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...]
Fog Fruit – Mississippi Wildflower
I took this photo on a hot, steamy late August day on the banks of the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi. The name of this plant just makes me smile. Fog fruit - I can just picture the fog rolling in from the river and resting around this little plant. Plant Names The scientific name of this plant is Phyla lanceolata. Common names include fog fruit and lance leaf fog fruit. Appearance of Fog Fruit The tiny little rings of pale … [Read more...]
Stokes Aster – Beautiful and Blue
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...]
Scentless Mock Orange – When a Dogwood isn’t a Dogwood at All
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...]
Spotted Jewelweed: Touch-me-not plant
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...]
Beautiful, Large Blooms of the Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrub
Oakleaf 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 … [Read more...]
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...]
The Wildlife Benefits of Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
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...]
Top 5 benefits of gardening with native plants
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...]
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...]