If you consider playing Las Vegas slot machines to be exciting and risky, then you haven’t tried ­gardening in the Sandhills, which, on the other side of the soil, is a sure bet. Instead of pulling the lever down to reveal three odd matching ­pictures, a triple planting of the same flowers can be set between layers of multicolored soil, making everyone a winner.

The fun part of gardening is that it is not only addictive, but it is also healthy and natural, especially in this part of the country. Unlike slot machines, several combinations of odd numbers continue to grow and multiply across the landscape, and odd trios become even sixes.

If we were to plant seven one-eyed pansies and 21 (both odd numbers) jumping jacks, the end result would be an even flush of 28 variegated and plush blooms.

And so it is with gardening in the Sandhills. We gardeners begin with stacked odds and wind up with even beds of picture-perfect horticultural landscapes, a variety of which are notably well-presented.

Whether on your own or as a member of the many available garden clubs, ­gardeners grow a variety of plants from cactus to sundew, from lilies to ­gladioluses, from camellias to ginger and azaleas to rhododendron. There is no end to the number of plants we ­gardeners grow, and we love to experiment with zonal and temperature changes.

To gardeners in this area, horticultural beauty is ­inherent. We share ­knowledge from both ­experience and a sense of community that offer ­priceless information to newcomers as well as ­residents who have been using the soil for a number of years.

Of course, horticultural camaraderie is freely offered from a large and friendly down-home community.

Physical skills complete the cycle of balanced fitness for gardeners. We often lean on odd machines but wind up on even limbs — two hands, two elbows and two knees that sink into the soil with gusto. Like daily events, there are no promises or contracts that guarantee lush beds, only the positive aspiration of individual partnership with the land.

Every gardener is the CEO of a ­personal landscape. We are passionate people who enjoy a variety of selections for the local soil which is bountiful, even though they persevere with amendments.  Mulching is second nature to the community as is composting.

The idea of turning in the chips when a feeling of failure occurs is immediately tossed in the “try again pile.” Natives and visitors enjoy the educational ­facilities offered through Sandhills Community College, one of the most widely acclaimed gardening facilities in the country. Here, everyone enjoys the hierarchy of horticultural knowledge. Classes are offered to anyone who ­wishes to expand his or her gardening knowledge as an ongoing process. Knowledgeable teachers are ready to assist everyone with  gardening ­questions and situations. Even a simple walk through the magnificent “gardens,” which are an integral part of the school, is as lovely as it is beneficial to all ­visitors.

Another asset in the community is the Agricultural Extension Department, its agent and employees, who are more than willing to assist gardeners with any ­landscape situations that arise, including free soil sampling. With a quick ­telephone call, master gardener ­volunteers are ready and willing to answer any questions regarding ­horticulture. And docents are on track to guide anyone who wishes to tour the facility. Some personnel have visited ­private residences to view landscapes and offer solutions to any problem that deals with gardening.

Preparation and design are practiced on a daily basis. And, unlike many other localities, each of the four seasons keeps gardeners busy in the yardscape.

Local gardeners are a knowledgeable group because everyone shares through activities that abound and garden clubs that are inviting to everyone.

Gardeners are a fearless lot, ­improving upon the elements of sandy soil, using pine needles as acidic ­embellishments for plant growth or adding alkaline to change the colors and soil-scape of certain shrubs. We encounter moles, voles and dead, ­diseased or damaged debris with zest that others cannot compete with. Although, we have been known to ­exhibit obsessive and compulsive ­horticultural habits, we gardeners are a work in progress, a time zone to reckon with, and when everything appears odd, we will always wind up in an even frame of mind.

Anita B. Stone may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it