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By Jen Zimmerer
Master Gardeners from Memphis to Bristol and everywhere in between gathered in Knoxville, TN for the State Conference May 27-29th. Despite our previous state conference taking place right here in Middle Tennessee, this was my first time being able to attend and I had a blast! It combined two of my favorite things about the Master Gardener Program: hands-on practical experience and fellowship with like-minded volunteers.
Hosting at UT Knoxville is an easy home run with all of the available campus facilities, nearby UT research sites, and cooperating organizations in the Knoxville area. The schedule offered a variety of interactive workshops, site visits and tours, lecture-style education, and time for sharing ideas and recognizing outstanding volunteers.
We had several Davidson County MGs and Interns who traveled to Knoxville and they each highlighted a favorite activity, all of which involved hands-on experiences that could translate directly into their home gardening and volunteering! MG Susanna Hadley attended a workshop on home food production in small spaces and recalls, “We got to build our own small hydroponic containers during the session, and it was eye-opening to learn just how easy it is to set one up at home. I even took mine home with lettuce plugs I added to the mini hydroponic I made right there at the workshop!” Intern Autumn Eggleston Fogel joked about the conference being “the best summer camp ever” and said, “The beneficial fungi class was so informative, and we got to inoculate and take home our own tomato, rudbeckia, and strawberry plants.”
My personal favorite session was a visit to the UT Organic Crops Unit Farm led by Drs. Bumgarner and Tsuruda. Dr. Bumgarner showed us fertility research trials that will inform home gardeners about research-based results of using various levels of fertilizer on tomatoes and other crops. Dr. Tsuruda had us suiting up in full beekeeping gear to paint-mark bees and learn about apiculture practices. The tours felt like a great balance of useful research and novel experience to both deepen your understanding of familiar topics and broaden your horizons.
Another highlight for our Davidson County crew was being able to recognize our Extension Agent, Amy Dunlap, who received the 2026 Urban Coordinator of Excellence Award. Just a few agents from TN were honored for their impact in their community and support of their Master Gardener Program. We’re fortunate here in Davidson County to have an active and engaged agent who supports our interns and MGs and also does so much outreach in our community to support urban agriculture education!
Our time in Knoxville closed with on-campus tours where attendees could choose from an urban tree walk, a greenhouse tour, or a visit to the ANR green roof. MG Donna Jo Carey’s favorite spot was the awe-inspiring green roof, “I felt like I was walking through a field of flowers! This rooftop garden successfully uses run off-water from the entire building, so watering was basically eliminated. The view of campus made the visit complete - blooming bushes and flowers interspersed among the many buildings.”
By Brenda Peterson
Summer is when the garden truly comes alive—lush greens, vibrant blooms, and the promise of homegrown harvests. But with all its beauty, summer also brings intense heat, thirsty soil, and new challenges for gardeners. With a few thoughtful strategies, you can keep your garden flourishing all season long.
Embrace the Early Hours
One of the simplest ways to support your garden in summer is to adjust your timing. Watering in the early morning—before the sun climbs too high—helps moisture reach the roots instead of evaporating. It also gives plants a fresh start before the heat of the day sets in.
Water Deeply, Not Frequently
Rather than light, daily watering, aim for deep, less frequent soakings. This encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, making plants more resilient during dry spells. A good rule of thumb: most gardens need about an inch of water per week, either from rainfall or your watering can.
Mulch is Your Best Friend
Adding a layer of mulch around your plants can make a world of difference. Whether it’s straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves, mulch helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weeds. It’s like giving your garden a protective blanket.
Choose Heat-Loving Plants
Some plants thrive in the summer sun. Consider adding heat-tolerant favorites like zinnias, marigolds, peppers, okra, and tomatoes. These varieties not only withstand high temperatures but often produce abundantly in the heat.
Keep an Eye on Pests
Warm weather can bring an increase in garden pests. Regularly check the undersides of leaves and stems for signs of trouble. Natural remedies—like neem oil or a simple spray of water—can help keep infestations under control without harming beneficial insects.
Prune and Harvest Often
Frequent harvesting encourages many plants to keep producing. Snip herbs regularly, pick ripe vegetables, and deadhead flowers to promote continued blooms. Pruning also improves air circulation, reducing the risk of disease.
Provide a Little Shade
Even sun-loving plants can struggle during extreme heat waves. Shade cloth, garden umbrellas, or even strategically placed taller plants can offer relief during the hottest part of the day.
Listen to Your Garden
Perhaps the most important tip: pay attention. Wilting leaves, yellowing foliage, or slowed growth are all signs your plants may need a little extra care. Gardening is as much about observation as it is about action.
