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 … [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 … [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 … [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. … [Read more...]
Pineapple Sage – A New Favorite in My Garden
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 … [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 … [Read more...]
