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You are here: Home / Archives for native plants

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 June 7, 2017

Scentless Mock Orange – When a Dogwood isn’t a Dogwood at All

Scentless mock orange flowers

The yard of the house I lived in two years ago was lined at the edge with these beautiful flowering shrubs. I had never seen them before and the neighbors told me they were English dogwoods. The flowers certainly resembled the bracts that make up the showy white part the dogwood tree, but something was a little off. After doing some online research, I discovered that this lovely woody shrub is none other than the scentless mock orange … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants, Shrubs / flowers, full sun, native plants, part shade, rooting, shrubs

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

Updated on May 16, 2016

Beautiful, Large Blooms of the Oak Leaf Hydrangea Shrub

Oak leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a favorite of native plant gardeners for many reasons. If you're looking for a shrub that is hardy, produces beautiful flowers, can grow in the shade, and has lovely fall colors, look no further. Here are just a few of the reasons why I love this shrub: #1 The large white flowers (in the shade!!) These flowers are quite simply gorgeous! They can get 6-10 inches long and have clusters of small white … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants, Shrubs / flowers, native plants, part shade, shrubs, spring flowers, Summer

Updated on April 11, 2016

Trees for Your Southern Landscape: A Walk through the Forest in Your Backyard

As gardeners, we usually think of flowering plants and vegetables when we think of our gardens, but trees and shrubs play an important role as well. Trees provide shelter, food, and nesting sites for wildlife. They help to store carbon dioxide and can reduce your electric bill for your house. Some trees bloom and some have beautiful patterned bark or leaves that change to a stunning hue in fall. Having a variety of trees that bloom or produce … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Trees / full sun, native plants, part shade, spring flowers, trees

Updated on December 13, 2019

The Wildlife Benefits of Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

Goldenrod (Solidago sp)

You've probably seen the bright yellow-gold blooms of goldenrod along roadsides, in ditches, or in fields. This plant is prevalent throughout most of the U.S., with the exception of some of the northwestern states. It's a plant with a lot of wildlife benefits. There are about 120 different species of goldenrod and most of them are native to the U.S. Goldenrod is common to prairies, grasslands, roadsides, and can even be found growing in … [Read more...]

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

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 May 21, 2019

Top 10 Flowering Plants that Beat the Heat

The summer heat has arrived and it’s pretty miserable outside. We’ve been under a heat advisory for the last week and a half. That means the temperature outside FEELS like over a hundred degrees with the high humidity. I’m watering in the early morning and sometimes at night, just to keep up with it, but the plants are still suffering. However, some of my plants are thriving, in spite of the high temperatures and dry weather. So if you’re … [Read more...]

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

Updated on September 2, 2016

Louisiana Irises

If you want an iris that has a lot of color but is very low maintenance, maybe the Louisiana iris if for you. The wide variety of colors and shapes in these irises make them very popular. This is a favorite of mine and I find the unique flowers gorgeous. The leaves are attractive, providing texture in the garden long after the blooms are gone. With such easy care, what’s not to love? There are five species of Louisiana irises. These are … [Read more...]

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

Updated on April 27, 2015

Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)

Common Blue Violet

The little purple-blue flowers of common blue violet are blooming all over my grass under the trees, where it stays moist for long periods of time. I always try to mow around them as much as I can so that I can enjoy the wildflowers. They bloom in early spring into early summer, from April to June and sometimes July. Common Blue Violet Plant Description This small plant grows about 4 inches high and can be as wide as 5 or 6 inches. It is … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants / erosion control, flowers, native plants, part shade, plant identification, propagation. wildflowers, spring, spring flowers, 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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