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The Art of Growing
Written By: Jenny King | Issue: 2016/08 - August | Photograph By: Marjorie Christiansen Photography
In 1996 Jeff and Jodie Zahner decided to open a cute little garden center called Chattooga Gardens in Cashiers. They wanted to specialize in plants that would thrive in our unusual mountain climate, and give clients the information they need to be successful.
Western North Carolina is rich with a diversity of native plants and Chattooga Gardens encourages customers to use native plants in their landscapes. Our region’s native plants provide multiple benefits to gardeners and wildlife at once. Chattooga Gardens grows the rare Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia) and Jeff is actively involved with the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference at Western Carolina University.
Mountain gardening is in Jeff’s blood. His grandmother built formal gardens on Billy Cabin Ridge in Highlands in the 1930s in what was then a cornfield. His parents, Bob and Glenda, continued gardening to grow food when they moved “back to the land” in 1972 to start a goat farm in Highlands. Jodie came to Highlands as quickly as she could after meeting Jeff while both were working on horticulture degrees at Clemson. They still live and garden on the family land.
Jeff loves trees, so they have a great selection including large evergreens for screening. They also have fruit trees, blueberries, and lots of color from annuals and perennials for both sun and shade.
Some flowers are just made for the mountains, like dahlias. In celebration of their 20 years in business, Jodie grew a large crop of dahlias in pots and says, “I may have gotten a little carried away. There are so many types to choose from!”
Want to learn more? She’ll be giving a lecture on dahlias at the Highlands Dahlia Festival, September 10. She encourages you to join the fun and enter your nicest dahlias in the show.
Despite too little rain, too much rain, freezes, hail, and economic calamity, the Zahners’ independent garden center is thriving and happy to assist with your gardening needs. Jeff and Jodie cherish their customers who have become friends and give thanks for the many people who have helped them along the way during these past 20 years.
Chattooga Gardens is located one-quarter mile past the Crossroads in Cashiers on Highway 107 South and can be reached at (828) 743-1062.