Summer gardening is a balance between nurturing and adapting. With mindful watering, a bit of mulch, and a watchful eye, your garden can not only survive the heat—but truly thrive in it.
So step outside, soak in the sunshine, and enjoy the simple joy of tending something that grows.
In the April issue of the newsletter we included an article regarding companion planting and the practice of growing different plants close together so they benefit one another. If you already decorate seasonally with plants, companion planting adds a meaningful new layer — you’re not just styling with greenery, you’re growing it with intention.
Imagine stepping outside in late fall to clip herbs for a Thanksgiving centerpiece…
Harvesting fragrant rosemary for Christmas wreaths…
Or tucking edible flowers into spring holiday tables. Companion planting makes that possible.
When you design your garden with beauty and function in mind, you create a harvest that doubles as décor.
Designing With the End in Mind
Instead of planting vegetables in isolated rows, think ahead to how they’ll look — and be used — during the holidays.
Layer:
You’re designing future centerpieces, wreaths, garlands, and hostess gifts — all while supporting a healthier garden ecosystem.
Holiday-Worthy Companion Pairings
Silvery-green Rosemary planted near ornamental or edible Cabbage creates a stunning winter palette.
By late fall, you’re harvesting décor straight from your beds.
Soft, velvety Sage paired with feathery Carrot tops creates beautiful contrast in the garden — and later on the table.
Sage bundles dry beautifully for:
Carrot greens can be tucked into rustic centerpieces for a farm-to-table look.
Low-growing Thyme beneath Rose creates layered ground cover while filling the air with fragrance.
It’s companion planting that feels like cottage-garden styling.
Trailing Nasturtium alongside Cucumber softens garden edges in summer and provides edible blooms.
Those jewel-toned flowers are perfect for:
Plan ahead in Spring by planting:
Interplanting herbs helps reduce pest pressure while creating fullness in your beds.
By the holidays, you can:
Your décor becomes fragrant, meaningful, and entirely homegrown.
Instead of purchasing cut greenery, design your garden to supply it:
Tuck small potted herbs into table arrangements so guests can take them home — a living favor grown right in your own beds.
Companion planting naturally:
It turns your garden into a seasonal design studio.
There’s something deeply satisfying about decorating with what you’ve grown.
The rosemary wreath on your front door…
The thyme tucked into napkins…
The sage woven through a Thanksgiving garland…
It all began months earlier when you intentionally paired plants together.
Companion planting becomes more than gardening — it becomes part of your seasonal rhythm.
By Genma Holmes
According to the 2025 Economic Report to the Governor of the State of Tennessee, prepared by the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at UT’s Haslam School of Business, “The state’s agricultural and forestry industries directly and indirectly contributed $103 billion to the Tennessee economy,” says Andrew Muhammad, UTIA professor of agricultural economics.
Decades before the annual reports were provided to Tennessee governors, Dr. Neal McAlpin, Sr., understood how the state’s agriculture influenced its economy from the ground up. McAlpin was a respected researcher, plant scientist, and horticulture specialist who taught at Tennessee State University from 1943 until he retired in 1980. He showed how agriculture supported Tennessee’s economy and the well-being of both urban and rural communities. His in-depth research on peaches and his work developing new varieties of flowers, such as orchids, roses, and chrysanthemums, made him a popular speaker at think tanks, universities, horticulture conferences, and gardening shows across the country.
Born on May 30, 1914, to Cora Belle Roddy McAlpin and Ivy Brandford McAlpin, Sr., McAlpin grew up in Dayton, Tennessee, where his love for horticulture began humbly as a young boy, climbing peach trees in his family’s home orchard. He shared with the Tennessean’s Hal Herd in 1970 that after causing the peach trees to split from climbing in them to pick the fruit, “We tied the limbs back to the trunk to keep my mother from finding out. It was interesting to learn the limbs would soon grow back to the trees.” Those encounters with trees healing themselves from injuries grew into an educational interest nurtured at home. In the Jim Crow South, his parents allowed him to attend events such as forestry training in 1933 while still in high school. This was not an adventure often offered to families of color. While in high school, he also contributed to the Chicago Defender and other newspapers. He covered social events, comings and goings in Dayton, Tennessee, and the surrounding areas, as well as African-American issues. After graduating valedictorian and class president from Dayton High School in 1936, McAlpin attended Tennessee State University, known then as Tennessee A & I State College.
(Chattanooga Daily Times 1933)
(Chicago Defender, 1931)
When he left the small town of Dayton, he was equipped beyond his years to attend college. McAlpin brought with him a love of learning and his passion for peaches, which served him well as he progressed meritoriously through college. He graduated with distinction with a B.S. in Agriculture and, soon after, he began teaching at his alma mater in 1941. In 1940, he married his college sweetheart, Ruth Francis Duvall from Hot Springs, Arkansas. Together, they became a power couple known not only in Nashville but nationally until her passing in 1972.
