Happy Thursday sweet friends. I hope it has been a good week, so far!
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Psalm 119:103
I love visiting gardens and I am excited to take you to one where the air is cooler and the humidity is lower.
Oxeye sunflowers, also known as false sunflowers, thrive in this mountain garden! Although not a true sunflower, this plant is native to the eastern and central US, easy to grow, and deer resistant…making me think we need to plant it next season!
Last week, my Renaissance Man and I enjoyed a getaway to our favorite mountain retreat. The Swag sits at five thousand feet in the western North Carolina mountains. The secluded 250-acres border The Great Smoky Mountains National Park far away from crowds. I was looking forward to seeing how the gardens had changed since our last visit. Love this unique garden entrance!
We arrived on Sunday afternoon and after settling into our beautiful cabin, we took a walk in the garden. It was buzzing with butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Anise hyssop is a perennial that is a member of the mint family. It is considered one of the premier plants for feeding pollinators. The purple flower spike is favored by bees who make a light fragrant honey from the nectar!
Dahlias, a favorite flower of mine, were in bloom!
Every imaginable color of snapdragons were blooming. They are short-lived garden perennials usually grown as annuals. They bloom profusely in cooler weather which make them great for spring and fall gardens, unless your summer garden is at 5000 feet!
Snapdragons start blooming at the bottom of the stalk and work their way up, making for a long period of bloom!
(RM says this looks like an ice cream cone with a lot of flavors)
Hand-crafted architectural features dot the garden areas. This one was new to the garden and note there are plantings that will grow and cover the pergola.
Joe-pye-weed is a late blooming wildflower that is native to Eastern and Central North America. It has a sweet vanilla scent that is especially attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.
This could be Dahlia Tartan with its vibrant coloring. RM and I took a garden tour with The Swag’s lovely gardener. There were a few other garden enthusiasts who were along. There were many questions that were asked along the tour, and yes some of those were asked by me. I did not ask her to identify the many different dahlias that were in bloom.
An old goat cart is great for holding annuals! I remember seeing it planted with flowers on our first visit to The Swag in 2017.
What is this unusually tall plant? Perhaps you have seen this plant growing in fields or along the roadsides (I don’t recall ever seeing one). It is called mullein and their tall and erect spikes of yellow rosettes were historically used as an herbal treatment for coughs, congestion, chest colds, bronchitis, and inflammation. Native Americans made teas from leaves of mullein to treat asthma.
This resembles a dahlia that I planted called Lilac Time. As much as I love the beauty of their flower, I gave up trying to grow dahlias due to insects eating the blooms. Fortunately, I can purchase beautiful dahlias from a friend that is a flower grower.
You probably see, and may have purchased this flower at the grocery store. Alstroemeria, a common flower is often seen in flower arrangements (including mine) because of their long vase life that is usually more than two weeks. This appears to be the butterscotch variety. I almost purchased seeds this past spring, but they will definitely be ordered next year.
Love this striking dahlia!
Blueberries were prolific and the Gardener said for us to pick some for our enjoyment, which we did. They were being put to good use by the Chef in his fabulous cuisine; salads, desserts and breakfast fruit cups…delicious!
This garden structure was recently built by a couple of young 22 year old guys. Isn’t it amazing? Strawberries were planted around the perimeter. The rustic structures blend perfectly at this elegant, but rustic mountain inn!
I discovered these dahlias growing on Gooseberry Knob. The “knob” is a pleasant 1/4 mile hike from the main garden area.
A photo from Gooseberry, of the beautiful mountain vista, was the lead off pic in Sunday’s post! If you missed it, you can find it here!
Can you guess the flower? If you guessed dahlia, you are correct!
Strawflowers bring vivid color to a garden. I ordered a pack of seeds, but never planted them. A local flower gardener said she had not had much success growing them, so I didn’t even try. The strawflowers seem to like their location at 5000 feet.
The Gardener was very knowledgeable, kind, and patient. We stayed behind after the tour to ask a few more questions. She worked tirelessly every day we were there keeping the garden and all the flower beds around the property in great condition. She faces challenges as all gardeners do, a family of rabbits have taken up residence. You could tell that gardening is her passion and she has made it her career!
Just one more stunning dahlia…
I hope you enjoyed this garden walk. Thank you for your visit and gracious comments. Wishing you a delightful day!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Thank you for the garden tour Pam! Gorgeous blooms…you can tell they favor the cooler mountain temperatures too! Love the rustic charm of the garden gate…so appropriate for the mountains! Happy Thursday ♥
Thanks Mary ♥️
Beautiful!
Thanks so much!
Love your photos!!
Carole, your comment comes up anonymous!
thank you for the beautiful garden tour! the cooler mountain air sounds wonderful!! hope to make to some of your places one day.
Thanks so much…Happy Weekend!
Oh my what a beautiful garden to visit. Thank you for taking us with you on the tour. Nature is beautiful and refreshes our souls. Have a great rest of the week. xoxo Kris
Thanks so much and I am glad you enjoyed the garden. Happy Weekend, Kris!
What a beautiful, beautiful place!!! The flowers are gorgeous and I have NEVER seen such a spectacular mullein plant! I harvest and dry mullein for teas and tinctures. Great for allergies too!
Carol, thank you! I am so glad you stated that you dry mullein for teas and tinctures. I do have lots of allergies as I have gotten older. Happy Weekend!
I was so excited to see the mullein. We have three that grow at the end of our property by the lake every year. Last year the blooms were so beautiful and I thought I took a picture but can’t find it. Thank you for sharing all this beauty.
Thanks so much, Lisa. Did you plant the mullein?
