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…
Category: Gardening
The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds Will Migrate through Mississippi in March – How Do I Prepare?
Image Credit: Mississippi State Agriculture Extension Attracting Hummingbirds to Mississippi Gardens “Many Mississippi gardeners enjoy attracting hummingbirds to the landscape. These active birds provide hours of entertainment for children and adults alike and display extraordinary abilities to turn, hover, and fly. The males of these high-octane bundles of energy exhibit beautiful plumage colors of red,…
Herbs, Pollinators, Shrubs, and Flowers Planted in My Garden in 2024
I work in my garden almost every day, and planting is a continuum for me. I’ll start with December of 2023, when I planted 2 gallon-sized Zepherine Drouhin Roses. I planted them on each side of an entrance into my rose garden. I was a bit worried about how they would fare during the winter–especially…
Daffodils, Jonquils, and Other Spring Bulbs in My Garden for 2024
Snowflakes (Leucojum) Image Credit: North Carolina State Extension Office “Snowflakes (Leucojum) have white bells and green dots and are very common pass-along bulbs in the South.” John Rushing Mississippi Gardening Facebook Post – February 16. 2024 Narcissi Miniature ‘Tete a Tete’ Daffodil Image Credit: Votaniki Lent lily (Narcissus pseudo narcissus) Image Credit: De Warrande Words…
Words about Jonquils and Daffodils that Grow Well in Mississippi — According to John Rushing
Mississippi is an excellent place to garden. Our state has fabulous Agricultural Extension Offices, and it has an active Master Gardening program. In addition, Mississippi has at least two outstanding Facebook Gardening Groups. I check both of those Facebook groups regularly, and I usually learn something when I do. Today, one of Mississippi’s renowned gardeners…
Welcome Early Spring – My Spring Beauties Are Blooming in My Garden — A Mississippi Native Plant
Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Image Credit: Native Wildflowers Nursery Height: 6″ – 10″ Spring Beauties are Ephemerals. “A spring ephemeral is a native plant that blooms in early spring and only lasts a short amount of time. They are woodland wildflowers that emerge, then quickly go dormant.” Google ai First Blossom Noticed in May Garden…
The Cloisters in NYC – I Love the Medieval Garden — Especially the Wattle
The Medieval Garden at the Cloisters in New York City Not long ago, I visited The Cloisters in New York City. By definition, a cloister is an open hallway that surrounds a protected garden. It is a natural walkway where monks and nuns might retreat into nature and still have a degree of protection from…
How to Grow Kentucky Wonder Pole Green Beans – Heirloom
Kentucky Wonder Pole Green Bean – Heirloom Image Credit: Burpee “You get big crops of sweet and always stringless pods. “Kentucky Blue is an All-America Selections winner that combines the excellence of the all-time greatest pole beans: Kentucky Wonder and Blue Lake. You get big crops of sweet, straight, stringless pods 7″ long. A heavy…
How to Grow Contender Green Beans – Heirloom Bush Beans
Contender Green Beans – Heirloom Bush Beans – (Phaseolus vulgaris) Image Credit: Burpee Height; 18″ – 30″ “Great bean flavor. “Contender is one of the best bush beans ever. It is a heavy cropper with round-oval pods and a strong, distinctive flavor. It’s an early bean that does well under short seasons and cool conditions,…
Swiss Chard: A Beautiful Plant that Is Also Nutritious
Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ (Beta vulgaris var cicl) I must be twitterpated by the thought of starting my 2024 garden, but today I noticed, for the first time, a gorgeous vegetable plant Swiss Chard Bright Lights. I had always heard that Swiss Chard is bitter, and perhaps I have simply blocked out this gorgeous plant…