(The Ayeni,1941)
(The Afro American, 1953)
(Nashville Banner, 1956)
After marrying Ruth and joining the faculty, he was employed for only a short time before pursuing further study and earning his master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His leaving to pursue his master's degree was newsworthy at the time. He returned a few years later to pursue his doctorate in horticulture and botany at Rutgers University in 1958, and the school, once again, touted his accomplishment. A lifelong learner and born leader, few horticulturists have demonstrated the devotion to improving the gardening experience for everyday people as consistently as McAlpin. He believed beautiful, healthy plants should not be a luxury reserved for a select few. Instead, he worked toward a vision where homeowners from every socioeconomic background could enjoy successful gardens and landscapes.
(New Journal Guide, 1951)
Dr. McAlpin believed Tennessee could become the “Peach Blossom State,” according to numerous media statements. He aimed to make his childhood peach-picking experiences possible for urban youth during his horticultural career. He wanted them to be able to walk outside to grab a peach from a tree, despite the smaller lots on which homes were being built. He also focused on community health. By growing their own food, McAlpin knew families would improve their health outcomes, and individuals would live longer, healthier lives. An environmentalist and conservationist before those words became part of our lexicon, McAlpin recycled cans and egg cartons long before it was trendy. Recycling food and goods saved money; money saved could move urban families from being consumers to producers. He did not stay in the classroom; he was not comfortable with the complications of town and gown. He took the classroom to the people. He taught rural communities how to improve farm output by introducing more advanced techniques to enhance disease resistance. Fewer diseases and pests meant more crops. More crops transform poor farmers barely making ends meet into financially stable businesses, business owners who contribute billions of dollars to the state's economy.
He was a hands-on speaker and performed gardening demonstrations around the country and at TSU’s “Farm, Home, and Ministers Institute,” an annual event on campus that brought “leaders (federal, state, county, and community) to discuss ways and means and develop methods and techniques for improving the standard of living among rural and urban low-income and limited resource families in Tennessee.” Along with other leaders, McAlpin helped bring people to the institute from counties across the state. The annual event began in 1958, after Tennessee A & I was elevated to land-grant university status. Dr. Walter S. Davis was the President, and Dr. Walter A. Flowers was the first director of the Division of Extension and Field Service, organized the program.
(The Call 1958)
It was at this time that research in agriculture grew exponentially on the campus. McAlpin began breeding thousands of peach trees on 14 acres to develop varieties for consumers. He started with 400 trees in 1963 and grew the experimental farm to over 10,000 trees in under a decade. He introduced dwarf flowering varieties suitable for home fruit production and ornamental plants. Central to his work was the development and promotion of plants with improved disease resistance. By focusing on varieties better able to withstand common plant diseases, McAlpin reduced the problems experienced by home gardeners who may not have had access to expensive treatments, specialized equipment, or extensive horticultural knowledge. He preached the gospel of growing your own food, no matter where you lived.
(News and Record, 1979)
McAlpin understood that gardening could enrich lives, strengthen communities, and connect people with nature. His efforts reflected a belief that access to reliable, resilient plants should not be determined by income level or neighborhood. Whether a homeowner maintained a large estate garden or a small backyard plot, McAlpin sought to provide plant varieties that would thrive and bring lasting enjoyment.
(The Tennessean, 1964)
His legacy reaches beyond the plants themselves. He championed the idea that horticultural innovation should serve the public good. By helping develop and introduce stronger, more adaptable plants, he made gardening more accessible, successful, and rewarding for numerous families.
(The Tennessean, 1981)
(The Tennessean, 1970)
(Farm and Home Bulletin, 1970)
Today, McAlpin's work exists as an indication that horticulture is not only about creating new plants—it is about improving the quality of life. His lifelong devotion to disease-resistant plants and wide accessibility has produced a lasting impact on gardeners, landscapes, and communities, helping connect his horticultural work to Tennessee’s broader prosperity and the pleasure of growing plants for everyone.
(The Tomahawk, 1971)
(Richmond Times, 1986)
Dr. McAlpin remarried later in life to Helen Harris. He was inducted into the Tennessee State University Agriculture and Home Economics Hall of Fame in 1997. After his death in 2003, TSU’s School of Agriculture established a scholarship in his honor. And a plaque was dedicated to him on the campus.
