Why Choose The Red Clay Gardener?
1. Expertise You Can Trust:
With Freda's North Carolina Certified Plant Professional credentials and years of experience, you can rest assured that your garden is in the hands of a seasoned expert. Her knowledge of gardening in red clay, regional flora and sustainable gardening practices ensures that your garden thrives in the local climate.
2. Tailored Solutions:
No two gardens are alike, and neither are Freda’s solutions. She listens intently to your desires, preferences, and the unique aspects of your outdoor space to create bespoke garden designs that align with your vision.
3. Passionate Dedication:
Gardening is not just a profession but a way of life for Freda. Her love for plants and gardens is evident in every project she undertakes. Her dedication shines through in each step of the process, ensuring that your garden becomes a living testament to her commitment.
I’m a Carolina girl, born and raised in the red clay foothills of North Carolina. I went to college in Chapel Hill, taught school in the mountains, then went to the coast where I earned a graduate degree in Education Administration. For over twenty years, I was a public school teacher, assistant principal, and principal before my retirement. I spent my childhood and youth roaming the woods and rural areas of the state. My two grandmothers and mother were all avid gardeners, and my father’s first post-college career was teaching biology. Inevitably, my roots in gardening are deep.
Seven years ago I began working part-time at a local garden center, and I caught fire. Three years ago I was asked to become a garden consultant- a person to help customers troubleshoot and redesign their outdoor spaces, coach folks who wanted to learn to care for their own gardens and yards, and coordinate the installation of new plants and relocating older ones. As a consultant, I gobbled up as much knowledge as I could from my expert colleagues, became active in the Charlotte Garden Club, and was certified as a NC Plant Professional. I took courses and seminars in landscape design. All this experience, both in life and learning, found its home in the Red Clay Gardener.
I see it as my mission to “plant-vangelize” folks who want, but may be reluctant, to tackle growing and caring for plants in our beautiful, muddy part of the world. I believe with the right advice, right tools, right plants (that are right-sized in the right place), that you can become a knowledgeable, successful gardener. I have a lifetime of experience, training, and stories to share. I love meeting people, whether they are Carolina natives or transplants, and listening to their experiences.