Glorious Gardens of the South: I Dig It goes on the road for professional development

I Dig It is on the road, gaining inspiration and building connections with other similarly minded farmers and gardeners in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. We can’t wait to bring back what we’re learning to the Galvez Garden and Greater New Orleans Community!

Birmingham, Alabama

First stop: Alabama. Took us around six hours to get to Birmingham from NOLA on the initial part of the trip. We stayed in an historic home currently under renovation. The curated landscaping made it worth washing the dishes in the upstairs bathroom sink.

We visited the botanical gardens and they did not disappoint.

I was particularly inspired by the bog garden. the amount of life growing in the shade of the trees had my wheels spinning!

We made a point to visit the Jones Valley Farm, an urban agricultural experiment that is perhaps the gold standard of what a community garden can be with abundant funding and community involvement. It was lovely. We met a man that went through the Jones Vally Farm process of acquiring a garden bed, he was quite proud of his peppers. We also spoke with a lovely young woman that had worked there for five years. She was a delight and is a talented fiber artist who works with nature as a backdrop for her installations. We were quick to share our information about the NOLA Artist Incubator Artist-in-Residency program and look forward to continued contact with those that tend to these fields.

Dylan was especially impressed with the living grotto of muscadine grapes. She was awed by the shelter and shapes created by the growing vines. It left me that much more encouraged to devote a space for these southern gems that are less susceptible to diseases than their relatives.

Look Out Mountain, Georgia

Look Out Mountain is a sight to behold. The history of how this became private, public, and privatized for profit is fascinating. I’ll share the story with y’all when I have more time, but to summarize:

A woman with a vision turned a mountain range into an enchanted garden.

It basically doesn’t get much cooler than that, right?

Over the years additions have been made that only add to the hypnotic scenery. New plants are planted to replace those that were originally planted by dear Ms. Frieda, a feisty German gal with big ideas and the will to make the impossible reality. I only wish I could have a cup of tea with her to pick brain… if you’re ever out in this area, it is a MUST see!

Mind you, the family that owned the land and called this their backyard was beyond well off. With time and money, apparently even sorcery is possible. With its exquisite natural surroundings and boulders as building blocks, the finely manicured and embellished by token gnomes environment is indeed enchanting. As this year marks 90 years since opening to the public,we arrived just as the enchanted gardens were being celebrated.

We continue with our journey tomorrow, together, with the goal of seeking out more beautiful spaces, making connections, and learning along the way. For now, I must sleep, but my mind is racing! So much beauty. It is out there, if you are looking.