There is a wonderful nursery in Chapel Hill called Niche Gardens. He should definitely check that out.

THE book on North Carolina gardening is Elizabeth Lawrence's A Southern Garden. An old classic but as timely as ever; she was way ahead of her time.

A really good gardening magazine is Carolina Gardening. A lot of interesting articles and great pictures.

Totally Tomatoes offers a lot of different kinds of seeds. Craig (NCTomatoman on this forum) sells many different kinds of tomatoes and other vegetables at the NC Farmer's Market in Raleigh every year. Here is a link to his web page. He has a long list of vegetable seed catalogs. For flower seed catalogs my favorites are Select Seeds and Seeds of Change.

I think they should make it a law that anyone moving to this area be required to plant a camellia and a gardenia in their yard. Special consideration should be given for Azaleas and Daphne also.

Sandra Ladendorf, author of "Successful Southern Gardening", lives in Chapel Hill - she covers everything: soils, trees & shrubs, vegetables, perennials & annuals, and all manner of native flora. i'd highly recommend this one :)

I second the vote for Sandra's book.

Lisa,

What a thoughtful mom you are! You will get some great suggestions (you already have). There is a wide range of excellent nurseries in the area that your son and his wife are going to enjoy visiting. And when you come to visit, you'll want to go as well :-)

Is your son's yard mostly sunny, shady, or a combination of the two?

Another really good book I can recommend is "Gardening with Native Plants of the South" by Sally Wosowski.

~Angie

Thank you all for some great suggestions. I'm already hunting down some of the books and a subscription to Carolina Gardening is on the way.
I believe that he has both sun and shade.
I just got their new address last night and it is actually in Durham.
Lisa

Lisa, you can rely on the info my friends have given you re: books, etc. They are well-read gardeners.

I just want to put in a plug for North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Your son should acquaint himself with the Orange County office and also rely on the county horticultural agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Program there. This is a free program for county residents. Your son can call them for expert advice on home gardening in his new area whenever a question arises. MGV's and horticultural agents will also make housecalls if the situation demands.

Yes, Niche Gardens is a wonderful, helpful place and lovely to look at. Also, Camellia Forest is in Chapel Hill when your son get a hankering of one of those gorgeous camellias john insists he have.

peace, claire in sanford

Claire, thank you.
I plan to send him a link to this string after the holidays so that he can get all this wonderful info....and perhaps also keep an eye on this garden web site. I believe that one of the best things he can do to start off right is to get a soil test...and I noticed that they are free to NC residents. What a great service!
Lisa

Yes, Lisa, we'd love to have him! We'll know who he is when he mentions Maine. Also, he has it 'made in the shade' (or partial shade...a little garden humor there, groan) moving to Chapel Hill. IMHO, it's one of the nicest communities in NC. I call it my "Little Boston South." I wish I could move my compound there...so much talent and culture centers around the university and hospital. Just a pretty college town.

He needs to come to the plant swap and potluck in April!

Thank you all for your kindness. He talks of pruning some bushes in front of his house right now.....holly he believes. Here in Maine we don't prune at this time of year.... Comments?
Lisa

The hollies may not bear fruit next year but pruning them at this time of year won't hurt them.