Home Made Ketchup

Ummmm GOOD!
As I mentioned in my last post, I actually made some home made ketchup with the help of Mrs. Wages Ketchup Mix from the grocery store.

It has a sweeter taste than "store-bought" ketchup. In fact I like it better because store brands sometimes have a slightly bitter taste.

The only drawback to making my own is the time and effort it took. Each tomato has to be peeled, cored, and all seeds removed. Needless to say, there isn't much tomato left when you're through. It took a lot of tomatoes to get the amount called for in the recipe on the pack of mix.

I canned four pints which wasn't as much as I thought I would get. I used the half pint jelly jars to can the ketchup in. The recipe package states that the ketchup will keep in a refrigerator for a week once opened. No more ketchup than we use would be a waste using pint jars.

Was it worth it? For me, yes. Making home made ketchup was new to me and a feeling of accomplishment when it turned out so good.

Til next time,

Poppy

Hot Times In The Garden

Hot and Busy!
I don't see how it can get any hotter than it has been already. Our heat index down here in south Mississippi has ranged from 95 to 107 degrees over the past few weeks. Along with it a drought. It has been a struggle to keep our plants alive.

The scorched veggie garden has had to be watered every other day. In spite of it all we have managed to gather a descent crop. We have canned pickles, green beans, butter beans, peas, corn, okra, and tomatoes.

I cooked up a "lip-smacking" good dinner with some fresh vegies. All in one pot, I cooked butter beans, peas, corn, okra, tomatoes, and ham. Along with it, some sweet yellow corn cornbread. Talk about good!

Has anyone out there ever made ketchup? There is an over abundance of tomatoes and I can't bear the thought of anything going to waste, so I'm going to give it a try. I picked up a mix from the store for making it. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Til next time,

Poppy

New Fall Shrubs for 2009

Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball® PPAF

ENORMOUS Flowerheads Tightly Packed with Blooms!
Descended from the old favorite, native 'Annabelle'.

The Incrediball came about as the result of a research program to develop stronger stems for the hydrangea to prevent full blooms from drooping on the plant. The outcome was a stronger stem and a bonus- surprisingly large blooms the size of basket balls. Each of Incrediball's® flowerheads contains 4 TIMES THE NUMBER OF BLOOMS as 'Annabelle's.


Hydrangea macrophylla Cityline™ Rio PPAF

Extra-large Blooms on Compact Plants!
Blooms earlier than most Hydrangeas.
Extra-large blooms cover this very compact plant, their heads held high thanks to sturdy stems. Among the richest shades of blue, the flowers will turn purple in lime soils, always starred with bright green eyes. Rio blooms earlier than most Hydrangea and resists mildew beautifully. Zones 5-9.


Syringa x Bloomerang™ PPAF

A Heavy-Flowering, Ultra-Fragrant, Reblooming Dwarf Lilac!
Blooms well past the late-flowering varieties!

The most compact, heaviest-blooming dwarf Lilac ever grown, Bloomerang™ is a flower machine for 4 months or more every year! The heaviest flowering is in spring, when this compact, very well-branched shrub erupts in fragrant purply-pink bloom trusses, ideal for cutting yet irresistible in the garden as well. Then the flowers simply continue into summer, long past even the late-blooming Lilacs, with color present on the shrub all the way until autumn. Introduced by Tim Wood of Spring Meadow Nursery, this cross of the famous dwarf S. 'Josee' outdoes all other members of the family with its generosity of blooms over a long, long season.


Clethra alnifolia Vanilla Spice™ PPAF

Larger Blooms, More Compact Habit
These foot-long panicles are fabulously fragrant and irresistible to butterflies.
Cultivar name: 'Caleb'. It keeps a neat, tidy habit that makes it accessible to smaller gardens and tight spaces it has never enjoyed before. The fragrance is overwhelming, the color lovely, and the butterflies thick in the air when Vanilla Spice™ is in full bloom!

Just 3 to 6 feet high and wide, this Clethra belongs in the front of the shrub border, the foundation, or as a hedge in any sun-soaked part of the garden. It is even compact enough for containers! A deciduous shrub introduced by plantsman Tim Wood, it boasts all the native vigor of the species plus hybrid advantages from larger blooms to longer flowering period. For carefree late-season color and plenty of butterflies, you simply can't equal it! Zones 5-9.

