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...]
Colorful Shade Container Garden Part I
If you've got shade but still want color, here is an example of how to add color to your shade gardens in containers. Read this earlier post for suggestions of plants with colorful leaves or flowers that can be used in shade gardens. Container 1: Coleus, ferns, heuchera, and impatiens This pot contains coleus, heuchera, ferns, and impatiens. Here are some photos of the individual plants. Red and green coleus. Coleus come in many … [Read more...]
Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
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...]
Red Buckeye Flowers For Butterflies, Bees, and Hummingbirds
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) The bright red flowers of this native shrub are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies in early spring. In the southeast, it blooms in late March and early April and you can hear the hummingbirds buzzing around the blooms. The red buckeye always catches my eye when it is blooming. These tall shrubs are usually covered in red blooms. This weekend there was a good hatching of eastern black swallowtails in my … [Read more...]
False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve)
I love the flowers of false garlic, which bloom in large numbers, but as the blooms fade, the grass-like leaves are quite abundant. I prefer not to have them in my flower beds, but I leave it blooming in the lawn and will not cut the grass until the blooms are done. It blooms in early spring in sunny locations with well-drained soil. Plant Description Also known as crow poison, Nothoscordum bivalve is a perennial flowering plant that grows … [Read more...]
Butterweed – Mississippi Wildflower
Every spring a common Mississippi wildflower, a patch of Butterweed, shows up in my lawn. They come up in the same spot every year, and I just mow around them until they are done blooming. In combination with Philadelphia fleabane which also blooms at this time, they make a pretty landscape. Butterweed is in the Aster family, so they flowers resemble small yellow daisies and they cluster at the top of the stem. The stem is hollow and has a … [Read more...]
Irises
Irises are very low maintenance and make a nice addition to the spring garden. There are so many varieties, you can find the right one for your type of soil and for your tastes. These are just a few from my garden. [GARD] … [Read more...]
Forsythia: A Shrub for Early Spring Color
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...]
Daffodils from the garden
The daffodils were so beautiful this year, I just had to share the photos I took. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
What flower will you plant? It’s National Plant a Flower Day
Had enough of winter? Why not plant a flower? If you’re looking forward to spring, this is the day for you. It’s still early in the season, so you may have to plant your flower indoors. But if you’re lucky, you might be able to plant something outside. Here are my suggestions for some plants to get in the ground - they're some of my favorites. If you can’t find plants in your local garden center or greenhouse, then go ahead and start some … [Read more...]