Nice to have you on the forum and look forward to seeing more from you! Happy holidays :) witchygirl- you are spot on!! The “articles” I find are total garbage and are so incredibly vague, or just flat or incorrect, that it physically pains me (and I’m still a newbie!). I have learned so much incredible stuff about gardening from this forum it puts all other internet articles and many website to shame. Best thing I ever did for my gardens was to join this site :)

stir_fryi - the rubber snakes are a clever idea. You don't identify the heat zone in which your garden is located so that might limit or expand your perennial options. I've listed below hardy perennials growing in my beds that are untouched by deer but wouldn't want to get your hopes up of growing them if they aren't hardy in your zone. Agastache rupestris/sunset hyssop and Caryopteris/blue mist shrub are both fragrant, low-maintenance and of no interest to the bunnies or deer in my garden, along with the following: Penstemon/beardtongue Lychnis coronaria/rose campion Buddleia davidii/Butterfly bush Stachys/lamb's ear Baptisia/false indigo Chelone/turtlehead Brunnera/Siberian bugloss Hellebore/Lenten rose Stokesia laevis/Stoke's aster Trollius ledebourii/Chinese globeflower Euphorbia polychroma/cushion spurge Heuchera/coral bells Persicaria virginiana/fleeceflower Phlox divaricata/woodland phlox Phlox paniculata/tall garden phlox Nipponanthemum nipponicum/Montauk daisy Nepeta faasiini/Walkers Low catmint Ratibida columnifera/Mexican hat Most, but not all (phlox, lamb's ear, catmint, spurge, brunnera & hellebore) were grown from seed via winter sowing. Those purchased were picked up from reputable mail order nurseries on half-off sales over the course of several years. Best of luck with your garden.

So glad you came back to post! We thought we'd frightened you off with our 'opinions'. For the most part, everyone has pulled the begonias and coleus and planted pansies by now. You'll see color when you get here. The plants you bring, don't be surprised if they bloom at a different time than you're used to or they don't bloom at all. At least the first year. Everything you mentioned digging up will be happy here although you'll need to be careful where you site the lily of the valley. The dappled sun of the far north is nothing compared to the dappled sun of the Carolinas which is much more intense for more months. Tell us where your new Charlotte house is located. Tell us about the yard and what's already planted. In November it's a great time to plant daffodils and other small flowering bulbs. Time to plant trees too. We've already had 3 frosty enough nites to kill off the coleus, impatiens and other tender leaf/stem annuals. Carpet roses are still in marvelous fall bloom. I think these frosts are a bit early but down here it varies(first frost). I think the lowest temp was 31 so far. Got any other questions about the area ? Best groceries,best banks, etc. If you have any regional food preferences stock up and bring it along. Bring your snow shovels but sell your snow blower if you have one. Fergit studded tires..they're banned here. You're not likely to need chains but bring them if you plan to travel to the mountains. Wool clothing..thin wools(sweaters) you'll use a couple but the thicker wools just take up storage space. I like down in different weights and it doesn't suffer from moth damage like wools do. You'll find that your wardrobe will rapidly expand in the cotton/linen/silk weight fabrics and you're not likely to put away(store) summer anything except whites and linens. Doesn't leave much closet room for fall/winter. Back to gardening..right now we're planting leaf lettuces and spinach. We'll have plenty more 70 degree days so they're sprout and be ready to harvest in March/April. Expect to be overwhelmed this coming spring as you discover just how much more variety of plants/flowers/shrubs you can grow here. WELCOME ! Dottie

Ohh- I see.. then you'll have alliums soon enough!!! plant them late in fall- nearly winter if you have to!! In NJ- we always seem to skimp on by everyone's trouble.. we had the heat wave but i got night time storms each night of it.. no drought. and I'm not flooded either.. I like to think i live in a little tiny microcosm that is much like things are supposed to be and were a long time ago. I live in the middle of a wildlife management area.. about 4,000 acres of woods all around us! just this one street juts into it.. so i really feel like our ONE street gets weather like no one else.. we seem to be protected frm drought and such.. knock on wood. Been here 6 years and nothing horrible yet. can living in a heavily wooded area do that- change the weather? I'm no scientist. Just bears and mountain lions to worry about..and BUGS.. ugh the bugs.( come on- you cant get off scott free right?) haha