I could keep going, but these are some of the ones that caught my attention as outstanding improvements.

Til next time,

Poppy

My Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus Africanus)

One of my favorites in a flower bed is the Lily of the Nile a/k/a Agapanthus Africanus. Why? Its long stalks, usually two to four feet in height, tower above lower plantings with globes (as many as twenty to 100 flowers) of delicate blue blooms. They give the bed a sense of ariness and elegance. Their blooms will last from May into July. Most references suggest Lily of the Nile is cold hardy to zone 8. A few find bliss in zone 7. Some Agapanthus varieties are evergreen and some are deciduous. Many of the evergreens can lose their leaves in the winter and still put on a show for summer if the temperature did not get too cold.

The Agapanthus is in the Amaryllis family. While the plant is listed in bulb books, it is really produced on rhizomes, which are thick, modified stems that grow below the soil.

Best blooming will occur in full sun, so choose a site that receives six to eight hours of sun. I have had the best success with plantings in partial shade of four to six hours of sun at the most. Feed with a balanced fertilizer or a 1-2-1 ratio in the spring and again in the summer.

The Lily of the Nile makes a good container plant as the "Thriller" as mwnioned in an earlier post- "Thrillem, Fillem, Spillem". Containers restrict root growth, which causes great flowering. Extra-special winter care is needed for plants grown in containers.

Once Lily of the Nile is established in the landscape, the clumps can be left alone and may not need to be divided for six years. They are easy to divide in the fall if you want more plants.

Til next time,

Poppy


Lily of the Nile

Excuse My Absence

Sorry about my absence.
No excuses, just overly focused on my veggie garden, green house, and landscape. I knew most veggies would be coming in by June and sure enough- they came in big time! We are canning everything that we can preserve. So far we have canned corn, green beans, peas, and pickled cucumbers. We found a recipe for a sweet pickle relish that is out of this world. If you are interested in the recipe, let me know and I will Email it to you. Just drop me a line at marvin@my-garden-world.com

Add to the fun, building a green house and getting a good start on cuttings. So far I have stuck azaleas, crepe myrtle, confederate jasmine, miniature mexican petunia, and more. I am looking forward to trying my luck at gardenia, indian hawthorn, and just about anything else that will be still long enough for me to get a cutting.

Since my retirement, a rigid schedule is a thing of the past. In fact, I have found it difficult to follow a routine of misting the cuttings every hour to maintain the necessary humidity. I start misting around 7 a.m. and continue hourly until 5 p.m. or later depending on conditions. I would never have guessed that such a simple routine could be so difficult to follow.

Another project in progress is that of expanding our lawn area with bermuda grass. Not so bad had the weather cooperated. There has been no rain since seeding. The seed package instructions say that the seed bed must be kept moist until the seed has germinated. So, guess who has to water the seed bed at least twice a day in an attempt to keep it moist. Especially since we have been experiencing a dry heat wave of a heat index above 100 degrees everyday for the past couple of weeks. So far-- no grass!

Anyway, I'll get to my posting like I should. The opportunity to sit down for a while to write will be a welcome relief!

Til next time,

Poppy

An Old Time Favorite- Cleome

Cleome a/k/a "Polecat Plant"

In my younger years, we knew the cleome as the "Polecat" plant. A few years back, my wife and I were cleaning up around her old family home site when she noticed an old familiar plant that was just a few inches high. It's unique shaped leaves is what caught her attention and was able to identify it.

Granny (my wife) recalls the polecat plant for it's pretty pink flowers with tentacles like spider legs. Also, a faint but unique smell of a skunk (also known as a "polecat"). She also recalls it as being prickly if she got too familiar with it.

Today, the polecat plant has made a revival and is more popularly known by the more sofisticated name of cleome. It retails in garden stores at a neat price as well. If the truth be known, it can be reproduced by the dozens by saving the prolific seed pods and planting the next season.

