Grasses and Antique Roses, some tough plants

We are hopefully over drought conditions. I noticed that antique roses and grasses
seem to be among the toughest plants. Many of my plants seemed like they weren't
going to make it, even though I was providing them with plenty of water.
The roses I find to be so tough were Moonlight, The Fairy, Seven Sisters, Sombrueil,
Souvenir de Malmaison, and others. I particularly like the
Sombreuil Rose
and Souvenir de la Malmaison Rose
.
Sombreuil is a white climbing tea rose with great smell, and Souvenir de la Malmaison is a pink fragrant bourbon. Souvenir de la Malmaison can
be acquired in both shrub and climbing form. Both roses are repeat bloomers.

A favorite grass of mine is
Zebra Grass
( Miscanthus sinensis zebrina). There are
many great cultivars of Miscanthus such as Autumn Light, Gracillimus, Sarabande,
and Strictus.

Black Bamboo is heavenly.

I had admired
Black Bamboo for severals years. It was around
$100.00. Then my neighbor found some at a nusery near Tuscaloosa: it was $85.
Imagine the delight I experience, when I saw Black Bamboo list on the Woodlanders
website. I ordered it in March and planted it in a pot and placed it on our patio.. New shoots are coming up.Waiting to see if the canes will get blacker. Anyway it's a fun plant. I may divide some next year and plant at the edge of some woods, and see how far and wide the colony spreads.
In fact, I ordered 15 plants from www.woodlanders.net/. The prices are very good and the plants are doing swell, in spite of our drought, which is hopefully over. You may order
from Woodlanders during the cool months of the year.

Choice- Swimming Pool or Cottage Garden?

On July 3rd I visited with my friends in Mobile. She and her husband are retiring.
Previously they were thinking about putting a garden in the back yard. However, just
recently, they decided on having a swimming pool put in. Although I love gardens,
I was just a touch envious of my friends for getting a swimming pool. On Triple
Digit Days with very high humidity (Mobile is usually humid) I also would rather
be swimming than pulling nutgrass out of the perennial beds. She was wondering
if her decision was reasonable. Remembering a week in early June, I wish I had a
swimming pool.

My Fetterbush is coming back.

I'm ecstatic! My Fetterbush -
Lyonia lucida is coming back it looks. New leaves are popping up. Hopefully the Pier 'Temple Bells' will recover from having fertilizer
spread to close to it. Pieris 'Temple Bells'
is such a great plant. It's slow in
growing, but oh what a charmer of a shrub it is. The flower clusters looks like little chandeliers.

Would you like potatoes or flowers with your meal?

For ages, I have been meaning to try nasturtiums on a salad, or daylillies, or
some special succulent rose to eat. Here is a website devoted to

Edible Plants .
On this list I would venture to taste about anything, which is far more than I
can say about exotic meats people eat around the world. If flowers to eat peaks
your curiosity, you may enjoy visiting whatscookingamerica.net

Endless Summer Hydrangea anyone?

In the summer of 1991, I spent a lovely day on Martha's Vineyard with my parents.
I rented a moped and explored the island for a few hours. I remember this one phrase,
endless summer; it was the first time I had heard that expression.

And that expression is the popular name of a hydrangea, Endless Summer Hydrangea
that blooms all summer long.
Like most hydrangeas that are pink or blue, depending on soil ph. If you want blue
give it iron or aluminum sulphate, if pink, give it lime. Perhaps I have seen it
at a garden center before, I don't know. But it first registered on my mind, when
I saw its picture on the J.C. Raulston Aboreteum's website. Below is a part of the
newsletter I have pasted from this site.

Hydrangea macrophylla Endless SummerT PP15,298
The Endless Summer series of French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer' Endless SummerT) will rebloom all summer long. They are now so common that even Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouses and The Home Depot offer them for sale. Hybridizing those with the lacecap French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Veitchii') produced a mildew resistant rebloomer. A new one called 'Blushing Bride' will be available through a contract agreement between nurseries and the University of Georgia in Athens, in which the University gets a thirty-cent royalty on each plant. Hydrangea 'Waterfall' also blooms spring and fall, but gets mildew in the shade. Fresh from writing a book about hydrangeas, Mike explained how dormant (leafless) hydrangeas will root all year round from single node stem cuttings 6" to 8" long in a bark

The J. C. Rautston Aboretum Newsletter.

The late plantsman, and Mentor to many students who attended North Carolina State
University in Horticulture did much to bring a great arboretum to NCSU. You can read
his old newsletters plus all the newsletters except the last by visiting this
website -www.ncsu.edu.
You will be enlightened for the time spent. I have seen photos of of so many plants, or heard commentaries on even more plants that I had no idea existed. Some of these
plants are now so common after being proselytized by the late J.C. Raulston.
You can also join the Friends of the J. C. Raulston Arboretum

.

