native plants – Page 2 – Fine for Friday

Corner Garden Fountain 31 Oct 2025

We have had rain. Enough rain to replenish the water table and to refresh the plants. Enough rain to end the doomsday talk. I am grateful.

The days shorten and the temps are much cooler. Despite this, it is still very pleasant and today there is plenty of sunshine. My garden tasks consist of taking perennial cuttings, ready my tender plant protection and order seeds and bulbs.

Last week, I went with a group of my gardening nerd buddies to Atlanta which is a 3 hour drive away. We visited a plant collector’s property where we were wowed by the variety. He took us to a plant nursery of which he is founder and I found some perennials and succulents which I could not resist.

Today’s photos concentrate on the Corner Garden that I manage. After a year of fundraising, we finally were able to finance the renovation of the fountain. We also fall cleaned and serviced the shed. There are a few plant photos but most are an indulgence that I hope you will grant me.

The fountain is in its glory with cascading water. It has some sloping rock additions on either side. There is night lighting and underwater lighting for the pool.

I may have shown the ginger lilies this fall but they are more abundant since the rainfall.

A view from the other side of the fountain shows the stone work. It also shows the Flag Iris that will bloom in April.

The left facing view show the beautiful swamp sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius). They willl bloom until frost which is at least 10 days away.

The shed was given a cleaning today. It needed it. All cutting tools were sharpened. All surfaces were wiped clean. All wood handles were lightly sanded and treated with linseed oil. That is a battery operated lawnmower which was gifted to us recently.

The Hare’s Foot Inkcap appeared after the recent rains. It is a newcomer to me.

I will join the Six On Saturday crowd tomorrow. If you have the time, please give us a look. Gardeners from around the globe are sharing 6 photos from their gardens. Here is the link. https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

We set our clocks back an hour tomorrow here in the US. I like “gaining” an hour.

Happy Gardening!!

Bright Fall Flowers 3 October 2025

The October weather features blue skies and cool mornings, aiding garden work. Fall flowers are blooming, including swamp sunflowers and toad lilies, drawing bees and butterflies. The fragrant tea olive is a highlight. The author shares their gardening experiences and plans to post on the Six on Saturday group. Happy gardening!

The October skies are blue. I expect that this time of year. The morning temperatures are cool. I am grateful for that. The garden continues to produce bright fall flowers. I am grateful for that too.

Garden work is so much easier in these temps. It is still dry so a lot of work is being done. The butterflies are still abundant and the hummingbirds are still with us.

I hope you enjoy today’s photos. I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow and posting my blog there. Come look if you are curious. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

The swamp sunflowers are finally blooming. These blooms are bright yellow atop this 6 foot stem. The bottom leaves have browned as a result of the low rainfall.

The Solidago is attracting bees as you can see. The yellow is very intense.

The toad lily opened its blooms this week. There are several dozen blooms on this plant. The rest of the year it is nondescript. It does well is this part shade area of the garden.

The tea olive is very fragrant. In fact, I can smell it on the other side of the house from which it is located. It is a very pleasant fragrance.

I caught this swallowtail cat eating my parsley. This parsley is almost spent for the year so I was not unhappy about it.

The hydrangea is one of three that I bought last month at the Birmingham Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale. This cultivar is in the Endless Summer series which blooms on this years growth and blooms for months. I will keep my I on it.

Hope your weather is favorable for gardening.

Happy Gardening!!

6 Drought Survivors 26 Sept 2025

Recent rains ended the drought, providing relief to plants and creating ideal conditions for growth. The author shares six flourishing garden photos, including cosmos, foxglove, echinacea, roselle, goldenrod, and ageratum. They invite readers to join the “Six on Saturday” group for further garden sharing and appreciation. Happy gardening!

The drought broke here yesterday. Two inches of rain blessed us yesterday. I could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from the plants in my yard. With the rain, the temperatures have fallen. Conditions are now ripe for a “green revival”.

