Southern Gardening

Sometimes even when the temperatures certainly feel broiling I come across a really cool garden. C’mon let’s go check out this shady hillside landscape. The first thing I’m sure you notice are the caladiums. There are caladiums everywhere. Red caladiums, white caladiums, pink caladiums, spotted caladiums, large plantings here…..small plantings there, the caladiums offer an explosion of bright, vibrant color. As we walk along the rustic cobble stone garden path, I really appreciate the moss growing on the stones; it gives the pathway a feeling of real age.

Mississippi is called the Magnolia State and what better tree to represent the state……. the Southern Magnolia. Southern Gardening has highlighted the early spring deciduous magnolias displaying beautiful pink flowers before the leaves emerge. These are absolutely gorgeous, but for many gardeners when they hear the word magnolia, it is synonymous with our native evergreen, the Southern Magnolia. This is the classic magnolia with its large, thick and glossy leaves. The individual oblong leaves are five to eight inches long and feel leathery.

I’ve always liked the look of white picket fences in the yard. Let’s take a look how my friend Barbara has used her picket fence to show off her front garden. It’s pretty easy see how fantastic the front garden bed is in front of the white picket fence. These orange Sunpatiens can’t be beat for easy care and non-stop color; aside from consistent watering they’re virtually maintenance free. With our warm night temperatures they grow strongly, so step back and enjoy. Cuban Gold Duranta is a pleasant sight, where its sunny bright colors are always welcome.

Over the past several years we’ve visited Southern Gardening producer Tim Allison’s mailbox gardening project. I think you’ll be as impressed as I am. Southern Gardening has documented this mailbox garden from the very beginning. I have to say this is the very best I’ve seen it. To be honest I’m crazy for coneflowers and love that they thrive on neglect. I’m drawn to these tall Bravado purple coneflower with their two to four inch blooms of bright purple petals and dark center cones. For some repetition there’s Pow Wow Wild Berry coneflower. These are smaller plants with superior branching.