Visiting Shadow Nursery in Tennessee
Last Sunday, March 28th, a group of us flew to Winchester, Tennessee to visit the venerable Don Shadow, at his Shadow Nursery. Don, a fourth-generation nurseryman, is one of America's leading growers of trees and shrubs and he is a very astute and knowledgeable horticulturist. Don also raises rare species of exotic animals. Upon his land are approximately 600 animals in 60 different species, including deer, ostrich, emu, and camels, just to name a few. He actively participates in breeding programs that are aimed at maintaining biodiversity. Don has a very good way with these animals and he has great luck breeding them. Please enjoy these photos with more to come tomorrow.
1 This is Don Shadow - he so kindly met us at the airport.
2 Arriving at Don Shadow's place - These are a rare type of South American guanaco, a relative of the llama and alpaca.
3 They normally live in Tierra del Fuego, very far south on the South American continent.
4 Wooly highland cattle are also bred here and they live quite peacefully with Don's collection of deer.
5 I wanted to get out my grooming tools!
6 We had a three hour tour of the 1900 acres Don calls his nursery. On these acres he grows many, many types of trees, shrubs, and perennials.
7 These are a fascinating type of gum tree that only Don grows - they are named 'Slender Silhouette.'
8 These are about to be dug and sold.
9 The farm land is fertile, rich, deep, and a bit clayey in these parts. These are the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee.
10 Gambrel roof barns are common here in the countryside. in some places the topsoil is 60-feet deep!
11 Angus crossed with Herefords are raised for meat in these parts.
12 The land is flat in the valleys and rises on four sides into high mountains. The Tennessee River flows through this area, as do numerous smaller tributaries.
13 At the container portion of Don's operation, we were shown all the types of plants that he regularly ships around the world.
14 My group was very, very interested in all aspects of Don's work and we stood closely by him as he talked nonstop about what he was growing and where he had found many of the plants.
15 Here's a different type of pachysandra - stylosa - rather rare from China.
16 Just one of the many different types of pines that Don grows
17 Some of the many kinds of maples - Acer palmatum - that don proudly propagates. I want at least one of each for my maple woods, which borders Maple Avenue, at my farm in Katonah.
18 Some of the new growth on a Japanese maple - Makawa Yatsubusa
19 Don and I really studied all the trees.
20 Fairy Hair is a very delicate leaved Acer palmatum.
21 I wonder what color Emmett's Pumpkin is?
22 All of the plants are grown in containers or in the fields and all are healthy, clearly marked, and ready to buy.
23 Don loves Danae racemosa.
24 These are weeping standard ilex.
25 Called Holly Pop, this variegated holly makes a fine standard.
26 Beni hagoromo is one of Don's favorite Acer palmatums.
27 Coral bark is a fine feature of this Acer type called Bihou.
28 A closer view of the coral bark
29 Andrew Beckman - gardening editor of Martha Stewart Living - took extensive notes during the tour.
30 Orange Dream, another Acer, has gorgeous early foliage.
31 Weeping Styrax japonica - Fragrant Fountain - is another fine tree for a romantic garden.
32 Emerald Lace has a very fine foliage.
33 Although the sky was threatening in its darkness, the day stayed clear of rain and storms.
34 The exterior of the container area is just as impressive as inside the greenhouse.
35 Don took us to a local grist mill - Falls Mill - where white and yellow corn are ground into wonderful grits and flour using a huge water wheel. http://www.fallsmill.com/
36 Here are some examples of earlier grinding wheels and tools.
37 The corn is ground coarse, medium, fine, and very fine.
38 This is flour being ground.
39 Part of the mill machinery
40 More of the mill
41 This is an inside view of the mill which exhibits a lot of old machinery and tools.
42 The mill was kept closed until we had our private tour. It was a very interesting lesson in stone ground products.
43 The water wheel is gigantic and made from steel - the original had been made of wood.
44 The water to turn the wheel comes from the Factory River.
45 Simple construction, but very effective results
46 The mill building, constructed in 1873, is made of local, handmade bricks.
47 The river was exceedingly muddy from several days of rainfall.
48 Here is the the history of the overshot water wheel.
49 Here is one of the old log buildings at Falls Mill.
50 Back at the nursery, the wild clouds and bright blue skies were fascinating.
51 An abandoned farmhouse and garden were overrun with Sicilian miniature donkeys.
52 The donkeys were very friendly, just like the three I own.
53 The young donkeys are quite hairy from the cold winter.
54 This old house is a great place to restore. I hope that happens someday.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
This is one very interesting place! I have been going to green houses for weeks! It is amazing the abundance of different breeds of plants you can get now! Alan haskel was a great friend of mine! Now he did some beautiful things with horticulture! Thanks again Martha!! excellent as always!
Dan Viger
http://www.meandmartha.net
Hollis Center, Maine.
Posted by: Daniel Viger | April 5th, 2010 at 1:18 am
Don was a gracious host! He seems to be as busy as you with all of his plants and animals.
