It was dark, warm, and humid last night when I opened my door to take my dog, Charlie, for a walk. We had to be careful not to slip on the wet cement as he went racing out to sniff the ground. We walked the block to the sound of insects and frogs singing their little hearts out. I love when we get a few warm 60-degree days in the middle of winter. It brings out a chorus of frogs singing – like a promise of spring to come. As we headed back … [Read more...]
How to Survive the Winter: For Gardeners
It’s gray, foggy, and drizzling outside – a perfect Mississippi winter day. When winter arrives, I curl up on the couch, tuck in the extra blankets, close my eyes and fervently wish I was somewhere tropical. I wish, I wish, I wish! Yep, still here. The only thing that gets me through these yucky days when I can’t be outside are my indoor plants. They suffer neglect in the spring and summer, but in the winter, they get all my … [Read more...]
The Beauty of Decay in the Winter Garden
The last couple of weeks the weather has been down right cold! Well, for Mississippi standards it was cold. Highs in the 20's and lots of wind - that always makes me curl up in lots of blankets and not want to go outdoors. Brrrr! But the cold front passed us by and now the temperatures are back up to a pleasant 65 degrees. My kind of winter weather. I ventured back outside to walk through my yard and look at any of the remaining plants that … [Read more...]
December Garden Visitors
Our December weather has been unusual this year. It took a long time before our first freeze and then we've had a couple of days here and there that were in the 70's. But, as always, after warm winter weather, a bad storm follows. Because of the bouts of warmer temperatures, I've had some fun visitors to my garden that we wouldn't normally see in late fall and early winter. This guy greeted me at my door last night. I left the light above … [Read more...]
Cross Vine: Bignonia capreolata
As a native plant, cross vine has a big advantage - it's easy to grow, hardy, tolerates the heat, has a low water requirement, and can grow in both full sun and part shade. It's in the same family as trumpet creeper (Bignoniaceae) and the flowers are very similar - trumpet-shaped, 2" long tubular and bright orange-red/yellow. Cross vine is native to the Southeast from Florida to Texas and up to West Virginia: Zones 6-9. My first encounter with … [Read more...]
Winter Garden Project: Count Birds at Your Feeder This Winter to Help Track Bird Populations
Want something fun to do while your garden is sleeping this winter? How about signing up for Project Feeder Watch? If you live in North America, you can participate in collecting data that helps scientists determine changes in bird distribution and abundance. This is a great way to teach your kids about scientific data collection and bird identification. You just need some bird feeders, seed, and to sign up. Project FeederWatch Project Feeder … [Read more...]
Plants that provide food and shelter in fall and winter for wildlife
If you’d like to see more wildlife in your garden in winter, be sure to include plants that provide food and cover in the fall and winter. Some of these plants are evergreen, providing necessary cover, and some have fruits, seeds, or nuts that persist into winter. Here are some (mostly native) plant suggestions that can be used in Zone 7b and throughout much of the southeast. Trees Apples (Malus spp.) American beech (Fagus … [Read more...]
Bringing Herbs Indoors for Winter Cooking
Having fresh herbs to add to your cooking in the winter is a great boon – you just can’t beat that fresh flavor. Now is the time to plan so that you can enjoy the flavor throughout the winter. Depending on where you live, some of your herbs will survive outdoors even in winter. My herb beds are partially protected by a tree, so they have been known to overwinter just fine, especially in milder winters. But just to be safe, it’s a good idea to … [Read more...]