Anyone up to growing Paper Bush?

Another unusual plant I ordered from Woodlanders Nursery in S.C. was the Paper Bush
- Edgeworthia papyrifera

.
I planted it at the woodland's edge. I wish I had a stream I
could have put it next to, along with the Fetterbush, Virginia Sweetspire, and my
Hummingbird Sweet Pepperbush. The Paper Bush is surviving, but I have to pour the
water to it. It hates 100 degree weather, but I hear it loves the high humidity we
have in Central Alabama. It is not recommended for zones lower than zone 8.
I read that they grow it at the Missouri Botanical Garden, but I guess they grow it
inside.

Go native, plant yourself a Common Fetterbush. .

Native to the southeast, often found growing near streams and at the woodland's edge is Common Fetterbush - Lyonia lucida.
It grows around 3 feet tall and has pink flowers and is evergreen. Make sure though, it gets plenty of water.

I had one in my meadow garden that I planted this spring. It has been very dry here
in central Alabama. About 10 days ago we had 1/4" rain. So I didn't water it for 2
days. The 3rd day I think I watered it. On the 5th day after rain, I noticed that it
looked as if it was dying. I pulled it up and the soil was extremely dry. So I put
it in a pot and put it in my plant hospital, so it gets plenty of water and a close
eye. Hopefully, it will recover. If it lives, this fall I plan to put it near my
other plants, which like it wet, namely Hydrangeas, Virginia Sweetspire, and Clethra
'Hummingbird".

The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg

About 10 years ago when I was living in Mobile, Ala., one of my neighbors asked me
for advice on building a fence in her front yard. Her main concern was the proper
height. I figured since there were so many gardens with fences in Williamsburg,
someone there would guide us. So I called Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and I
was put on the phone with M. Kent Brinkley. He told me of a study a lady who had
work for
Colonial Williamsburg
had done this great study on fences. He also informed
me that he was writing a book on the Gardens of Williamsburg.
So when the book came out, I rushed to get a copy. It was a great book on the
lovely and simple formal gardens of the town of Williamsburg. Its photographs were
feasts for the eyes.

Edith Wharton

Not only was Edith Wharton


an accomplished American author of such literary works
as The Age of Innocence and the House of Mirth. She also coauthored a book with
her Architect friend, Ogden Cogman,Jr., "The Decoration of Houses". She was also
accomplished in garden design. She,like many garden designers today, believed that
gardens should have various garden rooms.
Her first home and gardens, The Mount, built in 1902 in Massachussets was of her design. In 1911, the Mount was sold. She wish to spend her life among other American
expatriates in France. She also wrote a book , "Italian Villas and Their Gardens".
If you are unable to visit the Mount, you may enjoy visiting its website -
www.edithwharton.org

Lemon Verbena is Divine!

In the ante bellum south, girls like Scarlett O'hara adored Lemon Verbena



It was in almost every plantation garden. The girls like to make sachets of it for its lovely fragrance. Many people like to flavor tea with lemon verbena.
In zone 7 or lower it is an annual. In zone 8, it survives most winters. In zones 9
and 10, it's defenitely perennial. Now it's great in the home garden
.
It likes it on the dry side. Here are some of the things you can make with lemon
verbena I found on The Garden Path Website by Brenda Hyde.

Lemon Verbena Potpourri
You will need:
dried peel of one lemon
2 cups dried lemon verbena leaves
1 cup dried chamomile flowers
6 inch cinnamon stick, crushed
1 cup dried calendula petals
1 tsp. orris root powder
2-3 drops lemon verbena essential oil (optional)
Dry the lemon peel by scraping it off the lemon with a vegetable peeler, spread on paper and dry in a warm place for about 2 weeks, until crisp. Mix all the ingredients together. Seal in a tin and put in a warm place for about 2-3 weeks, shaking occasionally. Use to scent a room, or for sachets. Add more essential oil as the smell fades. Adapted from Kitchen and Herb Gardener by Richard Bird and Jessica Houdret

Lemon Verbena Syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup lemon verbena leaves
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Blanch the lemon verbena leaves in boiling water briefly to brighten the color, then immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat and cool. Place the lemon verbena and cooled syrup in a blender and purée on high for 2 minutes. Chill overnight, then strain through a fine mesh strainer. Keep leftovers refrigerated. Use with ice cream, pound cake or other light desserts, as well as fruit.

Lemon Rose Tea
Ingredients:
1/2 cup torn lemon verbena leaves
1/4 cup rose hips
Honey
Place 4 cups of water in a teakettle or medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the lemon verbena and rose hips. Remove from the heat and steep for about 15 minutes. Return to the heat and simmer for 1 minute. Pour into individual tea cups or mugs, sweeten with honey and serve.