Thaxton Waters (2021, April 15). The Ancestors Would Be Proud: My Urban Garden Oasis in East Nashville. Urbaanite Nashville, Reprint permitted
It is late winter and spring is in the air. I’m peelingback my tarp and turning over the top layer of my garden. The smell of fresh earth begins to trigger memories of days of tilling the soil with my Dad. “You want to be able to run your fingers through it (the soil) like hair.” As he passed down ancestral techniques given to him from his Dad, such as how fine to make the ground texture for planting, he was also full of funny family stories, and informative tidbits like “Ya Granddaddy was a sharecropper. Do you know what a sharecropper is?” As my Dad began to share personal stories of his Father and Grandfather’s triumphs and failures I couldn’t help but notice the perspective was told from a point of view of heaviness, heartache, and anguish. It is a story that is bittersweet passed down from the days of forced labor.
35 years after the Emancipation Proclamation my Grandad was born (b. 1900), within another 10 years, Black people, who were once possessions themselves now, were in possession of 16 million acres of land, mostly in the South. W. E. B. Du Bois called it “land hunger” amongst freedmen, when Black people with much thrift, grit, and grace saved money to go after every available plot of land; No matter how hopeless or marginal it looked, it was theirs. This sentiment of seizing land at all cost was to be echoed by the great Booker T. Washington,
“It has been necessary for the Negro to learn the difference between being worked and working.”
“To learn that being worked meant degradation while working means civilization. That all forms of labor are honorable and all forms of idleness are disgraceful. It has been necessary for him to learn that all races that have got upon their feet have done so largely by laying an economic foundation, and in general, by beginning in proper cultivation and ownership of the soil.” That is just what my grandparents did. As my dad and I drove through the countrysides of Tennessee on the weekends, we would visit family with what appeared to me to be a large amount of land. As I got older I learned that what looked vast to me was only a fraction of what was once owned by the family. According to the USDA Agriculture Census, since 1920, it’s been a steady decline of 30,000 acres a year of Black-owned land. What is interesting is that between 1910 – 1920, at the beginning of the Great Migration (when an estimated 6 million Black people left the South), infamous methods like Jim Crow laws, poor economic wages, voter discrimination, white-capping (running all the Black people from town), and even premeditated murder known as lynching. This is when Black People started exhibiting the makings of full citizenship through land expansion, successful business dealings, progressive block voting, growing bank accounts, and paying taxes. However, jealousy was stoked to the point of rage when a mob of angry white men could rob, steal, burn down, kill, and in the aftermath begin to occupy the land, homes, and businesses of the expelled residents. These practices along with a long list of others put a bad taste in Black People’s minds towards anything agricultural because we saw drudgery with no return.
“It was once 3.4 million Black farmers in America and now it is 45,000.”
In recent years the importance of gardening has become a hot topic of discussion. The detrimental factors of fast food, virus outbreaks, and food shortages give people a sense of vulnerability that makes them want to have more control of their food sources. Having a fully stocked grocery store is wonderful in these modern times but this last year has definitely taught us that those food systems are just as vulnerable as we are. That’s why going to farmer’s markets is an excellent way to obtain higher quality food but you also get the opportunity to meet the food producer (gardener/farmer). The next and most effective way to gain, as my GrandPa used to say “Fo’ surety!” of what is going into you and your family’s body is to grow it yourself. This brings us back to the garden skills passed down three generations to me about how to start the season. I’m going to pass a few gardening tips given to me directly from my Pops so within the next 30 -45 days you can harvest your own fresh veggies and skills.
Thaxton’s First Time Grower’s Guide
The first thing we want to look for is location. Vegetables need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. 4 minimum at least.
Second, decide what do you have enough space for? There are many different ways of gardening but some of the most common are in-ground garden (which tends to be more intensive but most common), raised bed garden (which are excellent for the elderly, disabled, or physically challenged), or containers (for apartments or other limited homes).
Third, the soil needs to be nutrient-rich. If you choose to garden in the ground, Dad taught that the ground needs to be tilled fine enough to loosely run your fingers through 8 – 12 inches deep. Spread compost (decomposing plant matter, which can be purchased or made) into the soil. Raised bed and container gardens can both have a good mixture of topsoil and compost.
Now that we have our good sunlight, location (ground, bed, or container), and we have our soil prepared, here are 3 veggie varieties to get you started that’ll make your Grandmama proud.
Greens (Collards, Turnips, Spinach, Lettuce, Kale)
There is nothing that I love more than walking into the backyard to pick fresh greens for dinner. Sow these tiny seeds liberally, greens love growing close together. As the plant grows after 3 – 4 weeks only harvest the leave needed for dinner. Let the plant continue to grow until the hot weather makes them go to seed.
Peas
Growing peas I think about my Grandma and how she used to have huge bags of peas that she sat and used to shell while she watched T.V. and although they tasted wonderful they always used to end up in the oddest dishes. Peapods with their crunchy sweetness bring life to salads, pasta, or they can stand alone. They are ready to harvest from seed in 45 days and the unique quality about peas is the entire plant is edible from the tendrils, leaves, and flowers. They are pretty much foolproof to grow. Sow them 1” to 2” apart and after 2 – 3 weeks of growth, they will need a support stick or trellis fence because they are climbers.