The old house looks like it has good bone structure to withstand a renovation. I like the stonewall in front of the old house.
I hope you had a nice Easter.
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, ME | April 5th, 2010 at 7:41 am
We still talk about Mr. Shadow as he gave a talk at Longwood Gardens years ago for fellow nurserymen, fascinating man, doesn't he have as many interesting animals as plant material. Tk u 4 this as I had forgotten his name and now will research.
Posted by: Charmayne | April 5th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Every time I look at photos like these I think ... What am I doing living in the middle of a town? I should be on a farm. I need wooly cattle and miniature donkeys. I NEED them!
Posted by: TheArtofDoingStuff - Karen | April 5th, 2010 at 10:21 am
The old house would be a wonderful restoration project!
Posted by: sherey | April 5th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Hi Martha,
You go to so many interesting places and I'm glad you take pictures for us to see. I've read a few blogs about this nursery and everyone has only good things to say about Mr. Shadow, his animals and of course his many rare plants. It appears he's quite the story teller too. I wish I would have known about this place years ago when I drove from Chattanooga to Nashville. On the map, it looks like it’s about halfway between the two cities.
~
From the pictures in your previous blog, I would say you had a nice Easter - Enjoy your iPad! I’m still working on getting an iPod. Just call me slooow! Trish
Posted by: Trish | April 5th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Martha,
Don Shadow is a Tennessee treasure! He is a past President of our association and a Hall of Fame member. We love to have him as a speaker at our events. Why don't you come to Tennessee and restore that old home in your photos? We would love to have you!
Thanks,
Pam Stern
Administrative Assistant
The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association
Posted by: Pam | April 5th, 2010 at 11:41 am
I was so thrilled that Martha came for a visit to Winchester. Being a Martha fan for years I'm happy to see pictures of my home county. As a resident of Sherwood, Tn we traveled every weekend to Cowan and Winchester to shop. My family always enjoyed our picnics at Falls Mill. If you ever come our way again, you really need to stop in our neighboring county and visit the Jack Daniels Distillary and have lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's. It's wonderful. Thanks again.
Posted by: Debbie Davis | April 5th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Great presentation of plants this morning. Thought pix would be on website, along with ordering info. But I see this nursery is wholesale only??!!
Posted by: Wallace Sterling | April 5th, 2010 at 11:59 am
I adore pictures of barns
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Wendy | April 5th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
It seems everybody is thinking the same things: Martha should restore this old house! You are the expert in this sort of thing. The project would make for a fabulous blog/magazine/tv story. Make the restoration "Green" using as much by-hand workmanship as possible. Turn it into a learning centre with a teahouse. Thanks for living the life most of use only dream of! Geotravel
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | April 5th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Yes, please do restore the house you showed on this blog page. Use it for an on-going Martha blog or magazine story. Thanks!
Posted by: http://twitter.com/geotravel | April 5th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I hope Mr. Shadow showed you the zonkey while you were there. He's a good friend of my dad's and last time I was down there he had a baby zebra-donkey that he affectionately referred to as his zonkey.
Posted by: Caity | April 5th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Treasures all over the world and you are doing your part to restore them. Sauke Centre, MN is now advertising Sinclair Lewis land for sale. Complicated situations as TYLER property in your own neighborhood. Around these parts, a simple life is never simple..
Posted by: ann | April 5th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
My friend got her gum trees at Glynn Young's nursery and they were beautiful.
Posted by: Nan | April 5th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Hi Martha, Thank you so very much for taking all of us on trips to so many fantastic places in our wonderful USA and many other countries throughout the world. Your stunning photos help me see what all of those places are like and it is such a joy to look at them again and again. I doubt that I would be able to go to many of those places, but if I did I would have a preview of what to expect because of your beautiful blog. Loved listening to 'At Martha's Table' today with Scott Peacock. Look forward to seeing him on your show, again. You are inspiring in so many ways. Thanks again for all you do for us. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 5th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
What a beautiful setting for a farm. I love the red barn and green meadow with wonderful mountains all around. Thanks for sharing these photo's.
Posted by: Libbygirl | April 5th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Wonderful pictures! Thank you again for always taking the time to share and educate! I would love to volunteer my time if the "Restoration Project" ever began!!
Posted by: Sheri | April 6th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
The old home in TN, should be restored, the architecture is beautiful.
Posted by: Bea Trainer | April 11th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Don Shadow is a Tennessee Treasure. We are very proud to have this legendary horticulturist and wise man here. He's a pure delight to know!
Posted by: Leann Barron | April 15th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
I had the thrill of going on a tour with Don a few years back. His plant selection is amazing and he is full of wonderful information. His love of plans and animals is apparent.
Posted by: Poise & Ivy - Kathi Gilleland | April 15th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
The wooly cows are cute, but EXTREME wooly miniature donkeys are the cutest thing to ever walk the planet...especially foals. It looks like they had one in the mini donkey pasture. There is nothing sweeter than a mini donkey foal. We love our woollies.
Posted by: Tara Wiles | September 16th, 2010 at 1:11 pm