Lemon Verbena Cake
Ingredients:
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup butter flavored shortening
2 drops lemon extract
2 cups cake flour or regular flour sifted several times
1/4 cup fresh chopped Lemon Verbena leaves
5 eggs
Cream together the sugar and shortening until well mixed. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing for one minute after each addition. Add dry ingredients gradually, scraping down the sides. Add the extract and the verbena leaves. Pour into a Bundt or tube pan, which is well coated with the shortening and floured. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until golden brown (testing with a toothpick). Remove to a cooling rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan onto a serving plate. Drizzle with glaze or dust with confectioners' sugar.

Lemon Verbena Scones
Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cold butter
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh lemon verbena leaves
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup milk
Preheat oven to 425º F. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the lemon verbena leaves; mix until combined just combined. Make a well in the center of flour mixture. Add the egg, yogurt, and milk, stirring well. Mix in with the flour mixture to form a soft dough. Coat a12-inch cast iron skillet with a non-stick cooking spray. With floured hands, pat the dough into skillet. Cut with a sharp, serrated knife into eight wedges. (You can also pat the dough into a circle this same size on a baking sheet, and then cut into wedges.) Bake at 425º F for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm. Makes 8 servings.

Raspberry-Lemon Verbena Butter
From The Herb Companion
Ingredients:
1/2 pound unsalted butter
1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste
4 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries (not in syrup)
1 small handful young, tender lemon verbena leaves
Thaw the raspberries if frozen, and pour off any excess liquid. With all ingredients at room temperature, blend butter, sugar, and raspberries until smooth (about 3 minutes). Strip out any large veins in the lemon verbena leaves, then add the leaves (chopped if you're mixing by hand) and blend until the texture is pleasing.

Lemon Butter
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Grated peel of 1 lemon
4 to 6 fresh very finely minced lemon verbena leaves
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and purée until smooth. Refrigerate covered about 2 hours until firm.

Lemon Verbena Hair Rinse
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons lemon verbena leaves
1 cup boiling water
Pour the boiling water over the lemon verbena leaves. Steep for about an hour. Strain the mixture, discarding herb. Use as a rinse after shampoo and conditioning your hair.

Salt-Free Herb Seasoning
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried dill weed
1 tbsp. dried lemon verbena
1/2 cup dried minced onion
1 tbsp. dried lovage, or celery seeds
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. paprika
1 tbsp. dried marjoram
In batches, grind all ingredients together. Store in an airtight container out of the sunlight and away from heat.

About the author:
Brenda Hyde is an avid gardener, freelance writer, mom and wife. She is also editor of Old Fashioned Living.

A Lovely Garden in the Tennessee Valley with gobs of Antique Roses

Today I was surfing the web and found a great website about a small garden in
Florence, Alabama. Florence is on or near the Tennesee River in Northeastern
Alabama. The couple started the garden in 1992. There were no mature trees or plants.
In 2007, it looks great for a 15 year old garden.
The owners have nice antique roses, perennials, vines and lovely shrubs and
trees. They have added many features to the garden such as garden walls, trellises,
and arbors and etc. You may visit the website at home.hiwaay.net.

What I found unique about this garden was a reddish violet wall(much bluer than mauve), faced down with perennials of colors that blend well with the wall - some blues and pinks. It also features a lovely native oakleaf hydrangea. How nice
are pictures of the home garden.
.

Get thee to St. Louis and visit the Gardens- Missouri Botanical Gardens, that is!

I just went on the Missouri Botanical Gardens' website. It's phenomenal! Only
wish I could get to St. Louis soon. The web-site's virtual tour takes you through the
different gardens. I spent a couple hours on it. You can also take a virtual tour
of Horticulture, which I am saving for another day.
Of course I had heard of the climatron. After all, who in the Western Hemisphere
hasn't. It's amazing, but then so is the Japanese Garden, the Chinese Scholars'
Garden, and all the other gardens.
The Gardens began as Henry Shaw's country place in the 1850's. Shaw erected a house
and maze garden, and other gardens to remind him of his native country, England.
He kept adding buildings, hired a botanist from Germany. Today it is a national
historic site and a leader in botanical research
So if you got a free afternoon to surf the web, visit www.mobot.org.
I promise you will be the more enlightened for it.
Also as a bonus for homeowners, they have 8 acres devoted to 23 suburban sized
Contemporary Garden Design featured gardens, with Contemporary Garden Decor
.

Do you grow "Moonbeam" Coreopsis?

It's such a great looking plant. I bought a couple of 1 gallon pots of
Moonbeam Coreopsis last
year to set out in the home garden
. It was beautiful last year, but so far this year,it just sits. It is neither growing nor blooming. Does anyone know what's going on with this plant. It is sorely missed.

