Loropetalum (Fringe Bush)

BY SKEETER

  I have a new love here in my GEORGIA GARDENS! Not this cute kitty but rather the pink bush in the background. This photo was snapped on March 10 and the bush was already full of blooms. I did not take a photo of the bush beginning to bloom as I was paying more attention to the Daffy Explosion in the gardens.

Here is a photo of a smaller bush I have next to the larger one. This photo was snapped on January 3. We had a very mild winter so this bloom time is not normal.

 I added Loropetalum or Fringe Bush as I like to call it, a few years ago. I discovered them while in Macon, GA enjoying the Cherry Blossom Festival. Click HERE if you would like to see that beautiful posting.  

 I just love the little fringe blooms of this bush.

 Our area is full of these hardy bushes and this year has been a great Spring for them. They are glowing all over town. This one was really filling in by this photo snapped on March 14.

 Here you see the smaller one up front and the larger one in the back. I am so happy with these that I will be adding more as I find them on sale. The small one in the front is the one I showed in full bloom in the second photo. However, this photo was snapped March 16. Yep, that little bush was on its second blooming cycle for this year! Crazy Winter and Spring for us here in GA.

 Fringe Bush is native to China, Japan and South east Asia and is in the Witch Hazel family. March 16 and she was at her full peak bloom.

By March 24, she was starting to drop some blooms as others were still opening. 

 The Crabapple tree was in full bloom at the same time, making for a beautiful sight out my sunroom windows as I sip coffee each morning.

Just beyond the larger bush you can see a tiny plant. Yep, another Fringe bush. You can also see the Magnolia which is in topiary form thanks to a rutting Buck Deer.

  This photo was snapped March 30 and even though many of the blooms have fallen to the ground, there remains plenty of color to enjoy for days to come. This bush is awesome and I have enjoyed those blooms for over a month on the larger bush and since Jan with the smaller one. I know with a warm Winter this is not normal but this bush has blooms for a month if not longer in its normal state. All I do for it is keep the deer away!

I see them in landscapes trimmed round or square shaped. I just do not understand why people trim them and azaleas in that form as they were not meant to be trimmed as such! 

I planted 4 on the hillside by the driveway but they all died. I was not surprised as the area was saturated with water when planted. They seem to be okay in a saturated area once established though as this area is pretty moist during high periods of rain. And we have seen the rain since last August in our gardens. I will go with another type plant where the others died as I will not risk loosing these again.

I also have a red Fringe which is making a come back. It was thriving until last year when a deer got to it and a squirrel broke off the main branches. I gave it a good pruning and she is hanging in there. Maybe by next year, I will have some good news to report of the Red Fringe Bush. Until then, I shall continue to enjoy this long blooming LOROPETALUM (FRINGE BUSH), In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Some Daffodils for You

I've been really busy in the garden and in life. As such the daffodils seemed like they came and went so fast that I missed them. The rain and the cold did not really help. Daffodils will be in bloom all the way up to May so I haven't completely missed the show but the big early show is pretty much over. I did manage to capture a few photographs. 

I have not had time to research all the cultivars but will one day. I kept all of the packages from the initial planting in Tiger Gardens so even tho I transplanted over 14000 bulbs I do know of what cultivars/varieties they are. It is simply a matter of matching up the pictures with the blooms now. Wish me luck on that!

This is one of my favorite daffodils for the delicate and fine coloring graduations.

Same daffodil. These daffodils are in the orchard; which I don't mow for quite a while. As such there are lots of little wildflowers growing on the orchard floor. You can see some bluets in this picture. Those little wildflowers are good for pollinators including my two honeybee hives.

A neat orange frosted trumpet.

Love that frilliness.

This is one of several double daffodils. I did not realize there were so many different kinds of doubles. I only post one here but I have several varieties. The extra petals are all slightly different. It is pretty neat the range of colors. While daffodils don't have much pollen I do occasionally find honeybees buzzing around them. Bees need pollen to feed the developing baby bees.

This is along the southern woodline. The show is not so spectacular right now but give it a few years. This woodline is about 700 feet long chock full of bulbs.

This is one part of the orchard to include the honeybee hives. The show is mainly of 'Ice Follies' daffodils. For me 'Ice follies' and 'Tete e Tete' daffodils are my best multipliers in the garden. This is why I had so many of these beautiful bulbs to transplant to Tiger Way Gardens.

Have a nice Easter....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Spring has Sprung in Tiger Way Gardens!

Happy Spring to you all! It's been a really good year thus far. Other than one little freeze we have had an early spring overall in Tennessee. It is a very nice time of the year. Here are some blooms from Tiger Way Gardens. All of these plants were transplanted and/or planted here within the last year or two. 

We start with Star Magnolia, aka Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'. It is a show stealer even at a mere three and a half feet tall. I am really into the magnolias so I have added a lot to my gardens recently so expect to see more.

Star magnolia shrub. This shrub needs some sun-it would actually like a lot of sun. It will languish in the shade so keep that in mind if you are in the market for one of these. The white blooms are slightly fragrant and the tree really looks like someone decorated it with those luscious white stars hanging on the tips of all the branches. This is not a native magnolia but a delight nonetheless.

