Arbor October 2024 Rose Arbor – March 24, 2024 20′ Long – 8′ Wide “We Eat the Whole Buffalo” Following is an old saying that is said to have evolved from the tradition of the Plains Native Americans: “We Eat the Whole Buffalo.” The words allude to a resolve to use everything available when trying…
Category: Gardening
Rustic Touches in My Cottage Gardens – Old Garden Roses
Lady Banks Rose in Jacki Kellum Garden This year, I am adding some vigorous climbing roses, to my garden, including Lady Banks and Peggy Martin. Both of these roses require super strong support. Lady Banksia Rose [Lady Banks] Image Credit: Heirloom Roses 1807 Lady Banks or Banksia Rose was first cultivated in 1807. This old…
Heirloom Roses – Catalog – A Great Resource for Rose Growers
Heirloom Roses Catalog Image Credit: Heirloom Roses I got another heirloom rose today, and I was thrilled to find this fabulous book packed inside the box, and it was free. This is the best plant catalog I have ever gotten. It is much more than a list of plants. It also offers planting advice and…
How to Attract Orioles to Your Backyard – Fresh Oranges and Grape Jelly
I have already set up my backyard bird feeding station, and this week, I’m adding a feeder for my orioles — For orioles, think fresh oranges and grape jelly. Baltimore Oriole Migration Map Image Credit: Cornell Lab Migration “Medium- to long-distance migrant. Baltimore Orioles spend summer and winter in entirely different ranges. From early April…
O’Neal Blueberry – A Plant for Southern Gardens
O’Neal Blueberry Plant Image Credit: The Evergreen Nursery Height: 4′ – 6′ Space: 4′-6′ “O’Neal is a very early ripening, low-chill, highbush blueberry. It is also a self-pollinating cultivar. Developed in North Carolina, O’Neal is an exceptional plant for the Southeast and Gulf States. O’Neal has large berries that are sweet and firm, and pick…
Sun Sugar Tomato – First Tomato To Produce in My Garden – Free Garden Plan
Sun Sugar Tomato Image Credit Bonnie Plants Today, I was moving some of my plants out to my covered porch, and I noticed that my Sun Gold Tomato Plants are in bloom. It only seemed appropriate that I spend a moment to sing the song of my earliest-producing tomato plant, “Although called yellow cherry, these…
Chandler – Best Strawberry Plant for Mississippi – Excellent Flavor
Chandler Strawberry “Bred Especially for Southern Growers! ‘Chandler’ strawberry plants are very popular with commercial growers because of their high yield, brilliant fruit color, and excellent flavor. Fruit is medium to large, long to flattish wedge, moderately firm, juicy berries with good flavor, freezes well. ‘Chandler’ plants are a vigorous, early, midseason variety and must…
Is My Mockingbird More than a Backyard Bird? Bird Symbolism
Today, I was talking to a local farmer, and after she told me about all the animals she is raising on her farm, I said: “My only livestock is my mockingbird.” And while I said that laughingly, it is true that I am a bit perplexed about the mockingbird that has become my best outside…
Vegetables I’m Growing in My Garden 2024
Kitchen Herbs Basil Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Image Credit: gardenia.net Catnip Catmint (Nepeta Cataria) Image Credit: Outsidepride Seeds Height: 24″ Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ Nepeta (Nepeta faassenii) – 3 plants Image Credit: American Meadows Height: 24-30″ tall Chamomile Chamomile Image Credit: Wikipedia Height: 8″ – 24″ Chives Chives Image Credit: Farmer’s Almanac Height: 6″ – 8″…
How to Attract & Identify Backyard Birds in Mississippi Gardens
This spring, I will begin a concerted effort to attract more birds to my yard. At this point, what seems to be a solitary mockingbird is the most frequent flyer in my yard. Throughout the summer, I saw him skittering about one of my shrubs. I am surprised that I even noticed him. Mockingbirds are…