There are many species of native shrubs that grow in the shade. These native plants need little sunlight and some species can handle deep shade conditions. Add some color and texture to those shady areas in your garden with shade-loving native shrubs that flower in the shade. By adding these native shade shrubs in your landscape, you are creating habitat, providing food, and adding visual interest to your shade garden. Each native shrub … [Read more...]
Male and Female Birds that Look Alike – Monomorphic Birds
When I was young, I thought all the Blue Jays that I saw in our backyard were males. They had the crest, the bright colors, and the size of a typical male songbird. So, it just made sense to me. But I always wondered, why did I never see any female Blue Jays? What did they look like? This was my first encounter with what biologists call a monomorphic species. In terms of birds, this term describes male and female birds that look … [Read more...]
Fields of Spring Daffodils at Gibbs Gardens
From early March to mid-April, you can see acres of daffodils blooming at Gibbs Gardens in North Georgia. The fields of cheerful white, yellow, and orange flowers are a perfect way to kick out those winter blues. We picked a warm, March day to drive to Ball Ground, Georgia, to visit the 250+-acre gardens. The sun was shining, the warm air was blowing, and we were happy to be getting out of town for a short bit. Gibbs Gardens did not … [Read more...]
2022 Hummingbird Migration
Hummingbirds were sighted in Alabama and Louisiana in mid-February. They were spotted in Mississippi just a short while after that, so if you haven't seen some yet, they're headed your way! You can see the birds as they are sighted on the map below. 2022 Hummingbird Migration Map by Hummingbird Central Now is the time to clean your feeders, fill them with sugar water, and hang them up.In addition to providing a feeder, you can encourage … [Read more...]
Why You Should Avoid Planting Bradford Pears
Do you smell rotting mushrooms or fish when you're outdoors right now? Don't worry; it's not just you. It's the dreaded scent of Pyrus calleryana or the Bradford Pear tree. The Bradford pear tree puts on a lovely show of branches thick with white flowers. But, this tree has a dark side. It's invasive! Native to China and Vietnam, these trees were introduced to the U.S. in the early 1900s, and the popular 'Bradford' cultivar became widely … [Read more...]
5 Family Friendly Outdoor Activities
Getting outdoors to enjoy some fresh air, to get a little exercise, and to find something beautiful in nature that makes us smile can be so important. So gather up your family and get outdoors! Try one of these five outdoor activities to explore your backyard, your neighborhood, or just about anywhere! 1. Become a citizen scientist and explore the animals and plants in your backyard Your backyard is full of creatures and plants – birds, … [Read more...]
How to Grow Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Plant from Leaf Cuttings
Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata) or snake plant is an awesome house plant and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, making it perfect for indoor growing. If you want a plant-it-and-forget-about-it houseplant, then this is the one for you. The common names for Dracaena are rather tongue in cheek – mother-in-law's tongue and snake plant are two of the most well-known common names. I mean, really, who … [Read more...]
New Trellis for The Front of Our House
2020 was the year for home renovations, wasn't it? We had the siding replaced and removed a fireplace that we never used. And many of our neighbors had remodeling work done too. We had to severely trim down the azaleas at the front of the house so that the contractors could reach the fireplace and the siding. We made the decision to remove the bushes entirely and create a new design for this spot. I was fine with removing these … [Read more...]
20 Common House Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs
Most gardeners have a lot of plants in their houses too. I have a bunch of indoor plants and I bring in many outdoor plants into the house for the winter as well. My older dog, Belle, has never chewed on plants, so I have not worried about placing them out of reach. I can my indoor plants on the floor, on a table, whatever, and she leaves them alone. A few years ago, I adopted Charlie, a mixed breed dog that is a little taller than Belle. … [Read more...]
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden — The Best Christmas Lights Display In Atlanta
Driving through different neighborhoods to see their Christmas lights is one of my favorite things to do during the Christmas. It’s a family tradition – my parents took us kids and now we take our kids. The colorful light displays give me the warm fuzzies. When I saw the promo for Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, I knew that I would love it. The botanical garden is an amazing place to visit during the day and I … [Read more...]
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