1. I have three natives, one invasive, and two basics for this week. I'll start with the basics, or at least one of the yard basics for this area of the Southeast--lantana. Bees, butterflies, and even occasional hummingbirds visit it. The perennial plants below are very basic big box varieties purchased three years ago. The …
I'm starting this Saturday's post on Wednesday while waiting for hurricane Sally to throw some of her outer rain bands as far north in Alabama as Blount County. The projected track has fallen just south of here overnight, but this slow moving storm is having a devastating effect on the Gulf Coast. There are just …
1. This week's six begin with the flower in the featured image, Althea, or Rose of Sharon, or Hibiscus syriacus, whichever name you might prefer. I'm sure I have documented these blooms--even with bees--before, but this time I want to note the great variety of color of the flowers. There are many of these shrubs …
At this time of year my garden is essentially green, lots of shades of green, but essentially green because I rely so heavily on wildflowers for color. And most of the wildflowers have gone to seed by now. Fortunately, though, we have not entered a dry period in Alabama, so even though the temperatures have …
1. I've signed a temporary peace agreement with the sunflower seed eating squirrels and the nectar drinking raccoon this week. So, after sharing their profile photos below, I'll offer a quick rundown of what is blooming throughout the garden. Squirrel and raccoon thank The Propagator for providing the forum for making their food gathering skills …
The stem structure of Hairy Angelica (Angelica venenosa) with its compound umbels of multiple rays ending in secondary umbels of small five-petaled flowers just seemed perfect for the featured photo for Six on Saturday, the 4th of July--a little plant fireworks for everyone. I wrote about this native last June, but I find several more …
Five of this week's six are things that surprised me as I did some general clean up in the garden this week. The sixth is just something bright and cheerful. I'm sure you can find a more coherent set of entries by visiting the site of The Propagator, the hub of our Six on Saturday …
1. I'm going to start out immediately with my first entry, because I've been waiting for these North American natives to bloom for a couple of weeks now--and for a couple of reasons. I look for the black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) to bloom because they signal my birthday. I also am happy to see them …
This Saturday's six will be a quick rundown of what is blooming in the garden now. Most are natives; there are two notable exceptions of Asian import. 1. The first, and I do mean first, is the oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). It is the Alabama State Wildflower, and it is blooming generously throughout the garden …
