garden – Page 4 – Fine for Friday

It is Spring 28 April 2023

Spring continues to advance and here in the American South, green is the predominant color. The leaf canopy is filling and lawns are growing. Of course, that also means the sound of lawn mowers and leaf blowers.

The songbirds are in full throat and the adults are very busy foraging to find food for their fledglings.

I have been busy this week installing new plants that I purchased at the plant sales which are plentiful this week and last. The irises are blooming and the lilies are showing signs that they will bloom soon.

Here are this weeks photos.

Upper left is an ox-eye daisy planted near the front driveway. It gets plenty of sun and has two mates nearby. They are all showing out right now.

Upper center is a daylily ‘Stella d’Oro’. Although the blooms are not big, it will continue to bloom through the spring and summer months.

Upper right is a clematis which grows over the arch at the entrance to the garden. It is a brilliant white which of course the camera does not capture in its full glory. I do not know the cultivar. It has a purple mate which has not yet appeared.

Lower left is a new heuchera that I purchased yesterday at a local plant sale. This cultivar is ‘Delta Dawn’. I am working on a new section of my shade garden where I have planted several hostas over the last few years. This year I am adding two heucheras, a Godzilla painted fern and another heuchera. The soil is more than adequate so I am hopeful that will look very good by the end of the summer.

Lower center is a nemesis in these parts. It is Chinese privet, Ligustrum intense, which is an imported shrub. It has escaped activity and dominates edges of woodlands. I am showing you the blooms which have a very intoxicating fragrance. The foliage is bright green. For this reason, many people like having them in their yards. The seeds germinate readily so that I pull dozens of these seedling every month.

Lower right is a roof iris, Iris tectorum. It is doing well in partial shade and tends to naturalize which is what I had hoped for.

Our weather is very mild this week and we have had adequate rain. It has been excellent gardening weather.

I hope you are gardening or laying out your plans for the future.

Join the Six on Saturday crowd tomorrow. It is hosted by Jim Stephens and can be found at this link. https://gardenruminations.co.uk. Check out gardens from around the world.

Its Finally Spring 7 April 2023

We are having mild spring weather today in the American South. As you can see if you are watching the Masters, it is. sunny today but a front is arriving later today and Saturday which will bring thunderstorms and rain over the next 48 hours.

The garden is advancing and the gardening duties are multiplying.

Here are the photos for this week.

Photo#1

This beautiful pink rose is known as Katy Road Pink. It was first identified in rural Texas as being very tolerant of hot and dry temps. This photo does not do it justice.

Photo #2

This is a native azalea which bloomed this year for the first time. I believe it is the native flame azalea.

Photo #3

This little blue beauty is the spiderwort. Tradescantia virginiana. It can be a little weedy but it is a welcome spring sight.

Photo #4

This is a firecracker plant which is loved by the hummingbirds. I have some early hummingbirds coming to feed at it the last few days. Russell sp is the scientific name. Species may be equisetformis. I am sorry the bloom is not in focus.

Photo #5

This is a mysterious iris. The mystery is that I cannot find the name.

Photo #6

This is another native azalea which has bloomed this year for the first time. This is a mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens.

Photo #7

This is another native iris called the southern blue flag or Iris virginica for your pleasure.

I hope you get a chance to watch the Masters this weekend. From what I have seen so far, the grounds are in immaculate condition.

Check out our Six on Saturday group tomorrow hosted by Jim Stephens. There will be gardens from around the world. This is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk/

Happy gardening!!

Its Finally Spring 24 March 2023

The calendar says that its spring now. Nature has agreed and so the last few days have been beautiful with warm sunny days. Since we have had sufficient rainfall, the plant world is definitely making steady progress.

The effects of the hard freezes this winter have definitely left their mark. However, signs of new leaves and growth are steadily appearing.

The first picture today is a daffodil which I think is Poet’s Narcissus. It has a beautiful shade which may be orange.

