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P. Allen Smith

@pallensmith

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Designing landscapes and sharing time-honored, organic gardening practices | 19+ PBS Seasons, 7 books, GCA 🏅, Taste Hall of Fame | Follow for 🌸

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We’re getting closer! I’m so excited to share my new television series, **A Sense of Place**, with you this October.

This series is really about something I’ve believed for many years—that the places we create can have a profound influence on the way we live. Our gardens, homes, kitchens, landscapes, and gathering spaces can connect us to nature, to our history, and most importantly, to one another.

Throughout *A Sense of Place*, I’ll be sharing stories, ideas, and inspiration from the garden and beyond—exploring how thoughtful design, horticulture, food, art, and stewardship can come together to create places that are not only beautiful, but meaningful.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created, and I can’t wait for you to see it.

📺 **Create TV — Episode 1 premieres October 2**
📺 **PBS — Premieres beginning October 4; check your local listings for dates and times**

Mark your calendars, tell your friends, and join me for **A Sense of Place** this October!

#ASenseOfPlace #PAllenSmith #PBS #CreateTV #MossMountainFarm by @pallensmith

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3 days ago

What a wonderful time we had at Chicken Chat here at @mossmountainfarm! 🐓

It’s always such a pleasure meeting new friends, catching up with familiar faces, and having the opportunity to show off some of the many beautiful and unusual breeds of chickens we raise here at the farm.

Our poultry program is something I’m particularly proud of. These birds represent so much history, diversity, and heritage, and Chicken Chat gives us the chance to share a little more about the breeds, their personalities, and the importance of preserving them for future generations.

We host Chicken Chat twice a year, so if you missed us this time, don’t worry—we’ll be doing it all again next April!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day such fun. I hope we’ll see even more of you at the next one!

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #ChickenChat #HeritagePoultry #FarmLife by @pallensmith

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4 days ago

We’re working on the Pumpkin House at @mossmountainfarm today! 🎃

Before this little seasonal house is completely clad in pumpkins, I thought I’d give you a peek behind the scenes.

The Pumpkin House has become one of our favorite fall follies here at the farm, and my gosh, what a variety of pumpkins we have to work with this year! So many wonderful colors, shapes, sizes, and textures—it’s almost like painting with plants, only this time our palette is pumpkins.

Now, I want you to take a guess:
How many pumpkins do you think it will take to cover the entire house?

Leave your guess in the comments! I’ll share the finished Pumpkin House—and the final pumpkin count—in the coming days.

Are you a fan of pumpkins? Do you have a favorite variety?

And better yet, come see the Pumpkin House for yourself at @mossmountainfarm this fall! 🍂🎃

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #PumpkinHouse #FallAtTheFarm #PumpkinSeason by @pallensmith

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5 days ago

Happy first day of fall! 🍂

There’s something about this season that always makes me look at the garden a little differently. The light begins to soften, the colors grow warmer, and plants that have waited patiently all summer finally begin to have their moment.

Here at @mossmountainfarm, the garden canvas is shifting once again—late-season flowers are still putting on a show, pollinators are busy making the most of them, and the first hints of autumn are beginning to appear across the farm and the iconic pumpkin house is underway!

One of the great pleasures of gardening is watching these transitions unfold. Every season brings its own palette, and fall may just be one of my favorites.

If you’ve been thinking about visiting Moss Mountain Farm, now is a beautiful time to come see the gardens for yourself. Our fall tours are underway, and I’d love to welcome you to the farm.

Reserve your fall visit at pallensmith.com/tours 🍁

What are you most looking forward to in the garden this fall?

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #FirstDayOfFall #FallGarden #PaintingWithPlants by @pallensmith

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6 days ago

What a beautiful week with the Garden Club of St. Louis (@thegardenclubstlouis )! And for a very important occasion — the club’s 110th anniversary! 🌿

It began with a wonderful cocktail party at the historic home of Linda and John O’Hara — their restoration of this important property is nothing short of a true delight, and they’re to be commended for it. That evening continued with dinner with club leaders at The Crossing (@thecrossingstl ) in Clayton, a beloved local institution that fully lives up to its reputation.

The next day brought a stimulating afternoon at John’s St. Louis studio, Forsyth (@forsythart ), where his artwork comes to life alongside a curated gallery of one-of-a-kind artisanal furniture and art — a true feast for the eyes (and also a ton of fun, which goes for our trip generally!)

We closed with an evening at the historic Country Club of St. Louis, where I shared a presentation on Revolutionary Gardens of the United States, followed by good food, laughter, and wonderful camaraderie.

My heartfelt thanks to the ladies of the Garden Club of St. Louis for their gracious hospitality and for organizing such a memorable visit, with a special thanks to club leadership and event organizers who made this all possible: Susan, Meredith, Linda, John, Lisa, Lynn, Beth, Alex, and Scott (if we have left anyone out, please forgive us!). We hope to return soon. 💚

#GardenClub #StLouis #Gardening #gcsl1916 @thegardenclubofamerica by @pallensmith

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7 days ago

Good morning!

Do you consider **Goldenrod, or Solidago,** a common weed—or an attractive and useful garden plant?

Well, let’s set the record straight about this wonderful plant. Goldenrod is often blamed for causing seasonal allergies, but the real culprit is its cousin, **ragweed**, which happens to bloom at about the same time. Ragweed produces lightweight pollen that is easily carried by the wind, while Goldenrod’s pollen is heavier and sticky, making it much less likely to become airborne.

So, with that myth behind us, you might guess that I fall firmly into the camp of **Goldenrod as a beautiful and useful garden perennial**.

