Yummy blackberries from the garden excel in flavor compared to store-bought. To get the most out of a blackberry planting, select a full sun location with well-drained organically rich loamy soils. The site should be close to a water supply to get the planting off to a good start and to maximize berry size and […]
Archive for the ‘Bee Favorite’ Category
Growing Healthy Blackberries in Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2022
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Blackberries, compost, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Edible fruits, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Harvest Time, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Virus diseases, watering tips, Weed control, Weeds, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Growing Healthy Blackberries in Your GardenPassionflower Vine
Posted by Hugh on June 7th, 2022
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a fast-growing, trailing vine that climbs via axillary tendrils. It is woody where winter climes are warm. In zone 5, the foliage dies back to the ground in cold winters. This summer-flowering vine is native to the southeastern U.S. where you see it growing habitat in sandy soils along stream banks, roadsides, woodland edges, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Passionflower (Passiflora), Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Passionflower VineCinnamon Clethra
Posted by Hugh on May 27th, 2022
Japanese clethra (Clethra barbinervis) is a large, upright, deciduous shrub or small tree (USDA 5-8). As a small tree it generally grows 10-20 feet tall and features horizontally drooping, terminal racemes (4-6 inches long); the white flowers are pleasantly fragrant. Its bloom period continues over several weeks from mid to late summer. In autumn, its […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Clethra, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Cinnamon ClethraChinese Fringetree
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2022
Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) is native to China, Korea and Japan (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). As with the native U.S. species (C. virginicus), this plant is noted for its fragrant white flowers. Gardeners first fall in love with this large, multi-stemmed, deciduous large multi-branched shrub. Some nurseries are also offering the Chinese form as a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringetree10 Drought Tolerant Perennials
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2022
Once established, these ten drought-tolerant plants can cope with hot sun and humidity with low amounts of supplemental water. If you garden in a drought-prone area, or growing in fast-draining raised beds, these drought-resistant plants are a great choice for your garden. Perhaps you wish to reduce your water bills. Plan to keep plantings adequately […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agastache (Hyssop), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Calamagrostis, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Lavender (Lavandula), mulching, Native Plant, Pennisetum spp., Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Russian sage (Perovskia), Sedum (Groundcover types), Sedum (Shrub type), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), watering tips, winter hardiness, Yarrow (Achillea) Comments Off on 10 Drought Tolerant PerennialsFour Space-Saving Summer Blooming Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2022
Miniaturation of many of our garden shrubs has been a trend for over 30 years. A common saying among gardeners has been they no making any more land making anymore or, in this case, garden planting space. In particular, urban gardeners continue to squeeze more color into limited spaces. Here are four flowering shrubs that […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Space-Saving Summer Blooming ShrubsThree Standout Panicle Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2022
For over a decade the cultivar ‘Limelight’ has been among the best selling panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It bears large greenish-white floral trusses on 6- 8 feet tall branches; beautiful for use as cut (fresh or dried) flowers. Here are three panicle hydrangeas that are also very popular. Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sand Dune Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Standout Panicle HydrangeasGlobe Amaranth (Gomphrena)
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2022
Three important objectives of area gardeners are: 1. Inviting more pollinators, 2. Growing more natives, and 3. Reducing garden maintenance. Gomphrenas, aka Globe amaranths, are becoming more recognized as outstanding annual flowering plants for Tennessee/Virginia/North Carolina gardens. Gomphrenas are North American natives (Texas, New Mexico, and northeastern Mexico) and are blooming machines in the heat, the […]
Posted in Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Heat Tolerance, Honey bees, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)Coneflower Variety Trials At MT. Cuba Center
Posted by Hugh on March 26th, 2022
Coneflowers (Echinacea spp) are immensely popular native flowering perennials prized for their summer floral beauty. Nine species of Echinacea are native in North America and are found primarily in the central and southeastern U.S. Additionally, some populations of Echinacea angustifolia extend from the U.S. northwards into southcentral Canada. Since the 1990s, a boom in Echinacea breeding has resulted in large numbers of new […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Bumble bees, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Honey bees, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflower, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Coneflower Variety Trials At MT. Cuba CenterEight Colorful Annuals Thrive In Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2022
1. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) are excellent shade plants, traditionally planted in hanging baskets and window boxes. Asparagus fern (Asparagus springeri) is also nice additions to shady areas. 2. Coleus (Solenostemon) are known for their colorful foliage is nice in a pot or around trees or shrubs. For moderately shady areas, select the Mosaic™ or Kong™ series. 3. Begonias […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Bee Favorite, Begonia, Begonia boliviensis, Butterflies, Caladium, Coleus, Container garden, Ferns, Flowers, Foliage plant, Fuchsias, Impatiens, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Torenia (wishbone flw.), watering tips Comments Off on Eight Colorful Annuals Thrive In Shade