However! I have been quite successful in the past growing all of the cleome I wanted. But for some strange reason that I haven't been able to determine, this year has been different. I have planted and re-planted cleome seed. Results- about four plants have come up. Very humiliating to say the least! All the while my son is telling me about how well his cleome is blooming and doing great!

Anyway, what are some of the qualities of the cleome?

Cleome looks great in tropical gardens with bananas -- after all, they do come from South America. To be honest, they fit in cottage gardens as well as they do at top resort golf courses. They reach close to 4 feet in height, attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and offer both heat and drought tolerance.

They are unbeatable for serving as the tall thriller plant in mixed containers. It goes well with almost any filler and spiller you may want to use.

For incorporating into your garden, select a site that is well drained and receives plenty of sunlight. Morning sun and afternoon shade will also work well. If the bed is poorly drained, add 2 to 3 inches of organic matter. These are large plants, so be sure to space transplants 15 to 18 inches apart.

Place landscape plants to the rear of the border in a bold group. They combine wonderfully with other flowers like petunias, phlox, salvias and vincas.

Cleomes are drought tolerant once established. In midsummer, give them a little fertilizer, like a 5-10-5.

Using flowers with differing textures creates interest and excitement in the garden, and these cleomes certainly do their part.

Til next time,

Poppy

Some Thoughts on Garden Texture

Eleminate the garden blahs with texture!

Do you get tired of just seeing more plants in your garden? I know I do. Sure, I love my plants but sometimes it is nice to see a surprise element, different, and create some excitement.

There is another extreme- those garden beds that become "trinket beds". I'm sure you have seen those that have more toads, useless bird houses and the like filling up the garden. Don't get me wrong, I think some are neat and can create some interest. Where we have a tendancy to go astray is over-doing a good thing.

To me, the use of non-plant accents are just that- accents. They should not be the highlight of the garden, but used to make transitions, create interest, or to call attention to a particular area. For example, let's say that you have some beautiful violets, but they are small and are hidden from a casual view of the garden. A figureine (paying particular attention to the size) placed among them would call the observer over for a closer look. Then voila, "look at these beautiful violets!"

The use of accents can make a garden an enjoyable experience or a complete "turn-off". Use them wisely.

Til next time

Poppy

Poppy's Veggie Garden

WHEW!

The yellow and zucchini squash are about to wear me out. It is unreal how much they are producing this year. I'm harvesting over a five gallon bucket every other day from a dozen plants.

I did something a little different this year. The squash was planted in individual hills in a circle- five plants per hill. Some 8-0-8 fertilizer was mixed in the soil with the seed. Then in the middle of the circle, a cup sized hole was made and filled about half full of 8-0-8 and covered with soil.

The new plants got off to a slow start, but suddenly it was if someone gave them a shot of some super stimulant. The plants shot up to about waist high with blooms galore. I'm assuming that their root systems tapped into the reserve fertilizer that was placed in the center. I'll try it again next season to see if I get a repeat performance.

Speaking of squash, I remember as a child of helping (lol) my mom "cold can" squash. We had plans to do that this year, but after doing some research found that it is not recommended to cold can squash because of the possibility of botulism. However, using a pressure cooker is OK but likely that the results would be a jar of mush. That left one option- freezing.

My tomatoes aren't doing very well- they have a case of blossom drop. Supposedly, blossom drop is the result of either of three conditions- high temperatures, high humidity, or too much nitrogen in the soil. Either way, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it. THAT IS FRUSTRATING! Do you have any words of wisdom?

Til next time,

Poppy

Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird- Their Story

Home Sweet Home

In early Spring, there were at least a dozen bluebirds that visited our yard every day. It was fun watching them chasing bugs for food. They would find different posts (power lines, tree limbs, etc.) to perch for a "bird's eye" view of the yard below. You would see one suddenly swoop down and snatch a bug from the grass that may have been up to a hundred feet from their perch.

All I can say is that the bluebird must have one heck of a good eyesight. After making the catch, the bluebird would return to it's perch to devour it.

All was going well until the mockingbirds realized that the bluebirds were encroaching on their territory. It was an ongoing battle from that point forward. The mockingbirds would chase the bluebirds off and then return to claim the area for their own hunting ground. The bluebirds couldn't stay away for long however, and would return again and again to get their share of the goodies.

