Jeff and Jodie Zahner
The subtle fragrance of lilies drifts through the air, willow branches sway, and bees dance around azalea bushes.
Butterflies flicker between flowers, birds rest in the shade, and with it comes a rare calm – that almost‑forgotten tranquility that feels precious in a wuthering world.
Jodie and Jeff Zahner have cultivated this place – Chattooga Gardens, a quarter mile past the Crossroads in Cashiers on Highway 107 South – for what they jokingly call “30 years, but it counts for double when you’re married and in business together.” Their partnership goes back further; they ran a landscape business five years before opening the garden. What stands today is not merely a shop but the result of attentive work with the land – a labor that has grown character and depth over time, supported by a devoted staff and loyal community they remain deeply grateful for.
The Zahners met at Clemson while earning horticulture degrees – Jodie her B.S. from Penn State before her M.S., Jeff his B.S. Both have been passionate about plants all their lives. Jeff could identify Trillium grandiflorum at age two and hasn’t stopped since. He is also devoted to rescuing and propagating native species in his home nursery, including the rare Oconee bells (Shortia galacifolia). With a permit from the NC Department of Agriculture, he has spent decades refining the difficult process required to grow this slow‑maturing plant.
At Chattooga Gardens, one senses the philosophy behind the gardens of Claude Monet and Hubert de Givenchy. Every plant is chosen and placed with intention, balance, and harmony. With formal training and decades of experience, the Zahners have built a collection where nothing is accidental – each plant thrives in Western North Carolina’s conditions, flourishing season after season.
This is why Chattooga Gardens is trusted by landscape professionals. Visitors receive guidance not only in selecting plants but in understanding how they’ll evolve, so gardens remain vibrant for years. Collaboration with regional contractors is a cornerstone of their work, supplying the area’s top professionals with exceptional plants and service.
Their commitment extends beyond the business. They support the Highlands‑Cashiers Land Trust – Jeff served on the board for 20 years – as well as the Chattooga Conservancy, the Highlands Biological Station, and the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, where Jeff has led a field trip annually for four decades. Protecting the wild landscapes of the Chattooga River is a natural extension of their mindful guardianship.
The true value of Chattooga Gardens lies not in individual plants but in how everything is orchestrated – each shrub and tree placed with care. Pause among the flowers, listen to the gentle sway of the bushes, and you feel harmony born of dedication and expertise. It’s for this feeling – and the remarkable selection – that one returns again and again.
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