I adore Goldenrod, particularly the many wonderful cultivars available today. Two that I’ve grown here at Moss Mountain Farm are **Solidago ‘Golden Baby’** and **Solidago ‘Fireworks’**. With varieties hardy across Zones 3–9, there’s a Goldenrod for a wide range of gardens—and the pollinators certainly appreciate them.

In this video, I’m also sharing another native plant of the Americas, **Bog Sage, Salvia uliginosa**. Native to South America, Bog Sage gets its common name from its ability to tolerate wet soils, although it’s surprisingly adaptable and can also perform well under drier conditions.

Together, Goldenrod and Bog Sage make a wonderful late-season combination, bringing color, movement, and plenty of activity from pollinators to the garden.

These are exactly the kinds of plants I love for **painting with plants**—different forms, textures, and colors coming together on the garden canvas.

Give these two perennials a try in your garden and see what you can create!

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #PaintingWithPlants #GardenDesign #PollinatorGarden by @pallensmith

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10 days ago

I can hardly believe the variety of zinnias we have growing here at Moss Mountain Farm! I’ve planted 16 different varieties from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and each one has its own personality.

This one is called ‘Exquisite’, and it certainly lives up to its name. The color is beautiful, but take a look inside the flower—you’ll see why zinnias are such wonderful plants for pollinators. There’s so much going on in there!

We plant zinnias twice each year here at the farm. Our first planting goes in during the spring, and then we make a second planting in July. That second crop gives us a fresh flush of flowers later in the season and keeps the garden full of color right up until frost.

And with 16 varieties growing, I have to ask—do you have a favorite zinnia color? 🌸

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #Zinnias #BakerCreek #PollinatorGarden by @pallensmith

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11 days ago

Chicken Chat, Poultry Sale & Lunch! 🐓🌳

Join us at Moss Mountain Farm on Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m. for a special Chicken Chat and a day all about our feathered friends!

Come meet me, tour the farm, learn more about our heritage poultry and conservation work, and enjoy lunch surrounded by the beauty of the gardens.

We’ll also have a poultry sale, giving you an opportunity to take home one of these remarkable birds and become part of the effort to preserve these special breeds.

It’s always a wonderful day when chickens, gardens, good food, and good company come together. I hope you’ll join us!

📅 Saturday, September 19 | 10:00 a.m.
📍 Moss Mountain Farm

Learn more and reserve your spot:
https://pallensmith.com/events/sept-19-2026-chicken-chat/

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #ChickenChat #HeritagePoultry #FarmLife by @pallensmith

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12 days ago

I hope you’ll join me in Bentonville, Arkansas, for a special book signing at Juniper Hill Home on September 26!

I’ll be signing copies of my new book, Moss Mountain Farm: A Sense of Place, and I’m looking forward to spending the afternoon meeting friends, talking about the book, and sharing some of the stories and inspiration behind Moss Mountain Farm.

If you’re in Northwest Arkansas, I’d love to see you there!

📚 Book Signing at Juniper Hill Home
📅 September 26 | 1:30–3:00 p.m.
📍 2612 S. Walton Blvd., Suite 3
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712

Come say hello, pick up a signed copy, and spend a little time talking gardens, design, and creating your own sense of place.

#PAllenSmith #SenseOfPlace #BentonvilleArkansas #BookSigning #MossMountainFarm
@juniper_hill_home by @pallensmith

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13 days ago

I’ve always loved to draw and paint, and I really believe that love of art is part of what led me to become a designer.

I particularly enjoy doing these little watercolor studies. This is an example of a plein air study I painted here at Moss Mountain Farm—simply getting outside, finding a view that catches my eye, and putting what I see down on paper.

Early spring is one of my favorite times to do this. The landscape is just beginning to wake up, the colors are fresh and subtle, and there’s something wonderfully inspiring about sitting outdoors and really studying what’s in front of you.

Drawing and painting also teach you to look more closely—at color, proportion, light, texture, and composition. Those same ideas find their way into how I design a room or a garden. In many ways, whether I’m holding a paintbrush or designing a landscape, I’m still thinking about how all the pieces come together to create a beautiful composition.

I think we all need a creative outlet from time to time. What are your hobbies? How do you like to get creative?

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #Watercolor #PleinAirPainting #GardenDesign by @pallensmith

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14 days ago

A peaceful Sunday here at Moss Mountain Farm, enjoying all of these beautiful zinnias and the many pollinators they attract. 🌸🐝

There’s something wonderfully calming about watching the bees and butterflies move from bloom to bloom, taking full advantage of the abundance of flowers this time of year.

Sometimes the garden’s greatest gift is simply reminding us to slow down, look a little closer, and enjoy what’s right in front of us.

Wishing you a beautiful and peaceful Sunday from Moss Mountain Farm.

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #SundayInTheGarden #Zinnias #PollinatorGarden by @pallensmith

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15 days ago

Good morning!

Selecting flowers for your garden is a lot like selecting paint colors for a canvas. You know how much I love “painting with plants” here at @mossmountainfarm, and I think this Mexican sunflower, or Tithonia, is a perfect example of cadmium orange!

What do you think?

Of course, I’m already thinking about next year. I’ll be saving some of these seeds and would love to create a study in deep orange, red, and rich yellow—a wonderfully warm palette for the garden.

Now I need your ideas! What would you plant alongside Tithonia to create that color study? I’m thinking about the different heights, forms, and textures we could layer together while staying within that rich, warm palette.

And if you can grow zinnias, sunflowers, or marigolds, you can grow Tithonia. It’s an easy annual and certainly rewards you with plenty of brilliant color.

If you enjoy warm hues in your garden, give this one a try!

#PAllenSmith #MossMountainFarm #PaintingWithPlants #Tithonia #GardenDesign by @pallensmith

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16 days ago