Mountain Moss — moss gardening

Timber to publish new moss gardening book 0

Mountain Moss is pleased and proud to announce that Timber Press, the world's largest publisher of gardening books, will be publishing my moss gardening book.

Needless to say, I am quite honored and excited to partner with this respected publisher. To share my passion and expertise with others has been a personal and professional goal. My book will answer key questions about “how-to” become a successful moss gardener. This 250 pp book will be loaded with pertinent info and enhanced by at least 200 impressive photographs. I hope my casual writing style will appeal to a wide audience (but I'll still be using some scientific terms for accuracy and clarification). Of course, lots of work lies ahead. Writing and print production will take well over a year. The editor has told me that the title will change several times before printing. So, expect my moss gardening book (by whatever title) to reach your local bookstore in 2015.

For those of you who know me personally, you'll realize this is a giant leap in my moss journey. I've paid my dues by researching topics and systematically conducting field experiments related to effective cultivation methods with various bryophytes, substrates, maintenance requirements and recommended watering regimes. I'm ready to share techniques so others can experience the joys of moss gardening. It's been a long trek but all my mossin' activities feed my spirit. Thanks to all my friends and supporters who have encouraged me to follow my mossy dreams!

Go Green With Mosses!

Mossin' Annie

PS Keep following our blog. We'll be reaching out to other gardeners to share their own moss gardening experiences and publication-quality photographs for possible inclusion in my book.

Fall 2013 Short Courses 0

Want to learn more about mosses from an expert? Wishing that you could identify mosses growing in your own yard or when you're hiking in the forest? Wondering which mosses can be featured in your garden? Mountain Moss is offering two classes in Fall 2013 through Brevard College's community education program – Creekside. Mossin' in the Woods will be held Sept 19 & 20. Moss Gardening class is scheduled for October 10 & 11. These classes will be open to the public. If you want to attend, please register through Brevard College located in Brevard, NC:

email: creekside@brevard.edu

Web site: www.brevard.edu/creekside

September 19 & 20, 2013, Thursday & Friday, 1-4 pm

Mossin' in the Woods

Botanists and moss lovers will marvel at mosses as the class takes a hike in the woods to learn about

WNCs oldest plants – bryophytes. Over 450 million years old, this region boasts over 450 types of

bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, hornworts). The first session meets at Brevard College for classroom

preparation with PowerPoint lecture and impressive photographs accompanied with moss specimens

to examine up close. Second session will be held in the field at Holmes Educational State Forest. As you stroll along with Mossin' Annie, common mosses that can be recognized with the naked eye will be highlighted. Pleurocarpus and acrocarpus types of mosses will be identified with emphasis on the differences of mosses when wet vs. dry as well as distinctions during reproductive stages. Participants will begin their own herbarium collection of moss specimens. A close-up lens or loupe is suggested.

Course registration fee for Brevard College: $65.

Supplies Fee to be paid to instructor during first session: $35.

October 10 & 11, 2013, Thursday & Friday, 1-4 pm

Magical, Marvelous Mosses: Green Solutions for Today's Gardeners

Explore the fascinating world of our native mosses and discover how these eco-friendly plants make

great horticultural choices for today's gardeners. Transylvania's moss expert, Annie Martin aka Mossin'

Annie, will share key information on how to assess your microclimate and to choose the right mosses

for the right place. First session conducted in classroom with PowerPoint program featuring moss

gardens and an introduction to moss gardening methods. Second session will be an on-site visit to

Mountain Moss' demonstration garden featuring 50 different species of bryophytes where you'll learn

how to create moss focal features and moss lawns. Each participant will have an opportunity to create

their own moss dish garden to keep. Containers, selection of live mosses, decorative rocks, lichens and

native plants provided to Creekside students.

Course registration fee for Brevard College: $65.

Supplies Fee to be paid to instructor during first session: $35.

To register for these Fall 2013 Creekside classes through Brevard College:  www.brevard.edu/creekside

NOTE: Most of our educational programs are scheduled well in advance by garden clubs, Master Gardeners and environmental groups. Occasionally, Go Green With Moss lectures, workshops and hikes are held at botanical gardens or other public venues. To schedule a program for your group, please contact me directly: mossinannie@gmail.com. Schedule your upcoming events soon since lecture fees will most likely increase after my moss gardening book is published in 2015.

All blog content and photographs are the intellectual property of Mountain Moss.

Permission to use any portion must be obtained in writing from Annie Martin. Copyright 2013.

Learning Moss Garden 0

If you want to learn more about mosses in landscapes and gardens, we now have a learning moss garden located in the Botanic Garden at the Highlands Biological Station in Highlands, NC – a research facility affiliated with Western Carolina University and the University of North Carolina system. The Leila Barnes Cheatham Learning Moss Garden exemplifies mosses used creatively in a natural setting. This moss retreat is one of the few places in America where the bryophytes (mosses) are actually identified with labels. This venue sets the stage for educational programs about the beauty and environmental benefits of mosses in landscapes. Installed in Winter 2013 during freezing temperatures and snowfall, this garden honors the memory of an avid native plant enthusiast – Leila Barnes Cheatham – and perpetuates her love of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

A native of Griffin, Georgia, Leila III spent many summers at her mountain house near the Biological Station. She took her kids hiking along the HBS trails and taught them to appreciate all types of indigenous plants. In fact, nearby Leila's Rock is one of the only privately-owned rock cliffs that hasn't been commercially developed. It is a place where hikers stop to rest and picnic while enjoying spectacular views during treks along the Bartram Trail.

