iris – Fine for Friday

Bees and Butterflies 11 April 2025

We have settled into spring weather. After a substantial rain a week ago, the plant growth bounded. The leaves on the hardwoods are out. The pine pollen and the hardwood catkins have all fallen. The sound of the bees is everywhere. More and more butterflies are fluttering by.

This is a wonderful time of the year.

I have some lovely blooms to show you today. I will post them on Six On Saturday tomorrow. Here is the link if you want to see them and many more.

https://gardenruminations.co.uk

The yellow flag iris is also called swamp iris and Louisiana Iris. It is Iris pseudocorus. Reliable near a source of water.

The bearded iris is white in a sea of blue iris. I need to move it.

The Tradescantia (spider wort) is a native here. It shows up in many places in my yard. So I let it. It is a welcome spring visitor.

The Phlomis fruticose is a reliable bloomer and tolerated the hot sun and dry conditions of our summers.

The lamb’s ear, Stachys sp also tolerates the sunny location where it resides. It looks its best here in mid spring.

The Dutch Iris ‘Picasso’ is a new favorite of mine. It is noticeable from a distance.

Hope you garden is bringing you joy and pleasure. Happy gardening!

Summer Solstice 21 June 2024

It happened yesterday. The summer solstice occurred yesterday afternoon about 4PM here in the Central Time Zone. Summer is here. Now the daylight hours will gradually ratchet back. It is hot here and it will remain so for the next 10 weeks.

I have been busy harvesting blueberries and tomatoes. I planted some beans from seed but they have yet to appear above the ground. My perennials are doing so well that they have crowded out the weeds which is a good thing. The blooming plants have really been impressive this year.

Tomorrow, as has become customary, I will be joining the Six on Saturday group and sharing my blog with 6 or so photos. Others from around the world will do the same. Come and see. Better still, come join us and share six of your own. Our host is Jim Stephens and here is the link to find the Six on Saturday site. https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

I started a lily garden 2 years ago and have grouped several species of the together. Here are two of my favorites at the moment. I started the Iris from seed given to me. The oriental lily was purchased on line. This patch can be seen out the dining room window.

The Peacock orchid is new to me. It is several weeks later than my other glads and not as tall. They are staying upright so far without need for staking. Yeah!

The phlox is in its third year and performing admirably.

The Tithonia is a pollinator magnet which really pleases me. It is a showy bloomer, sturdy upright and about 4 feet tall.

The next two photos are not from my garden but from a walk in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens yesterday.

The anemone is a native and striking alone or in the grouping in which I found it.

The skipper really stands out against the green leaf upon which it is resting. The skipper has love grass as a host plant of which there is plenty nearby.

I hope your weather allows you to enjoy the outdoors. I hope your garden is thriving and that your plans are working out.

Happy Gardening!

The Joy of Spring

The spring continues to bring new beauty every day. The leaf canopy is becoming full and the blooms continue to amaze. The summer perennials are showing signs of buds to thrill us soon.

This week, I visited a friend who has a marvelous garden and I will show you a few photos taken there.

I will be posting tomorrow morning with the Six On Saturday group. It is hosted by Jim Stephens at this link https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Every Saturday, gardeners from around the world share six photos of the day or six recent photos. Come visit. Post 6 of your own and join us.

From my own garden, here is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. It has its host plant, a tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) just behind my deck. This is the state butterfly of Alabama.

Next is an Itoh type peony “Bartzella”. It is a large magnificent bloom. It has sturdy stems that don’t need staking.

The Jerusalem sage, Phlomis fruticosa is in full bloom and is making quite a statement just at the end of the perennial bed.

The next three are from my friend’s garden. The foam flower is a delicate shade loving perennial. He was generous to share some seedlings with me and I have some now in my shade garden

The cinnamon fern is a favorite of mine. This is in the same family as the Royal fern. This fern has a notable reddish brown fruiting spike.

The Iris were in a dappled shade area near a shallow drainage canal and were very healthy looking.

Our weather continues to be magnificent and so enjoyable.

Happy gardening !

And now its April! 5 April 2024

It is the most beautiful spring here in the American South. The green world is advancing rapidly. There is the sound of leaf blowers and lawn mowers in the morning. The leaves are coming out and the field of vision is shrinking as a result. The summer perennials are stretching before blooming and the blooming shrubs are at full tilt.

The good news is that the shrub damage of 2 years ago from the December 22 deep freeze has been significantly repaired. This is most notable in my azaleas and tea olives. The knockout roses are also magnificent this spring.

Here are some photos for you to see.

The heucherella is a cross between heuchera and tiarella. It shows similarities to each of its parents. This one is called “Stoplight”.

My blueberries are loaded. Soon they will be ready to harvest. I have three bushes which last year yielded 4 liters. Easy to preserve, they just need to be washed and frozen. As you can see, this is a variety known as “Rabbit Eye”.

The rhododendron canescens is a native. It is also know as mountain azalea and Piedmont azalea.

The rhododendron shown here is an azalea. It looks similar to a native but I am not sure. I think it is a variety known as “Aroma”. These are hybrids developed in South Alabama near Mobile. These plants can grow 8 to 10 feet tall.

The roof iris is just beginning to bloom. It is Iris tectorum of the crested iris group. I just call it the white iris.

The rose was originally called Katy Road Pink because that was where it was found in Texas. It was found as a project led by Griffith Buck in the Earthkind group developed by Texas A & M University under his leadership. The rose is now known as Carefree Beauty and what a beauty it is.