Where are the nice tropical storms when you desperately need them?

Just found out that you shouldn't give your butter beans too much water. If you do
they put all their production into leaf making. With less water you get more beans.
That's nice to hear with all this drought in the southeast. Like many Floridians,
I am praying for a nice tropical storm with a great deal of rain, but little wind.
After all there was even fire in Lake Okeechobee. And where water is usually on the
slim side, like in East Texas, there is gobs and gobs of it.
In our neck of the woods, I hope there aren't boxwoods and camellias planted in
antebellum days biting the dust. Or for that matter - any. Last year there were
old oaks, pines, and hardwoods giving up the ghost. With Pines, the drought weakened
many, which the pine beetles were all to glad to pounce upon. If they don't stop
attacking my pines, I don't know what I will do for pine straw.
My crookneck squash aren't coming up. Hope I didn't plant too deep. Will have to
get busy and plant some more. In a vegetable garden, my dear little portager, there
is never any ending to the work. Such is life in the the home garden
.

Lake Okeechobee and Everglades in Dire Straights

South Floridians have more than their plants to worry about. If it doesn't rain soon,
will they have drinking water. Lake Okeechobee is at it lowest point in history.
The Everglades are drying up. Hopefully the rainy season will kick in soon.

Nandina "Yellow Berries" and Finch's Gold "Possumhaw"

Get yourself some Nandina " Yellow Berries". For something differest also by
Finch's Gold "Possumhaw, which also has yellow berries.

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens has a nice blog.

The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens has a great blog with nice photos of its many
gardens You can visit at www.bbg.org/. It is famous for its rose garden
and its Japanese Garden. I haven't been there, but I hope to visit it and the
New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx some day. They seem to have a nice planting
of native plants, also.

Countryside Roses -a website for Antique Roses in Pass Christain, Mississippi

I just found a great online nursery source for
Antique Roses .
It is in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Pass Christain was one of the prettiest ocean communities
around before Katrina. So not only will you be buying some great plants if you shoul
shop here, you will be helping the Mississippi Gulf Coast. So order some roses
from www.countrysideroses.com and add long lasting
beauty to the home garden

.

May - a nice time to travel

It's May and to me it seems a great time to go on garden tours in
England, France, and Italy. I've never been to England, but in the 70's I was in the
Navy and went on 3 Mediterranean Cruises, and if I remember correctly May was
a nice time of year in France and Italy. Of course Global warming may have changed
things. I hear that Italy is having drought conditions like the southeast and west
coast are here. Spain is also very beautiful. Barcelona is great.

Water Shortage in Atlanta and other southern cities.

I went to a family reunion this weekend. Many people were discussing ways to get
around the water police, as so many cities in the southeast are telling people not
to water lawns and etc.
Glad I live in a place that does'nt tell people they can't use water to water plants
and yards.
Also found out that some distant cousins got married at Petals From the Past, a nursery, garden center with show gardens, in the gardens there in May. Petals From
the Past www.petalsfromthepast.com has been doing weddings for several years now. It is located about a mile
off of Interstate 65, near Jemison, Alabama. They also do wedding receptions.

Get Yourself some Achillea 'Moonshine'

Go to your local nursery or lowe's and ask for yarrow. That is, if it will grow where
you live. It gows all over the east except along the Gulf and Atlantic coast and in
Florida and Texas. Yarrow is the common name and 'Moonshine' is a great cultivar.
It's a lovely yellow in color. It doesn't like a lot of water, and is easy to grow.
It does need dividing every 3 years or so. In fact, the University of Maryland
claims it's one of the easiest perennials to grow. Just don't try to grow it in
wet soil.

Queen Anne's Lace and Black Eyed Susans

Both Queen Anne's Lace and Black Eyed Susans are so picturesque now along country roads.
A few years ago I transplanted some Queen Anne's Lace to the home garden , and boy has it
multiplied. But it's a beautiful member of the carrot family, nontheless.
They both look great in borders of cottage garderners'.

New Pearl Tomato

You must try the New Pearl Cherry Tomato. It has the great flavor of older varieties of tomatoes.

Plants are dying without water

Is your garden under six feet of water, being destroyed by fire, and or your plants just need
water desperately. Last year I spent some many hours behind a hose, will I have to do the
same this year? It seems like I May, unless things change. Also without the rain, our temperatures are higher. Since most plants native to the east need ample rainfall, will species
be able to adapt or will they go extinct in some areas? Many of our plants struggle to stay alive
when the temperature hovers around 100 degrees. Like last year, in my traveling in the
countryside, I notice plants that are dying or just died.

A new internet site on Life

Have you heard about the new internet site that will take aproximately 10 years to complete on
life on earth, all 1.8million species. You will be able to access as someone of little knowledge to
expert knowledge with all the scientific data.

