Hadley Cheris, Tryon Palace Director of Facilities and Gardens
The symphony of spring is on- between buds, blooms and little spring peepers, Mother Nature is signaling that she is ready for the season. After a cold, wet, late winter, and early spring, we welcome the sun and warmer weather almost as much as our plants. They seem to be growing taller by the minute! Our last potential frost should pass by mid-month and that makes it a great time to plant vegetables, perennials, and herbs without fear of cold damage!
One of the best ways to get into the garden planting mood is by shopping at our Tryon Palace Spring Plant Sale! The sale dates for this year will be Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This sale features our tried-and-true herb and vegetable varieties, as well as eastern North Carolina adapted shrubs, hanging baskets and annuals! What makes this sale truly special and unique are the Tryon Palace grown perennial varieties that you can’t find anywhere else. While shopping our garden staff will be available to answer questions and help guide you on the best options for your yard. My favorite perennials this year are Salvia x jamensis Maraschino or Maraschino Bush Sage, a lovely mid-size evergreen, red bloomer that attracts hummingbirds year-round, and Aristolochia fimbriata or White Veined Dutchman’s Pipe, a carpeting tender perennial with unique striped foliage and blooms that provides critical forage for Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies! Both have been magnificent in the gardens over the last year and been quick to show off early this spring!
The Tryon Palace Spring Plant Sale is on the same weekend as Garden Lovers’ Weekend. The Palace gardens are free to explore, Friday through Sunday, April 12 through 14. It’s a perfect opportunity to spend some outdoor time with family and friends! This spring, the gardens seem to be bursting with new plants and bulbs daily so come often to see which one becomes your new favorite! The Wilderness Garden behind the Palace offers a lovely spot to enjoy beautiful displays of naturalizing bulbs with a nice breeze and plentiful shade for those warmer days. My favorite gardens during the spring are the Stanly Garden and the Kellenberger Garden- both full of unique perennials and bulbs, like hyacinths, peonies, and Lenten roses, offering beautiful foliage, blooms, and buds!
We hope to see you soon- Happy gardening!