Blues and purples are the colors of fall in my garden with an occasional splash of red. Mostly, it's the salvias putting on a show. I do have a few mums that bloom each year, but I like to focus on those plants that bloom in fall that are a little less common. This October, we have seen temperatures fluctuate from the mid-80's in the day to one night that flirted with freezing temperatures. Fall is always a mix of weather here in Mississippi - … [Read more...]
A Spot of Yellow: Native Partridge Pea Butterfly Host Plant
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...]
The Beauty of Decay in the Winter Garden
The last couple of weeks the weather has been down right cold! Well, for Mississippi standards it was cold. Highs in the 20's and lots of wind - that always makes me curl up in lots of blankets and not want to go outdoors. Brrrr! But the cold front passed us by and now the temperatures are back up to a pleasant 65 degrees. My kind of winter weather. I ventured back outside to walk through my yard and look at any of the remaining plants that … [Read more...]
Fall Asters: Purple Blooms for Bees, Butterflies, & Beauty
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...]
My 2016 Fall Planter
I'm not cheap, I'm frugal. When it comes to my garden, that means I often repurpose plants from one planting or flower bed into another one. There's nothing wrong with that, right? In this case, I repurposed a croton from a container garden that had long outgrown its original pot and mixed it in with some heliconias that I purchased on sale with an existing fern and calla lily. The only new plant was the Ixora with the orange blooms. I know … [Read more...]
The 5 Best Southeastern Trees for Fall Color
Many of our Southeastern forests are dominated by oaks and pines, which don't have much color in the fall. If you want vivid fall color in your backyard, these are some of the trees that shine. 1. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) With so many cultivars to choose from, you'll be able to find the right size, shape, and color for your backyard. In the fall, some Japanes maple leaves turn gold, some turn bright red, and others orange or other … [Read more...]
Get Fall Color & Butterflies with Pineapple Sage
I attended our local garden show last year and was thrilled to find they had some great butterfly and hummingbird plants for sale. One of the plants I purchased was pineapple sage (Salvia elegans). First, I have to say I’m in love with all salvias. They grow really well and are so popular with hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. And did I mention they are beautiful? That’s the perfect combination for my garden. Attracts Butterflies This … [Read more...]
December Garden Visitors
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...]
The Hummingbirds are Coming! Fall Migration of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds
The fall migration of hummingbirds is underway, so you might be seeing more of the tiny birds in your garden this month if you live in the Southeast. Male hummingbirds are the first to migrate, followed by immature males and females. So keep an eye out for that flash of a ruby throat and keep your ears open for the buzz of their wings. This lovely little bird was visiting me this week during lunch time. He landed just about a foot and a half … [Read more...]
Bear’s Foot or Hairy Leafcup
Native to the eastern United States, up to Michigan, and across to Texas and Kansas, this perennial plant can be found in forest gaps, along the edges of fields and forests, in thickets, bottomlands, and grasslands. It can grow in full sun or part shade and in a wide range of soil moisture conditions. Plant Description Bear’s foot (Smallanthus uvedalius (L.) Mack. Ex Small (synonym: Polymnia uvedalia)) can grow to be eight to ten feet tall. It … [Read more...]