Poet’s Narcissus

The next photo is also a daffodil. It is a yellow trumpet type but I have lost the name.

Daffodil

The third photo is a yellow flag iris. They are very reliable and so noticeable with the bright yellow color.

Yellow flag iris Iris pseudocorus

The next photo is of the blooms of a sweet shrub Calycanthus floridus. It is also known as Carolina allspice. This is the second year for this shrub which a friend let me dig from his yard. It is a native.

Carolina allspice.

This azalea bloomed so well this year despite the cold of December. It is in a protected spot which helped. It is of the variety known as Kurume. They are compact with relatively small flowers. Notice the Lenten roses just in front of this which are still blooming.

Kurume azalea

The next photo is a climbing hydrangea or Hydrangea Barbara which is native to Alabama. This is its fourth year and I am hoping it will bloom this year. It has climbed about 20 feet up a water oak.

Native Alabama climbing hydrangea

The final photo I have for you is a Zizia aurea or Golden Alexander. It blooms in late winter so we will not see the blooms much longer. You can see the golden colored blooms. The white blooms nearby are from a Dewberry which is also an Alabama native.

I hope your gardening is progressing like mine. If you live in colder climates, I hope you are anticipating the coming of spring.

Join our Six on Saturday group tomorrow hosted by Jim Stephens.

You can find it at this link. https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Happy gardening! See you next week.

Late Winter 3 March 2023

We have had very mild weather this week with ample rain. A storm front came through today and it was very lion like. The sun broke through after the blustery air mass had passed through. The wind brought down some some branches and pine cones mostly.

The green sign of new growth continues to strengthen and more blooms are emerging. The yellow green of pine pollen is also appearing so nasal passages beware.

The photos are becoming easier to obtain. Here are my efforts for this week.

First is this native violet, the common blue violet Viola sororia. This is a great ground over

This is a native trillium. Looks like Little Sweet Betsy or Trillium cuneatum. It is a spring ephemeral so I am happy to see it again.

Third is the bloom of a pearl bush or Exochorda so. It is usually a prolific bloomer but it is stunted from the winter cold snap.

The fourth is a Sedum. The cultivar is ‘Autumn Joy’. This is a welcome sight. I thought it would be ruined by the deep freeze at Christmas.

The fifth is a dewberry or Ruby’s flagellates. It is a low growing perennial that acts like a vine. It can be a nuisance but the flowers are beautiful. yes, it is a blackberry and raspberry relative

This last is a redbud or Cercis canadensis. It is a reliable harbinger of spring. The arching branches and abundant blooms are very showy. And yes it is a lavender shade and not red.

Hope the weather is changing or soon to change in your area. If not, join us tomorrow for the Six on Saturday gang with photos of their gardens from around the world. Hosted by Jim Stephens and here is the link.

https://gardenruminations.co.uk/

Happy gardening!!

Five for Friday 17 Feb 2023

We are about to have a freeze tonight. The low in the morning will be 28 degrees F according to the forecast. We have had a lot of rain yesterday (2 inches). The temps are forecast to be in the upper 70’s next week and probably the next 10 days. I am feeling the need to seriously think about some hardy plants.

I did plant some sweet peas last week and I hope they survive the night temps. My onion transplants are standing straight and I am optimistic about them.

More and more green is beginning to appear but not a lot of blooms yet other than the daffodils. Next week should be one for more blooms.

First, here is an amaryllis well out of the ground. I cannot say what cultivar it may be since these are generally those we had for the holidays which I plant in the ground each spring.

Second, here is the colorful bark of a crape myrtle ‘Natchez’. It blooms white in the middle of spring but the winter bark color is the winner for me.

Third, this a noticeable frond of a Southern Shield Fern. These are well established now after 3 seasons and I expect a generous clump of them this year. They are deciduous but they do tolerate a fair amount of sun which is wonderful during the hot days of summer.

