Right when the balloon flower, Platycodon grandiflorus, is about to bloom, it does its best impression of a balloon. It's so good at it, I have to work really hard to keep myself from trying to squeeze it and make it pop! In addition to having a really fun bud stage, this is a hard-working perennial. I love a plant that you can put in the ground and forget about it. This one has been ignored in my garden for a few years now and each year, it … [Read more...]
The Showstopping Daylily
As I go about my daily routine each morning, I usually have a few minutes to check out my garden before I head to the office. One of my favorite spots in my yard is the 3 feet of ground surrounding my mailbox. The soil here is terrible and I didn't do anything to amend it, but I insisted on putting some plants here so that I wouldn't have to weed-eat around the mailbox pole. The soil is largely clay, so not much will grow in this spot without … [Read more...]
How to Grow Succulents from A Leaf
If you have a favorite succulent plant and you want more (I mean, who doesn’t?), you’re in luck! It’s simple to grow a new succulent plant from a leaf and it’s really fun to watch the baby succulent plant grow. How to Pick a Leaf You don’t want to cut the leaf off of the plant - just gently tug at the leaf until it comes unattached from the stem. Ideally, you’d like an entire leaf – one that is not broken or cut in any way. Generally, this is … [Read more...]
Prairie Blue-eyed Grass
It's early April, but I've already started mowing the grass. The backyard just got a little too unruly and I have already gotten my first tick of the season. This is always a sign that it's time to mow. I try to never walk through grass that is higher than my ankle just for that reason. Now, the front yard I try to keep looking really nice and well kept so the neighbors don't get too upset about my 'wild' gardening style, but the backyard I … [Read more...]
Annual Native Plant Sales in Mississippi
In addition to plant nurseries and garden centers that carry native plants, you can often find sales of native plants at specific events or organizations throughout the year. These native plant sales are coordinated by the organization listed below, so please visit their website or give them a call to make sure you know the dates and locations for their current sales. Clinton Nature Center The Clinton Nature Center is a nonprofit organization … [Read more...]
Where To Buy Native Plants in Mississippi
Directory of Plant Nurseries & Garden Centers in Mississippi that Sell Native Plants Adding native plants to your garden is a great way to support native pollinators and attract wildlife. Not only that, but these plants are perfectly suited to our climate and soils, so they’re hardy and generally easy to grow. Finding sources to get specific native plants can be a bit of a challenge. Here are some nurseries that can get you started on the … [Read more...]
How to Grow Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Plant from Leaf Cuttings
Sansevieria is an awesome 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 Sansevieria are rather tongue in cheek – mother-in-law's tongue and snake plant. I mean, really, who came up with these names? I certainly wouldn’t want to call it that in front of my mother-in-law. Taking Leaf … [Read more...]
This Beautiful Purple Vine Can Be Deadly to a Tree
When there is a sweet floral scent in the air in early March, I know the wisteria is blooming. All I have to do is drive my car with the windows down to find a patch of this sweetly scented flowering vine. I’m led by my nose to look around for the soft purple of its blooms. In the South, this vine is omnipresent – in the forest, in neighborhoods, in rights-of-way, and even along highways. That is both the joy of and the pitfall of Chinese … [Read more...]
Top Garden Photos from February 2017
This February has been full of interesting weather. Whereas 2 years ago, we had snow in mid-February, mid- to late-February this year has been interspersed with temperatures of 70 degrees or higher. I love the break in the cold temps, but it causes some confusion with my plants. Things are blooming and growing earlier than usual. Let's hope there isn't a sudden harsh freeze that kills off all of the new growth. Fingers crossed! Here are my … [Read more...]
Bringing in the Beauty of Spring
Spring Beauties Just when I reach my limit with the bleakness of winter and cold temperatures, the tiniest of pink striped flowers start to poke their heads out of lawns and ditches. To me, the Virginia spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) is a harbinger of spring and warmer weather. These flowers bloom just before the false garlic – so they fill up the lawns and ditches before the taller flowers begin to grow leaves and bloom. In … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 12
- Next Page »