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You are here: Home / Archives for native plants

Updated on March 24, 2021

Eastern Redbuds Provide Early Spring Food for Bees

Eastern redbud in full bloom

The pink-hued blooms of native eastern redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) are one of the first signs of color that I see in March. It’s a sure sign that spring is on its way and that more color will begin to pop up in the lawns and gardens in our neighborhood. After months of cold weather and the barren landscapes of winter, the hint of mauve and pink that begins to unfold along the branches and trunk of a redbud tree in late March is a welcome … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / native plants, spring flowers, trees Leave a Comment

Updated on April 22, 2020

This amazing native plant actually moves when you touch it

sensitive briar, a low growing trailing plant with bright small pink pompom type flowers

If you haven’t been introduced to this tiny plant with fuzzy little pink flowers, you are missing out. It might not be much to look at, but sensitive briar does something pretty amazing. It moves. By itself. No, really. Sensitive briar – Mimosa spp. There are several species in the genus Mimosa that share the common name sensitive briar or sensitive plant. There are nearly 20 species in the central and southern U.S. alone. I saw one when … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / full sun, native plants, spring flowers

Updated on April 13, 2020

What are all these trees dropping on the ground in Spring?

Sweetgum leaves, flowers, and gumballs

It’s springtime! The sun is shining, the flowers are starting to bloom, and pollen is coating everything, including our cars. Even the trees are getting in on the action. We have been finding all sort of tree seeds and tree reproductive parts laying on the ground around our neighborhood. From the brown stringy stuff to the tiny helicopters and funny little worm-shaped things, spring tree droppings are clogging the gutters of our streets. The … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Trees / native plants, spring, trees

Updated on May 21, 2019

My Favorite Plant-It-And-Forget-It Flower: Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan

If you're looking for a plant-it-and-forget-it type of plant that still produces lots of flowers AND attracts pollinators, then look no further than the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). This easy-to-grow wildflower is found throughout North America where you can find it alongside roads, in grassy openings and prairies, and even along the edge of forests. They bloom in mid to late summer through fall and vary in height from one foot to … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / backyard habitat, butterflies, flowers, native plants, plant identification, wildflowers

Updated on July 6, 2018

A Flash Of Pink From the Car Window

Pink Evening Primrose

Sundays after church, my dad would pile the family into the car and take us for a drive through the countryside just outside boundaries of the big city. We would see miles of delicate pink flowers lining the edges of the roads, the cracks in the sidewalk, and the banks of the hills. Pink evening primrose is one of the wildflowers of my childhood. Some people may call it a weed, but this plant holds a special place in my heart. When I see them … [Read more...]

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

Updated on April 10, 2018

The First Spring Wildflowers

Trillium cuneatum - Sweet Betsy

The first flowers to show their faces after winter are the native wildflowers. By mid to late-March, they are usually in full bloom, even after a quick dip in the temperatures. Choosing to incorporate native plants in to your garden is a great idea if you want hardy plants that can tolerate the local soil and weather conditions. Native plants are just that - perfectly adapted for the spot in which they naturally grow. Some of my favorite … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / moist soil, native plants, shade, spring

Updated on April 5, 2018

Early Spring Flowers for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies

Eastern tiger swallowtail on creeping phlox

This early spring sky is filled with butterflies! I am seeing so many eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucus) feeding on  colorful spring flowers that it has really brightened my days. Eastern tiger swallowtails are quite large - with a wingspan of 3 to 5.5 inches and with their bright yellow wings with blue spots, they put on quite a show. If you want to bring them to your garden, there are some early spring flowering plants … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Shrubs / butterflies, ground cover, native plants, shrubs, spring, spring flowers, vines

Updated on November 10, 2017

Coral Honeysuckle – Native Vine for Hummingbirds

Coral honeysuckle

Have you ever plucked a honeysuckle flower, turned it around and gently sucked the nectar from the tube-shaped back of the flower? If you grew up in the southeastern U.S., I bet you did. That taste of super-sweet honey nectar always makes me think of summer nights spent chasing fireflies and summer days spent running wild and free. Imagine my surprise when taking a class on native plants and shrubs in college that I learned that the yellow … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / bees, birds, butterflies, deer resistant, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds, moist soil, native plants, spring, spring flowers, vines

Updated on September 26, 2017

Obedient Plant – Physostegia virginiana

Obedient Plant - Physostegia virginiana

Deer-resistant AND it can grow in clay soil - what's not to love about obedient plants? Native plants are favorites of mine because they are particularly suited for the local conditions (soil, heat, drought or rain, clay soil) of my area. When I find those native plants with particularly pretty flowers, I add them to my hodgepodge of a garden. This particular plant was a bonus because it is native to Mississippi, it has lots of lovely pale … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / bees, butterflies, deer resistant, full sun, hummingbirds, moist soil, native plants, part shade

Updated on September 12, 2017

A Weekend Surprise: Butterfly Hatching

Recently emerged Gulf Fritillary butterfly

The Friday night air had hints of fall weather to come and Saturday morning, I opened the windows to my house, letting the fresh breeze in. I love being able to open my windows and let the fresh air blow through the house. This weekend was full of cool breezes and sunny weather. It was a perfect glimpse of the fall weather to come and a great time to get outdoors. We Mississippians give up being outdoors for much of August. We just can't stand … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies / backyard habitat, butterflies, native plants

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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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