With Kelly Holdbrooks
Gardeners venturing out after winter mimic the activity of pollinators or migratory birds, stirring about together in the garden for the first time in months. As fern fronds unroll and ephemerals surface, we all play our part in the spring emergence. What might appear to be the mundane task of cleaning garden beds plays an important role in the unveiling of spring.
Following the frozen tundra of late winter, we began tending our garden beds. Like most gardeners and farmers, we realize the importance of healthy soil. At the Reserve, we start from the soil layer and build our ecosystems from the foundation. We’ve top dressed low spots and bare roots. We’ve added composted horse manure to our perennial beds. In the landscape we’re testing our soil’s pH and applying lime where needed. All of this is part of getting our soil profile to a place where our plants will thrive.
This year, we’ve encountered challenges with our hybrid rhododendron, as well as our Kalmia buxifolia and Kalmia latifolia. We sent samples of soil, roots, stems, and leaves to a lab in hopes of discovering the cause — possibly soil-borne or pest-related — and how we might prevent it. We are also installing pheromone lures to trap Synanthedon rhododendri, or rhododendron borers. The larvae of these clear-wing moths feed on the stems of rhododendron, nearby deciduous azaleas, and mountain laurel. We have also determined some of our more north-facing rhododendron and Ericaceae have experienced winter injury, which occurs when cold temperatures cause browning, dieback, and bud kill.
Over the past year we’ve also added new custom stone bridges to replace older, declining wooden bridges throughout the garden. These new structures will withstand the test of weather and time, providing indefinite protection for the streams that flow beneath them. Our next goal is to assess the aquatic wildlife on site and learn how to improve the health of the streams, which are part of the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River. Stream restoration will be another way we can preserve and protect the ecosystems and biodiversity of the mountaintop.
We look forward to seeing you this growing season and showing you our progress.