Landscaping
Geranium – Overwintering
Recently I was asked how to store dahlias and caladiums for the winter. Let’s continue the discussion and focus on another plant that is not reliably winter-hardy but which can be kept with a bit of effort. The bright red...
Flowery Branch – Origin of Name
When I wondered how Flowery Branch GA got its name, Bob C. was quick to respond: Chartered in 1874, this little town is one of the oldest in Hall County. It was first called Anaguluskee, a Cherokee Indian word meaning...
Earth Kind Roses – List
In January 2002, at the conclusion of the first 5-year research study, Texas A&M had identified 11 cultivars which not only survived but also produced outstanding results in southern gardens. Those 11 cultivars are: Sea Foam – a creamy white...
David Austin Roses for The South
Cyndi Lauderdale, executive director of the Wilson Botanical Gardens, and a North Carolina Extension Service agent, has found that several English rose cultivars grow well in the hot and humid Southeast. Writing in The American Nurseryman, she presents these notes:...
Crapemyrtle – Failure to Bloom
Few things are as frustrating as having a plant that is known for its beautiful flowers fail to bloom. Worse yet is when your neighbors’ plants are in full flower while identical ones in your landscape sullenly produce only foliage....
Buttonbush
Q: Along a creek bed near Yatesville, Georgia, I came upon a low growing plant with a pretty white flower that I cannot identify. The bloom was a little smaller than a golf ball. It looked like tiny honeysuckle blooms...
Virginia copperleaf – Identification
Q: What is this weed in my garden? A: Virginia copperleaf, Acalypha...
Corn Poppy – Identification and History
Arty’s Garden Corn Poppy – The Poppy of Memorial Day The corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) gets its name because it commonly grows amid fields of cereal grains such as wheat or oats – sometimes referred to as “corn” in England,...
Coneflower – Odd-looking Flowers (Phytoplasma)
For whatever reason, homeowners in 2004 noticed many more instances of “odd” coneflowers than in previous years. The most common description is that the central “cone” of the flower is misshapen or that it has tiny flower growing from it....
Colocasia vs. Alocasia vs. Xanthosoma
All are called elephant ear by gardeners. Some are edible and some are not. Following is a collection of identification tips taken from various websites. I found the most useful to be http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/shade_gardening/95670 and http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1342/ Alocasia: leaves are held horizontally,...
Castor Bean – Ricin
With all the news about ricin poison being used by terrorists, I thought I’d show a few pictures of the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, itself. Many folks in the South grow it. Castor bean leaves make a dramatic tropical...
Candy Lily
Candy lily, Pardancanda norrisii, grows to 36″ tall. It is a cross between Belamcanda chinensis, blackberry lily, and Pardanthopsis dichotoma. Candy lily is very similar to blackberry lily but with larger flowers in a wider range of colors from blue...
Caladiums – Planting
Caladiums are old-fashioned bulbs that have become more popular in recent years. Plant breeders have developed varieties that can withstand much more sunshine than previous strains. Leaf colors from deep red to pink to mostly white allow for landscape color...
Cacti for Cold Climates
(from Avant Gardener Newsletter) We’re pleased to hear of the formation of the Winter Hardy Cactus and Succulent Association (Robert Johnson, Intermountain Cactus, 1478 North 750 East, Kaysville, UT 84037; dues $17 a year). There is also a new book,...
Bulbs – When to Plant in Fall
Spring-flowering bulbs have been on garden center shelves for weeks but the real season for planting them begins in late October. My preference is to wait to plant daffodil, tulip, hyacinth, Dutch iris, etc. until night temperatures are consistently below...
Bulbs – Storing for Winter
Most of us enjoy the cooler weather ushered in by October. Fall is approaching and we anticipate with pleasure the crisp days to come. Our landscape plants, though, have different reactions to the advent of cooler temperatures and shorter days....
Hydrangea – Identification and Pruning
Q: I have hydrangeas on some new property. I would like to prune them but am unsure which hydrangeas I have, and therefore when to prune them. How do I tell them apart? A: In my garden, the color and...
Bulbs – Leaves Emerge in Winter
Many are the anguished cries when gardeners notice that bulb foliage has emerged in early winter. “Get back down in the ground!” they implore. “It’s gonna get really cold soon.” The truth of the matter is that bulb foliage is...