Despite the harsh weather conditions during installation, the creation of this unique moss garden has been my pleasure. I'm honored to be part of this project that memorializes my best friend's mother. Leila Cheatham Von Stein and I have mossed together for years. We have spent many hours in search of mosses on her Rich Mountain property delighting in our discoveries. To create an educational moss garden in a public venue is a goal we both have shared for years. Thanks to Leila IV for providing funds to realize the first phase.

Climacium, Atrichum, Thuidium, Hypnum, Entodon, and Leucobryum are among the many moss types you'll find in Leila's Learning Moss Garden. The 200 sq ft garden continues to thrive and we'd like to expand its footprint. If you are a moss lover and you would like to contribute to this expansion, please donate now: http://highlandsbiological.org/joingive/

***Make sure to note that HBS donation is intended for Leila Barnes Cheatham Learning Moss Garden.

All blog content and photographs are the intellectual property of Mountain Moss.

Permission to use any portion must be obtained in writing from Annie Martin. Copyright 2013.

Moss in the Media: Like a Rolling Stone 0

Moss in the Media... I'm always excited to share when an article appears about mosses. This time the story is about me in Carolina Home and Garden magazine. Thanks to Melanie Bianchi for her writing talents and Jeff Miller for his photography of Gucci and me. Unfortunately, the photos were shot while my moss garden was still under snow in March. No green just white to see. More photos in the print copy that didn't appear on their Web site. Here's the link: http://www.carolinahg.com/pages/current-issue/spring-10/dig-it-like-a-rolling-stone.php Carolina Home and Garden 2010 Spring issue. Written by Melanie Bianchi. Former media maven Annie Martin senses opportunity like a plant feels light — and she greets it face-to-face. While engineering an Atlanta appearance by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1992, she briefly delegated her duties to an assistant so she could hop out of the production truck and shake the hand of the General Secretary as he departed the stage. “What do you say to a world leader?” reflects Martin, a diminutive blonde who’s perpetually dressed in purple. “Well, I’m a Southern woman, so I said, ‘We’re just so glad you could be here.’” [caption id="attachment_415" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Gucci Girl Dog and Mossin' Annie"][/caption] Out comes a deep, smoky laugh. Still, one gets the sense that not much deters her. And Martin brings that same hybrid of ambition and twinkling humor to her current passion: rescuing indigenous mosses from development and replanting them in residential gardens. A native of Asheville reared in Kenilworth, Malvern Hills and Beaver Lake, Martin says she’s never taken her family’s deep Buncombe County roots for granted. “I’ve always felt blessed to be born in these mountains,” says Martin. “I’m one of the lucky ones. I didn’t have to move here.” As “Mossin’ Annie,” she’s dedicated herself to the preservation of the more than 450 species of bryophytes that grow naturally in Western North Carolina. Via extensive networking, she’s alerted whenever a construction project is slated that will disrupt a spread of moss, and works with the development party — “everyone from the land-use planners to the property owners to the guys driving the bulldozers” — to salvage what she calls one of botany’s “most overlooked” horticultural offerings. The fascinating facts on moss are legion. For starters, it is, like the Blue Ridge chain itself, one of the world’s oldest natural entities: moss goes back more than 400 million years. And because it survives without a root system, it’s more adaptable than any vascular plant, even similarly ancient ferns. It is comparatively easy to harvest, transplant, propagate, and resurrect after a long dormancy. “You could take a piece that had been dried in an herbarium for 40 years, rehydrate it with a squirt of water, and within five minutes the photosynthesis will start again, bringing it back to life,” says Martin. Plus, it’s pretty — picture tranquil Zen labyrinths or shady Arthurian glens. The word Martin uses most often is “magical,” although she’s quick to point out that some bryophyte types do have a degree of vertical reach, rather than the traditional spread that’s “flat and tight.” Certain types of moss even thrive best in sunny spots. And, if Martin has her way, all of them could contribute to something she envisions as nothing short of an ecological revolution. “No landscaping plant,” she asserts, “could be more truly sustainable.” Besides needing a quarterly weeding (yes, that’s just four times a year) and a reasonable amount of naturally occurring or harvested rainwater, moss spreads require none of the drastically polluting maintenance of traditional lawns and gardens. That means no mowing, no pesticides and no herbicides. So why not moss? Unfortunately, an attitude persists that moss is an invasive species, a nuisance rather than a godsend. Excluding the grand gardens of Kyoto, Japan, moss is woefully underappreciated as a viable alternative in residential and commercial landscaping, says Martin. “The information gap,” she declares, “is a chasm.” But it’s one she is filling in rapidly, thanks to her various pending and acquired grants, including one from WNC Agricultural Options that would help former tobacco farmers learn to commercially cultivate moss. From a niche artisanal landscaper, Martin seems poised to become a vocal champion of sustainability, a leader in her field whose aim is to convince folks here and beyond to sow significant expanses of acreage with moss. “And when that happens, there’s going to be an increasing demand for a more extensive variety of mosses available to consumers, provided by the emerging live-moss industry, she says. A moss emergency, if you will. Forays to Duke University and consultations with bryologists across the country and the world have helped augment Martin’s scientific knowledge, and an alliance with the Brevard chapter of SCORE— a consortium of retired executives who offer business tips to entrepreneurs — and the Senior Resource Network, have fortified her toehold in the burgeoning eco movement. “Replacing lawns with moss means green savings in the pocket and green advantages for the environment,” says Martin. Referring to the regional biodiversity that sustains her beloved bryophytes, she adds: “It’s the right place. And the right plant.” A micro-pause. “At the right time.” Written by Melanie Bianchi. Freelance writer in Asheville, NC. Contact Annie Martin at Mountain Moss Enterprises at 828-577-1321 or mossinannie@gmail.com . Or, visit www.mountainmoss.com .