I am showing 6 photos from those that have fared the best in the recent 30 days of heat and drought. Mercifully, we have returned to normal growing weather.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday group in the morning. The group will be posting 6 photos from their own gardens. Come join us. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk. We are ably hosted by Jim Stephens.

This sprightly, perky cosmos is from the seed packet sent from Susan B. Komen. This is the breast cancer support foundation. I like the pink edging on the petals.

This foxglove was a surprise in my windowbox this week. I did not plant it. My explanation is that I put in some compost from my own pile earlier this spring. I last had foxglove several years ago and composted the spent plants.

My purple coneflowers have long been through blooming. I don’t dead them until the goldfinches have finished feasting on the seeds. They have but this remnant was still beautiful.

The Roselle is new to me. It have performed beautifully this late summer and fall. As you can see, this plant is a hibiscus. This one is H. sabdariffa. The red calyces can be used for jellies, teas and sauces similar to cranberries.

The goldenrod (Solidago altissima) started blooming this week. I do not cultivate these since they proliferate on their own. The photo does not quite capture the intense yellow color of these blooms.

The blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is a native here in Alabama and as you can see, it is a pollinator favorite.

Hope you are enjoying good gardening weather as the seasons change. Happy gardening!!

Fall Bloomers in the Heat and the Drought 19 Sept 2025

It’s hot again. It’s dry. Very dry. It’s a test to see which plants do well in these conditions. I have no butterflies or insects to show you today. The butterflies are there in abundance except for the Monarchs. They are said to be migrating south but I have seen none in my yard.

I am spending most of my time watering and removing dried up leaves. I have some shrubs that I bought at the Fall Plant Sale at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens but I am not yet ready to plant them.

I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. Come join us. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

The azalea is in it third blooming for the year. It is a magnificent color.

The Physostegia is also in its glamour. It is slowly spreading but it is definitely controllable. A good friend characterizes it as ‘Disobedient Plant’.

The Gaura has appeared. I had two but the other has completely disappeared. This is a crowded corner of the garden with rudbeckia, Shasta daisies and obedient plant being very competitive.

The Lycoris has also appeared. It is commonly called surprise lily which is an appropriate name. It completely dies back and shows no trace until a week before it blooms.

I have shown these two recently but in the morning light they really caught my eye.

The Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is in a concrete container which really shows it off.

The limelight hydrangea is now 8 feet high and the mophead panicles are turning green and bronze. It is by far my favorite hydrangea.

Happy Gardening to all!!

Plants that bloom well in fall 12 Sept 2025

The summer blooms are dwindling, but some plants remain vibrant. Hot, dry conditions require daily watering, especially for newly planted shrubs. The Clethra alnifolia and Euonymous americanus are highlighted as native species benefiting from increased sunlight after the removal of a dogwood. Butterflies thrive, and a Mediterranean Gecko is residing in the mailbox.

The best of my summer bloomers are exhausted. There are some that are still blooming. There is some other colors that are from seed structures.

It is hot and dry now. I have needed to water sufficiently to keep plants from becoming crispy. I have planted some small shrubs this month and I am busy watering them daily.

I hope to join the Six On Saturday group in the morning. If you are curious, here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

On the left is the Clethra alnifolia or Sweet Pepperbush. It is a North American native which tends to sucker forming clumps which have fragrant little flowers attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant was shaded by a dogwood (Cornus florida) which I had to cut down recently since it was a casualty of dogwood borer.

On the right is Euonymous americanus or Strawberry bush. The fruit has this cracked open look so that another common name is ‘Hearts a’busting’. This native North American shrub will also benefit from more sun after the removal of the dogwood.

This coleus is self seeded from last years parent which was grown from seed. It is crowding a Dragon Wing Begonia in a small container. Since both are thriving, I will enjoy the combination.

The Rudbeckia triloba or Brown Eyed Susan is another North American native which is doing very well in the garden. It is acting as a tender perennial and it is tolerating the heat and drought extremely well. It will be used in more locations in my garden.

The gulf fritillary has thrived in my garden this summer. They are by far the most abundant butterflies. They have passionflowers as a host plant of which there are plenty in my yard. This one is nectarine on a golden buddleia.

