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When North Carolina’s Swannanoa River crested more than 26 feet during Hurricane Helene, the raging water didn’t stop at the homes it destroyed—it carried entire landscapes away with it. In this next episode of our Carolina Comeback web series, This Old House turns its attention outdoors as local crews and a nearby garden center partner to help homeowners reclaim their yards, one plant at a time.
Landscape expert Jenn Nawada meets with three homeowners—Jim, Allie, and Miah—to begin shaping visions for their brand-new outdoor spaces. “This is an extension of your home,” Jenn reminds them, encouraging thoughtful plant choices based on USDA hardiness zones, native species, and the unique sun and shade conditions of each property.
Starting with the sunny front yards, Jenn walks the group through options that bring structure, color, and resilience. She introduces clethra, fothergilla, sweet shrub, ninebark, viburnum, lilac, and the ever-reliable limelight hydrangea. The homeowners respond with excitement as they imagine the combinations: “I love the hydrangeas,” Allie says, while Jim is drawn to the “fothergilla and the summersweet.” Miah gravitates toward fragrant and colorful choices that will stay lush throughout the year.
In the shadier back sections, Jenn shifts to plants that thrive with partial light—azaleas, andromeda, oakleaf hydrangea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, and skip laurel. The group quickly envisions a cozy, more private retreat. “I can just see myself sitting on my back porch, admiring the color and the feel of privacy,” Miah says, already imagining her renewed space.
As Jenn gathers the selected plants and begins drafting tailored designs for each home, the Swannanoa project moves one step closer to restoring beauty, comfort, and life to these hard-hit properties.
Watch the video to see how the homeowners bring their landscapes back to life—and how thoughtful plant choices are helping restore the ecosystem one yard at a time.
