A profile of Consolida regalis Story by Denise Pugh As a young gardener with a blank slate for a garden, I was introduced to larkspur (Consolida regalis). My neighbor was a seasoned gardener and grew these lovely plants. She allowed me to gather a bouquet, and my only disappointment was learning that the seeds had been …
Are they our friends? Story by Rick Snyder, Ph.D. We often hear that every creature was put on Earth for a purpose. Really? What about those pesky mosquitoes? I’m sure I remember from many years ago that mosquitoes were only a problem during the heat of summer. Then, at some point, they were troublesome in …
Don’t hold back when creating curb appeal Story and Photos by Richelle Stafne One way to know you have curb appeal is when passersby stop to photograph or discuss “what you’ve got going on” or when cars slow down or stop in front of your home to admire or capture an image with their cell …
A gardener profile of John Monroe Story and Photos by Nellie Neal If you’re lucky enough to be invited, try not to gawk as you enter John Monroe’s backyard. It’s almost certain you’ve never seen a marvel quite like his innovative vegetable garden. This man grows food with great zest, tons of fresh produce that …
A list of lists of great native plants for your Mississippi landscape Gardeners are constantly looking for ways to make gardening easier and more carefree. “Low maintenance” is often the holy grail for most of us. One of the easiest ways to reduce the “work” of gardening is to use plants native to our state. …
A teaching and demonstration orchard Story and Photos by Jeff Wilson, Ph.D. In the northern part of Mississippi, situated on the grounds of the North MS Research and Extension Center in Verona, lies a beautiful teaching and demonstration orchard and vineyard. As it heads into the growing season, this garden has already provided gardeners with …
Get big returns for little work by growing your own cherry tomatoes Story by Karen Ott Mayer One of the most satisfying gardening endeavors comes from the smallest of vegetables and returns a big, prolific investment. Cherry tomatoes offer every gardener, but especially beginners, a fun, flavorful way to grow produce. These little gems also …
Story by Denise Pugh Nothing says springtime quite like a dogwood tree in full bloom. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is native to the eastern United States. Virginia and North Carolina claim its bloom as their states’ flower, and Missouri claims the dogwood as its state tree. This tree is often associated with Easter according to …
The weird science of horticulture Story by Rick Snyder, Ph.D. Every science has its anomalies, its weirdness. It is not at all difficult to find example of some of these in horticulture. Today we’ll talk about some of the more recent standouts you may have seen in the news. Mini-Tomatoes Most of us grow beefsteak …
A passionate affair of exciting and unusual plants Story and Photos by Richelle Stafne I love visiting other people’s gardens to see what they are growing. It’s especially fun when I find new and interesting plants, or plants that I had forgotten. Even in my own garden it brings joy to hear someone say, “Ooh, …
