Still Spring Garden in mid September

According to Wikipedia, wattle fences may be one of the oldest types of fencing still in use today.

Thank you, Sandy, for creating this beautiful wattle fence to discourage foot traffic up the fragile hillside. Wattle is a lightweight construction material made by weaving thin branches between upright stakes to form a woven lattice. According to Wikipedia, wattle fences may be one of the oldest types of fencing still in use today. Beginning in the Bronze Age, when knives, saws, and hatchets came into use, many early Europeans developed wattle work, bringing this craft to the New World, as can be seen in Colonial Williamsburg and other historic gardens.

However, Mike, Sandy, and Eric have been working on a new and much easier access to the Lower Trail. Check out this peaceful lane.

You'll pass the white snakeroot that is just starting to bloom. Also, visit the Upper Garden and see all the hues of green in the ferns.

You'll easily be able to see why one is named Autumn Brilliance and the other Painted. You may pass by the insect dozing on the aster.

The Tennessee prickly pear is in the ground, thanks to some hard work by Jane and Sandy. We hope you find it very interesting now. You will love it when it is blooming in May. The small spines (glochids) can become embedded in the skin if touched. The broken-off joints are sometimes used by Eastern Woodrats to protect their nests (Horn & Cathcart). This species is the only native cactus of Tennessee.