I have mentioned the lizard in my mailbox which is located at the street. The mailbox is covered with a Sweet Summer Clematis. Here is a close up. The iNaturalist app identifies it as a Mediterranean Gecko. Hmm. It seems quite happy and harmless so it is being allowed to continue squatting.

Wishing you Happy Gardening!

6 Plants for Early Fall Color 29 Aug 2025

The Great Pollinator Southeast Census was a success. I completed my 15 minute observation period and submitted my results. I have not yet seen an analysis but I am hoping that participation has climbed and that the census shows improving numbers of pollinators.

I am happy about the approach of fall. Today, my photos have glimpses of fall color. Our temps are noticeably cooler so I am accomplishing many more outside tasks. A little more rain would be appreciated.

I will join the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. If you think about it, come join us. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

This liriope always catches my eye in the fall. The lavender colored flowers are so attractive. It clumps beautifully and looks so fresh after a morning rain.

The beauty berry (Callicarpa Americana) began to show the purple berries. This large shrubby plant is a native here and reseeds very nicely. There is a cultivar that I have which has white berries.

This Cornus florida has begun to change leaf color. It is a cultivar which is expected to have pink spring blooms. It has not yet done so but maybe next year. For now, I find the leaves to be very attractive.

The coral honeysuckle is blooming again this month after having put on a good display this spring. It is a very pleasing color. The plant is a vigorous grower so I have had to prune it.

The clematis grows around my mailbox. It just began blooming this week and does have a sweet fragrance. I have mentioned the Anole lizard which lives in my mailbox and frequents the clematis vine. He is just as cute as the Geico lizard.

The lily is new to my garden this year. I successfully grew 4 plants from seed purchased from Monticello. Monticello, located in Virginia, was the home place of Thomas Jefferson. He was quite a gardener in addition to his many other achievements.

I hope you are enjoying this most beautiful time of year. Happy Gardening!!

Summer Doldrums 18 July 2025

The heat is consistently stifling everyday now. It is energy sapping. Some days have breezes that provide relief but that is the exception. It will be this way until mid September so I have to buckle up and bear it.

The main jobs now are deadheading and removing the occasional plant which has succumbed. The sawflies are under control so the roses are happy.

The garden is still madly blooming. All the stored up rain is driving it. The mainstays of rudbeckia, echinacea and Shasta daisies are magnificent. It did rain some this afternoon so there is hint of cooling in the air.

As usual, I will be posting my blog with the SOS group tomorrow. Come take a look at beautiful gardens with 6 photos each. Here is the site. https://gardenruminations.co.uk The rules are there. Perhaps, you would like to post 6 of your own.

The Purple Heart loves the heat. It is a Tradescantia hybrid if you are unfamiliar. Others in this group are know as spiderworts.

The Indian Summer is a rudbeckia that I have grown for 3 years now. Some survive the winter and others are a reseed I think. The large bloom is spectacular and the foliage is hairy so it tolerates the heat well.

The coneflowers are butterfly magnets. Here I am featuring the Pipevine Swallowtail which is new to my yard. I planted its host 2 years ago and I am very pleased to see this butterfly.

The Mexican hat is one that I grew from seed this winter. It is a prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera. It has a cousin which has abundant larger yellow blooms. I like this one which is much smaller but with a distinctive bloom.

This prostrate lantana is really coming into its own the last 2 weeks. I was gifted six small plants this spring and I am very pleased with the growth habit.

Finally, I have a swamp milkweed, Asclepius incarnata, to show you. I bought it 4 years ago and I thought it was a no show. I think I had been it out thinking it was goldenrod. It has survived despite my misdeeds. I am grateful.

Happy gardening! I hope the rain and the sun are meeting the needs of your garden.

Summer Breeze 11 July 2025

Last week, I spent the weekend on the beautiful Gulf Coast. The song I remember was “Summer breeze makes me feel fine”. It did. Coastal breezes, wonderful seafood and relaxation with good friends.

