An attractive native shrub that birds and pollinators love Story and Photos by Norman Winter @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy on Facebook Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg, president and founder of the North American Butterfly Association, taught me how to enjoy butterflies through binoculars. In fact, he has authored a series of books on the subject. As a horticulturist, you can’t …
Three favorite summer-blooming beauties Story and Photos by Troy B. Marden troybmarden.com June is hydrangea season in Tennessee. Sure, there are hydrangeas that begin flowering as early as May and continue through August and even September, but June is peak flowering time for my personal favorites and the time of year I enjoy them the …
Bottlebrush buckeye Story by Russell Studebaker Bottlebrush buckeye was first collected by American naturalist and nurseryman William Bartram in the 1770s. Although not common in American gardens, the bottlebrush buckeye was an instant success when introduced to Europe by John Fraser in 1785. Native to the Southeast – South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and north Florida …
The scent of gardenia is unmistakable Story by Denise Pugh The fragrance travels on the wind and comes around the corner quite unexpectedly. The month of June is ushered in by the most intoxicating fragrance. The smell is subtle in the breeze, but as one walks closer to the shrub – a gardenia (G. jasminoides) of …
Story by Hugh Conlon Oyama magnolia, indigenous to eastern Asia, is a deciduous 10-15 feet tall tree or shrub ideally suited for a small garden. Nodding, goblet-shaped, fragrant flowers bloom two to three weeks after the leaves emerge in April, thereby escaping injury from spring frosts. In mid to late May, egg-shaped flower buds unfold …
‘Spilled Wine’ weigela Story by Andrea Dee Spilled Wine weigela pours color and character into the landscape. Its magnificent magenta flowers carpet dark purple black wavy foliage from late spring into summer. The foliage holds its vivid color through summer into fall, contrasting nicely with companion chartreuse- and dark-green-leafed shrubs. Similar to other weigelas, hummingbirds …
Story by Clara A. Curtis Many Southern gardeners may have had their fill of camellias, but not this gardening gal. When I spied this winter-hardy camellia hybrid with red flowers, I was set on having a specimen plant in my entry garden. Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ is hardy in my Zone 6 garden in partly shaded …
‘Florida Sunshine’ yellow anise tree Story by Clara A. Curtis There’s never a dull day in the garden as long as you have a ‘Florida Sunshine’ yellow anise tree. With its brightly colored chartreuse leaves and red stems, this southeastern native is sure to brighten a woodland garden or enliven shady to partly sunny corners. …
Story and Photos by Alan Pulley Gomphocarpus physocarpus has several common names – balloon plant, swan plant, balloon cotton-bush, and others – however, it is most commonly referred to as hairy balls. The name will surely draw a snicker from those with a sense of humor. Regardless of which name you prefer, hairy balls is …
Story and Photos by Andrea Dee A rich, golden-leafed form of cutleaf stag horn sumac makes a bold statement in the landscape. Its upright branching form shows off draping deeply serrated chartreuse to yellow foliage and contrasting rose-hued stems. As if that isn’t dramatic enough, the foliage flames orange to red during the fall before …
