Flowers cascade down rolling hills toward a peaceful, spring-fed pond at this "Garden in the Hollow" at Riceville, Tn., just off I-75. The ridges surrounding the landscaped flowerbeds and natural springs are what give this garden in the hollow its name, Sunshine Hollow.
The 160 acres that make up the Hollow were purchased in 1973 by Dave and Vicki Rhyne. Dave, who worked for Bowater at the time, had a great love for flowers, and planted his first garden two years after he bought the property. When he retired in 1988, he began working in his gardens full-time.
Today, the Hollow is filled with shade gardens, an azalea trail, blanket roses, butterfly bushes, natural ferns, and so much more. Visitors can pay a small admission fee to tour the grounds, including four new flowerbeds that Dave is currently working on which will terrace up and down the hill in front of the pond.
Zoysia grass softens many of the trails for wandering feet and creates a beauty all its own. Daises, lantana, Christmas and cinnamon ferns, and maidenhair line the paths. But Dave’s specialties are daylilies, and he shows off more than 25,000 to prove it.
And for those visitors who wish to take some of the beauty home with them, Sunshine Hollow sells daylilies and hostas at the plant sales area. A gift shop houses pecan fruitcakes that come straight from the Sunshine Hollow bakery, as well as homemade jams and jellies.
For those who wish to stay all afternoon, the Hollow also offers a restaurant which features a delicious lunch menu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays.
An Update from “Out to the Farm,” an Agricultural Tourism Brochure for Southeast Tennessee
More than 40 farms, festivals, orchards, nurseries and other agricultural tourism entities are featured in the updated “Out to the Farm” trail guide produced by the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association. And this year’s edition features eight new listings.
Newly listed entries include the Foothills Country Fair, D & W Daylily Garden, and Nah Moo Miniature Horse Farm in Cleveland; Carr’s Muscadine Vineyard in Calhoun; Delano Community Farm Market in Delano; Goat Hill at the Acuff Country Inn in Jasper; Striker’s Premium Winery in Athens; and Hala’s Place in Ten Mile.
While many of the sites listed in the brochure are open for a full season, several of the nurseries are already in their peak season and should be visited soon so their full effect can be experienced. Most of the orchards are open through the fall, as are the farmers markets. The wineries, horse farms, and Mayfield Visitors Center are open year round, although reservations are required for some tours.
For a full listing of agritourism sites in Southeast Tennessee and their operating hours, visit www.southeasttennessee.com or call 423-424-4263.