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Updated on 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...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / butterflies, full sun, hummingbirds, pollinators, spring, spring flowers, wildflowers

Updated on July 10, 2017

Buttonbush for Wet Soils and Cool Blooms!

Common buttonbush flower with skipper butterfly

Nature produces some interesting shapes and this is very true for the flower of the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Common buttonbush (or buttonwillow) produces these crazy looking little spiky ball-like blooms of compound florets. They’re pretty cool, actually, and both bees and butterflies agree. I caught this skipper butterfly feeding on a buttonbush flower while hiking in Choctaw Lake Recreation Area in the Tombigbee National … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants, Shrubs / butterflies, flowers, moist soil, native plants, shrubs

Updated on November 7, 2019

Fall Asters: Purple Blooms for Bees, Butterflies, & Beauty

Fall blooming aster

Fall in Mississippi still tends toward the warmer temps, which means that bees and butterflies are still hanging around. The scorching heat and sun of the late summer has often killed off many of the most prolific flowering plants, meaning there are less flowers for the pollinators to feed on. Adding a few fall-flowering plants can provide a food source for pollinators and add some extra beauty to your garden for the season. How to Grow Fall … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / bees, butterflies, fall, flowers, full sun, native plants, wildflowers

Updated on September 9, 2016

The Scott Sisters – Natural History Art

Scott Sisters Exhibit at the Australian Museum

Harriet and Helena Scott - Australian Lepidoptera and Their Transformations In the mid-1800's two Australian sisters created stunning natural history illustrations for the publication of their father's book. I was fortunate to be able to see the exhibit of unpublished plates in the Australian Museum and I spent hours poring over the intricacies of the artwork. There are two volumes of their work. Volume 1 was published in 1864 and Volume II … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies / butterflies, illustrations

Updated on April 23, 2017

Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)

I have to say that I love this plant. Nothing says 'good morning to you' like a bright orange flower. But it's not just me! The hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies have all cast their votes too. Just this afternoon I saw a ruby throated hummingbird feeding on one of the flowers. Tithonia is great for attracting and feeding pollinators. Mix it in with a few zinnias and you'll have a busy garden. This is my first year really growing Mexican … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants / annuals, bees, butterflies, full sun, hummingbirds

Updated on August 2, 2016

The Butterflies are Back!

Eastern tiger swallowtail feeding on Tithonia

This summer, the butterflies have been noticeably absent. While I have seen some smaller butterflies, like these pearl crescents that were mating among the four o'clocks in my front garden, the larger beauties were just missing. It's been a strange summer. The temperatures got high very early in spring and they really haven't gone down. As I sit here and type this, the forecast for the next three days range from 97 to 99 with heat indices … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies / butterflies, Summer, wildlife

Updated on August 31, 2017

What’s the Buzz about Joe Pye Weed?

Joe Pye Weed

Despite the name, you’ll find this ‘weed’ in more and more gardens. It’s a good garden staple for attracting pollinators from bees to butterflies. I planted it last fall and this summer the blooms have been prolific and I have seen all sorts of bees, wasps, and flies feeding on the nectar. Joe Pye Weed flowers are really beautiful. The stem at the top of the plant is a lovely shade of pink which transitions into multiple clusters of … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / birds, butterflies, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds, part shade, perennial, propagation, propagation. wildflowers, wildflowers

Updated on July 22, 2016

Backyard Wildlife Summer 2016

Eastern box turtle

This summer has been full of weird and wonderful backyard wildlife. From a nest of barred owls to frogs to snakes and turtles, I've seen a lot in my garden and backyard. Watching wildlife is one of the things I enjoy so much about my garden and yard. It's why I work hard to create suitable habitat for wildlife. This spring started out unseasonably warm and this summer has only gotten hotter. This week in particular, my state of Mississippi has … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Wildlife / amphibians, backyard habitat, bees, birds, butterflies, frogs, reptiles, turtles, wildlife

Updated on April 23, 2017

Stokes Aster – Beautiful and Blue

Stokes aster

A few years ago, I acquired a new plant that has quickly become one of my favorites - Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis). These stunning purple-blue flowers simply captured my heart. I really like incorporating native plants and flowers into my garden. They are easy to grow and very hardy AND they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. [Read my top five benefits of gardening with native plants] Additional, some native plants are very interesting … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants / butterflies, flowers, full sun, native plants, Summer, wildflowers

Updated on September 21, 2018

Spotted Jewelweed: Touch-me-not plant

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

If you've got soil that stays wet most of the time, then this is the plant for you. It's native to most of the lower 48 states and it prefers shade to part-shade - even better! In its native habitat, you'll find it alongside roads in ditches that stay wet most of the time, alongside a river or stream, in wetlands or boggy places, and in other moist soil areas. It prefers shady areas, though it can take some morning sun. Wildlife Uses The … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moist soil, native plants, part shade, shade plant, wildflowers

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About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Mississippi Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With over 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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