Go green, get the new kind of light bulbs that Walmart is pushing. They are suppose to last
much longer than regular light bulbs and also save you 25% on electricity.

Tornado Alley

Storm Chasers are out in Tornado Alley in full force. The other night , I was watching the T.V.
and they stated that it had been 73 tornadoes that evening with mor on the way. I really
want rain bad, but not like they are getting it in Oklahoma and Kansas. My mother was in
a Tornado on Easter Sunday 1932. It has often been a topic of conversation.

The Queen Visits the Southland

Queen Elizabeth will attend the Kentucky Derby tomorrow at Churchill Downs. Hope she gets
to see Teufelsberg, the horse bought for a few thousand and has a lady trainer cross the finish
line first ahead of all those multi-million dollar thoroughbreds.

Is anyone going to the home garden , Biltmore, for its spring festivities? I went there in
September 1975, and it was quite a memorable experience. But now, they have opened up
more of the house and have a winery.

The Nursery As Art Form

I wonder who started the Nursery as art form? When I studied Ornamental Horticulture in
the late 60's and early 70's and began woking in a nursery in South Florida, nurseries were
drab places. I never once saw one with display gardens. In fact, I never saw a nursery with
display gardens untill January 2004, when I first saw Petals from the Past in Jemison, Alabama.
The owners of Petals studied under the famous rosarian, Bill Welch in Texas, and both man
and wife were familiar with the Antique Rose Emporium.
I had seen pictures of the display gardens of the Antique Rose Emporium in Texas and
Suburban Atlanta in books, and also in their catalogue. Also I had seen pictures of Nancy
Godwin's nursery in North Carolina, Plants Delight Nursery and Woodlanders in South
Carolina. Hopefully once day I will visit more of the nurseries having display gardens.
It makes for such a pleasant experience, especially when they have lovely Contemporary Garden Decor
for Contemporary Garden Decor
displayed among their Contemporary Garden Design
and styled garden.

I'm quite curious of who started this trend and when? Anyone out there who knows
the answer, please respond.

Chelsea Flower Show sold out

Have you heard that the Chelsea Flower Show is sold out? How nice a trip it would
be to go to the flower shows and the great country gardens. I pray that I may
one day see Sissinghurst and Hidcote Manor plus many more of the grand English
gardens.

Antique Roses

If you don't feel like driving to the local nursery or investing in Contemporary Home Gardens
or art objects, then perhaps just stay at home and order antique
roses from www.antiqueroseemporium.com. The Home Garden will look the better for it.

Three roses I recommend are Souvenir dela Malmaison, Sombreuil, and Mme Isaac
Pereire.

The Home Garden

Guess we are through with winter like weather, or at least it is about time. past time.
This week I went to Petals From the Past in Jemison, Alabama. It's the best garden center in
Alabama by far. They also had antique vendors on location for the day only. People were
there from everywhere. There were lines to wait on a wagon to haul your plants. There were
lines to check out.
It was worth the hassle of crowds, though. I have been looking for a Laceleaf Japanes Maple (Acer palmatus 'Dissectum
Veridis') for four years. Now at last, I have one. Yesterday I planted it in my shade garden opposite to Pieris 'Temple Bells" and Yellow Berries Nandina.
I've still got to plant my vegetables in the home garden
, and to add an Italian
Cypress as part of the Contemporary Garden Design

How is the San Francisco Garden Show?

I would truly like to know how the San Francisco Flower Show, since the bay area has been such a great
area for landscape architecture.

Get yourself a beauty bush now. My Kolkwitzia has never been so lovely as it is this week.
The American Legion poppies are to kill for. After such a sad week, it's nice to have pretty
blossoms to cheer yourself up.
It's been a gorgeous week in the Blackbelt with daytime temperatures in the low to mid 70s.

Mortality confronts the College Kids.

Almost everywhere you go, people are talking about the tragedy in Blacksburg. The students are at an age to celebrate life, and not at the age of dealing with death among their contemporaries. When I was that age, we all thought we would live forever.

Well I was wrong about Boston Marathon being in snow. It was a little
wet though, and temperature was around 52 degrees.

Will the Boston Marathon be in Snow?

Do you think Winter will ever be over this year? Every week in April,we
have temperatures to dip down in their 30s. And Snow is blanketing
Midwest and Northeast and thousands of passengers are stranded. I wonder how the Boston Marathon will play out today.

Is this the Week of the Flower Show in D.C.?

Two of my favorite practioners in Contemporary Garden Design do a lot of work in the D.C. area.
They are James vanSweden and Wolfgang Oehme. I would like to know if they create a
garden at the D.C. Flower Show.

How is your home garden this spring?

