Landscape designs that welcome pollinators to the garden Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Attracting pollinators to the garden is an endeavor that every gardener should pursue. In addition to European honeybees and the multitude of native bees, many butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, moths, solitary wasps, and flies visit flowers to transfer pollen from the …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon ‘Nova’ and ‘Pink Remembrance’ pentas, also known as Egyptian starflowers, are introduced flowering plants that bring hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to the garden in droves. These hardy, vigorous beauties with 3-4-inch clusters of star-shaped flowers were recognized by the LSU AgCenter as “Plants with Potential.” ‘Nova’ and ‘Pink …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Native spotted horsemint (Monarda punctata), one of the remarkable members of the mint family, is a beautiful short-lived perennial herb that is a must-have for the pollinator garden. Butterflies, bees, solitary wasps, and other beneficial insects flock to the gorgeous, nectar-rich flowers. It is also deer resistant and …
Renew, refresh, and revitalize the late-summer garden Story and Photography by Richelle Stafne It’s been a long, hot summer. We could all use a spa day. Even our gardens could benefit from some renewal, refreshing, and revitalization. For some, late summer means August and for others, it’s late August through early September, even though it …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon You’ll enjoy growing garden balsam, an easy-to-grow, upright heirloom Impatiens species that was a favorite in Victorian gardens. Both the showy single-flowered variety and the double camellia-like form are making a comeback. The lovely flowers attract pollinators, including bees and butterflies, to the garden. Balsam does well when …
How to make a whimsical chair planter Story and Photography by Carolyn Tomlin Creative gardeners are always on the lookout for unusual objects that provide a whimsical touch in the garden. Giving a second life to a discarded item is not only economical but adds a fun-loving spirit to your space. One such treasure was …
Dealing with sunlight transitions in the landscape Story and Photography by Annie Barbas Instant garden changes came in the form of a tornado flinging branches on rooftops and toppling trees. Live oaks (Quercus virginiana), some more than 70 years old fell, clipping the gable and splitting the satsuma tangerine tree (Citrus unshiu) while also eliminating …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Passiflora caerulea, a native of Brazil and Argentina, is a fast growing, semi-evergreen flowering vine that is quite cold hardy and will come back from the roots after hard freezes. If the showy, exotic flowers are cross-pollinated with another species or cultivar, blue passionflower vine will produce egg-shaped …
7 of the most reliable species for Southern landscapes Story and Photos By Hubert P. Conlon Magnolias (Magnolia spp.) represent a diverse group of magnificent flowering trees and shrubs. Most bear huge showy blooms in purple, red, pink, yellow, white, and every shade in between. Choose from magnolias that are deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen in …
Rediscovering an old favorite Story and Photos By Garry McDonald Working on a university campus, I can’t help but notice the changing whims of fashion. Lately, the trend among young men is khaki walking shorts, polo shirts, and white crew socks and white sneakers: exactly what we wore on campus in the early 1980s. Like …
