On a pleasant July morning I saw my first ‘Halloween Hocus Pocus’ daylily (Hemerocallus x ‘Hocus Pocus’) in a friend’s garden. The 5 ½ inch flowers stand on 26 inch tall stems (scapes) and the foliage is semi-evergreen. The cultivar name describes it best. Its creamy orange color with a triangular black throat and wide […]
Archive for the ‘Butterflies’ Category
‘Halloween Hocus Pocus’ Daylily For Garden Goblins
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Daylilies, Hummingbird, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips 
Comments Off on ‘Halloween Hocus Pocus’ Daylily For Garden GoblinsAster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ Is Spectacular Autumn Bloomer
Posted by Hugh on September 11th, 2013
Aster Raydon’s Favorite (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’) is one of our most reliable native perennial asters. This aromatic aster blooms in mid-autumn, covered with 1 ½ inch wide blue-purple daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. Butterflies and bumble bees are frequent visitors to this aster in my October garden. Night temps in the mid-twenties don’t injure […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Virus diseases, watering tips Comments Off on Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ Is Spectacular Autumn BloomerHeirloom Mums Are Back!
Posted by Hugh on September 8th, 2013
Bring back heirloom or “old-fashioned” mum varieties into your autumn garden! These varieties tend to bloom very late in the fall and tend to be hardier (USDA hardiness zone 5). Four of the best heirlooms are: ‘Clara Curtis’ – deep pink, daisy-like blooms ‘Mary Stoker’- peachy yellow blooms ‘Sheffield’ (aka ‘Sheffield Pink’) – light pink […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Chrysanthemum, Disease resistant, Flowers, mulching, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Heirloom Mums Are Back!Daylilies Not Blooming?
Posted by Hugh on August 29th, 2013
Gardeners become disappointed when their daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are not bloom. There may be reasons for this including: old clumps in need of dividing, inadequate nutrition, too much nitrogen fertilizer, too much shade, and pest and disease issues. Daylilies may be shaded or crowded out by overgrown trees, shrubs, ground covers, or weeds. Heavy amounts […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Hummingbird, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Daylilies Not Blooming?Divide Irises In Late Summer
Posted by Hugh on August 17th, 2013
Irises (Iris spp.) are beloved spring flowering perennials. Perhaps some fans and clumps flowered poorly this spring. There are several reasons for this, including: old clumps in need of dividing, weather issues, poorly drained soil, inadequate nutrition, too much nitrogen fertilizer, heavy shade, and pest and disease problems. Irises do not compete well for space […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Iris, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Uncategorized, watering iris, Weed control, Winter Protection Comments Off on Divide Irises In Late SummerNew ‘Big’ Begonias Showier Alternative To Wax Begonias
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2013
Wax begonias (Begonia x semperflorens) continue to be dependable a summer flowering annual for gardens and container use. They also hold up to summer’s heat, humidity, and dry spells and foliage remains mostly pest and disease free. Begonia benariensis are a relatively new introduction by the Benary Seed Co. and are trademarked as Big™ begonias […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Begonia, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on New ‘Big’ Begonias Showier Alternative To Wax BegoniasSmall (Dwarf) Crape Myrtles Becoming The Vogue
Posted by Hugh on July 27th, 2013
‘Tightwad Red’ Crape Myrtle Over the past quarter century crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) have become the quintessential flowering shrubs of summer along with hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.), altheas (Hibiscus syriacus), and chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). Crape myrtles are grouped into four distinct size categories: trees, large shrubs, medium shrubs and dwarf sizes. A spate of new dwarf […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Small (Dwarf) Crape Myrtles Becoming The VogueRussian Sage More Shrub-like Than Perennial
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2013
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is low maintenance woody-based perennial. It grows in a dry to medium moist average soil and, first and foremost, in full sun. It’s a long-lived perennial which stands up to summer’s heat and humidity (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Branches tend to flop or take on a droopy appearance in late summer. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Pruning, Russian sage (Perovskia), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Russian Sage More Shrub-like Than PerennialLong Blooming Colorful ‘Kaleidoscope’ Flowering Abelia
Posted by Hugh on July 15th, 2013
Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a popular shrub in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6–9). Foliage is evergreen in USDA Zone 7 and south. The cultivar ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a form of abelia that can be utilized as a 2 to 3 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide compact shrub or low spreading […]
Posted in Abelia, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact shrub, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Long Blooming Colorful ‘Kaleidoscope’ Flowering AbeliaSilver Linden Foliage Shimmers On A Windy Day
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2013
Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) is a rarely planted large shade tree. Native to southeastern European, silver linden demonstrates better heat and drought tolerances in the southern U.S. than most lindens. It grows to 50 to 60 feet in height over 25-30 years with a moderate annual growth rate. A newly planted tree exhibits a narrow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Large Shade trees, Ornamental fruit, Silver Linden (Tilia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Silver Linden Foliage Shimmers On A Windy Day