How are things going on in the home garden? Are you under snow or 80 degrees. Saw on T.V.
where a lot of the midwest is blanketed with snow. Well I think I was wrong about the peach
crop. Also the strawberries suffered .

How are things coming along this spring in the home garden ? Since about any style is o.k. to use in Contemporary Garden Decor , here is a good website to order from - www.jacksonpottery.com . If you are into mexican pottery, and need small pots or vases, you my want to give www.clayzee.com/business/import_export/ . They even have things to decorate your onyour own secret garden. .`Do make sure the style of decorative objects is appropriate to your home and garden style. Mexican pottery is so colorful. I had a nice lovely
piece in Mobile, that I forgot to take when I moved, I have missed it a great deal. It looked so
nice being nailed to a brick wall.

Much Ado About Nothing

The t.v. stations had us all in a tizzy. With tales of no peach crops etc. But in Central Alabama
even though the temperatures were low, it was not enoough to cause much harm. It's very cool
today, but in two days , unfortunatelyl the temperatures will be in the eighies ago. Not only
are plants confused, so are the animals. The snakes were sunny on rocks last week. while this
week , they were no were to be founds, thank God. Blanche, my little lap dog was shivering this
morning. Guess everyone heard of the bad news coming out of the world conference on global warming. Did you hear about the Supreme Court telling the EPA to get tougher.
The other day I read in some blog someone's opinions on the mega flower shows versus the small ones. He ended his posts asking people if the Philadelphia Flower Show was still No. 1.
and was it as good as it use to be. I only saw it in 1981 and it was great.

What is happening to the Glorious Spring of 07

Here in zone 8 most high spring plants have finished blooming , except for George Tabor Azaleas , Lady Banks Roses, and Kwanzan Cherries. Last year my Chinese snowball and Palibin
Lilac failed to bloom because of late frost. This year they are in their prime and it's suppose
to freeze. Some many roses have started blooming, American Legion poppies, bachelor's
buttons, and much more. Tonight it looks like they are doomed because of freezing weather.
This is bad, but much worse is the peach crop for 07 in Alabama. Chilton County is famous
for its peaches, the farmers are on pins and needles.
I guess the Yoshino cherries in Washington will get it to. They were so pretty this year in
central Alabama. Dang crazy weather. It seems to get stranger each year.
Scientists give dire predictions at global warming seminar in Brussels. The poor it seems
will be the most vulnerable.

Spring is in overdrive

Well the Yoshino Cherries in D.C. are at their peak. Pollen counts have been out the roof.
In Atlanta last week I think the count was 5,928 , where 120 is suppose to be a bad day.
I am really impressed with Woodlanders Nursery in Aiken, S.C. They have so many hard to
find plants at very good prices. Among 15 plants I ordered some Black Bamboo for just $18.00.
I had seen it advertised in other catalogues for over $100. You can order plants from them
online at www.woodlanders.net. Can't wait to see what Alexandrian Laurel and my Yellow
Berries Nandinas will look like in a few years, along with the paper bush, Edgeworthia.
Now with such small Contemporary Home Gardens , you must be extremely selective in choosing plants. It's sad there is such little room for experimentation.

Poor Pollen Sufferers

My neighbor who not only adores dogs, but also plants has been in the hospital all week in
Birmingham with Asthma and Bronchitis. Because of the pollen, she has missed out on seeing
quite a spectacular spring show. It seems to be getting better all the time. Except for the
record high tempatures. I got to see Silver Bells bloom for the first time this week. My
Pearl Bush is to kill for, and the Chinese Snowball is gaudy as the devil. Last year due to a
late freeze, the Chinese Snowball failes to bloom.
Surely hope your spring is not being ruined by the pollen.
Oh yea, I went to Perry Lakes Park to see the Carolina Silverbells bloom. Sad to say, I was
too late.

Back Breaking Work

For the past few months, most of my waking hours has been devoted to work on the computer
and reading. However, next week , my time will be spent outdoors in the 80 degree weather
weeding, hoeing, and digging up my vegetable and cut flower garden getting it ready for spring
and summer. I have just ordered 15 plants from www.woodlanders.net. Hopefully the order
will arrive sometime next week. Hope I have the energy to get things accomplish. Oh yes,
something I hate, I have got to pick up more pine cones. It seems like that's all I did this
winter. The price one pays for beauty. It would be nice if you could obtain beauty while sitting
in the shade sipping on frozen magaritas.

Carolina Silverbells anyone?

The Carolina Silverbells will be blooming at Perry Lakes -Barton's Beach Project near Marion,
Alabama. There are masses of this native Halesia.

The New England Flower Show starts this weekend in Boston. They have an interesting theme
they named Asian Fusion. It highlights the Asian influence, but not only does it use oriental plants, it also uses plants typically grown in New England.

Tour the world's great gardens on Google.

