My first of today's six is a wonderful find--a gift of Mother Nature--and an absolute delight. But before going there, I want to direct readers to Jim Stephens', Garden Ruminations. Jim is the hub of our Six on Saturday bloggers, maintaining guidelines for taking part, and providing the space for comments and links to Saturday groups …
1. Today's six are all native azaleas. I am fortunate to have several Alabama natives that are truly native to my place at Highland Lake in Blount County, Alabama. These I did not plant; they have appeared on their own in wooded areas. In several cases, my contribution to their growth has been clearing area …
From time to time, a couple of my friends politely remind me to stand up straight --shoulders back, head facing ahead not down like I'm trudging through mud or snow. But if I did that, I'd miss lovely little plants like my six for today. In fairness to my friends, I do often walk like …
The weather here in Blount County, Alabama, remains wildly changeable--hot and windy to cold and wet in oddly rapid succession . Today, Friday, is one of those cold and rainy ones. It's a good thing I took a few photos yesterday because now just about everything is closed up and droopy. What I have for …
Finally the rain and clouds have cleared away from Blount County Alabama, but the cold and wind remain. Breezy and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 C) as I write. But there is sun and that makes it all much better. The patches of daffodils beginning to bloom throughout the garden and wooded area help considerably as …
After December freezes, the weather in Alabama has warmed up to more seasonable temperatures, but rains--actually severe storms--continue to plague the State. And so do rollercoaster temperatures. This past week, though, allowed some time to begin putting sections of the garden back in order. Although, I'm being very cautious . No pruning or removing of …
1. Leading up to this Saturday, climate chaos was the primary thing going on here in Blount County, Alabama. The high temperatures during November have ranged from the 80s to the 40s F. There have been very dry periods and very wet ones; on Tuesday evening 7 inches of rain fell in the area as …
Last week I noted that there is little flowering in the garden right now. And such is still the case. I also noted that while the leaves are changing, they are struggling to take on vibrant autumn colors. And such is still the case. Nonetheless, I was able to pull together six photos of leaves …
There is just not much blooming here at the lake. October is traditionally a dry--maybe the driest--month in Alabama, but this year is exceptional. The last measurable rain was 13 October. Before that we go back to 5 September, for less than half an inch, with 1.54 inches the day before. Autumn colors are more …
My six for this Saturday really date from 2 September and a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in South Africa, which advertises itself as "the most beautiful garden in Africa," and it might well be. One of its signature plants is the Mandela Gold bird of paradise (Strelitiza reginae), as foreshadowed in the featured …
After Eden 