Every Saturday morning, a group of world wide gardeners gather online to post 6 photos each from that morning or from the past week. Come join us to take a look or perhaps you would like to join and post 6 of your own. The link is https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Happy Gardening!

The Lion is Weakening 15 March 2024

The vernal equinox is approaching. It is inevitable. In truth, the lion that entered March is wearing. The warming temperatures and spring rains are having their expected effect. The emerging green and increasing blooms are a steadily increasing pleasure.

I have a large choice of photos for this week but I have six to show you. Every Saturday morning, a group posts there 6 photos of the week on the Six on Saturday meme. Come join us. Better yet, post a photo of your own.

Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk hosted by Jim Stephens.

Here are my 6 for this week.

This pink azalea was on my property when we moved here 40 years ago. It has reached for the sun since this is the northeast side of the house. It is magnificent this year.

I think the native iris in the center is Iris virginica.

The dwarf blue iris on the right was one of a group planted last fall.

The tassel fern on the left Polysticum polyblepharum is waking up and doing well.

The Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedantum) is also enjoying the welcome milder weather.

The final photo is Carolina spicebush also known as sweet shrub Calycanthus florida. Its most unusual bloom does have a sweet smell.

I hope you are experiencing now or soon the same explosion of spring growth in your yard.

Happy Gardening!

Late Fall Colors 8 Dec 2023

The weather is mild enough that blooms continue to appear. Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees but there is plenty of color in the shrubs. The garden tasks still are mainly trimming perennial stalks, raking leaves and other general clean up duties.

I still have colorful photos to show you. If you are interested come join us tomorrow morning for #Six on Saturday. This is able hosted by Jim Stephens. Here is the link if you need it. https://gardenruminations.co.uk

So, come along as we tour the garden.

These large hickory nuts are shellback I believe. They are golf ball size and they do cause some pain if it falls on you while you are in the yard.

The azalea leaves had such an usual bronze color. I had to photo this and I want you to notice the bloom bud beginning to form.

The oak leaf hydrangea has such a wonderful late fall display which will continue throughout the winter.

This garden nymph is how I feel about garden problems. Inexperienced but thoughtful.

The obedient plant seems to be on the final rung of blooms. The seed pods are still attracting birds.

The roof lily has been a complete surprise with this late bloom. It is certainly a pleasure to see.

We expect some rain this weekend. That should bring down the majority of the leaves. We have no frost in the forecast so I may have more blooms to show you next week.

Until then, Happy Gardening!!

It feels more like summer 26 May 2023

This week it is definitely warmer and the forecast is for little or no rain for the next 10 days. The sky is becoming a little hazy as the humidity rises. The grass is greening up and the lilies are blooming while the caladiums are breaking through the surface of the soil.

It feel more like summer this week.

School will be letting out soon so the traffic will thin. This is Memorial Day weekend so the city will be quieter as families will be headed to the Gulf Coast or lake houses for the unofficial first weekend of summer.

Here are my six for this week.

The walking iris (Neomarica sp) continues to put out blooms. I have it in a container since I do not think it will survive winter in the ground. It is a one day bloomer. It is very easy to propagate by layering the stalk with the spent bloom into a plastic pot.

The Lamb’s ear (Stahys sp) is able to survive the winter and then looks glorious in the spring. It has begun to bloom now which is also a very showy display. It makes a wonderful ground cover in sunny or part shade areas.

The Cocotte lilies are making a grand display now. The plant is about 3 feet tall with at least a dozen blooms on each stalk. It seems to able to support itself without any staking which is a bonus.

The bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is native to Alabama and will flower soon. This one has a shrub like habit.

This iris has a very deep blue color not captured in this photo.

The magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) has been blooming about a week. This bloom is nearly a foot across and the scent is lemon like. The tree itself is about 30 feet high and about the same across. It is set back on the property where the leaves don’t disturb the grass and other garden plants. The leaves are very dense and slow to degrade so they can be messy in the garden.

Thanks for joining me today and please return tomorrow on Six on Saturday where Jim Stephens is hosting our group. Gardners far and wide share their Six on Saturday blogs there. The link is https://gardenruminations.co.uk/category/six-on-saturday/

Happy Gardening!

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!!

Reds and Oranges 24 June 2022

It is now officially summer and the hot weather is continuing. Highs in the upper 90’s (35 to 38 C) here in the American South.

Adequate hydration and avoiding the mid afternoon sun is the order of the day. I am a morning person so I do not mind getting out early. It helps to finish any outdoor work after 5 pm to avoid the searing overhead sun.

The plants are faring much better than us mortals. Today, I am offering some red and orange hues for you.

The first is this Hibiscus coccineus. This is the scarlet rosemallow also known as the Texas star although it is not found naturally in Texas. The leaves resemble cannabis It is a hardy hibiscus native to the Southeast USA. The large blooms are really striking.

This begonia is the red Dragon Wing. It has been a winner for me in window boxes. It thrives in the heat and prefers to be a little bit dry. This year I propagated all I needed from a plant that I protected over the winter.

This crocosmia is the Lucifer cultivar. It is a hardy plant in the iris family and is very reliable. It does have a tendency to muscle out wards and needs to mind its manners every year.

Dahlias can be a little fickle in the heat but I have found one successful bed that gets less afternoon sun and I have been rewarded with reliable blooming.

This rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a reliable bloomer. It does have the red throat.

This shot of my backyard shows the progress I have made in this shady area. More on that in future blogs.

We are expecting some rain over the next few days which will lower the temps soon. That will be welcome.

Happy Gardening.

Don’t forget the Propagator who is the inspiration for this blog.