Radish
Radishes are so easy to grow and their red pops of color, tasty pungent bite, and abundant green foliage make them a gardener’s go-to. You will be able to harvest the greens 3 weeks after planting and the radish roots within 6 – 8 weeks.
I’m hoping with these 3 starters that after the experience of planting, watering, watching, growing, and eating, that it will reinvigorate an ancestral pride in us that will expand our communities into more gardening. After I was all grown up, one thing my Dad told me as I began my own plot, “Start small, and grow only what you and your family can eat. It’s better to be proud of a small garden than be frustrated and discouraged by a big one.” Agriculture began thousands of years ago, it’s time to reclaim our birthright.
It is Summer and all across Nashville, neighborhoods are taking charge and creating their own weekly farmers’ markets for their communities. And because the markets fall on various days, we have more than a few chances during the week to support them.
Shopping at local farmers markets provides access to peak-season, farm-fresh produce and artisanal goods. These markets boost regional economies, help preserve surrounding farmlands, and reduce the environmental impact of long-distance food transport. They also foster community connection, offering an opportunity to learn directly from growers about food origins and preparation.
Below is a list from the Nashville Guru of the top local farmers’ markets and when to visit.
Nashville Farmers’ Market. The market includes a 27,000-square-foot garden center, open-air sheds, and a food hall featuring over a dozen restaurants. On-site parking is free for two hours. Customers can shop for items from farmers, artisans, small businesses, nonprofits, and more.
Richland Park Farmers’ Market. This market features 80+ local farmers, bakers, cheese-makers, producers, chefs, and food entrepreneurs. There is free onsite parking and street parking available.
East Nashville Farmers Market. Shoppers can expect live music, food trucks, locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, packaged foods, and more. This weekly event is fun for the whole family, including your pups!
12 South Farmers Market. Stop by for live music, food trucks, and a community market featuring locally-grown produce, baked goods, dairy, and more. Limited free parking is available, with paid parking options nearby.
Wedgewood-Houston Farmers Market. Stop by for local fruits, veggies, fresh baked goods, artisan-made goods, a food court, live music, and special events. This market is family-friendly and dog-friendly.
Hip Donelson Farmers Market. Expect local farmers, vendors, food trucks, live music, and more. All vendors come from within 150 miles of Donelson! Free parking will be available.
Amqui Farmers’ Market. This market’s mission is to help foster a sense of community by providing fresh, locally grown produce and related agricultural products. Stay updated on weekly vendor lists via their Instagram.
You can also find farmer’s markets via The Farmers Market Directory which lists markets that feature two or more farm vendors selling agricultural products directly to customers at a common, recurrent physical location. Maintained by the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Directory is designed to provide customers with convenient access to information about farmers market listings to include: market locations, directions, operating times, product offerings, accepted forms of payment, and more. USDA AMS’s new and improved Local Food Directories
By Blake Davis
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." - Psalms 42:11
The ice arrived overnight.
I rushed, freezing and exhausted, to load my family of five into my four-seater car (the only vehicle not trapped behind a barricade of fallen trees, limbs and 70 feet of downed power lines).
Sounds like musket-fire reverberating every 90 seconds around the neighborhood, with movie-like timing, I loaded the last of our necessities as an explosive CRACK sounded behind me. I turned and watched as the top third of my beloved Southern Magnolia -the Totoro Tree- split and tumble the long fall to the frozen ground.
The dramatic loss was the top of the Magnolia.
But in the months that followed, I found myself thinking of the hackberry.
Hackberries have a typical lifespan of 150-200 years; this one fell around 40.
After the cleanup was complete (a massive thank you to the disaster crews from Otter Creek and Brentwood Baptist for their help), I grieved the change to my yard, the loss of the canopy that had shaded almost the entirety of my fenced yard the previous week.
But mostly I grieved the loss of TIME.
Time has always been a complicated subject for me.
For much of my life, I believed it was in short supply.
Looking at the fallen tree, all I could see were the decades spent to become what it was.
As I walked the now-empty space, another realization began to emerge.
Nature Fills Empty Spaces
The funny thing is, the more I thought about the hackberry, the more I realized I never actually liked that tree.
It gave great shade and privacy, but that shade kept the wettest corners of my yard a consistently muggy mosquito breeding ground, and covered everything beneath it with woolly aphid honeydew. (I’m sorry to share with you the burden of this knowledge, but that sticky brown film beneath most Tennessee hackberries is not sap… It’s aphid excrement. Good luck ignoring that for the rest of your life.)
