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Updated on December 22, 2015

December Garden Visitors

Southern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Our December weather has been unusual this year. It took a long time before our first freeze and then we've had a couple of days here and there that were in the 70's. But, as always, after warm winter weather, a bad storm follows. Because of the bouts of warmer temperatures, I've had some fun visitors to my garden that we wouldn't normally see in late fall and early winter. This guy greeted me at my door last night. I left the light above … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Wildlife / butterflies, fall, wildlife, winter

Updated on August 24, 2017

Making a Home for Gulf Fritillary Butterflies in My Garden

These orange, black, and silver-spotted beauties have been in my garden a lot this summer. I've seen Gulf fritillary butterflies (Agraulis vanillae) feeding at the black and blue salvia, the pineapple sage, and some of the other flowers in my garden. Caterpillar Host Plants The hatching of their eggs was announced by the complete de-leafing of my two purple passionflower vines. Now I love the unique flowers purple passionflower vine, but … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies / backyard habitat, butterflies, wildlife

Updated on October 23, 2015

Butterflies from my garden

Gulf Fritillary recently hatched

Many of the flowering plants I grow in my yard attract butterflies by providing food for them or their larvae. It always makes me smile to see a butterfly flitting by or resting on a bloom. My neighbors probably think I'm crazy when they hear me say "hello, beautiful" to the butterflies, but they always seem like fancy ladies visiting my garden. I enjoy seeing them and I hope to attract more each year. These are photos of some of the … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Wildlife / backyard habitat, butterflies

Updated on September 1, 2016

Top 5 benefits of gardening with native plants

Swamp mallow

Native plants are adapted to the soil, temperature, rainfall, and fauna in the area in which they grow. As a result, they provide some benefits to the gardener and local wildlife that non-native plants bought from your local garden store may not. I like the look of native plants in my garden. I tend to mix them in with exotic plants and I end up with a pleasing hodgepodge of plants in my garden. Some native plants may look a little to “weedy” … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bees, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, native plants

Updated on April 13, 2016

Red Buckeye Flowers For Butterflies, Bees, and Hummingbirds

Red Buckeye Flowers

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) The bright red flowers of this native shrub are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies in early spring. In the southeast, it blooms in late March and early April and you can hear the hummingbirds buzzing around the blooms. The red buckeye always catches my eye when it is blooming. These tall shrubs are usually covered in red blooms. This weekend there was a good hatching of eastern black swallowtails in my … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Shrubs, Trees, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bees, butterflies, flowers, hummingbirds, native plants, part shade, spring, spring flowers, wildlife

Updated on April 27, 2015

Rosepink (Sabatia angularis)

Rosepink, photo by Paul Jacobs

This beauty can be found growing in the majority of the United States. It is native to the eastern U.S. - as far east as Kansas and Illinois and down to New Mexico and north to Wisconsin. It is also native to Ontario, Canada. Its vibrant pink or white flowers bloom in July through September and are about 1 inch in diameter with 5 petals. The unique star-shaped center of the flower is yellow-green and outlined with a red border. Anthers on the … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / bees, butterflies, flowers, full sun, native plants, part shade, plant identification, propagation, propagation. wildflowers, Summer, wildflowers

Updated on April 6, 2015

False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve)

False Garlic - Nothoscordum bivalve

I love the flowers of false garlic, which bloom in large numbers, but as the blooms fade, the grass-like leaves are quite abundant. I prefer not to have them in my flower beds, but I leave it blooming in the lawn and will not cut the grass until the blooms are done. It blooms in early spring in sunny locations with well-drained soil. Plant Description Also known as crow poison, Nothoscordum bivalve is a perennial flowering plant that grows … [Read more...]

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

Updated on September 19, 2016

Cutleaf Coneflower: Rudbeckia laciniata

Cutleaf Coneflower

Native to North America, this tall flowering perennial in the Asteraceae family makes a statement in my garden. Not only is it a prolific bloomer, but it also attracts all sorts of insects – bees, butterflies, and other insects. With a height of almost 6 feet, it towers around the base of the sycamore that I have it planted around. The leaves of this plant are highly lobed, making it look like the leaf has been “torn” – hence the source of the … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / backyard habitat, bees, butterflies, flowers, full sun, native plants, part shade, plant identification, Summer, wildflowers

Updated on March 29, 2017

Echinacea species – Flowering plants for bees, butterflies, and birds

Butterflies and bees just love coneflowers in the genus Echinacea. You are probably familiar with purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), but there are many cultivars now available in a variety of colors: red, pink, white, orange, yellow, cream, green, and gold. There are even Echinacea flowers with double blooms. Echinacea is native to the central and eastern United States and can be found growing in prairies, fields, and even in open woods. … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bees, birds, butterflies, fall, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds, native plants, Summer

Updated on March 29, 2017

Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies with Bee Balm (Monarda spp)

Purple bee balm

If you’re looking for a native, perennial plant to add to your garden that will be easy to care for, add great color to your garden, and also attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, bee balm (Monarda sp.) is a good choice. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees feed on the nectar of this flower. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Monarda has a special value to native bees. Bee balm is in the mint family; its leaves are … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bees, butterflies, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds, native plants, part shade, propagation, rooting, Summer, 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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Hi! I'm Kathy and I live in Georgia Zone 7B. I write about plants, gardening, and backyard wildlife.

Instagram post 2179522093891274815_5508165351 It was a beautiful day to be outside. I’m thankful for the sunny skies and warmer temps
Instagram post 2156262241194992517_5508165351 Even in fall when these hydrangeas are on the way out, they are beautiful as they dry, creating a stunning display of flower heads to last until winter. 
#hydrangealove #hydrangeas #landscapingideas #gardening
Instagram post 2154552035096381415_5508165351 Hope you have an awesome Monday! #butterflies #gulffritillary
Instagram post 2132203575273811702_5508165351 Happy Friday!
Instagram post 2131633902312474051_5508165351 Picked a few more Cherokee purple and pink heirloom tomatoes tonight. Hope my neighbors like tomatoes 
#tomatoes #homegrowntomatoes #vegetablegarden #containergardening
Instagram post 2130915325938699175_5508165351 Lots and lots of tomatoes! I’m picking them a little early to beat the birds to them. #tomatoes #homegrowntomatoes #vegetablegarden #vegetablegardening #containergardening
Instagram post 2119305956398581610_5508165351 Beautiful fan flower (Scaevola aemula) can take the heat of August days and still look good. This one is quite stunning in a planter with well-draining soil.

#fanflower #flowerstagram #flowergardening #flowersofinstagram #gardening #containergardening
Instagram post 2116336925517538899_5508165351 So much beauty in the pitfall trap of this pitcher plant 
#carnivorousplants #carnivorousplant #pitcherplants
Instagram post 2114967000634857911_5508165351 Beautiful orchids from the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The orchid room is my favorite spot in the gardens 
#orchids #atlantabotanicalgardens #flowerstagram #flowersofinstagram
Instagram post 2112799992384089687_5508165351 Visited this beautiful lady at the Atlanta botanical gardens today 
#atlantabotanicalgardens #flowerstagram #flowergardening #flowers
Instagram post 2110686617202179236_5508165351 One of the other varieties is coming in. I think they are brandywine pink heirlooms. Haven’t tasted them yet but I’m looking forward to it.

#tomatoes #homegrowntomatoes#vegetablegarden #vegetablegardening #containergardening
Instagram post 2109896313440176932_5508165351 So incredibly delicious - Cherokee purple tomatoes 
#homegrowntomatoes #homegrownveggies #containergardening #vegetablegarden #vegetablegardening
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