Springtime in the Southern Garden

Yes, we delight in seeing daffodils and crocuses raising their blossomy heads in the snow or slop of early spring  -- depending on where we live. I live in Georgia and this year we had snow!
 

Daffodil

 
I love to see the Cosmos blooms and always recall their Greek meaning: "a balanced universe."

Azalea

But what really balances our universe in the South is the Azalea. Drive down any Southern street from Georgia to Louisiana and check the yards. No matter how grand or humble it will have at least one of these hardy flowering shrubs. But just because they’re common doesn’t make them any less fascinating and beautiful. Azaleas come in riot of colors and sizes to suit any space and purpose. For the last ten years botanists have hybridized the old faithful's into varieties that bloom multiple times a year.
 


Rhododendron

Rhododendrons, close cousins to Azaleas, however, are not so accommodating, even though I love them and try to make them happy. They are rather finicky about their environment: the soil -- too wet, too dry -- the sun, too strong, too clouded. Did I say I love them? I delight when we drive north and see them in the wild, in the highlands of North and South Carolina. This ancient Greek rhodon or English rose can be evergreen or deciduous and comes to us from Asia.

Viburnum

The Snowy Viburnum shrubs in my yard are budding. In a few weeks their honeysuckle smell will invade our senses. No surprise it is in the honeysuckle family, (Caprifoliaceae) This broad family raises many species and varieties of trees and shrubs.
Many viburnums put on a showy display, producing flowers in an arrangement called a corymb. Some species are edible, while others are somewhat poisonous.

Wiegela

 

 

Rosy-pink flowers add a touch of romance when displayed against the dark glossy foliage. The foliage is much darker than that of older varieties like 'Java Red'. It contrasts beautifully with the rosy-pink flowers, making for a high impact display in the garden. This variety produces copious amounts of flowers in spring, and will bloom throughout the summer. The trumpet-like flowers are adored by hummingbirds! It is fast growing and trouble free, making it an easy way to add season long color to the garden.

Happy Spring

Happy Gardening

 

 

Gerrie Ferris Finger

Running with Wild Blood

at stores, online, libraries





 

 

 

 

 

At Callaway Gardens in Georgia

I am far from a gardener, but I try. And I visit Callaway Gardens, located in a pine forest south of Atlanta, at least every other year. The lovely gardens have some educational programs for the beginning gardener as well as the advance horticulturist.

I took a look at their website and found these two programs in March. We've had a horrid winter here in Georgia -- snow, rain, cold. What, you say, sounds like winter. Yes, but in the South it was a record-breaker in a lot of areas.

Nothing like songbirds in a garden and there are ways of attracting them. I have learned that bluebirds will not choose your carefully crafted house if they see a way for a predator, like an egg-sucking snake, to invade the nest.

Pine baskets are fun to make and are soooo Georgia.

Here's a handy link and a phone number to reserve your place.

http://store.callawaygardens.com/Garden-Workshops/7002/OrderForm

1-800-280-7524

The price is per person.

From the westsite:

Invite Birds into your Yard and Garden

$17.00 - $20.00

March 14, 2015, 10 a.m.-Noon

Encourage your favorite feathered friends to your backyard!  Learn how to attract year-round and migratory birds to your home landscape by using “homemade” bird feed, planting native plant species that provide cover and food.  Tour Callaway Gardens’ Certified Backyard Habitat to learn how to identify common, local backyard birds. Materials are provided; bring your own binoculars.

Pine Needle Basketry

First, you go into the forest ... ;-D

$58.50 - $65.00

March 21, 2015, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

You’ll make a basket using pine needles and coil basketry techniques.  This beginner class covers the basic skills needed to make the basket.  Complete the class with a basket reflecting personal taste and design.  Lunch is not included in the workshop, but participants may bring a lunch or pick up something from the Discovery Café.  All supplies are included.

Happy Gardening!

This is not an ad, nor was the post solicited by Callaway Gardens.