Granny and I had installed a bluebird box on an oak tree in hopes of giving a loving pair of bluebirds a home for raising their young. There was a problem however. The very tree we had selected was a tree that the mockingbirds had used the year prior to nest in. You guessed it- the mockingbirds felt that the oak tree belonged to them and should not be shared with the lowly bluebird.

We became frustrated at the mockingbird's intolerance. Each time a bluebird would arrive at the box to check it out, the mockingbird would chase it off. Granny had some firm opinions about how she felt about the selfish mockingbirds. In fact, the subject of annihilation was discussed but settled on scaring off the mockingbirds with a BB gun. What a waste of time and the stress of it!

We should have known that nature has a way of taking care of things. When Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird decided it was time, they staked their claim on the box and the whole tree as well. We rooted for the bluebirds as they would chase away each mockingbird that came anywhere close to "their" tree. One case in particular was a hoot! A mockingbird had made a bug catch on the ground just below the bluebird house. While on the ground trying to eat his catch, Mr. Bluebird "dive bombed" the mockingbird until he gave up and got out of there.

The latest. Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird built a nest in their new home and now are proud parents of a brood. It has been a real treat watching them go about house keeping and parenting. One day I saw Mr. Bluebird bring a morsel of food to Mrs. Bluebird who was taking a break from nesting and perched on top of their house.

Now we are waiting to see our babies come out of their nest and take on the world- especially Mr. Mockingbird.

Got any stories to share? Let us hear from you.

Til next time,

Poppy

FREE Buffet!

Create a FREE buffet for your winged friends!

Much can be said for the enjoyment of watching humming birds in search for the perfect flower or the many colors of the butterfly flitting through your garden. Attracting winged quests to your garden is easy and most enjoyable.

If you don't already have some plants that attract these performers, here are some suggestions.


Sidalcea 'Brilliant'


Neon-bright blooms that attract both butterflies and hummingbirds like crazy. The Sidalcea reaches about three feet tall and reblooms readily when cut back after first bloom.

Use it in the cutting garden, border, containers, or even as edging, its bright flowerstems leaning companionably into garden paths, its neat rosette of foliage remaining attractive out of bloom. It flowers so profusely that you can skillfully cut a half dozen or more bloomstalks from a single plant without diminishing its garden beauty. And this only encourages new buds to develop all the quicker! Zones 4-9.



Buddleia


A butterfly delight! Spikes formed at the stem end reveal large florets that crowd along the flowerspike. Expect them to begin in midsummer and continue through mid-fall, delighting butterflies and bees as well as filling the garden with their sweet scent.

Buddleia likes well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. It can take a wide range of soils once established, and tolerates heat, humidity, and drought very well, though the best flowering will always occur with adequate watering. A magnificent addition to any garden. Zones 5-9.



Asclepias tuberosa

The Classic "Butterfly Flower" -- Bloom Heavy and Super Easy to Grow!
Big orange blooms welcome summer, attracting butterflies and gardeners in droves!
Why can't all wildflowers be as beautiful as bright, hardy Butterfly Flower? Big orange flowerheads burst into bloom in mid- to late summer, attracting every butterfly in the neighborhood to your garden and stealing the show with color so rich it almost glows! This lovely perennial is especially attractive to Monarch butterflies, acting as a nectar source and a host plant, providing a place for the butterflies to lay their eggs. The foliage is lovely, too, extending this Asclepias' beauty beyond bloomtime.

Easy to grow, it asks only for sun and plenty of it; it laughs at heat and drought, survives winter unscathed, and is long-lived. It reaches 2 feet tall and about 3 feet wide, with a lush, rangy form that complements other plantings nicely. And the blooms are super for cutting! Zones 3-9.



Mexican Fire Bush

Clusters of bright orange tubular 1-1/2" blooms are borne from spring to fall. A rounded woody shrub-like perennial. Attracts Hummingbirds. Likes full sun and grows to about four feet high and four feet wide.

Add some extra touches. A hummingbird feeder strategicaly located among the plants will bring plenty of activity.

Let us know some of your favorites.

Til next time,

Poppy

Caring For Your Clematis

Simple as one, two, three.....