This week, I am back and I have photos of lush plants for you. Our summer pattern of humid days with afternoon thunderstorms is upon us. It doesn’t rain daily but often enough to give us very healthy plants.

I joined the Six on Saturday group as a spectator last weekend. I will join as a participant tomorrow. Take 6 recent plant photos in a blog and join us. Here is where we can be found. https://gardenruminations.co.uk

I have tried overwintering my caladium bulbs but to no avail. I clump 4 or 5 tubers in a large low planter in the shade and enjoy new cultivars each year.

It’s been the year for lilies. Large, fragrant and abundant has been the ticket. This Casa Blanca has been the showstopper this week.

The hardy chrysanthemums make a wonderful ground cover. They slowly spread and transplant easily around the yard. I thought these were ‘Peachies Pick’ but they look too white.

The Limelight Hydrangea seems to grace every yard in my neighborhood this summer. The knockout rose has been replaced in popularity. This is the original cultivar and it is a beauty.

The Cashmere Bouquet has a long genus Clerodendrum. It was a swap from a friend. It spreads by rhizomes so it does require some effort to contain but it is a beauty with a pleasant fragrance.

The Gerber daisy is a bright red and really captures the eye. They are not listed as winter hardy in our area but do well if located in sheltered places.

I hope you are enjoying your gardens. Happy Gardening!!

Summer Heat 27 June 2025

It’s hot here. My pattern has become to garden in the morning and complete indoor tasks in the afternoon.

I took last week off for a trip touring gardens in Sewanee, Tennessee. It was cool and rainy at times but well worth our time to visit. Sewannee is a small college town located on the Cumberland Plateau just 90 miles southeast of Nashville. There are many beautiful vistas there. Many alumni have built homes near to the campus and that is where we visited.

My photos today are from my garden on the corner. I volunteer there every Friday that I am in town. I have one other photo that I took in Sewanee.

As usual, I will be joining the Six on Saturday group tomorrow. Come check it out. The rules are there if you wish to post 6 photos of your own. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

I have shown this aster before but it is in full bloom and magnificent today. The crocosmia is not my favorite but it is charming me this year. There are more blooms than ever and most of the stalks are upright. Meanwhile, the Limelight hydrangeas is stunning. You can see my repurposed fountain just to the side.

The pollinators are really loving the purple coneflowers this year. I am loving the purple coneflowers too. The growth in the perennial bed is so lush that we have very little weeding to do. The Texas star struggled last year but is making a resurgence this year.

This is my Sewannee picture. This gorgeous Diana Fritillary is thirsting on the Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’).

Happy Gardening! Next Friday is Independence Day here in the USA so Happy 4th to all my fellow Americans.

June Heats Up 13 June

It is getting hotter as the days lengthen. The humidity is rising and most days is around 75%. I am good for 2 or 3 hours every morning but I am avoiding the afternoon as much as possible.

The perennial beds are so dense now that little weeding is necessary and that is a good thing. I am enjoying cut flowers for display in the house.

In the morning, I will be joining the SixonSaturday crowd. It is fun to find six photos, put them in a blog or post and then upload it to our host website. In this case, it is hosted by Jim Stephens. Here it is https://gardenruminations.co.uk/.

The purple coneflowers continue to be impressive. It is attracting the pollinators. I am preparing for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census https://gsepc.org which will occur on August 22 and 23. This fuzzy fellow is a bumblebee.

The canna started blooming this week. I moved it here last fall so I am glad to see that it is happy. I am uncertain of a name but it may be Durban.

The Stoke’s aster has just begun blooming. It has done so well in my garden that I have divided it and now have two thriving colonies.

The plumbago is in a container. It is the second time that I have tried this phlox look alike. The first time, I planted it into the perennial bed and it fizzled. I am giving it another try in a container. It is such a beautiful blue.

The Henry’s Lily is in its second year in this location. No pests or predators and a magnificent bloom. I love those massive stamens.

The Blephilia or pagoda plant is a polite plant along a walking path. It meanders a little but it can be forgiven.

It continues to be a special year in my garden. The rain is sufficient and the heat is just right.

Happy Gardening!