Google images have some great photos of the world's famous gardens. It also has great images
of gardens of no fame. Am wishing I could catch an Airbus A 380 or slow boat to Europe to visit
some gardens. I will never forget the day I spent at Versailles and the day I spent at Allhambra
in Malaga, Spain the summer of 75. Also the parks and street scenes of Spain, France, Italy, and
Greece are spectacular.

Why doesn't your Garden Tractor crank up when you need it.

That 4 leaf clover and veitch seem to be a great place for snakes to hide. Of course, I don't know
if they have come out of hibernation. Couldn't get my little tractor. Had to struggle with the
small gasoline push mower and often the clover won out.

Allan Armitage

Allan Armitage, the well known horticuluralist from the South is giving a
lecture at Swarthmore College in Surburban Philadelphia.

Four leaf clover

The countryside is inundated with 4 leaf clover. And Saturday is St. Patricks Day.
The clover in our yard is high enough to hide many a leprechaun. To me 4 leaf clover looks
like shamrocks. I guess I haven't seen any shamrocks.

Pros and Cons of Bradford Pears

The Bradford Pears are nearing full bloom. They are beautiful when they bloom, but I can not
stand to see them shaped like lollipops. On my 50th birthday a Bradford Pear fell on my house
in Mobile. So they do not have the strongest of limbs. Also in Alabama , they are greatly overused when a lot of lovely natives are ignored like Shadblow Serviceberry, Silver Bells, and
Chinonanthus.

The Flower Shows.

It's getting close to the time of the year for flower shows. The best one I ever so was in Philadelphia in the spring of 1980. It was at the city's convention center across the river
from downtown, not far from Penn. Not only were the show flowers superb, but for me
the individually created garden scenes were tops. It takes quite and effort to time every bloom
to the flower show and the logistics of getting it in place is something I'm glad I don't have to
think of.

The time of the year is hear when you don't know what to wear. It was very chilly this morning, now it's hot, hot, hot. The clover and veitch is growing like mad all over the country. And this
small wild blue flowers are to kill for - wish I knew what is was.

For Gardeners in the South

It's hard to find a better reference book than Southern Living's Garden Book. Their book on
Landscaping is also well done. I've heard that Michael Dirr's books are excellent.

Tornadoes tear up Alabama

After bragging about perfect weather for a week all hell breaks loose in Alabama. Not only did
a huge one cause chaos in Enterprise, but the one at Miller's Ferry was in the middle of the
black belt about 30 miles from where I live. Ithink the people who got snow were much better off.

Planting trees and roses on own rootstock.

William Robinson said that plants were much healthier and lived longer when planted on
own rootstock, instead of by grafting or budding. Of the Antique roses I planted, the ones
not grafted look much better. Dr. William Welch also preaches on the quality of having plants
on their own roots.

Morning Drive to Selma

While driving to Selma this morning, I noticed that the Saucer Magnolias were beginning to
bloom. Also saw a Pear tree in full bloom. I don't think it was a bradford.
Have the spring bulbs started to bloom in your area of the country? How about crocuses.
I've intended to plant crocuses, but its one of the many things I haven't got around to doing.
Am so mad at Walmart in Selma, they have been without topsoil, and cow manure since
October. In November, I had to drive to Tuscaloosa and go to Lowe's

What's blooming in your Garden?

Here I sit at a computer terminal talking about gardening instead of getting it done. And what
with near perfect afternoon weather - low to mid 70s. But the thought of having to pick up
pine cones keeps me typing away. All my back can deal with is one wheelbarrow load a day.
Am enjoying the Ice Follies Daffodils, the red poppy anemones, and the candytuft. The Professor
Seargant, Lady Claire, and Purple Dawn Camellias are still lovely

What's blooming in your Garden?.

While picking up pine cones

The storms last week blew pine cones everywhere. Yesterday I was out picking some up, while
my 2 dalmations and lap dog were frolicking. All of a sudden I see 2 cars coming up the road and
my dalmation, Potter dart out in the road. I scream his name, he is hit by a BMW's bumper, I
thought he was a goner. This lovely woman was able to stop her car before the wheels ran over
Potter. He hobbled off the payment, stunned. I was in a state of shock. I put him in my Jeep
and we sped to the Vet. Luckily he was in great shape. I now call him my Mardi Gras Miracle
Dog. A Fat Tuesday I shall never forget.

The nurseries, Garden Centers, and places like Walmart are gearing up for spring. It's over
70 degrees here in Selma, how is it in your neck of the woods?

Anemones blooming in 20s weather.

The poppy anemones are blooming during some of the coldest days of winter with temperatures
in the mid twenies at night and mid forties at day. The daffodils are all mixed up, Jonquils
and Ice Follies are blooming now, but the Carlton bulbs and the Tete-a-Tete bulbs have not
even came up. The 13th tornadoes were going through the area and a hail storm.
I guess we have to look forward to a goofy springtime.