PLANT CARE TIPS


Location
Depending on variety, clematis will grow 8 to 12 feet vertically. That shouldn't limit you though. Adjust the size of your trellis (or support) to the height you need. For example, if you want only six feet of height, the clemitas will reach the top and then grow down the other side. You may be out of luck if you wnat more than twelve feet height however.

Clematis need at least a half day of direct sunlight.

It is important to keep the roots from drying out. Clematis like a moist, well drained soil. Mulching will help achieve this. Mulch will help keep weeds out as well as keep the moisture in during those hot and dry summer days.

Soil Preparation
Again, clematis need a moist, well-drained soil. Prepare your hole at least one
foot deep and mix 50% peat moss or well-rotted manure. Backfill hole with the amended soil and plant your clematis so the top of the root ball is just below the ground level burying the first set of eyes. Keep your plant moist, but not wet (they don't like "wet feet"). Pay special attention to this during the first growing season. Fertilize every four weeks during the growing season with a well-balanced liquid fertilizer.

Support
The main stem of the clematis must have a firm support, otherwise damage may occur from the wind.

As the newly planted clematis produces new growth this should be carefully trained and tied into position.

Here is a beauty you might be interested in.

Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette'


Til next time,

Poppy

Is An Outdoor Room for You!

If you love the outdoors, you will love having an outdoor room or two. If you you like the views but not too keen on being outdoors that can be taken care of with an outdoor room also. Your imagination is the only limitation.

I love the privacy and seclusion of an outdoor room. It is my special place that gives opportunity for relaxation, meditation, or just plain "ole daydreaming". It gives you a chance to be selfish. Take some time for yourself, surrounded by what you like and makes you feel good.

To me, an outdoor room does not have to be an elaborate design that requires continuous maintenance. It is difficult for me to relax if I'm concerned about this or that looking just so. Designing an outdoor room is for your pleasure, not your neighbor's.

I have an outdoor room that is nothing more than a hammock swing suspended from a live oak tree limb. It has most of the elements that I look for- good views, open area, and somewhat secluded. What I like to do is move from one area to another- different rooms for different moods, time of day (shade), etc.

My plans are to have several outdoor rooms for different purposes. To me, it is more difficult to design an outdoor room that attempts to meet all requirements. Why not have one for entertaining (grill, table, etc.); another that is great for early morning space for coffee and getting ready for the day; an afternoon room that gives good shade; and so-on. Each room is then connected with pathways, flower beds, and other simple garden elements.

I know what you are thinking. Multiple outddor rooms is a great thing to have if you have odles of space. Not so! An outdoor room doesn't need to be more than five square feet if that is all you have. A place to sit, maybe a small side table, a plant or two and you are in business. Vines on wire trellises make great dividers that doesn't take up much space and yet provides definition to separate areas.

Let us know about your outdoor rooms or plans.

Til next time,

Poppy

Looking for a "Show Stopper"? Try "Lady Banks"!

The Rosa Banksiae 'Lutea', also known to us common folk as "Lady Banks" is a true show stopper!
Lady Banks is known to produce hundreds if not thousands of blooms per plant that usually "strut-their-stuff" in late Spring to early Summer. Their fragrance can range from non-existant to mild. It just depends on the unique plant.

Lady Banks has endless possibilities for use in the landscape. It's ability to climb and spread is great for the trellis, walls, fences, and where ever it can get a hold. It is easily shaped with minimal pruning.

Some Lady Banks have been known to grow to a height of 20 feet or more. They love the sun and are easy to grow. Down South, you will occassionally see them growing in roadside ditches and on old homesites. Just look for the abundant yellow blooms in clusters.

Lady Banks is evergreen in warmer climates and deciduous in cooler areas.

If you are interested in purchasing your own, click this link- Lady Banks.


Til next time,

Poppy

Put Some Shine in Your Shade!

What can I do in those shady areas?

Hostas are most likely the plants you think of first when it comes to shade plants. Rightfully so since there are so many varieties and colors on the market now. HOWEVER, there are many other plants that can really add some vibrance and color to those shady areas.