Dear Moss Diary 0

Dear Moss Diary, It seems like a good idea to record some of my moss experiences that lift my spirit each day. A written document might jog my mind to remember even some of the smaller moss moments that have delighted me. The catch – In the past, I have never been disciplined enough to keep a diary or journal beyond a few days. Even this week, when I purposefully wanted to write about some incredible moss days, I was just too tired to write my thoughts after working 12-hour days. So, I'll just try to jot down experiences without regard to actual day or proper sequential order. Most every day begins with computer activities that support my networking with other moss lovers from around the world. Sometimes we communicate via email or have a live chat with each other. This week, I exchanged emails with friends as far away as Washington state and Germany. We shared our thoughts in an effort to coordinate and replicate future research on moss cultivation. Also, I participate in several garden forums on the Internet and Facebook groups, like my own Go Green With Moss FB group. I was honored this week when I was contacted by David Beaulieu who writes landscaping articles at about.com, an Internet biz of The New York Times company. http://landscaping.about.com/cs/groundcovervines1/p/moss.htm We now have reciprocal links at each other's sites. Also, I linked my Web site www.mountainmoss.com to one of my favorite local nurseries, Fry Nursery in Pisgah Forest, NC. http://www.frynursery.com/ On to REAL moss fun... FIRST, I check out mosses in my own garden. Usually in the morning, mosses are happy campers because of cool evening temperatures and the accumulated moisture from the night's dew. Although it is unnecessary to water in the morning since moss plants have no roots that need to be soaked in anticipation of hot temps later in the day, I still water sometimes. Why? If I have just created moss-as-art in the past few days, I make sure that each piece is thoroughly soaked because they seem to dry out faster. Another reason that might prompt watering in the morning could be that it is going to be an exceptionally hot, dry day. Finally, if my schedule is so busy that I won't be back home until night, I water. At any rate, mosses like to have a “short drink” anytime. It doesn't take long to give these short drinks. I've developed an eye for exactly when they are wet enough. Beside, I truly enjoy the relaxing, mindless task of watering. Reality for expanding my moss cultivation at my moss nursery is that I'll need to set up a rainwater/spray/drip irrigation system with a timer and humidity sensors, thereby relinquishing this mindless pleasure of watering. Just a brief time spent in the morning in my moss garden provides a good start for the day. The gentle shafts of sunlight cast a glow on the mosses particularly highlighting sporophytes with backlight. I love to see these sporophyte surprises that add glimmers of reds, golds, and bronzes to the green moss expanses. Right now, these sporophytes are being challenged for first place beauty by my colorful azaleas which are in full bloom. It's my own special retreat where I seek my serenity. [caption id="attachment_407" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Serene, Moss Retreat"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_409" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Moss-as-Art "][/caption] title="MossinAnnieMossGardenROOMSpring2010-1WEB" width="300" height="200" class="size-medium wp-image-407" />[/caption] I've created an outdoor moss room where I play musical chairs (or benches and stumps) to gain different perspectives from various angles. This additional 650 sq ft moss really helped create the ambiance I wanted to achieve. It is SO much better to look at green mosses instead of black asphalt. Just two years ago, this section was part of my driveway with mosses along the bank. The transformation is astounding and appreciated by me everyday. Someday, I'll blog about the making of that moss garden section which is thriving this Spring (originally installed Winter 2008). And, that's all I have time to write to my “Moss Diary” this morning. Time to head over to see local blacksmith to select a “snag” together for our team's landscape exhibit at the upcoming Handmade in America Expo at the NC Arboretum; plant a few new moss types at another moss retreat installed two summers ago (excited to report her moss garden is thriving!); check on recent moss patio installation; and... meet with my son's teachers. Hopefully, moss joys will keep my day bright! Mossin' Annie 04-20-10