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. In addition to our science-vetted Features, the site delivers a curated calendar of events, university Extension planting guides and specialized directories to regional plant nurseries and botanical gardens.
My latest blog: DJ and a magic nose for wild orchids
Researchers from the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Southeastern Center for Conservation are teaming up with Missouri biologist Karen DeMatteo, Ph.D., and her detection dog, DJ, to use scent forensics to discover the roots of a rare native orchid that can go dormant for years at a time.
Read the story
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 →
Fall Festival of Roses — Antique Rose Emporium
Three days celebrating the beauty, history, and stories found within the garden. Thousands of roses available for purchase, educational presentations from leading gardening experts, artisan vendor market, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and beautiful gardens to explore. This year's theme: "Storytelling." For more information, visit https://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/pages/fathers-day-2026
American Daffodil Society 2026 National Fall Daffodil and Photography Show
The judged daffodil show promises a visual feast of otherworldly, autumn-flowering daffodils previously unseen outside of collectors circles — or, in some cases, the wilds of the southern Mediterranean and North African landscapes whence they originate. Witness green daffodils, sniff flowers with utterly exquisite perfume, marvel at stems bearing singular to numerous florets, and behold flowers so novel as to completely reset your understanding of what a daffodil is. The photography show is open to public submissions — review the entry schedule well in advance for deadlines and criteria. For more information, visit https://daffodilusa.org/page/2026fallforumboardmeeting
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.
👉 How to find a healing garden near you.
The definitive national database, research clearinghouse, and mapping resource for health-vetted therapeutic, healing, and restorative landscapes.
Accessing the premier national "Garden Finder" interface to isolate public botanical properties, woodland preserves, and dedicated sensory gardens across the country.
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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