outdoor “garden rooms” have become a popular way to increase living space without adding on to your home. Anytime is the ideal time to begin your creation.

We’ve compiled a list of affordable and simple ways to spruce up your backyard. Fortunately all of these items are available at Popes Garden Center. Visit our stores to check out these garden must-haves!

Entertaining outdoors is big in Tennessee! Football parties, cookouts, bonfires and social gatherings keep us outside. You too can find more uses for your deck or patio. Choose a spot that provides plenty of room for gathering areas as well as dining areas. Specialty garden furniture provides quaintness while accommodating your guests.

• Add a bistro set for dining or cocktails
• Place garden benches in open spaces for gathering and mingling
• Choose attractive, yet sturdy seating for friends

Courtyards and patios are great spots for relaxation. Shady areas, water features, arbors and artistic paths can help to create outdoor comfort -just steps from home. Choose areas for what suits your desires. You’d be amazed at how much you can do with little time and expense.

• Plant a shade tree to create a shady spot
• Build a pond (do-it-yourself) with a pond kit
• Add a water feature, fountain or bird bath
• Position an arbor or trellis for arches and upward growth of vines
• Create a pathway with Stepables® or pebbles for garden and nature strolls

Backyards often times lack a style because of neglect in colder weather. Bring in character and spice by adding accent pieces and personal touch. It’s your yard; it should reflect your tastes. Make a statement!

• Select a landscape specimen, a favorite tree or shrub to spotlight
• Place garden statuary in tactful spots
• Stray from “cookie cutter” landscapes by trying rare and unique plants
• Use varying heights with containers or urns
• Choose complementary colors and textures of plants

Outdoor spaces don’t have to be elaborate. Simple, planned steps can ease you into creating a great getaway in your own backyard. Plan now; do a little at a time. Each season can bring new additions. A happy garden thrives on growth!

by Ben Blackwood, General Manager

Small spaces in the garden can present some unique opportunities and challenges.  When space is at a premium, even an inch is too much to waste.  Your garden may be limited on space, but can be rich with color, texture and utility.

Perhaps your side yard is very narrow, or you live in a townhouse and the entire garden is 10′x10′.  In either case the amount of time planning that garden is very important. Taking the time to research and plan just may save you both time and money in the end!

First, determine what the primary use for the space will be.  Will you entertain guest there?  Will the kids play there?  Will the area be needed for storage of equipment, tools, etc? These are all questions that need to be answered before you grab your shovel.  If you plan to have guest in your small garden or if you plan to spend a great deal of time there color is very important. Cool colors such as blues and purples make a space seem bigger and further away.  Warm colors such as red appear closer and more intimate.  Use this knowledge to aid in selecting the most appropriate color combination in you garden.

Next, evaluate your microclimate.  Does the area receive full sun, or is it all day shade?  What type of soil exists on the site?  How much air flow moves through the site?   Is there a water source nearby?  Answering these questions will make the difference between success and failure in any garden.  There are certainly many other things to consider, but these are some of the most critical questions.  If the soil is poor, maybe raised beds or containers are the solution.  If you have full sun with little airflow, your plant selection is narrowed but still full of possibilities.

Proper plant selection is obviously important in a smaller space.  “Dwarf” is a popular term used to describe many new and older varieties of plants.  Be careful with this word, as it is relative.  A dwarf willow may still be over 20 feet tall one day, so do your homework on specific traits of each cultivar you select.  Also consider the speed at which your plant material will grow.  Sure, that beautiful spruce may one day get 40 feet tall, but if its 2 feet today and grows 2 inches a year, why not put it in your small garden.

Gardening in a small space magnifies the good, the bad, and the beautiful.  So make a plan and stick to it.  Remember gardening is relaxing and fun, and does not have to be such hard work.  If it does get difficult give us a call, Believe me, we’ve been there and were happy to help.  Thanks so much for your support.