Ephemerals for the People

Former pastor shares the magic of moss 

Unicorns aren’t real. Neither are dragons, elves, or fairies. But if these mythical beings were more than figments of our imagination, they would most certainly call the Serenity Moss Garden home.

Located in Hendersonville resident Tom Brass’ backyard, the garden is 8,000 square feet of otherworldly lusciousness. According to Brass, visitors often compare the plot to Middle-earth — the fabled setting of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Other apt descriptions range from C.S. Lewis’ Narnia to the dreamy-eyed set of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Needless to say, the place is magical. And that’s by no accident. 

Many years ago, Brass visited the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park in Washington and was instantly smitten with the abundance of lush, green moss. “It was so quiet and peaceful,” he remembers. “It was like stepping into another dimension.”

Later, when Brass left his native Minnesota and purchased a home in Haywood Knolls, he remembered the hushed tranquility of the Pacific Northwest. Intent on recreating that feeling, Brass planted a clump of moss in his backyard. That was about a decade ago. Since then, he has used roughly 300,000 greening pins (which are like oversized staples) to help dozens of varieties of bryophytes naturalize and spread. 

“As I planted more moss, the natural beauty became increasingly obvious, inspiring me to continue until it reached about 100 feet up the side of the mountain on our property,” Brass explains. He notes that his wife Charlotte, a visual artist represented by Art MoB Studios & Marketplace in downtown Hendersonville, paints acrylic landscapes and nature scenes. Comparatively, “the moss garden has been my canvas,” he says.

Today, thanks to Brass’ creative visioning and constant nurturing, the garden is a verdant carpet accented by fanciful flora like chocolate chip bugleweed, old-fashioned bleeding hearts, and forget-me-nots. When at their peak — which is typically late March to late April — the ephemerals afford a dazzling display. Christmas ferns stand two to three feet tall, their lacy limbs outstretched as if inviting an embrace. Meanwhile, trout lilies nod their delicate heads and trilliums boast butter-yellow buds. It’s a sight to behold, which is one reason why Brass opens his backyard to visitors each spring. 

“As I developed the garden and saw how profoundly people were appreciating it, I began to feel that it would be selfish to keep it all to myself,” he says.

But for Brass, who worked as a Christian counselor for 22 years and a pastor for nine, welcoming others into the sun-dappled space is about more than oohs and aahs. 

“I hope and pray that each person who comes here experiences the peaceful beauty and wonder of nature, and is inspired to seek a relationship with their creator,” he says. “That is my motivation.”

Serenity Moss Garden, Hendersonville. Though the garden is closed for the season, it will reopen next spring. Brass also offers private and group showings throughout the year. For more information, visit serenitymossgarden.wordpress.com.