I hope everyone had a very happy holiday! We just got back in tonight after visiting several family members in various parts of Tennessee. We're very fortunate to have both sets of parents within easy driving distance so we can visit them both at Christmas. We also spent several days in west Tennessee in Trenton and Union City where some of my wife's family lives. We had a good time but are glad to be home!
While we visited my wife's grandmother in Trenton I took the opportunity to collect a few things. She has several Crape Myrtle trees that have a historical family lineage. The original Crape Myrtle came from my wife's great grandmother's house and was planted later at my wife's grandmother's house. It has survived many seasons in the same place even after freezing to the ground multiple times. Each time the mighty myrtle froze it came back strong. I took a small envelope outside and knocked the branches above the envelope to encourage the seed to fall into it. These seeds should sprout new Crape Myrtles that have a good cold weather hardiness and a family connection.
I also took some fruit from the Southern magnolia tree in the front yard in the hopes that I can raise some magnolias from the seed inside. The magnolia appears to be a smaller variety but after a conversation with Sarah (my wife's grandmother) there is more to this little magnolia. Her husband did not really want the tree in the yard. Strangely each year the growing tip kept breaking off of the tree which limited its height. After several years of this happening Sarah said to her husband "I don't know why this keeps happening, I wonder what's causing it?" After mentioning it to her husband it never happened again! He never admitted to anything but she knew he really didn't want any trees. To him every tree meant another obstacle to mow around. She also gave me a gardenia cutting she had and an African violet offshoot from one of her plants.
Thursday evening we visited my wife's aunt in Union City. While at her house we visited with family, ate more food and opened more presents! Although this wasn't a traditional sort of present (and did not require unwrapping), she offered me a rosemary plant trimmed in the shape of a tree that someone had given her. She said that she didn't have the time to plant it so I happily accepted it! (Thanks Gracie!)
Now I need to get the seeds ready for planting!
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Showing posts with label Tennessee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tennessee. Show all posts
Tennessee Garden Bloggers
Are there any other Tennessee garden bloggers out there? I found one yesterday courtesy of Nan at Gardening Gone Wild. If you have a chance go visit Frances over at Faire Gardening over in east Tennessee. If you are a Tennessee garden blogger let me know and I'll add you to the roll!
Native Substitutes for Exotic and Invasive Plants
Today while browsing I checked the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council's website and found some very useful information for home gardeners. But first let me tell you why I was looking for it. I saw a post discussing Allan Armitage's view of native plants over at Garden Rant. To sum it up in three words: diversity is good! In my opinion as long as you don't invite invasive species to your yard that will take over the country (i.e. kudzu) then having a diverse ecology in your landscape is a good idea.
After reading that post I began to wonder about alternatives for exotic invasive plants. Natives tend to be hardier than exotic plants since they developed in the region and typically are more drought, disease, and pest resistant. While diversity is good there may be some good native alternatives for your landscape. The TNEPPC has some great resources available for free download to people interested in finding alternatives to the exotic and invasive plants many people commonly plant. Here is a pdf document that suggests alternatives to invasive and exotic plants: TNEPPC Native Substitutes. Download a copy and use it as a reference when planning your garden!
After reading that post I began to wonder about alternatives for exotic invasive plants. Natives tend to be hardier than exotic plants since they developed in the region and typically are more drought, disease, and pest resistant. While diversity is good there may be some good native alternatives for your landscape. The TNEPPC has some great resources available for free download to people interested in finding alternatives to the exotic and invasive plants many people commonly plant. Here is a pdf document that suggests alternatives to invasive and exotic plants: TNEPPC Native Substitutes. Download a copy and use it as a reference when planning your garden!
2007 Gardening Season
Summer of 2007 has been a tough one for gardening in Tennessee. We had a major shock in the spring with warm temperatures then a harsh freeze that killed and crippled many plants in our region. Then to add insult to injury we experienced drought and extreme temperatures. Hopefully with fall arriving and cooler temperatures we'll get more water to help improve our drought.
What Would A Tennessee Garden Be Without...
Orange!
The orange standouts are new to flowering this year although some were planted last year in anticipation of a showy display. Daylilies of course come in all kinds of colors. This one has a little orange in the center while remaining mostly yellow and was picked up at the plant swap last year. The Asiatic lily was a recent purchase, my wife loved the color, and because it's a plant I liked it too! (I should be more discerning shouldn't I?) The butterfly weed is a joint favorite of ours around our joint since it looks great and attracts butterflies, hence the name. Monarchs are especially fond of milkweed and butterfly weed is a esteemed member of that lucky family. It does seem a shame to call it a weed though! The last two shots are of the same poppy. This was another pick made by my wife. She may only be able to pick out orange flowers, we'll have to discuss this issue! I put it in the Japanese maple garden just off our patio. It's orange color looks pretty neat next to the burgundy foliage of the maple and the 'Husker's Red' Penstemon.
You just can't have a Tennessee garden without a little orange can you?
The orange standouts are new to flowering this year although some were planted last year in anticipation of a showy display. Daylilies of course come in all kinds of colors. This one has a little orange in the center while remaining mostly yellow and was picked up at the plant swap last year. The Asiatic lily was a recent purchase, my wife loved the color, and because it's a plant I liked it too! (I should be more discerning shouldn't I?) The butterfly weed is a joint favorite of ours around our joint since it looks great and attracts butterflies, hence the name. Monarchs are especially fond of milkweed and butterfly weed is a esteemed member of that lucky family. It does seem a shame to call it a weed though! The last two shots are of the same poppy. This was another pick made by my wife. She may only be able to pick out orange flowers, we'll have to discuss this issue! I put it in the Japanese maple garden just off our patio. It's orange color looks pretty neat next to the burgundy foliage of the maple and the 'Husker's Red' Penstemon.
You just can't have a Tennessee garden without a little orange can you?
Is it Spring Yet?
Is it spring yet? The weather sure seems like it! Today and tomorrow we are looking at temperatures in the mid to upper 60's. Yesterday was warm also in the lower 60's. The difference today will probably be the sun. That bright orange combustible ball of incandescent gas is out and warming things up instead of shyly hiding behind the gray winter clouds. I hope in his exuberance that our old friend the sun doesn't wake up the bulbs and perennial plants from their winter slumber. Surely the warm temperatures have not lasted long enough for that but you never know. This wacky winter weather will all come to an end in a day or two when old man winter stretches his hand out once again to grasp Tennessee firmly in his embrace. The cold fronts are coming! The cold fronts are coming! This warm snap will be nice while it lasts. I'd better take advantage of it and get off this computer and get out into the yard!