Beautiful gardens. We need to gobtherebfor a little getaway. Mullein grows here in our state, as does Joe Pye weed. Love that rainbow sherbet snapdragon (yes, Butch, ice cream of sorts). Hmm, love the idea of growing alstromeria, Pam. That wooden tuteur structure would look amazing with a robust clematis on it! Thanks for the tour. I bet the gardener really appreciated your questions and interest.
Thank you, Rita. The gardener was really patient with one visitor that instead of asking statements, he commented on everything that was not on subject. There is much to enjoy at The Swag, hope you visit!
I love mullein. We have them growing on our property. They are so beautiful. I was so excited when three or four of them started growing in a place I had cleared for a flower garden near my Camilla bush.
Thank you, Brenda. I know the mullein is beautiful!
Mullin grows in Co. not my favorite but it looks really green and tall in your picture. The flowers appear to love the cool Air of the mountains and the altitude doesn’t seem to effect them. Our home sits at 5352 ft. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Thanks for the stroll through the garden and the beautiful flowers.
Alice, I didn’t realize you were at that altitude. Have a wonderful weekend!
Beautiful photos of the garden at The Swag. They bring back memories of our trip there a few years ago.
Thank you, Nancy. It is a wonderful place and so happy you experienced it a few years ago!
Pam, I really enjoyed my visit today. I love seeing beautiful blooms. Your photographs have captured them perfectly! It looks like you had a wonderful time. We have a trip planned to Highlands the first week of September. I am really looking forward to it. The Smokey Mountains are gorgeous. Happy Thursday, sweet friend!
Thank you, Shannon. If you have never visited Highlands, you are in for a treat!
What gorgeous photographs… I can almost feel the cool mountain air. Dahlias are so gorgeous and it seems like everyone is growing them. I am not even going to attempt it! I did find a pack of zinnia seeds in my freezer a few weeks ago, and they are already growing like crazy!
Thank you Roxanne. What a great discovery in the freezer that is rewarding you now! Happy Weekend!
Pam, I loved this post! So many beautiful pics! That lovely fence is very artistic. The young men that built the garden items are really talented. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed it! Clara ❤️
Thanks so much, Clara. Happy Weekend and stay cool ♥️
What a beautiful and unique garden. I love the architecture. I grew snapdragons for the first time this year and love them. They will be in my garden every year!
Thank you, Amy. I grew snapdragons years ago, and I think I will next year.
The Swag looks like an amazing place! I had never seen a mullein plant, but I remember a few years back when I was so ill with respiratory illness, a reader got in touch with me and told me about mullein and I bought some. It is very effective, from what I can remember. The garden tour sounded like it was amazing!
Thank you, Cheryl. So interesting that used mullein and it helped! Have a blessed weekend!
That gardener lass really knows how to capture nature and leave it looking as though only Heaven touched it. I recall living in CO how surprised I was by the energy and brilliance of the flowers grown at that altitude. The Swag seems to have a similar environment. You and RM really derive great discovery on your ventures and share it so graciously through photos and comments. The
Swag adventure has been a gift of such discovery.
Thank you, Mary. It is a beautiful place to enjoy and refresh. Sending hugs!
Wow that’s is a wonderful place! Love their displays. The snap dragons look wonderful in mixed colors!
Thanks so much, Liz. I loved the mixed colors of the snaps!
What a beautiful garden tour of your get away! Such beautiful blooms! The dahlias are amazing… and I too stopped growing them because of insects.
I have Anise hyssop throughout my front gardens. It took off this year and bees and butterflies love it!
Thank you for the tour. Have a beautiful weekend!
Thank you, Nancy. I am glad you came along for the garden tour. Happy Weekend!
Such beautiful flowers! I’ve never heard of a mullein so I found that really interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Michelle. Happy Weekend!
Stunning photos! Thank you for this wonderful tour!
Thank you, Maristella!
One word Pam and Butch….AWESOME!!!!!!!
thanks for sharing
Thank you, dear one!
Absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed all your great photographs. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us. The organic structures are amazing. You can tell everyone in the garden truly loves what they do- everything is stunning. Have a good weekend. XO- MaryJo
Beautiful gardens! I bet your stay was wonderful.
So beautiful and so many different and unusual blooms! The snapdragon is especially gorgeous, and yes it does look like an ice cream cone! I know you were both in heaven on this trip surrounded by gardens, flowers and nature…I love all the structures built with natural elements
Wow — those purple spikes with the butterfly win my vote for most gorgeous (although it was a tough choice because everything was!). The butterfly was the deal breaker. Every bloom. I wish I’d planted snapdragons this year. Seeing yours reminds me how much I love them.
Hi, lovely garden! The mullein also grow in SE Michigan. In addition to the medicinal value of this plant, the spikes were used as torches and the soft leaves as toilet paper.
Thank you, Therese. Interesting info on the mullein that I had not read!
Beautiful pictures Pam! I have never seen mullien before so that was a first for me. The dahlias are all beautiful and I especially like the white one. The snapdragons are gorgeous too. Love all the rustic structures at the Swag and it looks like a beautiful place to stay with all the flower gardens. I hope you and Butch enjoyed your stay and thank you for the lovely tour!
Thank you, Kim. It was a relaxing time taking in the beautiful mountains!
I’m glad that you got to return to that wonderful inn with its lovely garden. Although I must say that I think yours is just as nice if not nicer.
Thank you Karen, and you are most kind!
So gorgeous and some very unique structures. How wonderful to get away and relax and enjoy the lovely garden. I am happy to feature this wonderful garden post at Love Your Creativity.
Thanks so much Linda for the feature!