The Astilbe 'Snowdrift'
is excellent for the shaded border, producing feathery flowerheads all summer that, if left uncut, provide winter landscape interest. Also splendid for dried arrangements. The foliage is deeply incised and graceful, in rich green or bronze. Plant 8 to 12 inches apart in a deep, rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter. Water well and mulch in hot, dry weather. Zones 4-8.

Hydrangea 'Alpengluhen' (Glowing Embers)
Lush crimson flowers of incredible size slowly deepen into purple tints.
Compact Glowing Embers is quite vigorous, only 3 feet tall and wide, with large, bold green leaves little troubled by pest or disease. Easy to grow in moist, well-drained soil in full to part shade, it performs well on the coast. Zones 6-9.


Helleborus Royal Heritage™ Strain
Simply the Best Perennial for Your Shade Garden!
Blooming for up to 5 months, this variety is widely adaptable from north to south and is very resistant to deer, rabbit, and voles!


I've got plans for adding some of these to spruce up my outdoor garden rooms. Please share some of your experiences with shady areas.

Til next time,

Poppy

Terrific Garden Tonics

Great "Home Remedies" for your garden!

I just received a copy of "Terrific Garden Remedies" written by Jerry Baker, America's Master Gardener.

Jerry's book is an enjoyable read in addition to the remedies. Some of his "Grandma Putts" words of wisdom are great and remind me of my parent's advice during my formative years on the farm.

I'm not a chemist, but I would bet that Jerry's remedies contain the basic chemicals that most commercial products contain. However, eco friendly and most likely much less expensive.

This is not a paid advertisement! I'm writing this post because I've enjoyed his books and his remedies work. Here is a link to his site where you can see for yourself- 'Jerry Baker'


Enjoy!

Poppy

Gardening Tips for May

SPEED GRAM
For those that like the facts without the verbage.

May reminders and tips:

*Stake tomatoes if you haven't already.
*You can still move shrubs early in the month.
*Fertilize the lawn.
*Prune shrubs that have completed blooming.
*Not too late to continue planting veggies.
*Take some time to plan for perennials in your garden.
*Deadhead flowers.

End of Speed Gram

Now, for those with their favorite beverage in hand and ready for a little verbage, lets' talk.

One of the top contenders for your time in May is the lawn. Late April and May is the time for all known weeds to "strut their stuff". They have their own agenda and it aint to promote grass. In fact, they intend to take every bit of available space before grass even has a chance. Their mantra is "move in quick, sink those roots deep and strong, and suck out every nutriant that a blade of grass might need".

Any bare spots in your lawn is an open invitation for weeds. A good strategy for fighting weeds is to fill the bare spots with grass. But first, consider why a bare spot exists. Do a little detective work to find out why one exists.

Here are a few questions to resolve. Does the soil drain well? Any obvious signs of insects, lawn disease, or shade? How do you feed and water your lawn?

The key to growing anything is good soil. Repair bare spots with some good ole soil preparation. Begin by tilling the soil to a good six inches. You may consider this as overkill but there is something else in mind. While tilling, watch out for insects- grubs, mole cricketts, etc. You can easily find products to eradicate these rascals.

Take a good look at the type of soil. Is it sandy, mostly clay, or mucky? What I mean by "mucky" is the soil holds too much water and is uaually "soggy". It sometimes has a sour odor. There are ways to fix almost any situation once you determine what the problem is. There are numerous soil amendments to help condition the soil to a proper balance.

Remember the "Golden Rule" of soil preparation- water, nutrients, and air! Ensure these conditions are present for your plants (grass in this case) and your succes rate will be much improved.

Til next time,

Poppy

My Confederate Jasmine

Nature's Air Freshener!
It had been a good day and time to relax. Thanks to daylite savings time, I had finished up dinner (supper), gotten my shower, and now walking around the yard drinking my last cup of coffee while admiring my garden. It was still daylite with beautiful cool weather.

Something was different though. I noticed a faint scent in the air- you know the kind where the clothes dryer is going and the smell of Downey Fabric Softner is being exhausted outside? The scent was something like that but more subtle, fresh, and very pleasing to the senses. It was like nature was using an air freshener!

