Carolina Gardens

Scent-sational Hyacinths

Plant now for a fragrant spring

Story and photos by L.A. Jackson

November is a grand time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, and gardeners are on the move to find not only the prettiest blooms for their landscapes, but, if possible, scented ones, too. Beauty from any of the typical three — daffodils, crocuses and tulips — is a given, although fragrant selections from them can be elusive. They exist, but you darn near have to sniff your nose inside out to detect their weak scents.

Not so with hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis). On crisp, early spring days, I usually smell my hyacinths before I see them. They are just that fragrant.

Hyacinths aren’t lacking in the goodlooks department either. Held up on short, sturdy stems, crowded clusters of flared flowers salute the new spring in a dizzying assortment of colors that rival the range found on a rainbow.

As a bonus, hyacinths are more like daffodils and crocuses rather than one-season wonders like tulips, meaning they will come back spring after spring. However, I have found their flower shows can diminish over the years. Replanting more bulbs when their bloom production starts to wain is an obvious solution, and hyacinths —  inexpensive, by the way — are worth the effort.

Hyacinth bulbs are best planted about 5 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart in a well-draining, well-tilled bed that basks in the springtime sun. (Too much shade will lead to floppy flowers.)

And too much nitrogen too fast (the typical bang plants get from standard fertilizers such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10) will also cause the droops by stretching and weakening the stems, so it is best to use a time-release bulb fertilizer at planting time. Specialized bulb fertilizer, which is an easy find at most garden shops, costs more than regular fertilizer, but does provide a better, stretch-out nutrient nudge for primo hyacinth displays.

To intensify the eye-candy effect, plant hyacinths of the same color in swaths across perennial beds. This will certainly make these pretties hard to miss and definitely pooch up the fragrance factor. Also, because the nose will know they are around, consider growing hyacinths in containers close to areas you frequent, such as doorways, decks, porches or windows.

Finally, while gardeners are attracted to hyacinths, don’t expect the same adoration from those banes of bulb growers: deer and rabbits. Ditto for dirt-digging squirrels, who hate the bulbs. This makes hyacinths ideal springtime beauties for those who have to deal with such four-legged garden beasts!

Hyacinths

L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener Magazine. Contact L.A. at lajackson1@gmail.com.

Hyacinths

Garden To-Do’s for November

Hyacinths showing up in stores during the holiday season will have been pre-chilled, so they will bloom earlier indoors than their typical flowering kin outdoors. Whether planted in potting soil or even glasses of water, these fragrant pretties will certainly bring cheer in the winter gloom! But even after their flower shows have finished, there is plenty of blooming spunk left in these bulbs. Just leave the hyacinths in a sunny spot indoors through the winter and then plant them in the spring garden. Since their flowering rhythm has been thrown off, keep in mind they probably won’t rebloom for two to three years.

F Two tips for new African violet growers: (1) Wipe the pot rims at least once a month to prevent salt buildup from fertilizer, which can burn the leaves and cause them to curl; and (2) at the same time, give each container a quarter turn to prevent plants from becoming lopsided as they reach for the sun. F Did your hollyhocks look raggedy this year? Chances are good they were inflicted with a disease called rust.

To help prevent this blight next summer, cut off the old stems — where rust likes to overwinter — and toss them in the trash. Do not compost.

EV Adventure: The Mountains Are Calling

(and I Must Go Charge)

By Alexis Giannattasio and Jonathan Susser

Maybe it’s the idyllic scenery or the charming towns; the great food and drinks (craft beer, anyone?) or the public art; or the countless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Western North Carolina has something for everyone, and it’s no surprise that it draws so many visitors from both in and out of state. If you’re venturing to the region in an electric vehicle (EV), there’s now more to do — and more places to plug in — than ever.

Cherokee, Maggie Valley Sitting on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (nps.gov/grsm) is the most visited national park in the country, and getting there by EV is about to get easier. Thanks to Haywood EMC, there will soon be a DC fast charger off I-40 in Waynesville. It will be the westernmost DC fast charger in the state.

If you’re looking for more activities in the area, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (gsmr.com) can be great family fun. You’ll also be near the ancestral home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (visitcherokeenc.com). You’ll find a spot to charge up at the Cherokee Welcome Center, which is right by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. And maybe you can try your luck at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, which has multiple Level 2 plugs and Level 1 outlets.

For something a little quieter, you won’t want to miss the local shops and restaurants of Maggie Valley, which has a Level 2 charging station of its own.

Tail of the Dragon On a scale of 1 to 10, Tail of the Dragon (bit.ly/cc-tail) would rank a solid 12 when it comes to adventure. Considered America’s number one motorcycle and sports car road, the 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129 boasts 318 curves and is featured in numerous Hollywood classics. If you’re brave enough to slay the dragon, you can charge up as you take a stroll through the souvenir store or grab a bite at the restaurant across the street. Level 2 charging for Teslas and non-Teslas alike is available to the public. More places to explore Waterfalls and grand mountain peaks often bring travelers to western North Carolina, but some of the most surprising treasures are tucked away off the beaten path.

If you’re heading toward Mt. Mitchell (bit.ly/ncp-mm), the highest peak east of the Mississippi, take a detour in the surrounding towns along the way. Little Switzerland (visitlittleswitzerland.com)is quite the jewel on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It offers a quiet place to recharge (for you and your vehicle) at the Switzerland Inn.

Thanks to Blue Ridge Energy, you can visit the rural areas near the top of our state with ease and charge up in West Jefferson at the Hotel Tavern.

For the best of both worlds — scenic lodging — there are many options to choose from. Various campgrounds trail North Carolina’s borders, including Mountain River Family Campground, River’s Edge Mountain RV Resort and Catawba Falls Family Campground. Each offers plugs and activities for the family, even if you don’t stay the night.

Tesla experience Western North Carolina is also home to one of the Southeast’s most unique EV events: the Blue Ridge Parkway Tesla Drive (triangletesla.org/brptesladrive) in which more than 100 Tesla owners gather for a trip down America’s Favorite Drive. It’s quite an experience! The next meetup is happening in April 2022, so if you have a Tesla or are thinking about getting one soon, the event is worth checking out and a great way to connect with fellow EV drivers.

carolinacountry.com/extras Get coordinates for mentioned charging stations in the online version of this article.

Alexis Giannattasio and Jonathan Susser work for Advanced Energy, the Raleigh-based nonprofit energy consulting firm.

Never fear your EV running out of charge while hugging the 318 curves of "Tail of the Dragon" — level 2 chargers await!

Darryl Cannon The adventure continues

This column wraps up our EV Adventure series, but the fun doesn’t stop here. As North Carolina’s electric cooperatives and others continue to build charging infrastructure, it is becoming more and more manageable to drive on electrons from the mountains to the sea. Visit ncdriveelectric.com and pluginnc.com to learn more about EVs.

Plug Into a Better Driving Experience

DRIVE ELECTRIC

Power your next adventure with an EV. With exciting tech, reduced emissions and more convenience, electric vehicles have something for everyone.

As EV charging options expand statewide, there are more opportunities to escape than ever before. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are providing cooperative members and travelers solutions for driving electric. See how driving electric can fit your life at NCDriveElectric.com.