A New Episode: Welcome Back to Our Urban Native Wildflower Sanctuary
- Jim Hawk
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
Hello neighbors! It is a beautiful spring day here at shortmeadow, and I am beyond excited to welcome you back to the garden. It has been a while since we last caught up, and frankly, nature and I have both been through a lot lately.
I’m standing at the edge of the meadow, and looking into what is becoming our Woodland Garden. The sun is out, the birds are singing, and after a long, quiet winter, the sanctuary is finally waking up.
Weathering the Storm
I won't sugarcoat it—the start of the year was tough. Nashville was hit by a massive ice storm at the end of January that knocked many of us out for over a week. Even now, there are folks in our community still feeling the effects of that storm.
In the garden, I’ll admit I was fooled by the winter chill. I’d look at the trees and think, "It’s gone, it’s done," feeling like there was no hope for the plants and seeds I’d tucked into the earth. But nature is resilient. A few warm days and the emergence of the Eastern Redbud—with its stunning purple flowers and tiny emerging leaves—reminded me that life is just waiting for its moment.
A New Mission: From Gardener to Educator
While the garden was dormant, I’ve been busy behind the scenes formalizing the "business" side of my work. I realize that my true passion goes beyond creating a garden—it includes education.
For my business, I will be focused on classes and workshops, as well as consulting and coaching for anyone who wants to learn how to garden with native plants and trees. I want to help you dig in the dirt.
For April, I’ve developed four specific classes to get your hands dirty:
Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants: The basics of working with native flora.
Designing Your Very Own Garden Sanctuary: A hands-on workshop so that you can actually sketch out your space.
Selecting & Grouping Native Plants and Trees: How to select and group species for a thriving ecosystem.
Preparing Your Site and Planting for Success: The "how-to" of preparing your site and getting the native plants and trees in the ground so they last.
I’m keeping these sessions small—no more than 8-10 people—so we can really focus on what you need for your specific interest in gardening.
Woodland Wonders and "Honest" Mistakes
The Woodland Garden is where the magic is happening right now. Our hemlock trees fared well through the winter, and I’ve recently added Sharp-Lobed Liverleaf rhizomes under the redbuds. They’ve only been in the ground a few weeks, but they’re already unfurling, and one has even flowered!.
However, part of my promise to you is to be honest when things don't go as planned. This was my first year trying a major perennial seed planting, and most of my seed trays... well, they’re still empty.
But there’s a silver lining: the Wild Blue Indigo. These hardy seedlings are actually coming up! I’ve been busy repotting them into larger pots using our own "good dirt" from right here at shortmeadow. The plan is to let them grow strong over the summer and get them in the ground this fall so they can flower by next year.
Invitation to Come Along
It’s been a whirlwind of preparation, but seeing these signs of life makes every bit of the work worth it. Whether it’s watching the birds or helping a neighbor design their first native bed, I’m just happy to be back in the rhythm of the seasons.
There is so much more to come this year at shortmeadow. I hope you’ll join me as we continue to develop this urban sanctuary together
You can now make a small donation to support the production of these blogs and videos, as well as to support the creation and maintenance of shortmeadow sanctuary. All donations make such a big difference! https://buymeacoffee.com/shortmeadow37206.
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