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...]
Of Ferns and Fiddles – No Hostas Here
The white-tailed deer population in Mississippi is pretty high at around 1.75 million. I think about a third of those are in my neighborhood. It certainly seems like there are that many when they start munching on my garden plants. They leave nothing but the roots. Hostas are like deer candy. I had several hosta plants that I was quite fond of and then one morning, they were gone. The only evidence they had existed was a bit of hosta stubble … [Read more...]
Coleus: Colorful Shade Plants Easily Grown From Seed or Cuttings
Coleus are known for their colorful leaves and are a great addition to shaded or part-sun areas of your garden. There are some cultivars that are more tolerant of sun, so be sure to read the labels on your selected varieties. Here is a list of some of the sun-loving varieties. Cultivars can have wavy leaves, smooth edged leaves, or serrated leaves and come in colors from pink, green, chartreuse, cream, orange, red, yellow, maroon, pink, … [Read more...]