As Earth Day (April 22) approaches, we invite you to take a look behind the scenes at how we care for this special place and offer a few ideas for how you can do the same at home.
Gardens & Grounds
Seeds with a Story: Cultivating Beauty, Flavor, and Connection
Discover the magic of growing from seed with 577’s curated collection—locally adapted, resilient, and ready to bring beauty, flavor, and pollinator power to your garden.
Mushroom Cultivation Update
After 18 months of experimenting with culinary mushroom cultivation, Samantha is excited to share her progress! From thriving almond agaricus in the greenhouse to an impressive wine cap harvest, she reflects on the journey and shares what’s next.
Homemade Winter: Cold Stratification
As the days grow shorter and colder, there’s a buzz of activity around the grounds at 577. Bennett has been busy gathering seeds from native perennials and preparing them for cold stratification—a fascinating process that mimics the natural conditions seeds need to germinate after winter.
Basketry, Fellowship, and Folk Traditions
Samantha’s recent basketry course at the John C. Campbell Folk School has inspired her to bring new, hands-on weaving workshops to 577, using locally grown plant materials to create unique, functional baskets. Read about her experience!
A Slight Mess
With the arrival of frosts, our perennial gardens are beginning to go dormant for the winter. Now comes the question of whether to clean up the garden or let it overwinter as is.
This autumn, consider taking a break and allowing the dormant garden to stand proud through the winter. You may just see a little more life in your garden than you ever knew was there.
Bulb Season is Here!
Around the Grounds with Bennett:
It’s officially fall, the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. While bulb planting may seem tedious now, the reward comes when those bright blooms emerge in early spring, bringing hope and beauty to your garden after winter’s chill.
577 Fall Houseplant Sale
The Houseplant Sale is Back! The Welcome Center & Curiosity Shop is now featuring an updated selection of houseplants, nurtured with care by 577’s own horticulturists, Samantha Day and Bennett O. Dowling.
Botanical Eco-Print: Flower Pounding
Nature blesses us with incredible colors as the growing season progresses, from the cheerful stained glass faces of spring pansies to the jewel tones of late summer cosmos and the fiery hues of the autumn chrysanthemums. We are surrounded by color and, as creatures who appreciate beauty, we try to capture the intricacy and vibrance in our work. Learn how we are capturing their pigments on paper and fabric through the process of eco-printing.
Everlastings Garden
There’s nothing quite like the joy of preserving the beauty of your garden to enjoy all year round. Learn more about 577’s ‘Everlasting’ Garden