One of the most rewarding outdoor activities for many people is growing and maintaining a home garden. Some people plant vegetable gardens that enable their families to enjoy fresh produce all throughout the growing season. However, others prefer the challenge of designing intricate and colorful flower gardens that add beauty to their homes and neighborhoods.
Towana Bowles, wife of Hendersonville Lifestyle Publisher Lynn Bowles, is one of the most avid gardeners in the City by the Lake. She maintains and elegantly designed garden at her Hendersonville home that brings joy to everyone who sees it. In fact, her garden has become somewhat of a neighborhood legend, with people constantly dropping by to admire it’s blend of colorful flora.
Recently, the Hendersonville Lifestyle team sat down with Towana to learn more about her passion for gardening.
When did you become interested in gardening?
“I first started creating my garden three years ago.”
What do you enjoy most about gardening?
“I love waking up each morning and seeing the fruits of our labor. Seeing all of the different colors and textures helps me to start my day off right. I also enjoy watching the bees, hummingbirds and butterflies benefit from the different flowers in my garden. Gardening is hard work, but it is also very rewarding to be a part of Jehovah God’s beautiful creation.”
How often do you work in your garden?
“I work in my garden every day. There is always something that needs to be tended to, and I love taking care of all of my plants. Some of the varieties that I grow are loved by deer and rabbits, so my husband Lynn sprays regularly with Liquid Fence to help keep them away.”
How do you design the layout of your garden?
“My layout is really multiple gardens in one, including a sun garden and a shade garden. Some flowers require direct sun, while others thrive in the shade. I also have a container garden, which works well on porches, patios and decks. My container garden includes annuals such as marigolds, geraniums, sunpatiens, coleus, caladiums, lantana and supertunias, and perennials such as several varieties of roses and hostas. I love having all types of flowers and plants in my garden.”
What are your favorite things to grow in your garden?
“My favorite flowers are perennials, because they come back faithfully year after year. My shade perennials include hostas, autumn ferns, Japanese painted ferns, creeping jenny and brunnera. My sun garden includes roses, day lilies, blanket flowers, balloon flowers, gardenias, brown eyed Susans, cats pajamas, candy tufts, calla lilies, salvia, hardy hibiscus and lilacs. Roses are my favorite perennial, but they do require a lot of care.”
How long is your gardening season?
“My gardening season runs from early February until the first frost in the fall. I like to start in February because it is the perfect time to prune roses and clean up any debris left over from winter.”
What advice would you give to a first time gardener?
“My advice to new gardeners is to be patient – there is a lot of trial and error in gardening. I also urge those starting out to educate themselves as much as they can about what they are planting, as the care requirements are different for each type of flower and plant.”
"Gardening is hard work, but it is also very rewarding..."