As I walked around the newly opened space, my grief slowly turned to curiosity, then ideation, then excitement.
Nature fills empty spaces.
Trees' crowns extend toward available sunlight, closing gaps. A storm takes down a tree, a garden bed is neglected, soil is disturbed, and before long, something WILL begin growing there. Volunteer seedlings appear, and invasive species take root.
Invasives aren’t malicious as they crowd out beneficial and ecologically keystone species. They are simply opportunistic. Nature will fill every available space. People are no different.
The question is never whether something will grow.
The question is whether we will make the choice or let nature choose for us.
Invasives
I was a sweet, thoughtful, and wildly oblivious little boy, which is likely why I was unaware of the terminal details of my genetic condition until my very early teens.
Like overnight frozen rain creating an inch of radial ice on every limb of the hackberry, the sudden weight of the knowledge pulled the roots of my young life up from the soil, leaving an empty, disturbed space.
Without clear vision for intentional planting, empty spaces became host to weeds like depression, anger, despair, and that most destructive invasive species: self-pity, which -like the Ailanthus altissima I continue to fight all over my yard- crowds out beneficials and, when cut, responds by forcing new shoots from the soil in a wide radius.
I could have been standing under the most beautiful, mature hackberry, an incredibly resilient tree, host to multiple butterfly species, but all I could see would be the mosquitos and woolly aphid honeydew.
It took time, but once I finally let go of needing to know ‘why?’, I realized the choices were simple:
I could invest my attention into wishing things were different.
Or I could cultivate faith, hope, and gratitude.
Neither choice would change the outcome.
But how I experience the journey would be vastly different.
This mindset served me well for years.
When time feels scarce, faith becomes a pillar, hope becomes practical, and gratitude fosters inner peace.
Then adulthood arrived, and a miracle.
An Abundance of Space
While living in a house with my first garden, a pharmaceutical breakthrough expanded my life expectancy by more than twice its original estimate.
My wife still describes me running circles around our small den, shocked at the ability to do so without my lungs losing capacity for breath.
Feeling the freedom of time, we started the journey of becoming parents, and a few years later, we were able to move to a house with over twice the yard as my first garden.
Both my inner and outer landscapes expanded with tremendous new space to cultivate.
And nature fills spaces.
Nearly everything growing in my new yard was invasive. Tree of Heaven and Japanese honeysuckle, left untouched for years, held claim over most of the available space.
As I’ve worked to fight back these invasive species in my yard (the ‘hack and squirt’ method being the most successful thus far), my mental garden began to fill with the extraordinary concerns, responsibilities, and worries unique only to those privileged to believe they have time.
Our family grew quickly, we made career choices that increased long-term stability but added tremendous stress. I planted with careless abandon, excited at the prospect of additional space to grow and time to witness it.
Parenthood introduces worries I never knew existed. Career growth demands attention and time. Mass plantings grow quickly and need tending. Long-term goals require sacrifice.
I rushed to make up for lost time. I let life get so cluttered and busy that I began to feel bound and stressed by the everyday obligations it takes to build a full life.
Overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, and confused about having these feelings- as if I were trapped by my own choices.
No longer needing to hope for a future, I was striving so hard to maximize it that I forgot the choice:
Instead of cultivating gratitude for the very life I had hoped and dreamed for, I let nature choose what filled that space.
A Forty-Year-Old Tree
I started this article on my 40th birthday, roughly the final age of the fallen hackberry. And as I stand here staring at the empty space it left behind, the patterns of my life begin to come together.
Nature is already filling it with young invasives, weeds, and young hackberry shoots reaching up from what remains of the stump.
They all seek the same thing: space.
My mind at forty is no different.
The question was never whether something would occupy that space.
The question is whether I will choose what grows there.
Invasives will always arise.
But standing here at forty, I have outlived the hackberry.
My soul will no longer be cast down.
The space before me is open.
I will cultivate my faith, steward my hope, and grow my gratitude.
I have land on which to stand, the choice of what to grow, and enough time to cultivate it.
A Blessing for Storms
For anyone reading this who is entering, weathering, or recovering from a storm -be it the Nashville ice-pocalypse or the varied storms of life- I pray whatever new spaces are revealed by its passing find you with the inspiration and capability of cultivating something better, that moves your to the dreams you always wished could be, and whatever damage or loss incurred is looked back upon years from now as the foundations that grew to be the gardens of your dreams.
Amen.
The month of June is Men’s Health Month. When people think about staying healthy, they often picture gym memberships, running shoes, or strict diet plans. But one of the most effective ways for men to improve their health might be much simpler — stepping outside and spending time in the garden.
Gardening is more than a relaxing hobby. It offers real physical, mental, and emotional benefits that support overall well-being. For many men, tending a garden can be a practical and rewarding way to stay active and connected to nature.
