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You are here: Home / Archives for shrubs

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...]

/ Butterflies, Shrubs / butterflies, ground cover, native plants, shrubs, spring, spring flowers, vines

July 10, 2017

Buttonbush for Wet Soils and Cool Blooms!

Common buttonbush flower with skipper butterfly

Nature produces some interesting shapes and this is very true for the flower of the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Common buttonbush (or buttonwillow) produces these crazy looking little spiky ball-like blooms of compound florets. They’re pretty cool, actually, and both bees and butterflies agree. I caught this skipper butterfly feeding on a buttonbush flower while hiking in Choctaw Lake Recreation Area in the Tombigbee National Forest … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants, Shrubs / butterflies, flowers, moist soil, native plants, shrubs

June 3, 2016

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...]

/ Flowers & Plants, Shrubs / flowers, full sun, native plants, part shade, rooting, shrubs

May 16, 2016

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...]

/ Flowers & Plants, Shrubs / flowers, native plants, part shade, shrubs, spring flowers, Summer

March 17, 2014

Forsythia: A Shrub for Early Spring Color

Forsythia

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) is a non-native, deciduous, woody ornamental shrub. It provides only little wildlife benefit, but it is good for soil retention and a privacy barrier and is a fast grower. It is an early spring bloomer and provides bright yellow color to the landscape when there isn’t much other color. Flowers are profuse and bell-shaped, appearing in March through April before the leaves begin to grow. Flowers form on the … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants, Shrubs / full sun, shrubs, spring

December 16, 2013

Plant American Holly for Winter Color and Wildlife Food

If you want to add some color to your winter garden and provide food and shelter for songbirds and other wildlife at the same time, American Holly (Ilex opaca) is a good choice. The berries form in October and persist throughout the winter when many other food sources are gone. Its leaves are evergreen and form a dense canopy. The bright red berries are a nice colorful addition to the winter landscape and they make wonderful holiday … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants, Shrubs, Trees, Wildlife / berries, native plants, shrubs, wildlife

September 6, 2013

American Beautyberry: Callicarpa americana

Found throughout the southeast, American beautyberry is a perennial native shrub that produces bright purple berries. The berries which appear in late summer and fall add a spot of bright color in shady areas. The summer flowers are somewhat inconspicuous, but can add some lavender color to your garden. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. Beautyberry grows rather quickly and generally grows well in part-shade but can also be planted … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants, Shrubs, Wildlife / backyard habitat, berries, native plants, plant identification, shrubs

About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Georgia Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With more than 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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