'Ivory Prince' hellebore-my favorite hellebore.

The crabapple garden is doing ever so well. You may remember I posted about this garden a few years back. All of the Lycoris squamageria I planted are doing really well. I think dividing may be in store for these expensive bulbs sometime soon. The lycoris is all of the green foliage you see outlining this garden. They will bloom come summer.

The peach and plum trees in the orchard are in bloom. We recently had to cover them with sheets to help protect these blooms from a freeze and frost. I never knew peach blooms were so pretty!

The little peach tree. All of the fruit trees were started as whips two and a half years ago. They are finally beginning to grow. Perhaps we might get some fruit from a few specific trees this year. Mr. Fix-it will be delighted if so.

I love flowers that have lots of blooms. The type is of no concern to me I just want a high bud and flower count. This hellebore delivers. It is probably an unknown seedling.

The hyacinths around the koi pond have all come back beautifully. The hedge of roses right behind the hyacinths are groundcover Drift Pink roses. I can't get enough of those roses. They are the BEST!

Finally we finish with Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain'. A delightful little groundcover that blooms beautiful pink and purple blooms in the late winter to early spring. If this plant is happy it will seed around and I hope that it is happy....

in the garden.....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Georgia Pine Pollen

BY SKEETER

It is Azalea time here in my GEORGIA GARDENS! These two are always the first to bloom for me.

They are a bit early this year but to be expected with all this abnormally warm weather we have been having. The past 8 days have been in the 80's with some record breaking days!

I could not resist picking up a few Geraniums for the bicycle planter. The garden centers are starting to fill up with pretties in our area with this awesome weather.

With this warm weather comes pollen from the tall Georgia Pine Trees. Even though my gardens remain a bit soggy from past rainfall, a nice rainfall would wash out all this yellow mess. Hopefully we will not a repeat as the year I did another posting on Pine Pollen. Click HERE to see that blog. (Note: DO NOT become confused with the contest as this posting was made in 2010.)

A great surprise to me, the Crimson and Clover must have reseeded from last year! Happy day to me as I love this sweet red bloom and the fact that The Saint gave me the seeds  last year.

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!

The double daffodils are now blooming.

I really do need to get them divided for more throughout the gardens. But even with the time change, there is only so many hours in a day. And with my large garden area to clean, daffy dividing is not high on the priority list.

The double daffodils are so pretty and full. 

I put one of the geraniums in with a Candy Tuft that did fine over winter in this pot.

I have a fern for the stump but it is on the front porch for now. We are expecting one more cold snap and I fear loosing it so I shall wait a bit. The stump is becoming hollow and this may be the last year I can put a Fern on top. I had to place a stone to keep it stable last year.

 I have also been doing a bit of painting. Giving some of the outdoor items a fresh coat of paint such as this little bird bath atop a milk can.

While out in the garden weeding today, I had a little friend. Well, if you look closely, you will see two little friends. Although, the snail is not really a friend of the garden. But I left it alone. Mums are starting to pop up from the ground.

Of course, I had to pick up and talk with the little box turtle though. It was so stinking cute. Just look at that little face. All together now, Awwwwwwww... The last I saw of this little friend, it was burrowing under the mulch of the small lilac bush.

As I called it a day and headed back into the house, I spotted this on the decking around the pool. Looks as though Ghost Footprints but not so. Just my footprints from the GEORGIA PINE POLLEN, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Sunny Delights

BY SKEETER

We have had beautiful weather the past few days here in my GEORGIA GARDENS. Daffodils are in full bloom and I cannot get enough of them.

 The center of the same flower. See the touch of orange?

 I do not know the names of my little pretties but I have many different types. Although, not as many as our Master Gardener Tina.

 The Yellow glows in the sun.

 This is the one I recall as a child growing up in Tennessee. I called them Buttercups as do most every one I know from Tennessee. That is, all that were born in TN...

 These things give me great cheer in the spring.  

 I do not have many of these but after dividing them a few years, I should have many more.

 Just look at the pollen within. 

 Little rays of sunshine I tell ya.

 Wow, look at this pollen. More than the other bloom and just waiting for something to flutter along and pick it up for transfer.

Wait, correct color but wrong bloom. Of course with Spring comes those pesky dandelions in my grassy areas.

 I have been taking advantage of the nice weather to start cleaning out my gardens. Here the planter full of Liriope is about to be removed. Last year, I left the old grass but this year, I have decided to remove it for a nicer look.  

I took the hand clippers to this planter so as to not disturb any critters taking shelter under the dormant grass. Some times, we get a baby bunny or two. I did not find any bunnies but a big toad which was happy I did not take any type of electric device to this grass. New growth was already popping up from the earth.

I raised the patio umbrella for shade while sipping ice cold water.

And look who was on top of the umbrella. Charlie the Anole visit me as I rest.

 Okay, I became sidetracked a bit. Back to my pretties. These are a smaller variety. I call them Narcissus.

Did you know that Daffodils are in the Amaryllis family? Click HERE to learn more about them.

 Here is one that has yet to completely open.

I find it fun to observe blooms in different stages. I tell you, I just cannot get enough of these little SUNNY DELIGHTS, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden