Atlanta and Southeast Gardening
Discover the Joys of Gardening
Subscribe to my blog for updates on the gardening scene in Atlanta and the region. Check out the events calendar for the area's only curated calendar of sales, shows, workshops and other garden events.
My latest blog: Outwitting a raccoon
Raccoons look cute and cuddly, They are not. I got crosswise with the one above because I put up his favorite birdfeeder at night. He got his revenge by digging up plants in my garden. I got my revenge with a Hav-A-Hart trap. During the process of relocating him, he snarled and lunged at me. Outwitting a raccoon is not easy. Check out my blog to learn how I did it.
Read the story
Blooming in my garden
Meet the rose Don Juan. In its velvety red glory, I sometimes think it has the seductive powers of the Spanish nobleman for which it is named. It is a climber that has been known to grow so big it drags down supports -- a reminder to me of the fictional Don Juan who was dragged to Hell by the statue of a man he killed. My Don Juan is growing on a gazebo in my high shade garden. I'm thinking the gazebo is safe and won't be dragged anywhere! Passersby, however, should be warned there's a good chance they could be seduced its beauty.
In progress: A children's picture book
I am seeking a literary agent for a children's picture book about the monarch butterfly migration. I have a completed draft that has received a very positive professional review. While I have an extensive journalism background, I am attempting to be a debut children's book author. That, I am finding, is a big hill to climb. One step at a time ...
Gardens, Nature and the environment
What I'm reading plus magazine articles I've written you might enjoy
Islands in a Common Sea
Jenny Jefferies
A fascinating new book featuring stories of farming, fishing and food from around the world — 25 next-generation farmers and fishermen linked by a universal quest to feed a hungry world.
Lightning bugs
Tom Oder
A feature story in Georgia Magazine about Lightning bugs — those magical summer insects that light up the night in gardens across the South.
Atlanta Botanical Garden turns 50
Tom Oder
A feature story in Georgia Magazine celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Atlanta Botanical Garden — one of the South's most beloved horticultural treasures.
Monarchs' magnetic sense
Dec. 23, 2025
A New York Times story exploring the remarkable science behind how monarch butterflies use a magnetic sense to navigate their extraordinary annual migration.
Plant sales, shows and workshops in the Southeast
Garden events calendar
Send information about your event to Tom Oder at [email protected]. Listings are free.
Gardening in the Summer Heat Seminar
Join Jeanne and agricultural guest Jesse Boland from the Georgia Young Farmers Association to learn how to keep your garden in tip-top shape as we head into the hottest months. For more information and to register, visit https://www.scottsdalefarms.com/garden/hostas/
Succulent Container Garden
Explore all the colors, textures, and shapes that succulents come in as you create your own container garden in a stylish bowl planter. Class includes your container, plants, soil, and instructor guidance. $45. For more information and to register, visit https://www.autumnhillnursery.com/event/succulent-container-garden/
DSGA Daylily Show & Plant Sale
The Daylily Society of Greater Atlanta holds its annual daylily show alongside a public plant sale. Daylilies for sale are donations from member gardens. For more information, visit http://www.atlantadaylily.org/plant-sales.html
Southeast Plant Show
A showcase of plants from across the Southeast, featuring vendors, exhibits, and plant enthusiasts from around the region. For more information, visit https://www.southeastplantshow.com
Cullowhee Native Plant Conference
An annual gathering celebrating native plants of the Southeast, featuring workshops, field trips, and presentations by leading horticulturists and conservationists. For more information, visit https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/the-cullowhee-native-plant-conference/index.aspx
Edible Fall Container Gardens
Learn how to grow a variety of edible plants in containers for the fall season. Participants will take home a grow bag and 3–5 plants to get their fall garden started. For more information and to register, visit https://www.active.com/alpharetta-ga/gardening/classes/edible-fall-container-gardens-2026
Great Southeast Pollinator Census
A citizen science event inviting gardeners and nature lovers across the Southeast to count and record pollinators in their gardens and green spaces. For more information, visit https://gsepc.org/
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Fall Plant Sale
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens' annual Fall Plant Sale features a diverse selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, herbs, and vegetables selected for the region. Members enjoy early access and a gift plant. For more information, visit https://bbgardens.org/plant-sales/
Coastal WildScapes Fall Native Plant Sale
A fall native plant sale featuring vendors from across the coastal Georgia and South Carolina region, including pre-sale options from multiple nurseries. For more information, visit https://www.coastalwildscapes.org/Native-Plant-Sources
Chattahoochee Nature Center Native Plant Sale
Over 100 varieties of native plants that attract butterflies, pollinators, birds, and more. Herbs and veggie seedlings also available. Free admission, rain or shine. Plants $5–$35; CNC members receive a discount. For more information, visit https://chattnaturecenter.org/events/members-only-plant-sale-2/
DSGA Booth at Duluth Fall Festival
The Daylily Society of Greater Atlanta will have a booth at the Duluth Fall Festival, offering daylilies from member gardens for sale. For more information, visit http://www.atlantadaylily.org/plant-sales.html
American Rose Society Convention and Show
The annual American Rose Society national convention and show, bringing together rose enthusiasts from across the country for exhibits, education, and celebration. For more information, visit https://medleyofroses.org
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
Two great weekends at the historic Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds featuring first-class music performances, arts & crafts, carnival rides, Pioneer Village, and a glimpse into North Georgia's rich history and culture. For more information, visit https://georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/localevents/fallfest
Alabama Plant Show
The Alabama Plant Show in Huntsville, featuring plant vendors, exhibits, and enthusiasts from across the region.
Invited to Taiwan twice as an international journalist by the government of the Republic of China to write about Taiwan's signature agricultural export, the Phalaenopsis orchid.
Won the Chicago Horticultural Society Medal at a Southeastern Flower Show for organizing a greenhouse exhibit about orchids and their light requirements.
Served on the boards of two plant societies, the steering committee of a native plant conference and as the president of the Atlanta Orchid Society.
Awarded the Bill Farley Service Award by the Atlanta Orchid Society.
Founded and edited an international orchid journal, Phalaenopsis, for the International Phalaenopsis Alliance.
Awarded the American Orchid Society Affiliated Societies Award for dedication to excellence at the recommendation of the Atlanta Orchid Society.
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Questions, comments and editor and literary agent inquiries welcome.