I'm documenting the crafting of my personal mountain garden in the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina. It's been my dream for most of my life to find some property and build a weekend home.

The property is sited in a valley, in the midst of hundreds of native rhododendrons some upwards of 25 feet tall. The native flora is outstanding. My goal is to be sensitive to nature while making some of the space useful, and leaving the rest as I found it.

The septic field is located in the front yard. I've created what I refer to as a stylized meadow, using plants that have shallow roots systems to stay clear of the septic lines. It's an immersive tapestry of ornamental grasses and perennials, with beloved conifers around the perimeter. This garden has recently been featured in the February 2023 issue of Fine Gardening Magazine.

The back garden is shady and much more natural. I've augmented that with primulas, ligularias, podophyllums and hundreds of trilliums.

I recently received this note from the leader of a bus tour from Tennessee. She writes: "Rhodwood was absolutely magical! Honestly, more so than I thought it would be". My mission is accomplished.