Hiwassee Dam – When Robert Garland was unable to take his mother Geraldine to Holland, he decided to create a colorful piece of it for her at home.
Imagine a yard so filled with colorful and sweet-smelling flowers that it brings about a sense of healing. Garland loved his mother so much that he spared no expense creating a garden for her, as she was no longer able to garden herself.
He purchased 40,000 tulip bulbs and was just getting started. The memorial garden is in honor of not only Garland’s mother, but grandmother as well, as both had a love for flowers and gardening.
Meet Elijah Lester, Garland’s gardener. It takes special skill and talent to manage a garden so large and unique. Lester always enjoyed gardening, so when his father suggested he get a job doing it, he took his advice.
He got his start working for Sam Norris at Samscapes. She offered to teach him about landscaping and gardening if he worked for her for at least two years. In the process, Garland, a Norris client, wanted a project done that was more than she could do.
She introduced Garland to Lester, and their work partnership bloomed. The result is a garden so magnificent it will soon be open to the public.
“It’s one of the most unique gardens I’ve ever been to. Garland loves to get things that nobody else has. We have really unique plants in the garden. The goal is to have plants from around the world. You can walk there every day and see something new and different,” Lester said.
Garland called it a spiritual feeling.
“Spending time in Geraldine’s garden gives me a very soothing experience that only the presence of the Holy Spirit provides and is truly divine. My grandparents, Charlie and Lexie Clonts, built the home here in 1946, and the natural beauty of this place serves as an honor and tribute to the wonderful memories of growing up with them as well as my parents, Robert Sr. and Geraldine,” Garland said.
Part of Garland’s garden can even be seen from the roadway at 86 N.C. 294. Lester and Garland have big plans for the future.
Lester would like to eventually build a koi pond and create a native American garden with medicinal and edible plants. More walkways and benches will be added offering folks a peaceful and enchanted environment away from the busyness of everyday life – even if just for a few moments.