container – Fine for Friday

Spring Bloomers 25 March 2022

The weather is now definitely warmer and the forecast shows no sign of frost. This past weekend, my wife and I enjoyed a trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast where we visited Bellingrath Garden in Theodore and Mobile Botanical Gardens.

At home, more ferns and bulbs are emerging. Of course, along with them, there are also signs of the weeds and invasives.

Each day, there are more tasks to be done. In the Mens Garden, we have begun laying out a circular brick paver area around the flag pole. We will be placing engraved brick markers there if all works out.

On to this week’s pics.

First, I have some beautiful red tulips from Bellingrath. They keep them in the nursery until they are blooming and then place them out in the Garden.

Second, this is an invasive Cherokee Rose. This was found at Bellingrath near the estuary. It is native to Asia but has naturalized rapidly here in the SouthEast. It is a climbing rose with stems that grow up to 20 feet. It may be beautiful but it is truly invasive.

Thirs and at home, the Florida anise has begun to show its red star shaped bloom. It is always a good sign of Spring. Being an anise, there is a licorice smell if you rub the leaves.

Fourth, here are some Jetfire daffodils that I have out in terra cotta containers in the back yard. The photo does not do justice to the bright orange trumpet portion of the bloom.

Fifth, the red stemmed lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina, the “Lady in Red” is emerging. It completely disappears after frost but reliably returns in the Spring.

Sixth and last here is a wild violet that has some blue and white in the bloom. It only appears in the spring but it is worth watching for. Also, the white false indigo, Baptisis alba is emerging in its asparagus like form for now until the blooms appear.

Happy gardening.

Don’t forget to look at the Propagator for his blog Six on Saturday.

A Winter Harvest

This is Titan parsley that I started from seed last summer. It is in a carport window box. It gets set back on cold nights but always snaps back in a few days. I have to remember that parsley is a biannual so it needs a new start every 2 years. It is so convenient to collect fresh parsley whenever you need it for cooking.

The winter still provides enough fresh items for cooking. Here are some other things that I keep growing around the yard in winter.

Here is some lemon thyme. As you can see, it does so well in the carport in winter. It is a great addition to home made soups. We save leftover chicken or roast to make soups in winter. We like the taste of the fresh thyme in those dishes.

This is Tuscan blue rosemary. It thrives in the garden. If I bump into it, it emits such a wonderful smell. I cut it back one third in the spring to keep it from getting too woody. We like to add it to soups, chicken dishes and pork dishes.

This is ginger. This is one called Big Kahuna Blue Ring. I grow it in a container so it can be brought indoors when the weather cools. Just cut a piece and you have fresh ginger for stir fry. It is a pretty plant in summer but I have not had it bloom. That is a pinecone you see. I cover the top of the soil in my containers with pinecones. That helps to keep the squirrels from digging in them.

This green is red sorrell. It does well in the carport windowbox all year. That microclimate is warm enough in winter and just enough shade for the summer. It adds nice color to a salad and has a pleasant taste.

This is some of my indoor nursery. The leopard lilies are not up yet but I have some dill started and a nice crop of snapdragon. I wanted to start the snapdragons last fall and put them out late fall but best laid plans did that idea in. These snaps are Madame Butterfly.

Remember I was inspired by #Six for Saturday thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com.

You will also enjoy this latest blog from Felder Rushing. Summer Mississippi flowers seen in England.