Southern Gardening

A really popular but old time plant is the Boston fern. And it’s no wonder with the lush and lacey bright green foliage. But did you know there are other types of ferns. Let’s take a look at some. Fern baskets will thrive in our Mississippi landscapes as long as they are kept in partial to full shade. Oddly enough, asparagus fern is not actually a fern, and is really a member of the Lily family. Lush stems of dense, linear needle-like foliage cascade down from this hanging basket. This is a fast growing, easy care basket plant.

I don’t think there is anything more inviting or beautiful than a large and colorful combination container prominently displayed on the patio. These elaborate containers seem like they would be hard for the home gardener to make, but not if you remember the following ingredients: Thriller, filler and spiller. Thriller plants add height and excitement to the container. Plants that have grassy qualities are good choices. Dracena spikes are an old standby with the long straight leaves providing great height.

I’ve always loved hanging baskets because they’re a fantastic way to enjoy the colorful summer landscape at a different level, eye level. What a great choice for the porch or patio. Today I’m at Buds and Blooms, in container basket heaven. Can you believe all of the color combinations? I like this bold, yet elegant basket. SuperCal Blushing Pink has stunning shell pink flowers and yellow throats. Caberet Light Pink calibrachoa has a well branched mounded and trailing habit making it perfect for a hanging basket.

I think one of the classic summer plants for our Mississippi gardens has to be bougainvillea. This tropical plant is perfect for a hanging basket or container on the porch and patio. Today Southern Gardening is visiting Rivers Nursery for a good look at these plants that require little care and can return many years of enjoyment. These bougainvillea baskets will develop long arching branches as the summer progresses. Be careful when handling because of the sharp thorns on the stems. The flowers are available in a variety of colors, but did you know they are not actually flowers?