Fourth, this is Iris virginica. It just emerged last week and I am grateful. It will be a few weeks before it blooms. The common name is Blueflag Iris.

Fifth and final for today is an oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia. It is a hardy native perennial with the noticeable red bark in the winter. Those are my best for today.

Join Jim for Six on Saturday tomorrow here. Gardeners from around the world will be joining to update us on the latest in their gardens.

Until then, happy gardening!!

Five for February 3 Feb 2023

Its a sunny day which is especially delightful since we have had a run of gloomy rainy days. We are storing up the rain now since we can expect dry hot weather in the summer.

The plant world is showing more evidence of emergence aided by the increased duration of sunlight. I am seeing more daffodils, some tulip magnolias and even a few early azalea blooms.

It is becoming easier to find 6 photos to feature on this blog.

First is a glorious cluster of Lenten roses which are a brilliant white.

Second is a smaller cup daffodil which is in a cluster as you can see. I am unsure of the name. The leaves on the ground are mostly water oak. This spot is mostly in morning sun.

Third is the early buds of blueberry. This is Vaccinium ashei which are rabbiteyes. I think is the cultivar ‘Tifton’. I had to put a glove behind them before the iphone camera would focus.

Fourth is an asparagus fern coming to life. This is Asparagus sp which is not a true fern. It is perennial in our Zone 8A.

Fifth is a heucherella which I have in a container in a mostly shade area. This is exciting since it looked to be wiped out by the Christmas flash freeze.

Sixth is Rudbeckia triloba or Brown eyed susan which is a native to our area. I plantd these last year in a container. They were severely affected by the flash freeze at Christmas but I am proud to say they are making a comeback.

I have one more photo to show today. We have a number of feral cats in our neighborhood. Two days ago we heard a lot of noise from under the hood of my wife’s car. These were the culprits.

They were right on top of the battery. By size and movement, we think they are three weeks old. The neighbor is keeping them as she has been feeding the mother. The kittens will go to a shelter as will the mother.

Join us for Six on Saturday tomorrow hosted by Jim Stephens here. Check out gardens from all the world.

Happy gardening!!

Five for Friday 27 January 2023

In Alabama, the days are lengthening and more signs of spring growth are appearing. There are still some frosty nights this week but just a few degrees. I have started some seeds but mostly these are some herbs and some perennials.

Today, my photos are from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens as well as my own yard and the Vestavia Hills Mens Garden

This first photo is of some winter interest. This is a bank of muhly grass with limelight hydrangeas in the background near the conservatory. This was very noticeable on a sunny day this week at the Botanical Gardens. Notice how the hydrangeas keep the petals over the winter.

The second photo is of a hardwood woodland at the Gardens filled with King Alfred daffodils. This faces east and warms early in the day as the sun rises.

The third photo from the Botanical Gardens is Spirea thunbergii which may be called Thunberg spirea. It is also on an east facing bank. These tiny blossoms are brilliant white. I did not notice a fragrance but there must be to attract early insect pollinators.

Next is a photo from my yard of a large cupped daffodil which I think is Orange Sunset. It was in some shade when I took this picture so its brilliant colors cannot be appreciated.

This next phots is also from my yard showing the first signs of recovery in my tea olives Osmanthus fragrans. I am very pleased to see this.

The next photo is from the Mens Garden. Here is a beautiful violet hellebore. This was a donation so I do not know the cultivar. It was shyly drooping a little so I raised it up to take the photo.

Another from the Mens Garden is an emerging fiddlehead of a Southern Shield fern Thelypteris kunthii. They are deciduous and a little agressive but they are a great groundcover in woodland areas and even in sunny locations.

Finally, here is also some sign of life in an oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia. These Alabama natives are very hardy and are a welcome sign of the coming spring season.

I hope your garden is also beginning to show increasing signs of life. If you are able, join us Saturday morning for the Six on Saturday group. See gardeners from around the world post photos of their gardens.

