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September 17, 2017

August 2017 – Favorite Photos from My Garden

It's already mid-September and I realized I had not posted my favorite photos from this month. August is always incredibly hot and my garden starts to wane, but there are always a few plants that continue to shine in spite of the heat. This month, its the time for the native plants really to really shine. They can take the heat, because they are made for it. Also, the zinnias continued to produce lots of colorful blooms even as their leaves … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / bees, flowers, Summer

September 12, 2017

A Weekend Surprise: Butterfly Hatching

Recently emerged Gulf Fritillary butterfly

The Friday night air had hints of fall weather to come and Saturday morning, I opened the windows to my house, letting the fresh breeze in. I love being able to open my windows and let the fresh air blow through the house. This weekend was full of cool breezes and sunny weather. It was a perfect glimpse of the fall weather to come and a great time to get outdoors. We Mississippians give up being outdoors for much of August. We just can't stand … [Read more...]

/ Butterflies / backyard habitat, butterflies, native plants

August 30, 2017

How to Attract and Feed Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterflies

Female black swallowtail butterfly feeding on zinnia

One of the greatest joys I get out of my garden is watching the insects and wildlife that is attracted to the flowers and plants. I know that some of my plants will be consumed by these critters, but I’m willing to share. This week, I stumbled across this little black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) munching in my carrot patch. These little guys have such a bright green color and the yellow and black spots on them seem to hint at … [Read more...]

/ Butterflies / backyard habitat, butterflies

August 27, 2017

A Spot of Yellow: Native Partridge Pea Butterfly Host Plant

Partridge pea flower

Yesterday morning, I was driving to an appointment and I happened to glance at the side of the road, only to see a flash of bright yellow color. It made me look twice – it was a patch of partridge pea! This is the time of the year that you’ll see the bright yellow flowers of partridge pea blooming along the side of the road or along streams and ditches. They will continue to flower from late summer to early fall. Food for Wildlife and Plants … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / bees, birds, butterflies, fall, full sun, native plants, part shade, Summer, wildflowers

August 3, 2017

It All Started With A Photo of a Cucumber Plant

Something unexpected made me smile this morning. It was a happy surprise from a stranger. I’m pretty new to Instagram, finally opening my account this summer. I’ve posted a few photos and left a few comments, but to be honest, I haven’t had much time for it. A couple of days ago, I saw a photo of a specific variety of cucumber that someone was growing. The post talked about how this particular cucumber variety does well in a hot … [Read more...]

/ My Stories

August 2, 2017

July 2017 – Favorite Photos From My Garden

A harvest of tomatoes

July has been busy! It seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. Well, maybe that's just what happens as I'm getting older. Now that July is over, the start of the school season is just around the corner. It also marks the end of the growing season as the heat of August starts to take over. While I'm still collecting lots of sungold tomatoes, it won't be too long before the deer come to feed on my plants and finish them off. I've collected my … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / flowers, Summer

August 1, 2017

Great Color Combinations for Sweet Potato Vine

Container Garden

One of the easiest plants to grow is sweet potato vine. Once it is established, it really is a plant it and forget it kind of plant. My favorite! Sweet potato vines make great companion plants in containers and raised beds. Match them with either a contrasting or complementary color for a great combination. Here are a few of my favorite plant combinations for sweet potato vines. Contrasting Colors My absolute favorite color combination is … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / color combinations, plant combinations

July 27, 2017

Homegrown Tomato Salad Recipe

Some of my favorite things about summer time gardens are fresh home grown tomatoes. There's nothing like that taste. It's fresh and sweet and just plain delicious. Since the flavor of the tomato itself is wonderful, I don't like to cover them up with a lot of spices or cook them. Rather, I prefer them in a fresh tomato salad, mixed with fresh basil from my garden and some feta -- just sprinkled with a bit of balsamic vinegar. Fresh Tomato … [Read more...]

/ Herbs, Recipes, Vegetables / recipes

July 24, 2017

Lyreleaf Sage – Mississippi Wildflower

Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata)

Spring comes early in Mississippi. While my friends who live in states to the north continue to fight through snow and ice, I start to see the fresh green of new plant growth emerge from my lawn in mid to late-March. The early arrival of spring weather is one of my favorite things about living in Mississippi – the early respite from the cold, gray skies of winter. With the warming of the air, the wildflowers start to get a jump on their … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / butterflies, full sun, hummingbirds, pollinators, spring, spring flowers, wildflowers

July 18, 2017

Two in a Canoe – Spotting the Flowers on the Water

American lotus (Nelumbo lutea)

Every third weekend in the spring and summer my local wildlife refuge holds a free canoe day. They bring the canoes and you bring the paddlers. On an overcast Saturday this weekend, my friend Megan and I decided to give it a go. We packed the sunscreen, the bug spray, hats, our cameras, and some water and headed out to the boat ramp. We were running a little late that morning but we drove up just in time to claim the next to the last canoe. … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants, My Stories

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About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Georgia Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With more than 25 years of gardening, I am far from an expert, but I learn from all my experiments. This blog talks about the plants, backyard critters, and more that have made my garden special. Read More

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