Tag: orchid

April Is No Fool

The progress in the garden has been very encouraging. We will have some rain on Sunday which will be followed by some cooler weather. No frost. It is time to bring some of the tender plants out.

The hardwood leaves have emerged with their brilliant green. The irises are beginning to show blooms. The grass is beginning to green and needs a cutting.

I took a field trip yesterday to see a grand collection of native azaleas. I have 2 photos from the Donald Davis Arboretum that housed the collection.

I hope to join the Six on Saturday group in the morning before I leave for a road trip to Nashville to visit family. Join that wonderful group at this link https://gardenruminations.co.uk

Native Azalea
Native Azaleas

Here are the two azaleas. They are native to Alabama. In this collection, there are several outstanding specimens. They are Florida flame, Piedmont and Canescens varieties.

Halesia
N’Sweet Love

The silver bell ‘Halesia sp’ on the left is a beautiful medium sized tree which will be a good replacement for out native dogwood Cornus florida which has been ravaged by an apple wood borer.

This late appearing daffodil is really a winner.

Tiarella
Ground Orchid
Asimina ‘Paw Paw’

The delicate foamflower on the left is an Alabama native. It is accompanied by the beautiful ground orchid. The Paw Paw on the right is blooming now and is also an Alabama native. The fruit will have a dumbbell shape if it appears.

I hope you are enjoying your garden in this fine weather.

Happy Gardening!

Spring Marches On 29 March 2024

Although, we are not completely without frost risk until the 15th of April, the long range 10 day forecast is reassuring that there will be none. I have felt comfortable enough to begin plantings some of the hardier plants like snapdragon, yarrow and cleome. I have uppotted some tomatoes and peppers. They will be planted over the next 10 days.

Last years’ geraniums are trimmed and ready for setting out in containers. I have sunflowers, Mexican hat and zinnias ready to be set into the ground. It is a busy and exiting time.

It is Easter week and soon to be Master’s week, so I have some photos to go along with those themes.

Azalea
Tradescantia Spiderwort
Columbine

The azaleas are in full bloom. I have some kurume type (coral bells) which are really beautiful and this one is a larger leaf evergreen variety which I am unable to name.

The spiderwort is a native which can be unruly but this grouping has kept by its manners.

The Columbine just began blooming this week alongside its native relative (Aquilegia canadensis).

Every Saturday morning, a group of gardeners from around the world post 6 photos for the week. It is a very interesting experience. Come join us and see for yourselves. Here is the link https://gardenruminations.co.uk.

Hyacinth Orchid
Hyacinth orchid
Virginia Bluebell
Woodland Salamander

The first two photos are of a Hyacinth orchid which is a terrestrial type of the genus Bletilla. This was a gift to me of several years ago. This spring, I refreshed the soil with a topping of compost and I edged the bed with stone. For this, the reward has been an abundance of beautiful blooms.

The Virginia bluebells (Mertensia Virginia) have also benefitted from the removal of some Southern shield ferns that had invaded the bed.

Finally, I found this little salamander friend as I was working yesterday. He was still a little sluggish and allowed me to get him to pose for this picture.

Happy Gardening!!