When the winter landscape is brown (or even white!), it can feel a bit gloomy -- especially to a gardener. I am fortunate that in Mississippi, our cold winter days are interspersed with warm 60 degree days. That helps alleviate the winter blues. My other trick is to be sure that I have some plants blooming in the house. There's nothing like a bright, colorful flower to help cheer up a winter day. Of the many house plants I have tried over the … [Read more...]

Monarchs make a nearly 3,000-mile journey each year from Mexico to the northern U.S. and Canada. Along their travels, they rely on native milkweeds for food and host plants for their caterpillars. And monarchs aren’t the only butterflies that migrate in North America. The Gulf fritillary, cloudless Sulphur, common buckeye, and more migrate each year. As you start planning your garden this year, pick out some native milkweed plants and other … [Read more...]

Most gardeners have a lot of houseplants too. I have a bunch and I bring in more plants from the outdoors in the winter. My older dog, Belle, has never chewed on plants, so I have not had to worry about placing them out of reach. I can sit them 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. I soon discovered that he will sometimes chew on … [Read more...]

You might think that the best part of your garden are all visual - the flowers, textures, and colors - but have you considered fragrance as a component of your garden? A scented garden can bring back memories, relax and calm you, or just put a smile on your face. At least, that's what these fragrances do for me. When I walk through a garden or past a particular plant, I take a deep breath to inhale the fragrance. I'm reminded of the garden at my … [Read more...]

Important Food & Host Plants for Butterflies If you like to watch butterflies, including plants in your garden that host the larvae (caterpillars) and also those plants that provide nectar for butterflies is important. Including both of these types of plants will attract butterflies to your garden, and even lay eggs. You'll be able to spot cocoons and watch the full life cycle. Be aware that host plants will likely be heavily chewed on by … [Read more...]

For the last few weeks when I walk into my local garden center, there is nothing but mums and pansies available for sale. Believe it or not, there are other plants that flower in the fall. To get those blooms, you’ll need to plan ahead and find your plants when they are available for planting in the summer and get them in the ground. You won’t be able to find them in stores during their blooming period. But a little planning goes a long way – … [Read more...]