Plant a Shade Garden
A shady garden is one that receives less than four hours of direct sun per day. It's true that many shade-loving options are foliage plants, but many perennial flowers can thrive in shady areas, available in a variety of colors. Here’s a list of 8 perennial flowers that grow in shady areas, Monkshood Monkshood plant with small white and purple-blue flowers hanging on thin stems. It is a perennial flower that likes full sun but does fine in partial shade. The plant is named for the shape of the deep purple-blue blooms that can last up to two months in late summer, appearing atop five- to six-foot stalks. This is an excellent plant for late-season color when most other plants have ended their bloom period. Monkshood has good resistance to pests and diseases, but in shady locations the plants might need to be staked to prevent toppling. Columbine Columbine plant with blue-purple bell-shaped flowers and buds on thin red stems. Butterflies and hummingbirds can't resist the delicate, nectar-filled blossoms. The bell-shaped flowers come in a wide variety of color combinations. This is a very easy plant to grow in shade, and it often spreads by self-seeding. Growing about two feet tall, columbine usually blooms in late spring and early summer. Astilbe The flower plumes of astilbe, also known as false spirea, bloom in the spring and summer in shades of white, pink, purple, and red. They prefer moist conditions so don't let their soil dry out. Except for dividing your astilbe plants every three years or so, they require little effort. Black Cohosh Also known as bugbane, black cohosh is a perfect perennial flower for shade. It blooms well even with little direct sunlight. It can easily reach six feet tall in one season and adds texture as well as height to a shade garden. The dense foliage gives rise to even taller stalks of bottle brush-shaped clusters of white flowers in late summer to early fall. Bleeding Heart Bleeding heart plants with light pink heart-shaped flowers hanging on stems. This plant is a spring bloomer, with the flowers lasting for several weeks, and it grows two to three feet tall. The flowers are delicate heart-shaped drops in shades of pink with white tips. Bleeding heart foliage usually dies back and disappears in the hot months of summer, but it should return the next year. Barrenwort Barrenwort is often dismissed as a slow-growing ground cover, but this plant brings lots of visual interest to the landscape. Its clusters of vivid flowers arrive in the early spring, and its foliage often emerges in spring in shades of red and gold, maturing to a deep green. Some varieties are evergreen in warm climates. Primrose The Primrose plant has cream-colored and yellow flowers. They are one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, as their botanical name indicates. (Primula comes from Latin for "little first one"). The bright blooms rise above the deep green foliage on sturdy stalks. Meadow Rue Purple flowers grow with a clump of blue-green, lacy foliage at its base. Then, the fuzzy flowers rise above the foliage in the late spring to summer. It’s a fairly low-maintenance perennial, though it doesn’t like its roots disturbed. Try one or more of these beauties out in your shade garden this summer and enjoy the show! (The Spruce)
Relocating to the Catawba Valley Area
If you or someone you know is considering relocating to our area- Here are some resources that you should find helpful! Our beautiful haven nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills is the perfect setting for work and play! Enjoy life at a slower pace but with all of the amenities of urban life! Explore numerous trails and parks, fabulous restaurants and bars, beautiful Lake Hickory, tons of options for shopping and more! https://catawbachamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Relocation-Packet-2024.pdf https://catawbacountync.gov/discover-catawba-county/ https://www.visithickorymetro.com/travel-tools/relocating-to-catawba-county-starts-here/ https://catawbachamber.org/relocation-resources/ https://catawbachamber.org/things-to-do/ https://www.corporatereloinc.com/hickory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8OgQ1g7jCI
Choosing the RIGHT Agent
There are nearly 83,000 licensed Real Estate agents in North Carolina. Some are full time agents who pour their hearts and souls into creating the best possible experience for their clients. Those agents work tirelessly to stay abreast of what's happening in their local market, they network well and have spent years honing their negotiation skills. The really great ones know that no matter how long they have been in this business, there is always much to learn because it is an ever changing industry with new laws, new expectations, and new obstacles to contend with year in and year out. Some of those 83,000 agents are part time or hobby brokers who may sell a house or two per year, they do this as a hobby to help friends and family, but their main focus of their "work day" is not gaining expertise as a REALTOR®. Who you choose to work with when you are ready to buy or sell a home is one of the most important decisions you will make in the process. Having an agent with a lot of experience, or even a new agent who has significant support from their brokerage is at the top of the list of qualities you should look for. Here are some questions we think you should ask before you hire anyone to represent you for this important financial (and emotional) transaction. 1. How many clients have you helped to buy or sell a home? Even if the answer is not one that builds confidence in their experience, you should not automatically write them off! You may have found a super star who sells dozens of home each year and their experience speaks for itself. Or, you may have just stumbled upon an up and coming rookie who has little experience, but who works at an office with a very involved broker-in-charge and a support staff who give you a team to work with as opposed to just a newbie. Just make sure they either have experience or support. Both have the potential to serve you well. At Realty Executives, our rookie agents have a very involved broker and and in-house marketing specialist there to provide all of the support needed. 2. What is your communication style? What can I expect from you? Throughout the buying and selling process, there is much information that needs to get from one party to another. It is important to know on the front end what you can expect from your agent. Will they send you weekly communication on showings, feedback, and changes in the market? What happens if an offer comes in and your agent is "off" or out of town? How do they handle communication with cooperative agents? Are they beholden to texts only or are they willing to pick up the phone to have a conversation to get the deal done? Communication is hands down one of the most important factors in a real estate transaction. How your agent communicates with you and also the cooperative agent is of utmost importance. At Realty Executives, we offer regular training for our agents to hone these skills. 3. What is your marketing strategy? Selling a home takes more than a sign in the yard. When the market is hot and buyers are flooding seller inboxes with offers, it might seem like all you need is a listing in the MLS and a sign in the yard. That might get you an offer, but will it get you the most favorable terms? Having an agent who is willing to market every property to the best of his or her ability, regardless of the market, will help to ensure that you have more choices in the offer you accept. Professional photography is a must and when appropriate, drone video can highlight a property from a vantage point you can't get from the ground. You need an agent who understands visual marketing and also knows how to spotlight the best features in your home in order to draw in offers with the best possible terms for you. At the very least, ask them to show you how they have marketed past properties and what is considered included as a part of their listing service. Do they have a marketing professional at their office? Are they willing to pay a professional for needed materials? Every REALTOR® at our office has access to our in-house marketing specialist who can create custom marketing materials to get your home sold. 4. What do you believe will be your most important role as my agent? A REALTOR® is not a salesperson. A REALTOR® is a matchmaker, a communicator, and a problem solver. Their job is to help willing buyers connect with willing sellers and to facilitate an agreement that leaves all parties feeling like they got exactly what they were looking for. A great agent will be your guide through the process and leave you satisfied that their experience, education and know-how was exactly what you needed to navigate a process that can be challenging. Make sure that the agent you hire knows that you are relying on them to guide you, to find the answers to your questions, and to see you through to the closing table. Of the 80,000 plus agents in North Carolina, you deserve to find the one best suited to you. Make sure that your personalities mesh, because you may be spending a lot of time together. But beyond personality, find someone committed to their craft. Being a great REALTOR® doesn't look the same on every agent. But every truly great REALTOR® will put you first and be committed to your satisfaction with the process. Our brokers at Realty Executives of Hickory and Lake Norman are truly great. That's why we have been voted the Best REALTORS® in the Catawba Valley over and over again. Whether you are buying, selling, or both, we are sure that we have a professional who will be the perfect guide to take you from thinking about moving to the closing table. Connect with one of our executive brokers, you'll be glad you did.
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