Jim Stephens is our host and you can find it here.

Until next time.

Five for Friday 20 Jan 2023

It has been a month now since the record cold here in Birmingham. The weather has been seasonal since, which means warm days with rain and sunny days with near freezing temps. A close watch on the garden continues to reveal many hopeful signs that plants are entering their late winter/early spring phase. There is even a daffodil bloom to feature for this post.

First, is the first sign that the Southern Shield Ferns (Thelypteris kunthii) are beginning to rise out of the ground. There is the characteristic fiddlehead.

Second, is a chrysanthemum. There are increasing numbers of newly emerging growth stalks. These are hardy mums and they bloomed prolifically last fall.

Third is a photo of Shasta daisy awakening. It took a significant hit but prospects of a good summer bloom are increasing. This is the ‘Becky’ cultivar.

Fourth is Stoke’s Aster (Stokesia laevis). It seems to be well recovered and in better condition than the Shasta. It is a native which explains the better response.

Next are two other natives. The resurrection fern which always freshens up after a rain and the leatherwood (Dirca palustris). The leatherwood is now 5 years old and this is the first bloom that I have seen on it.

Finally, the prize goes to the first daffodil. I am unsure of the cultivar but it may be ‘Ice Follies’.

We will have rain this weekend with continued seasonal temps. The hellebores are making good progress so I hope to have photos of them next week.

In the meantime, tomorrow, wander over to the Six on Saturday forum and see gardens from all over the world as our group shares. Jim Stephens hosts our group here and it is a pleasant place to gaze as you enjoy a morning beverage.

Until next time, Happy Gardening.

Five for Friday 14 Jan 2023

Here in Birmingham which is in Central Alabama of the American South, it is blustery and cool today. We are at the high for the day early this afternoon and it is 39F or 4C whichever pleases you the most. In addition, it is gray and dismal.

Severe storms came through at mid day yesterday and brought with them strong winds and some tornadoes. There was a lot of damage in Selma about 75 miles to our south and several people were killed in Autauga County also to our south.

Selma, Alabama at the home of a good friend’s relative. It is right across the street from the historic Sturdivant Hall which was spared.

Sturdivant Hall

In our location, we were spared the damaging storms. We will be warming up next week, although the expectation is for rainy weather.

There are an increasing signs of spring for you today.

First, I have to show you the blooming geranium in my greenhouse. It is so red that it blurred the picture.

Second, I have two hellebores. The first is a white which is just emerging.

Lenten Rose

The next is a lavender pink color. When the bloom emerges, it is more erect so that you can easily see its face. I do not know the cultivar. It may be Pippa’s Purple.

The third is the culinary ginger which I keep indoors. It thrives outdoors in the summer. It is great to just take a segment for cooking..

The fourth is the Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’. It is just beginning to peak above ground. As you can imagine from its naming, it is red.

Crocosmia

The fifth is daffodils beginning to appear. I think these are Barrett Browning.

Daffodil

Finally, sixth, this is a camellia bud that looks like it will emerge soon. This is Professor Charles Sargeant.

Camellia

Join us on Six on Saturday https://gardenruminations.co.uk/ hosted by Jim Stephens and see the photos of gardeners from around the world.

Happy gardening!

Five for Friday 6 January 2023

#Vestavia #VHMensgarden

Here in the American South, I have had time to assess the damage from the Christmas freeze. It is significant but there are definitely signs of hope.

The herbaceous annuals and perennials are showing signs of recovery. The shrubs have a lot of leaf damage but the horticulture folks tell us to wait until spring growth before pruning. That makes a lot of sense. The hope is that we will still have the beautiful spring flowering from the azaleas. The camellias are expected to bloom soon. We shall see. Short range, the weather looks favorable for plant growth.

Today, I am showing some before and after photos.

First, these are holly ferns. Fingers crossed here since they are favorites.