Gardening Blog – Tom Oder

Tom Oder's Blog

Garden stories & insights

Updates, help and inspiration for gardeners in Atlanta and the Southeast, plus reports on environmental news that impacts the natural world.

The high shade garden with a metal gazebo surrounded by lush plantings
Wildlife · Southeast GardeningJuly 2026

Fired up for fireflies

July 2 is a good day to be a firefly in Georgia. Gov. Brian Kemp has proclaimed the day Georgia Firefly Day — here's why it matters for gardeners.

Site NewsJune 2026

Welcome to My New-Look Gardening Website

GoDaddy told me it was time to renew my gardening website. What I expected to be easy peasy lemon squeezy quickly turned into stressed depressed lemon zest — but after a month of work, the new site is ready.

WildlifeMay 2026

A Garden Victory — Outwitting a Raccoon

Raccoons are clever, persistent, and surprisingly strong and mean. Here's how I finally got the upper hand after one determined nocturnal marauder dug up plants in my garden as revenge because I put away his favorite birdfeeder at night.

Southeast GardeningMarch 2026

Winter to Spring Transition Brings Challenges

The shift from winter to spring is one of the most exciting — and unpredictable — times in the garden. Here's what Southeast gardeners need to know to navigate it successfully.

WildlifeMarch 2026

Good News About Monarchs Overwintering in Mexico

Researchers on both sides of the border are working together to understand and protect the remarkable spring migration of monarch butterflies.

Southeast GardeningJan 2026

Flower Show Kicks Off Botanical Garden's 50th Year Celebration

The Atlanta Botanical Garden's landmark 50th anniversary year gets underway with a spectacular flower show celebrating five decades of horticultural excellence.

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Tom Oder

A global garden writer and influencer sharing observations from his home garden, environmental stories from around the world and a curated calendar of Southeast garden events.

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With appreciation for help with insect IDs to Becky Griffin, University of Georgia Community and School Garden Coordinator, Pollinator Health Associate and National Coordinator Great Southeast Pollinator Census at the UGA-Mountain Research & Education Center in Blairsville, Georgia.