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Southern Gardening from 2019

Five bright orange-red petals surround a tall stamen that is dark red at the base and yellow at the tip. Dark green leaves surround the flower.
May 27, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

This is week two of the "Tour de Hibiscus," featuring great choices for our Mississippi gardens and landscapes. I don't know any home gardener who can resist the colorful flowers of Cajun hibiscus plants, with equally colorful names like Hoochie Papa, Peppermint Patty and Crawfish Pie.

A single large bloom with red-tinged edges and a red center opens against a green background with a single bud above it.
June 3, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Week three of the Southern Gardening tour of hibiscus brings the spotlight on the hardy hibiscus. This easy-to-grow ornamental is largely unknown to many home gardeners, but with the impact they can have in any landscape, I think every garden should have at least one hardy hibiscus.

A pink flower in the foreground with foliage out of focus in the back.
June 10, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

The fourth and last column in our hibiscus series focuses on a woody species, Hibiscus mutabilis or confederate rose.

A thumb and fingers hold back the pink petals of a flower to reveal the spiny, orange center.
June 17, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

In my role as the Southern Gardener, I get to share many great plants all across Mississippi and beyond. Some are new and some are old reliables, but all get to be called my favorite landscape plants from time to time.

One thing is for sure: All of these plants are Southern Gardening Approved.

Two flowers with white petals and spiky, orange centers rise on tall stems above a blurred-out green background.
June 24, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

This past week, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Washington, D.C., while I stayed in Alexandria, Virginia. I was in town because the American Horticultural Society selected me, the Southern Gardener, to receive the Great American Gardener B.Y. Morrison Communication Award.

I grew up horticulturally deficient, so being named a Great American Gardener is extremely humbling. I truly enjoy promoting plants and ways to find gardening success to Mississippi and beyond.

A group of white flowers with bold, pink stripes is pictured against a garden background.
July 1, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

As my wife and I traveled around the Southeast last week visiting family and old friends, one stop was especially memorable.

A single, large bloom in orange, red and brown commands the center of this photo, with others of similar color in the background.
July 8, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Summer has hit us with a vengeance this year.

A bed of yellow flowers with green leaves.
July 15, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Let’s face it: We’re in the middle of the dog days of summer, and it’s not even August yet!

This is the time of year when my favorite Supertunias -- even my beloved Vista Bubblegum -- are starting to fade. 

Five tall, bright-green banana plants with large leaves stand prominently in a flower bed.
July 22, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I’m getting more questions about growing bananas, which means Mississippi gardeners are interested in creating a tropical feeling in our landscapes.

A cluster of orange flowers with red stamens.
July 29, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

While Pride of Barbados thrives in deserts and the tropics, I believe we could also appreciate its beauty in Mississippi landscapes.

Five red radishes with green shoots rest on a black mat.
August 5, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

One of the most fun things to do in the garden is to share stories. One of the best ones I have heard and shared is about my search for the long-lost Long Beach Red radish.

Plants with mostly yellow peppers and some orange and red peppers perched on a bed of pine straw.
August 12, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

The late summer garden and landscape in Mississippi can be a tough place. Extreme heat and humidity result in heat index numbers that keep me, like many other gardeners, indoors enjoying the air conditioning.

But, I can take solace in knowing that, while many of my flowering summer annuals are starting to succumb to the heat, my ornamental peppers will be growing strong. What a great selection for any later summer garden!

A clump of large caladium leaves with green edges and pink centers growing out of a bed of pine straw.
August 19, 2019 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens

In recent years, gardeners everywhere have seen quite a few plants that were once grown only in shady conditions come out into the sunshine. Sunpatiens were my first experience with these now sun lovers.

Clusters of small, reddish-purple berries line branches among a sea of green leaves.
August 26, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

One of my favorite Mississippi native plants is just starting to show its true landscape value. Of course, I’m referring to our native Callicarpa americana, known commonly and affectionately as the American beautyberry.

A round cluster of red, tubular flowers rises above a sea of lime green leaves.
September 3, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

About 10 years ago while attending a meeting in Miami, I had the opportunity to tour around south Florida, sightseeing and enjoying the horticulture.

White spots line all sides of a narrow branch seen in the foreground of a tree beside the road.
September 9, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

This weekend while driving in my hometown of Ocean Springs, I looked at the crape myrtles planted in the median all along Highway 90. I noticed that most of the trees had a dark cast to them, even on a bright, sunny morning.

A shallow, red, wooden box rises at waist level above a green lawn and is full of orange blooms and lush, green plants.
September 16, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

How to Build a Salad TableMost of my Southern Gardening columns share tips about great ornamental plants that should be grown in all landscapes and gardens in Mississippi and the entire Southeast. But every once in a while, I like to share ideas for being more successful in your home vegetable garden, because who doesn’t enjoy homegrown veggies?

Yellow and orange flowers bloom above green leaves.
September 23, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Fall has officially arrived, although temperatures remain summerish. But when the calendar changes, it’s time to start thinking about the cool-season annual colors to be planted and enjoyed during the winter months.

A black butterfly with red and white spots stands on top of a single orange bloom.
September 30, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I had the opportunity this past weekend to speak at the Butterflies in the Pass Monarch Festival in Pass Christian. The monarch butterfly may be the most recognized and loved insect in the United States.

A white flower with a red center blooms among green leaves on red stems.
October 7, 2019 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

One of my favorite flowering landscape and garden plants has to be hibiscus, but hibiscus doesn’t refer to only one plant.

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