May 1st, Memphis, Jackson and Nashville Tennessee
as well as all of their Neighbors experienced Flooding and Tornados.
These Flood Levels have not been seen in 30 years and have been Referred to as: "Incredible and Unprecedented".
This Storm has not yet been named. But "Memphis in Mayhem" has been suggested.
This is the 4th record event in 3 Years.
2008 Hottest and Driest Year in 100 years?
2009 Wettest and Coolest Spring/Year in 100years?
2009/2010 Winter/Spring 72 hours of record cold Temperatures. (Killed 30% of my Nursery Stock.)
2010 Worst Flood in 30 Years.
It is against all of these Incredible Odds…That Russell DeMotsis and Myself
were given the Challenge of Securing a 100 ft. Vertical Mud Slope that runs for 2000 Ft. In length.
And we did it with SEED!!! Low Tech. Green. Old School!
Spring of 2009 Mr. Demotsis Called to ask me to help him with Native Plant Selections,
for Justin Timberlake's Mirimichi Audubon Certified Eco Golf Course.
(It has been my passion to study the simplest and lowest input systems of Horticulture and Agriculture for 30 years.
I was at the First Earth Day…and it Stuck. In High School.
Wolfgang and I have lived off the grid and low tech, for 30 years on the edge of Shelby County.
I was recommended to Russell by The Botanic Gardens and Lichterman Nature Center.)
When I met Him, felt his passion and rare ability to Listen and Adapt….I was there.
It has been the most fun I have had in years and one of the Greatest Challenges.
It has not been easy, there have been endless challenges.
I provide insight and Mr. DeMotsis is fearless in carrying out my/our ideas.
This Latest perhaps the most painful. The Golf Course Was Gleaming in Beauty Last Week..
And 80-90% Planted, with some of the Most Beautiful and Unusual Native and Asian Plant Selections.
Many used by Native Plant Devotees for over 30 years and A Few Very New Tricks….New Selections not generally seen by the public.
'Tiger Eyes' Sumac, 'Grace Smoke Tree' and 'Color Guard Yucca', have become signature plants as well as Horsetail, Lotus, and Bald Cypress.
Just to name perhaps 10% of the exciting plant palette at Mirimichi Golf Course. And Then The Rain Came...
Finally To the Story!!!
April thru July of 2009 Russell and I were charged with the task of saving a vertical mud hill. With A Budget.
We Chose Seed.
Russell Asked me what I thought would work.
Having used seed for cover crops in my 5 acre garden INSTEAD OF MULCH for over 25 years
I had a list of what did and did not work for me for those years.
Some Were Native, some were European, and some were Greens! See our article on Greens, Covercrops and Wildflowers.
Russell Believed me. He has Seen my Garden. And he Listens and Adapts. Rare.
I wanted to toss seed….Like Jonnie Apple Seed. From the top down…Like Chicken Feed. With Fertilizer.
Being 13 years my junior and a Man as well….Full of Testosterone, he queried,
"What if we blow in compost. With Machines." OK….(Hormones and Machines….Hmmmmm.)
"What if we Rappel down the hill and Throw The Seed." NOW YOU ARE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE!
"What if we Wrap the Hill in bio degradable Netting to Hold it in place." Pretty Sexy! Hmmmm
"What can we use that will Germinate in July!!!" Oy! Hot and Dry!!! (Answer: Salvia coccinea and Rudbeckia hirta.)
(We seeded different species of seed each month April thru July….filling empty spots throughout the year.)
Fast forward to Today: After Record Cold, Heat, Too Wet, Too Dry, Much Skepticism from our contemporaries,
and an UNPRECIDENTED RAIN FALL That Flooded Nine Holes, and Buried 2 and 4 years of Work. (The Total Project.)…
THE HILL HELD!!! It Held!!! Pushing Horticulture and Living Green…Into an area it has not often Seen.
David conquers Goliath….With Seed.
Stay Tuned y'all. I will try to keep you in touch with this Magnificent Project. In my "spare" time.
Watch for the Grand Re Opening (Had to Tweak the Greens) currently scheduled for July.
And Ladies…Be sure to let the Office know….You Want Horticultural Tours!
Thanks Again Mirimichi Golf Course for the Opportunity to Work in my Passion. Native Plants.
Diane Meucci
