I live in upstate South Carolina and am only about 25 minutes from Hendersonville. Unfortunately I can't give you any advise as my climate and soil is probably different. (I do usually recommend roses because they are my favorite flower and bloom from April to November in this area). But I can welcome you to the area!

Thank you for the welcome - I'm very excited about the move and the gardening challenge! Perhaps a nice climbing rose over an archway!

You need to contact the local NC Native Plant Society if you want to go natural and blend in with your area. There is a chapter near you, I think, and the ecological approach is very hot now in western NC. I am not a purist, but having visited that area many times, I think considering natives for the majority of your plantings may be the way to go. AND, you will have lots of rain there. Yeah! NC Native Plant Society

Thank you for the website link - lots of interesting reading. Rain will be fine with me! I am english and have been in the Orlando area for 20 years - I am looking forward to a more english type of climate when I move!

I grew up 30 mi. from Hendersonville, so know the area well. I also have names of landscape designers from that area who specialize in natives. Too pricey for me, but they do great work. Email off list if you want info.

Thanks - designers would be too expensive for me also plus I like to do it myself!

Used to visit Lake Lure a great deal but haven't been there since the Bridge was "created." I will put that on my list when I go that way. Is spring or summer best?

Thanks for the info re the Flowering Bridge - had a look at some photos - looks wonderful - can't wait to visit! It took longer to sell my house than I had anticipated but if all goes to plan I should be closing on June 17th and headed to NC - I'm beyond excited!

As a "newby" to the area and actually a part timer till we sell house up north and move there permanently, I would say the LLFB is at its peak late spring/early-mid summer. There is an irrigation system installed, so plants get watered all summer. I volunteered there in April, helping to plant, weed, etc... And it was already looking beautiful in April. Also, two great greenhouses to get plants not far from Hendersonville are Linda's Plants, off of 64 and Painters Greenhouse in Old Fort. Painters is only open March-June. Both have websites.

Kiffin87, Since no one here has said it already: You should be ready to amend your soil with organic matter and possibly a little sand. Most of the Carolinas have clay soil and although it contains a lot of nutrients and good microbial colonies, it doesn't drain easily. (Unless you are lucky enough to obtain a yard that is already nicely ammended.) Raised beds may be a good option, even if you only raise a few inches your plants will thank you. Keep a fraction of the clay, but mix in a good amount of compost/sand/hummus/peat etc. Feel free to get creative with it.

As others have said, all manner of plants do good here. I can testify to roses, bearded irises, daylilies, astrantias, montbretias etc are all perennial and love it here.

We are kind of a borderline zone area so you may find that strange things perenialize here. Those standard fleshy leaved begonias that are such a ubiquitous annual come back for me every year from under their mulchy bed as long as the crown is just beneath the soil line.

Anyway, that's my best advice.

Have fun and get creative!

Thank you for the great advice. Nothing has been done to the garden ever so I know I am going to have my work cut out for me! It seems the only thing that has any flowers are lots of rhododendrons! I was thinking of compost the other day actually - I am a great believer in horse manure and there appear to be a couple of horse owners nearby so I'm hoping I can get something from them! I think I will have to spend the rest of this year planning out some planting areas and getting them amended/prepared ready for next year. Of course that will give me time to research plants etc and perhaps get some cuttings going. It will be nice to garden with soil though rather than the sand that we have here in Florida!! What is the flower in the picture you posted?

Great advice about amending soil from radiantpoppy. I ordered a load of good soil, a compost mix. However, the red NC clay is not nearly as bad as the heavy, sticky OH clay I've been dealing with for years. PLENTY of horse manure to be had as you are moving to horse country! Lots of horse farms and a huge multi million dollar equestrian center is being built off of 74/Tryon area.

I live about an hour and a half west of Hendersonville (With the hilly terrain, it takes a lot longer to get places around here). I moved here from Raleigh, so I was surprised at the difference in climate. Planting here starts a good month later than the middle of our state. I have a friend from Florida who was so impatient that her plants didn't take off right away after planting. I told her this wasn't Florida, and the nights were still cool. Patience, lol. The summers are cool, and there is a lot of rain. I love it. I would suggest getting your soil tested first thing. I would not amend your soil with sand; I've been told when you mix the clay soil and sand, it makes it like concrete. Better to use organic matter. We have horses so we have no shortage of that. Welcome to NC!

Thanks for the welcome and info. I am thinking the climate/growing conditions are going to be a bit like England but I've been in Florida for 20 years so a long time since I gardened in England! I am so looking forward to cooler conditions though and rain! The sun is beating down here already today! Will remember to be patient with the plants! Thanks again.

Andree

Acid soil -- lime is necessary except for acid lovers, particularly if you do any vegetable gardening. Conditions here vary wildly, depending on elevation and direction of sun. North-facing slope, south-facing, etc.; 1,000 feet in elevation equals 300 miles farther north, as a general rule of thumb. The arboretum in Asheville would give you tons of planting ideas.