#nativeplants – Fine for Friday

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!!

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.

Six on Saturday 10 December 2022

Here in central Alabama, the temperature continues to be warm and there are still some blooms to show you. We are expecting some rain later this week with some near freezing temps next weekend. So, in addition to the blooms I also show the plant world adjusting to the colder weather of winter. Winter does not officially arrive for 2 weeks.

First up today is a container geranium (Pelargonium sp) which is about to bloom here in mid December.

Second is a tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans) which is blooming. It is expected after a significant rainfall such as the one we had last week. The fragrance carries all across the yard so that you may not see them but you can certainly smell them.

Third is a holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum). It seems to be enjoying the temps and showing signs of increased color. This fern is evergreen for our climate.

Fourth is of my fall winter vegetable gardens. These are some beets (Beta vulgaris var Boldor). If they succeed, intend to make some borscht or a beet and goat cheese salad.

Fifth is some lambs ear (Stachys byzantina). It makes a very pretty groundcover in sunny areas as well as part sun. The have spike like stems in the summer from which the flowers emerge.

Finally, I have a plastic jug in which I have started some milkweed (A. tuberosa). As you can see they have begun to sprout. I will harvest some of these and transfer into separate containers when it is reasonable to do that.

Hope you enjoy these photos. Join us on Six on Saturday which is now hosted by Jim Stephens here. It is a place to see the work of gardeners around the world.

Happy gardening!