Our patches of the evergreen conifer, Microbiota decussata ‘Prides’ have switched from their summer coats of green to their winter coats of bronze. The same occurs on a number of plants in the genus Thuja, Cryptomeria, and Juniperus. I have a few folks each year ask how to keep conifers from going bronze in winter,
Chromoplasticity – It could be happening in Your Garden Read More »
I was fascinated recently, while observing the water puddles on an agave leaf after a recent rain event this winter. These natural phenomenon are often missed as we hurry through life, or are even things we simply take for granted. In fact, each aspect of life is quite more complex than we realize. The cause
Nature has so many cool things to observe, if we just take time to do so. On a recent trek through the nursery, I was taken by these photogenic chalices of Bird’s Nest Fungus. This natural work of art grows on mulch and compost, and has no detrimental effect on plants or animals. In reality,
Our recent intense rains, 7″ in four days, made this garden spider web show up beautifully in front of our coning Keteleeria davidiana. We have some cones most years, but this year there are almost as many cones as their are needles.
We caught a glimpse of our Carolina anole, Naomi Gamble, slinking down the green carpet last week, posing in the latest sheer, skin-revealing, summer design from the Yves Saint Laurent spring collection. What a fashionably sly creature.
Modeling the latest in sheer design Read More »
Greeting me on a recent foggy winter morning garden walk was a specimen of the fascinating Clathus columnatus, better known as column stinkhorn. It lives on dead and decaying organic matter, so is often seen growing in mulched areas. In the US, it’s typically seen East of the Mississippi, but many mycologists theorize it was
In full flower now is Patrick’s selection of the native Helianthus angustifolius from Berkeley County, SC. This widespread wetland, often shaded species can be found from New Jersey to Texas. As is the case for most species, each population varies in one or more traits. Most Helianthus angustifolius usually reaches 5′ in height, but this
We have a number of favorite legumes in the garden, but most flower in the spring or early summer. The star of the fall garden is undoubtedly Dalea bicolor var. argyaea, which starts flowering in mid-October. All summer, we get to enjoy the silver foliage, which thrives in our summers, only to be further rewarded
Dalliances with Daleas Read More »
The beautiful Gaillardia aestivalis var. winkleri ‘Grape Sensation’ is still in full flower as we approach the end of October. This amazing, but quite rare blanket flower is only found in a small area of the East Texas pineywoods region. Although it’s currently listed as a variety of Gaillardia aestivalis, we feel it deserves to
Solidago mexicana ‘Endless Stares’, in flower at JLBG, is a wild, but almost unknown Southeast US native, which ranges in coastal settings from Maryland south into Mexico. This goldenrod is Patrick’s SC native selection, with stunning purple red stems all summer. We love the large size, but this probably freaks out most gardeners.
