C. Fawley Fjeran

Podunk is a word I once regarded as an insult. My sister used to refer to my husband and me as Lisa and Oliver, as in the show Green Acres. Like Lisa, I loved all things ultra modern: clean, streamline interiors, condos and city lights. So of course, I married a man like Oliver who dreamed of living in the country. "Green acres is the place for me. Farm livin' is the life for me. Land spreadin' out so far and wide Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside. New York is where I'd rather stay. I get allergic smelling hay. I just adore a penthouse view. Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue..." David and I settled on a plot of acreage almost in the middle of nowhere. I admit it had a secluded charm tucked away in the middle of the woods. Although we had central heat, we used a wood burning stove that heated the whole house in winter. Our homestead grew with a large vegetable garden, small lake, geese, chickens, and one episode with pigs. Thankfully, we didn...

The wedding in Steel Magnolias featured shades of pink. Shelby's signature color was pink and she chose the shades 'Blush' and 'Bashful'. I think she would have been a fan of Pinkie. This beautiful thornless climbing rose was given to me by one of my favorite Master Gardeners. These photos were taken after a heavy rain, but even in this condition, Pinkie is quite nice. She's untrained in my garden. I turned her loose to ramble against the house and climb through my  Chaste tree. I love the combination when both are in bloom. Pinkie's flowers are dainty and she blooms prolifically. She can also easily be trained to an arch or arbor and given a more manicured look--for those who must also line up shoes like soldiers standing at attention in their closets.

Chaste Trees have a reputation of growing rapidly but have a relatively short lifespan. I planted mine nearly 16 years ago. In no time it grew as high as my two-story house. The birds love it! We have a feeder tucked beneath the tree where they can dart in and out. The thought of pruning their playground was daunting because it puts on such a show when it's in bloom. But there comes a time when you know major pruning is in order. Plus, we needed to redo th e siding on that section of the house and the work could not be done with branches in the way. I put my head together with my 'yard guy' and decided Chaste Trees can tolerate severe pruning. Not all plants are that forgiving. Some need to have no more than 1/3 of the growth pruned at a time; other plants will grow back even after cut to the ground. It helps to know your plants: "Most broadleaf shrubs (such as azaleas, camellias, ligustrum, abelia, nandina, cleyera and crape myrtle) respond well to renewal pruning. Bo...

A couple of sayings, "If I knew then what I know now," and, "If only I had known," are bantered about. When asked, "What is something you wish someone had shared with you 10, 5, even one year ago," I paused. Listen to your instinct; use your imagination. "If only I had known?" I probably know many things that I dismiss, talk myself out of "knowing." I do this when I don't want to accept reality, e.g. Mom won't be with us forever. I'm hedging my bet that she will answer the phone, "Good morning!" today, tomorrow, and the next day. Hedging is my mental cushion. I imagine life without her, and I don't like it. Years ago as a newlywed, my spouse ventured out on what I thought would be a quick trip. He was running some errands that should have taken no more than a couple of hours. This was before the cell phone era. Two hours pass. Three hours. Tic-toc. Now I'm getting concerned. Worried. Alarmed. Horrible image...

When is the last time you tasted the sweet nectar of honeysuckle? It is a childhood favorite--pick a flower, snap off the base, and suck the nectar through the stem like a straw. The fragrance adds to the pleasure. One of life's pure pleasures. (Before you dive in, ensure no chemicals have been sprayed in the area.) Enjoy!

Do you ever picture yourself living in another era? This home overlooking a small tidal beach on the Harbor River was built in 1898. It originally served as a military hospital within walking distance of Fremont Fort. The house was converted to a residence in 1949. Built to last, the roof is made of Buckingham County slate and the walls are four-course thick. ( http://south-carolina-plantations.com/beaufo…/lands-end.html )  A paddock across the road is graced with Live Oak trees and horses; Spiderwort is dappled along the fence line. Smoldering fires and mosquito net help make the summer months tolerable. Charlie seems content to wander beneath the oaks waiting on his next meal or a friendly local walking by who might slip him a nibble of apple. I can picture it then; I would love to picture it now.

Mint in the garden can be a menace. The roots travel and spread underground to areas designated for other plants. The intentional planting in my garden is partially in check due to our heavy red clay soil. I keep my eyes open for wayward roots and periodically tug them up from adjacent pathways. Mint in my garden is a memento from my grandfather's garden. He had a mass planting beside the house where little else would grow. I gladly inherited a small sprig tha t eventually grew and spread to fill in a void in my garden. The lightest brush against the foliage is rewarded with delightful mint fragrance. If you would like to have fresh mint but are leary of its behavior, try growing it in containers. CNN reports 4,000 pounds of mint will be used to serve 127, 000 Mint Juleps during the 143rd Kentucky Derby. (  http://www.cnn.com/…/cocktail-history-mint-julep-kentucky-…/ ) A few refreshing sprigs from your garden are all that you will need to enjoy mint tea, julep, or mojito on Derby D...

What is your favorite way to start the day? For beginners, I prefer to awaken naturally--NO ALARM CLOCKS--followed by strong cup(s) of coffee, low light, and low volume. No questions that require answers, please. Early in the morning just as the sun is coming up, my husband asks, "What do you plan to do this weekend?" He asks before my third cup of coffee so of course, he gets 'the look'. "I haven't decided. Why do you ask?" He is a scheduler, a planner. It's challenging for me to pack for trips. I don't know what I will feel like wearing seven days out. I would rather decide what to wear the morning of; dinner is based on what I feel like eating at the moment. That's how I roll--inspiration in the moment. How is that a bad thing? My job requires that I perform the role of a planner so I've learned a thing or two. Itineraries and hotel reservations can be a good thing. Planning is what brings things together and directs the flow. What I...

What better day to highlight Agave than on Cinco de Mayo? A popular restaurant in Atlanta is named after the Agave plant. The award-winning restaurant specializes in Southwestern cuisine accompanied by a tequila bar. ( http://www.agaverestaurant.com/about/ ) Agave tequilana is well known in the production of tequila, a key ingredient in margaritas many of which will be served on Cinco de Mayo. Agave species are known to live for decades in its natural habitat. Coveniently, my director, who is attending a meeting in Tuscan, Arizonia this week, snapped some images of Agave. He had to go no further than the parking lot to find plantings, which are common in Southwestern landscapes. In Georgia, Agave is used as a striking accent in the garden but requires extremely well-drained soil. It can be successfully grown in large containers placed in the garden, circumventing our heavy red clay soil. Another species of Agave, Agave americana, also known as the Century Plant, produces flowers on tal...

Mushrooms are often collected from woodsy settings that are warm and damp. Less expected are sightings of mushrooms in full sun along sandy stretches of beach. There are in fact many varieties acclimated to the beach. This one resembles Agaricus.

Have you ever tried lighting a candle in the wind? Elton John surely knew it wasn't easy as he wrote of Norma Jean: "And it seems to me you lived your life  Like a candle in the wind Never knowing who to cling to When the rain set in" The pinus species find it easy to hold their candles in the wind. The new spring growth on pine trees resembles a candle--yes, proper horticulture name used for the new growth. If you are inclined, unlike me, to manicure and prune your pine trees, pinching the candle in spring is the recommended practice. This helps give the tree a more dense, compact habit. Most of us inherited pine trees that we never planted in the first place. Homeowners readily cut down pine trees to avoid potential storm damage. But if you have a small tree in a location that can coexist with buildings, then pruning the candles would be a good idea. Before taking on a major pruning job, it is best to be informed. A UGA publication cautions against cutting into the wood...