Gardening as Natural Exercise
As we Master Gardener’s know, working in the garden is an effective workout. Digging, planting, raking, and weeding all require strength, flexibility, and endurance. Activities like lifting bags of soil, pushing a wheelbarrow, or building raised beds help build muscle and improve mobility.
Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that moderate physical activities — including gardening — contribute to better heart health, improved circulation, and weight management. Just 30–45 minutes in the garden several days a week can provide meaningful health benefits.
Did You Know? Gardening engages nearly every major muscle group, improving strength, balance, and flexibility—making it one of the most beneficial lifestyle activities for long-term wellness.
Supporting Heart Health
Heart disease remains one of the leading health concerns for men in the United States. Regular outdoor activity, such as gardening, can help reduce several major risk factors including high blood pressure, stress, and inactivity.
Organizations like the American Heart Association emphasize that consistent moderate movement plays a key role in maintaining cardiovascular health. Gardening encourages steady movement without the pressure of a formal workout, making it easier for many men to stay active.
Mental Health Benefits
Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase overall life satisfaction. Gardening provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment that can be especially valuable for men managing busy careers, retirement transitions, or personal stress.
According to research supported by the National Institutes of Health, exposure to natural environments can help lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. Simply being surrounded by plants, fresh air, and sunlight can create a calming and restorative experience.
Also, according to a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, simply taking the time to look after plants can help to improve your sense of wellbeing and reduce your risk of mental health problems. Novice gardeners were assigned small plots of land, with researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder assessing their mood, diet and exercise levels over the course of a year. Not only did participants increase their fiber intake and physical activity, but the months spent occasionally working in the soil also resulted in significant reductions in levels of perceived stress and anxiety.
The results support previous studies suggesting that gardening, whether in the context of a plot in a community garden or at your own home, can moderate stress and reduce signs of depression. No garden? Herbs such as rosemary, thyme and basil grow well indoors. It’s the easiest way to adopt a plant-based lifestyle.
Gardening Builds Connection
Gardening can also strengthen social connections. Many men enjoy sharing harvests, swapping gardening tips, or working on outdoor projects with family members. Community gardens and garden clubs create opportunities for camaraderie and shared purpose.
These connections can be especially meaningful as social interaction is an important but often overlooked factor in men’s health and longevity.
Growing Health on Your Plate
Another major benefit of gardening is the fresh food it produces. Growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits encourages healthier eating habits. Fresh tomatoes, leafy greens, peppers, and herbs picked from the garden are rich in nutrients and flavor.
When men grow their own food, they often become more mindful of what they eat — adding more vegetables and whole foods to their diet.
Getting Started
Starting a garden doesn’t require acres of land or years of experience. A few raised beds, containers on a patio, or even a small herb garden can provide health benefits and satisfaction.
Simple crops such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, basil, and cucumbers are great choices for beginners. The key is consistency — spending regular time outdoors tending plants and enjoying the process.
A Simple Path to Better Health
Gardening offers something many health routines lack: enjoyment. It combines physical activity, stress relief, fresh air, and healthy food into one meaningful experience.
Did You Know? Studies show that time spent in nature can lower stress hormones and improve mood. Gardening combines physical activity with outdoor exposure, making it a powerful tool for both mental and physical health, according to research supported by the National Institutes of Health.
For men looking for a natural way to improve their well-being, the garden may be one of the best places to start.
Because sometimes the path to better health begins with a shovel, a seed, and a little sunshine.
Three More Natural Ways to Help Serenity Bloom
Head to the Woods
Stressed Japanese workers tackle burnout by ‘forest bathing’ – immersing themselves in woodland. Studies show it has physiological and psychological benefits, from boosting immunity to alleviating depression.
Coming up Roses
Looking at red roses can induce relaxation, according to a paper in Complementary Therapies In Medicine. Test subjects reported an increase in perceptions of feeling ‘relaxed’, ‘comfortable’ and ‘natural’.
Pots of Gold
If office anxiety brings you down, try enriching your workplace with potted plants. A Harvard Business Review article noted that research shows that exposure to green spaces reduces stress and boosts general health. One study found that greener office environments increased employee productivity by 15%.
Spring always feels like a fresh start in the garden. As the days grow warmer and everything begins to bloom again, many of us start dreaming about what we’d love to grow this year. While flowers and vegetables often get the spotlight, fruit trees can be just as rewarding—and surprisingly easy to grow, even in small spaces.
“Even the smallest patio can produce a surprisingly sweet harvest.”
