Tom Oder – Southeast Gardening Blog & Garden Events
Atlanta and Southeast Gardening
Horticulture Journalism Vetted by Science
Print Pedigree. Hard Science. Investigative Journalism.
TomOder.com is built on a unique blend of Tom Oder's award-winning print pedigree at a major metropolitan newspaper and deep, science-focused alliances with elite horticultural researchers in academia and industry. The result is an authoritative investigative journalism site connected to an active network of experts throughout the United States and the Americas with specialized resource guides not available in one location anywhere else on the web.
My latest Feature: The marvelous mum, Part Two
There are reasons Americans can't resist fall porch mums — four to be exact. Part Two of our fall feature on mums and how they have transcended being just plants examines those reasons, mums' nectar benefit -- or lack of benefit -- to pollinators and several native plants with colors and textures to complement iconic fall porch displays suggested by Debi Rodgers of A Nearly Native Nursery in Fayetteville, GA.
Read the storyAlso on the Features page
A Heartfelt Plea for Independent Nurseries
Independent nurseries are more than plant stores — they are community anchors, ecological stewards, and irreplaceable sources of regional expertise. Here's why they deserve your loyalty and your dollars.
Read the storyNews Alert
First monarchs reach Mexico
Correo Real, a community science program that tracks monarch sightings in Mexico, reported seeing monarch butterflies roosting in Coahuila on Oct. 5 and 7.
Read the Journey North report
Blooming now in my garden: Anemone
Just when cool nights of fall are starting to put the garden to sleep for its coming winter snooze, the anemones wake up! Boy! Do they wake up. Fall colors are so often oranges, yellows and browns. Then here come the anemones in their pinks, pale purples and whites. I love how they bloom in part shade and brighten darker spots. I also love how their open blooms provide a vital, late-season source of pollen for bees, butterflies and other pollinators when fewer flowers remain. If you could use a colorful beacon in a shadowy spot with filtered light in your garden, consider the cheerful anemone.
In progress: A children's picture 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
Garden Events
Upcoming Events
The Definitive Southeast Garden Calendar: The region's premier curated resource for plant sales, festivals and horticultural symposia. Submit an event
North Fulton Master Gardeners Online Garden Fundraiser Through Flower Power
Shop the North Fulton Master Gardeners online Flower Power plant sale and support scholarships for local Georgia students pursuing environmental science, horticulture, and related careers. Fifty percent of each purchase returns to the organization, and all proceeds support scholarships. The sale includes plants, spring bulbs, and curated gifts for gardeners. Zone 8A gardeners are encouraged to give allium bulbs extra chilling time in the refrigerator before planting. For more information and to shop, visit https://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/index.php/marketplace/seller/profile/shop/northfultonmastegardeners
Southeast Gardening Resources
Tools & References
Vetted resources for Southeast gardeners — extension services, plant databases, and regional guides.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — research-based gardening guidance for Georgia.
North Carolina State University Extension — plant recommendations and pest management for the Carolinas.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System — gardening, horticulture, and environmental resources.
Clemson Home & Garden Information Center — South Carolina plant and pest guidance.
University of Tennessee Extension — gardening resources for Tennessee gardeners.
Georgia Native Plant Society — native plant information, events, and plant sales.
Proud Partner in Regeneration
As a vetted source for regional horticulture journalism, we proudly support Homegrown National Park. Founded by Dr. Doug Tallamy, this grassroots movement empowers individuals to regenerate biodiversity and restore local ecosystems by planting native species. Click the logo to log your yard on the national map and explore their official social sharing tools.