The home garden and it's borders.

Not only do people put too many plants arounds the base of the house, they put too few in the
rest of the yard, fron and back. Borders are not only a great place to showcase some special
plants, but it enframes the house. If you do not have room enough for borders and they should
be from 10 to 25 feet in width, build a fence that goes along with the house and it decor.
Particularly in back it is a nice place to grow perennials along with the shrubs and small trees.

Eradicate Ugly Foundation Plantings in your neighborhood

The most common mistake in home garden design is planting too many shrubs and shrubs that
grow too large around the foundation of the house. Foundation planting was a turn of the century American invention to cover up ugly foundations that were very high off the ground
in houses built around the 1880's until the 1920's. Today few houses are built more than a few
feet off the ground and many are being built on a slab. Hence no need for heavy foundation
plantings. All you need are a few plants at the corner and around the entrance tied together
by ground cover , or if you choose to go in for even greater low maintenance gardening, put
down a couple of layers of landscape fabric and cover it with an inch of pine bark or cypress
mulch or some other mulch. If you would like greenery added punch holes about 10 inches
apart and plant something like asiatic jasmine.

Contemporary Garden Decor

Mexican pottery will add a great deal of color to your garden. You must be sure the colors in the
pottery go with you flower colors, and the color of brick walls, and such. It would look good in
a shrub border or with ornamental grasses and ground covers, or you could add a colorful note
on your patio. Here are some websites where you can purchase mexican pottery in all price
ranges. Ebay, LaFuente.com., solmarimpotts.com., EPSBsamples.com., directfrommexico.com.

Glorious Wintersweet

The last bloom of the year is on my wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox). It has the greatest
delicate smell. It starts in zone 8 in November. You can buy some at Petals From the Past
at Jemison, Alabama or order them on the internet from www.woodlanders.net. IF you have
a secret garden with a nice piece of classic or contemporarty garden furniture, placing a
wintersweet and curling up with a book would make for a quiet afternoon.

Contemporarily Classic or Classically Contemporary or Whatever floats your boat.

Does you home garden style match your personality? Are you laid back, back to nature, life
is a party type, if so perhaps your garden style is reflective of the work of Piet Oudolf, James
van Sweden, or Wolfgang Oehme using a lot of ornamental grasses surrounded by perennials.?
Or you relaxed, always at ease yet like and easy-going classic style, perhaps you have a garden
or roses, perennials, herbs, and annuals arranged in borders of the cottage style? Are you a
perfectionist, liking everything always, neats, orderly and in its place, then pehaps you have
the classic western garden of straight lines and symmetrical balance as evidenced in many
french and italian gardens? Or perhaps you like kitsch and have gone off the deep end with
pink flamingos?

The weather in Black belt Alabama

While the Midwest and Northeast are experiencing many feet of snow and below zero weather,
it has been comparatively much nicer in central Alabama. Yesterday it was sunny and in the
low to mid sixties. Today it is partially sunny and again suppose to reach the 60 degree mark.

It has been a bleak , dreary, wintry week in Black Belt Alabama this last week of January and first week of February. But in a few weeks spring weather will return. But it's disappointing
because so many of the bulbs and shrubs you look forward to see blooming are blooming already. With daffodils some varieties have already bloomed and some have not. This week
all the new growth on the Japanese Box, Korean Wintergreen Box, and Common Box was
killed back by the 25 degree weather.

It has been a bleak , dreary, wintry week in Black Belt Alabama this last week of January and first week of February. But in a few weeks spring weather will return. But it's disappointing
because so many of the bulbs and shrubs you look forward to see blooming are blooming already. With daffodils some varieties have already bloomed and some have not. This week
all the new growth on the Japanese Box, Korean Wintergreen Box, and Common Box was
killed back by the 25 degree weather.

Gardening This January in Zone 8 has been unusual.

Gardening has been Strange here in Alabama this winter, what with Jonquils blooming on
New Year's Eve , Baby's Breath Spirea and Flowering Quince bloom in January and clover
and veitch growing like it was spring. But then the Lady Claire Camellia was 2 months late.

The stranges thing of all was seeing a photo of a Flowering Cherry blooming in Brooklyn, N.Y.
the first half of January on T.V.

Gardening This January in Zone 8 has been unusual.

Gardening has been Strange here in Alabama this winter, what with Jonquils blooming on
New Year's Eve , Baby's Breath Spirea and Flowering Quince bloom in January and clover
and veitch growing like it was spring. But then the Lady Claire Camellia was 2 months late.

The stranges thing of all was seeing a photo of a Flowering Cherry blooming in Brooklyn, N.Y.
the first half of January on T.V.