If you’ve ever thought you needed a large yard to grow your own fruit, you might be pleasantly surprised. Over the years, I have grown a variety of fruit trees in containers in my backyard and/or on patios–lemon, kumquat, apples, peach and fig. Many fruit trees thrive beautifully in containers, making it possible for anyone—whether you have a small yard, patio, balcony, or sunny deck—to enjoy homegrown fruit.
Container fruit gardening is not only practical, it’s incredibly rewarding. Imagine stepping outside your door to pick a fresh peach, lemon, or apple grown with your own hands.
Why Grow Fruit Trees in Containers?
Growing fruit trees in containers offers several advantages:
Choosing the Right Fruit Tree
Top 5 Best Fruit Trees for Containers
Some fruit trees adapt especially well to container growing. Look for dwarf or patio varieties that stay compact while still producing full-size fruit.
Citrus (Lemon, Lime, Orange)
Citrus trees are among the best container plants. They love sunshine and can easily be moved indoors during winter in cooler climates. Their fragrant blossoms are an added bonus.
Dwarf Apple Trees
Dwarf apple varieties produce beautifully in containers and are perfect for patios. Many are bred specifically for small spaces and can yield impressive harvests. I planted colonnade apple trees which I loved, and they did very well in my containers.
Peach Trees
Dwarf peach trees are both productive and ornamental. In spring they display stunning pink blossoms, followed by sweet, juicy fruit later in the season.
Cherry Trees
Compact cherry trees grow well in pots and often produce fruit within a few years. They are also stunning when covered in spring blossoms.
Fig Trees
Figs are naturally suited for container growing. They tolerate pruning well and produce delicious fruit with minimal fuss.
These varieties adapt well to pots and can provide abundant harvests with proper care.
In our area, Bates Nursery stocks several dwarf peach, fig, and apple trees that are perfect for container gardening.
Selecting the Right Container
A healthy tree begins with the right container. Choose a pot that is at least 18–24 inches wide and deep. Larger containers help roots develop and hold moisture more evenly.
Materials such as ceramic, resin, wood, or heavy plastic work well. The most important feature is good drainage, so make sure the container has drainage holes.
Soil Matters
Fruit trees in containers need high-quality potting mix, not garden soil. A good mix should be well-draining while still holding moisture.
You can enhance your mix with:
This creates a balanced environment where roots can grow strong and healthy.
“With the right container, a sunny spot, and a little care, fruit trees can thrive almost anywhere.”
Planting Your Tree
Planting is simple and similar to planting in the ground.
Sunlight and Water
Most fruit trees require 6–8 hours of sunlight daily to produce fruit.
Container trees will also need more frequent watering than trees planted in the ground. Check soil regularly—when the top inch feels dry, it’s time to water.
During hot summer months, daily watering may be necessary.
Feeding for Fruit
Because nutrients wash out of containers quickly, fruit trees benefit from regular feeding. Use a slow-release fertilizer in spring, and supplement with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
Pruning and Care
Pruning keeps container trees compact and productive. Remove dead or crossing branches and shape the tree so sunlight can reach all parts of the canopy.
Occasionally check for pests, refresh the soil every couple of years, and repot if the tree outgrows its container.
“Plant a fruit tree this spring, and you’ll enjoy blossoms today and delicious harvests tomorrow.”
Ready to Grow?
Spring is a season of fresh beginnings, and there’s no better time to start growing something delicious. Whether you place a single pot on your patio or create a small collection of fruit trees on your deck, container gardening makes it possible for anyone to enjoy the rewards of homegrown fruit. With a little sunshine, care, and patience, the trees you plant this spring can bring beauty, fragrance, and sweet harvests for years to come.
On an episode of The Upper Cumberland Lifestyle Show, Serina Wells of Petal and Rake shares how growing up in her grandparents' nursery, earning a psychology degree, and spending 30 years in the building trade somehow led her right back to the soil.
Serina Wells, owner of Petal and Rake, is a specialized flower farmer and designer operating a nano-farm in the Upper Cumberland region near Nashville, Tennessee. With a background in the nursery trade and a career in the building industry, she returned to horticulture to create sustainable, locally grown flower arrangements.
Background and Philosophy
Petal and Rake Services
Gardening Approach
For more information, she can be reached at serina@petalandrake.com or through her Instagram @petalandrake
The Master Gardeners of Davidson County
P. O. Box 41055 Nashville, TN 37204-1055
info@mgofdc.org
UT/TSU Extension, Davidson County
Amy Dunlap, ANR Extension Agent
1281 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37217
615.862.5133
adunla12@utk.edu
©2026 Master Gardeners of Davidson County All Rights Reserved. NOTICE: Trade and brand names are used only for information. Tennessee Extension does not guarantee nor warrant the standard of any product mentioned; neither does it imply approval of any product to the exclusion of others which also may be suitable. Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. Tennessee Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
