flowers
Because of the oppressive heat and humidity in my coastal landscape and garden, I spent the weekend in the air conditioning, of course.
Most Mississippi gardens have contained an azalea at some point. Azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron, which has more than 900 species. Azaleas are native to many parts of the world, but the most colorful varieties come from China, Japan, and the eastern United States.
Butterflies and their host plants are intricately tied to one another. Generally, there are two types of plants that you must have in your garden for butterflies. One type is a nectar plant; adult butterflies feed on these nectar plants. The second plant is a larval host plant; the immature stage (larva) feeds on this plant. When you plan a butterfly garden, you should plan for both types of plants. This publication lists both types of plants and some of the butterflies we can expect to see in Mississippi.
Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia sp.) is a popular ornamental shrub/tree that would be a wonderful addition to any Mississippi landscape. The colorful flower clusters offer a spectacular sight from early summer through late fall. Although commonly called the “Flower of the South,” the crapemyrtle is native to China.
Those uncultivated flowers found growing naturally along roadsides, in meadows and fields, and in forests throughout an area are called wildflowers. Wildflowers include a wide variety of plant types, including reseeding flowering annuals and hardy perennials, selected vines and small shrubs, ferns, and even showy native grasses. Many are well-suited for use in home gardens and landscapes because they are adapted to the general climate and soils of an area. With a little planning, you can easily plant and enjoy them for years.
Purple Coneflowers
Purple coneflowers can really make a statement in the home garden and landscape. The name is derived from the beautiful flowers, with their purple petals and dark center cones. The foliage color can range from pale to dark green. Purple coneflowers are fantastic butterfly-attracting plants.
Annuals and perennials add interesting elements to the landscape with their beautiful flowers and foliage. Beds of color provide brilliant accents against backgrounds of permanent plantings. They also soften artificial lines and provide graceful transitions from one outdoor area to another.
Flowers can be used to accent a view, frame a door, or just draw attention. Annual plants are practical because they are versatile, sturdy, and inexpensive. They quickly yield color throughout the season.
This publication tells you how to collect a plant tissue sample for analysis. Remember: Plant analyses and evaluations are worthless unless you submit the proper plant part. Following are instructions as to the plant part, stage of growth to sample, and the number of plants to sample.
What Is “Forcing”?
Forcing bulbs to bloom refers to manipulating their bloom time. “Forcing” sounds as though we are causing the plant discomfort, but we’re actually providing the environmental conditions needed for hardy spring bulbs to bloom earlier than normal.
Hydrangeas have been a part of the southern landscape since they were first imported from Japan in the 1750s. The most commonly grown species is the bigleaf, or French, hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). This is the traditional hydrangea with the large, “mophead” bloom in shades of blue or pink. The color of the bloom depends on the pH of the soil.