In early spring Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is an ephemeral woodland wildflower. In early April their lovely presence is to be enjoyed for a short 8-10 week period. Clusters of pinkish-blue nodding buds burst forth into soft pastel blue flowers. Gradually, the bell -shaped flowers age to pale pink hues. The lovely blue flowers are […]
Archive for the ‘Hummingbird’ Category
Virginia Bluebells – An Early Spring Wildflower
Posted by Hugh on March 15th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Virginia bluebell (Mertensia), watering tips 
Comments Off on Virginia Bluebells – An Early Spring WildflowerEpimediums Excel As Dry Shade Groundcovers
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2013
Epimediums, aka barrenwort or fairy wings, are slow-growing groundcovers which are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. Foliage varies by species, variety, and the season of the year. Most are deciduous, but some evergreen in the Southern Appalachian region (zones 6 and 7). The leaves of some may be chartreuse in spring, green in summer, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Epimediums Excel As Dry Shade GroundcoversLungworts- Perfect Shade Companion With Hostas
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2013
The lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.) are very popular in shade gardens with hostas, astilbes, Solomon seals, and ferns (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Their green or silver-colored foliage may be dusted with green, silver or white spots. Lungworts are divided into two distinct foliage forms: narrow long-leaf (P. longifolia) and silvery or speckled oval leaves (P. saccharata). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Downy mildew, Flowers, Ground cover, Hummingbird, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pulmonaria, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lungworts- Perfect Shade Companion With HostasSkip (Schipka) Laurel Creates Dense Evergreen Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on January 14th, 2013
Schipka laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is a dense growing evergreen shrub with lustrous evergreen foliage and clusters of small white flowers in the spring. It is rated as one of the cold hardiest of cherry laurels (USDA hardiness zone 6-8). In the garden center it is often labeled ‘skip laurel”. Skip laurel grows 10 to […]
Common Ditch Lilies
Posted by Hugh on August 14th, 2012
A native of eastern Asia, tawny daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva) are often called “ditch lilies”. You see them growing along roadsides, in back alleys, and in old gardens, often in very poor soil. Their tenacious root system helps to stabilize steep slopes. They seem to thrive in places too difficult for most plants. They’re grow so easily […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Common Ditch Lilies‘Hot Lips’ Turtlehead – A Late Summer Flowering Native
Posted by Hugh on August 8th, 2012
Turtlehead (Chelone spp.) is a U.S. native. Turtle-head shaped flowers appear in August and September. The 1 inch flowers open from bottom to top along the stem (s). Colors vary from bright white, creamy white, and white tinged with pink (depending on species and cultivar grown). Pink turtlehead (C. lyonii ) is native to the Southern […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Turtlehead (Chelone), watering tips Comments Off on ‘Hot Lips’ Turtlehead – A Late Summer Flowering NativeVintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily Performer
Posted by Hugh on June 26th, 2012
Some vintage daylily varieties are timeless performers. Strawberry Candy daylily (Hemerocallis x ‘Strawberry Candy’) is a daylily classic, one of the first to open in June in Southern Appalachian gardens (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Its grass-like foliage is semi-evergreen here. The 4- inch diameter flowers open strawberry pink with a prominent rose red eye […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Vintage ‘Strawberry Candy’ A Sensational Daylily PerformerPowdery Mildew: The Bane of Beebalm
Posted by Hugh on June 9th, 2012
Beebalm (Monarda spp.) is one of our great native perennials and herbs. Native Americans used beebalm as a tea, brewing it for colds, minor bronchial and digestive complaints, and also as a poultice to soothe insect stings. During the Boston Tea Party, rebellious colonists utilized beebalm as a tea substitute, calling it “Oswego tea”. […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Butterflies, deadheading, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Herbs, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Powdery Mildew: The Bane of BeebalmPinxterbloom Azalea
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2012
Pinxterbloom (Rhododendron periclymenoides), formerly R. nudiflorum, is a hardy deciduous azalea native to a large geographic area of the eastern United States. Pinxterbloom naturally grows nearby streams in a light woodland setting, but appears to tolerate dry rocky sites equally well after 2 years established. Shrub heights vary from 4-8 feet. Pinxterbloom spreads by underground stolons and shrubs may become […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), compost, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Pinxterbloom azalea, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Pinxterbloom AzaleaExceptional Describes ‘Major Wheeler’ Climbing Honeysuckle
Posted by Hugh on April 25th, 2012
Climbing or coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a native vine. It can be spotted growing on fence rows along roadsides and in woodlands from Connecticut to Nebraska, and south to Texas and Florida. ‘Major Wheeler’ is one of the better climbing honeysuckles noted for its non-stop production of bright red trumpet flowers and green mildew resistant foliage. Red […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Butterflies, Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Uncategorized, Vine Comments Off on Exceptional Describes ‘Major Wheeler’ Climbing Honeysuckle
