Tom Oder – Southeast Gardening Blog & Garden Events
Atlanta and Southeast Gardening
Horticulture Journalism Vetted by Science
Deeply reported stories on native plants, pollinators, and the science behind great Southeast gardens.
Save the world, plant a tree
It's fall — the best time to plant trees. Trees Atlanta Master Arborist Alex Beasley shares his ten-step guide to selecting and properly planting trees, plus his top five trees for metro Atlanta and Doug Tallamy's five trees for pollinators in the Southeast.
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Blooming now in my garden: Camellia Yuletide
Camellia Yuletide gets its name from its vibrant red petals and bright yellow stamens which, along with its green leaves, perfectly mirror traditional Christmas colors. That's great. But, it is blooming before Halloween! My take: Perhaps it's taking a cue from big box stores and other retailers that seem to be putting out holiday decorations earlier and earlier every year. Here's what the science says: It's a Camellia sasanqua, which, along with its hybrids, naturally set and open their flower buds in the cool, shorter days of autumn, whereas Camellia japonica waits until late winter or spring to bloom. Supposedly, Camellia Yuletide flowers open throughout a long period, extending into December. Time will tell.
Monarch children's book
I have written a children's picture book about the epic migration of the monarch butterfly. When I was developing the idea for the book, one of the most respected voices in pollinator science in the Southeast told me I would need a new angle. I found one.
The book is built around new tracking technology that allows children — in a classroom setting or at home — to follow tagged monarchs in real time via a smartphone app, turning the reading experience into a living, interactive journey. The classroom application in particular suggests strong potential for school system adoption. This technology angle makes it meaningfully different from previously published children's picture books about monarchs. I am seeking representation for a single book, but the real goal is a trilogy covering the full migration.
The manuscript — scientifically accurate and narrative-driven — has received a very positive review from the director and an acquisitions editor at a major academic press, an editor with a children's book background who offered specific suggestions to strengthen it. All have been incorporated. I am now seeking literary representation. Photo: Susan Meyers
Regional eventS
Gardening Calendar
The Definitive Southeast Garden Calendar: The region's premier curated resource for plant sales, festivals and horticultural symposia. Submit an event →
FallFest at Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville
Celebrate the beginning of Scarecrows in the Gainesville Garden with this family-friendly fall event featuring live music, food, activities, performances, a Plant Doctor table, mini-market, and crafts. 2026 date TBA. For more information, visit https://atlantabg.org/calendar/fallfest/
Virtual Firefly Symposium
The Xerces Society is hosting a free, 3-day virtual symposium about firefly research, conservation, management, and tourism in the United States. Daily sessions will include 5-6 presentations by panelists studying and conserving fireflies, and the first and third days will also feature optional Zoom meetings for symposium attendees to network and discuss topics of shared interest. The symposium schedule can be found on the event webpage at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/6GFrtHL?source_id=8795af98-de09-49cd-8b53-8e71acd15bb1&source_type=em&c=lv6Vh75ZECSdTho9iDBHevT3O4QnlSZswkLGk1I2OOQ7oVqpUvUdWQ==. Register for the symposium here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qn91j1nuTRybIE8zYG1oXA#/registration
Apopka International Fall Orchid Festival
The Apopka International Fall Orchid Festival brings in some of the greatest orchid hybridizers in the world and they will be bringing their newest hybrids along with rare species and plenty of beautiful flowers to sell. With well over a dozen vendors, there's a ton of variety from miniatures to giants! Open 9 AM to 5 PM Friday–Sunday. Free admission and open to the public.
Resources
Tools & References
Trusted extension services and native plant resources for Southeast gardeners.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — research-based gardening guidance for Georgia.
North Carolina State University Extension — plant databases, pest management, and gardening resources.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System — gardening, lawn care, and plant problem diagnostics.
Clemson Home & Garden Information Center — one of the Southeast's most comprehensive plant databases.
University of Tennessee Extension — gardening publications and Master Gardener resources.
Promoting the stewardship and conservation of native plants and their habitats in Georgia.
Support Homegrown National Park
Doug Tallamy co-founded HOMEGROWN National Park, a grassroots movement encouraging homeowners to replace lawn with native plants — creating wildlife corridors one yard at a time. Click the logo to learn how you can help.
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