Southern Gardening

With their beautiful colors and massive amounts of blooms, chrysanthemums have always been one of my go-to choices for fall decorations.

While many people use them as temporary, potted decorations, they’re also incredibly rewarding to grow in the landscape. Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are relatively easy to care for. With the right attention, they can thrive in a variety of settings.

I love pairing mums with other fall decor like pumpkins, gourds and hay bales to create a cohesive look that celebrates the harvest season.

I recently visited Buds and Blooms Nursery in Wesson, Mississippi, where they were growing some gorgeous leafy greens in raised beds.

I recently visited Rosie’s Garden in Brandon, a community space where volunteers cultivate a deeper appreciation for how food is grown while also helping to provide fresh produce to those in need.

The garden features 36 raised beds arranged in the shape of a cross, offering a diverse array of vegetable crops, herbs and flowers designed to attract pollinators.

Plants have always sparked my curiosity, and I am not alone in this. The Rankin County Master Gardeners have beautifully captured that sense of wonder with their Garden of Curiosity at the Brandon Public Library in Brandon, Mississippi.

Children’s learning gardens are a wonderful way to educate young people about plants. They are designed as places for young children to use their imaginations to relate to their surroundings, explore, touch and play as they develop an affection for the natural world. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Pearl Public Library Children’s Learning Garden in Pearl, Mississippi.

I’ve always enjoyed visiting educational gardens across the state, and my recent trip to the Hill Garden in Brandon, Mississippi, was no exception.

Established by the Rankin County Master Gardeners in 1995, this garden is a treasured landmark and one of the oldest Master Gardener projects in Mississippi.

This time of year, my Firespike is putting on a show in my garden. This herbaceous perennial is known for its large, dramatic spikes of bright red, tubular flowers. Each spike features densely packed clusters of 3-inch-long blooms that emerge in a striking, fiery red color, which can deepen to a rich crimson at the tips.

On a recent visit to the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, I was captivated by the beauty of the Angelonia plants in their display gardens.

The Angelonia Angelface series truly impressed me with their snapdragon-like flowers and versatility in various garden and landscape settings.

I have fond memories of walking daily as a kid past my grandmother’s chain-link fence, admiring the bright red flowers on the Turk’s Cap growing along it. Every time I see those flowers today, childhood memories rush through my mind.

Now as an adult gardener, I’ve come to appreciate Turk’s Cap even more for its beauty and resilience.

Adding a tropical feel to your garden is like creating a lush escape right at home.

With the right plants, you can transform your outdoor space into a mini paradise full of bold colors, dramatic foliage and exotic textures. Tropical plants bring a sense of adventure and tranquility, turning even the simplest garden into a getaway where you can relax and unwind.

Whether you live in a warm climate or just want to bring a bit of the tropics to your backyard, incorporating certain plants can instantly elevate the atmosphere to a unique and inviting retreat.

If it seems like every plant in your garden is wilting in this summer’s heat, think about adding some Vermillionaire plants next year.

I recently saw some beautiful Vermillionaire plants at the trial garden of the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville. These plants were thriving in the summer heat.

If you come across an enchanting, miniature landscape that captures your imagination as a world fit for fairies, then you have found a fairy garden. These tiny gardens are meticulously designed in containers, garden beds and unique spaces like old tree stumps and broken pots.

I recently visited Ross Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Hattiesburg and found some whimsical and magical fairy gardens on their property. These feature small plants, moss, pebbles and miniature accessories such as fairy houses, tiny furniture and delicate bridges.

Yellow-flowering plants have always captivated me with their bright, cheerful hues. They bring warmth and energy to the garden, instantly lifting the mood and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Whether it’s the vibrant pop of color they add to a landscape or the way they attract pollinators with their radiant blooms, yellow flowers hold a special place in my heart.

There is a type of plant treasured for its ability to be shared. Known as pass-along plants, these are often shared by gardeners, friends and family, typically through cuttings, divisions or seeds.

These plants carry sentimental value and foster a sense of community, as they are often passed down through generations or exchanged within local gardening groups.

I’ve always been a fan of butterfly bushes, so in my garden, I have both regular-sized varieties and a couple of dwarf varieties.

My favorites are the dwarf ones. They are compact and known for their fragrant blossoms and ability to attract pollinators such as butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

I have always admired plants with silver color, as this unusual shade can bring some variety to garden spaces.

I am always looking for unique plants that brighten the landscape. Scaevola , commonly known as fan flower, is one of those plants. Native to Australia and the Pacific Islands, these plants are popular for their distinctive, fan-shaped flowers, versatile growth habit and robust nature.

I have enjoyed Echinacea coneflowers in my landscape for many years, and I find that these striking perennials bring a burst of vivid color to gardens. While recently visiting the home of Dave Overturf and Ginger Wentz in Long Beach, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful Echinacea coneflowers they have in their landscape.

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite plants to use in areas of my landscape that get part shade and full shade. This year, my hydrangeas have really put on a show with their colorful blooms.

One of the most popular and widely grown species, the bigleaf hydrangea, has always fascinated me with its ability to change color based on the soil pH and aluminum availability.

One of my favorite gardening experiences is seeing plants spontaneously appear in various spots in my home garden and landscape.

I love these plant volunteers, and I let them flourish in unexpected places around my garden. Their surprise appearances make the garden feel alive and ever-changing.