Whichever came first, the plant or the Pronuba (miller moth), the other must not have been far behind because each depends on the other for its existence, according to Botanist Dr. George Engelmann (1809-1884) and Missouri State Entomologist Dr. C. V. Biley. The Spanish bayonet, as yucca is commonly called, grows in Europe but rarely … Read more
Tools owned by professional gardeners always receive special care before they are stored away for the winter. This is not just for the sake of the tools themselves but for the garden as a whole. Lawns will be smoother, pruning cuts straighter, and tempers sweeter if tools are kept in good condition. So let’s take … Read more
When the ground freezes, Nature no longer supplies the food she has been providing for birds. With snow on the ground, it is more difficult for them to find sufficient food. At such times they rely on us for help. January is the severest month and they will appreciate suet, peanut butter, seeds, and other … Read more
Have you lost a prized tree or shrub after a hard winter? Perhaps you can do something now to prevent this from occurring again. Winter or frost injury is common in many kinds of trees and shrubs growing over most of mid-America, where seasonal temperatures fluctuate greatly. These injuries often weaken or wound plants, leading … Read more
I’m especially fond of fragrant flowers. And they’re a real treat when they bloom indoors. So when the catalog said, “Jasmine, sambac. Glossy green leaves. Very double white flowers. Fragrant. Used for lei in Hawaii.” I was completely sold. I sent the order in early fall. We were leaving for our vacation in mid-November. But … Read more
Truly a living fossil is the ginkgo or maidenhair tree; tracing its history is interesting research. Fossil Ginkgo leaves, and twigs are found in American rocks, proving that the importation of the ginkgo tree was not its first visit to this country but rather a return engagement. Grown as sacred plants since ancient times in … Read more
Many people sincerely believe that evergreens require the same type of winter protection as we do, so with all good intentions, they dress them in everything but scarves, caps, and mittens. They do not consider that plants are innocent of body warmth and remain as cold as the air about them despite the coverings and … Read more
If there is anything more southern than a pecan pie, it’s a pecan tree. As a southern gardener, you haven’t arrived until you’ve grown at least one. Not only does a pecan tree give nuts for good eating, but it also provides welcome summer shade. The roots do not compete too much with nearby plantings, … Read more
Wherever you live, roses will give you garden pleasure. In the South, you’ll find roses enjoying the long growing season, the abundant rainfall, and the mild winters. Hybrid teas, floribundas, and climbers flourish, but few varieties, like those bred for winter hardiness in the North, do not do well in southern gardens. They cannot take … Read more
Camellia sasanqua is one of the most rewarding plants that can be grown, and gardeners who cannot offer this species a congenial environment outdoors can at least enjoy specimens thriving in pots or tubs. Potted Sasanquas flower when small, often when scarcely a foot high, and the charm of these graceful shrubs with their delicate … Read more