I was determined to find the source when I turned the corner and straight ahead there it was- my Confederate Jasmine! It was full bloom and statley as if to say, Here I am!"



Tucked away underneath and hidden from view was a special treat. Last season, my son (Tim) and I had gathered four gallon containers and filled them with potting soil. We pulled four separate vines lose from the trellis. Each vine was bent where there was a nodule (leaf) and placed in the potting soil. One end of the vine remained attached to the main plant and the other end was left to grow. Tim placed a brick over the spot where the vine was placed in the pot to ensure the vine remained in the soil.

Yesterday was the day to claim our reward. I clipped the vine from the main plant and "unwound" the new vine from the trellis. It was perfect! Both ends of the vine were in full bloom and the container was full of good roots.

The new treasures were quickly planted in the new home spot. It has been my experience that Confederate Jasmine like a moist but not wet soil to do their best. Their planting spot was tilled and a good measure of ground spagnum peat was added to the soil along with some Miracle Grow slow release fertilizer. Now it is time to step back and watch them do their thing!

Side Note
The jasmine that I am speaking of has been with us for a long time (years). We haved moved it right along with us as we have gone and survived Hurricane Katrina. My youngest son was married in an outdoor ceremony under an arbor fashioned for this very same Confederate Jasmine!

Til next time,

Poppy

Another Great Weekend!

A beautiful weekend it was!
Tim and Denise came down for a work/play visit this weekend with plants and tools ready. They combined their visit with some time to go down to the beach and get some sun&sand. Denise says that once you get that beach sand between your toes, you're hooked for life.

We got a lot done in a short period of time however. Mulching, planting some Confederate Roses (a donation from Tim and Denise), and some tilling. It was a bit breezy, but with the high in the mid 80s, the breeze sure felt good.

Are you familiar with the Confederate Rose? Here is a little blurb about it to refresh your memory or to familiarize yourself with it.

Hibiscus mutabilis is an old-fashioned perennial or shrub hibiscus better known as the Confederate rose. It tends to be shrubby or treelike in Zones 9 and 10, though it behaves more like a perennial further north. Flowers are double and are 4 to 6 inches in diameter; they open white or pink, and change to deep red by evening. The 'Rubra' variety has red flowers. Bloom season usually lasts from summer through fall. Propagation by cuttings root easiest in early spring, but cuttings can be taken at almost any time. When it does not freeze, the Confederate rose can reach heights of 12 to 15 feet with a woody trunk; however, a multi-trunk bush 6 to 8 feet tall is more typical. Once a very common plant throughout the South, Confederate rose is an interesting and attractive plant that grows in full sun or partial shade, and prefers rich, well-drained soil.

My next post will be about our Confederate Jasmine.

Til next time,

Poppy

Poppy's Picks- Drought Tolerant Plants

Coneflowers
(Click for more info)
Coneflowers thrive in full sun and most garden soils. They grow two to three feet tall, are easy to care for, and make wonderful butterfly magnets. Though drought tolerant, a little TLC (water), will liven it up during prolonged dry spells.

To encourage more flowers, deadheaded your coneflower plants regularly. You can also try shearing the plants back by half or two-thirds their height in early summer to encourage bushier growth and more profuse flowering later in the season.

Coneflower seed-heads are a favorite food of migrating and overwintering birds. If you leave the spent flower-heads in place in late fall, you will find that they are very good at attracting birds to your yard.

Asclepias 'Hello Yellow'
(Click for more info)
Bees and butterflies love'm! As they open, the butterflies and bees begin arriving. This Asclepias contains an essential food for Monarch butterflies, and apparently everything else with two wings finds it yummy as well!

Astilbe 'Fanal'
(Click for more info)The Astilbe 'Fanal" is an excelent perennial that blooms from early to mid summer producing the darkest red of the Astilbes. The plant is about two feet tall with spikes about one foot long.

The Astilbe in general, likes moist, well dreained soil but can tolerate dry spells with the help of mulch. Just a little TLC goes a long way with this plant.
Here's some more...
Butterfly Carpet


Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'






The above picks will conserve water and labor! They are hardy and wil take hot dry conditions while giving brilliant colors, facinating textures, and unique forms.

Til next time,

Poppy