My husband started the whole thing. One winter day, when the wind was whirling snow in sheets outside a greenhouse we were visiting, he was allowed to pick a ripe, juicy orange from a small tree inside. He was so captivated that it wasn’t long before our window garden acquired a Ponderosa lemon and a … Read more
When you see a handsome parachute-shaped tree with millions of fern-like leaves, chances are you are looking at a mimosa, Albizia julibrissin. It is one of the most beautiful flowering trees you will find. In midsummer, it is covered with fragrant pink-tipped silken tassels. The tree is fast-growing, hardy, and does well even in poor … Read more
If you are looking for a distinctive plant, one that everyone doesn’t have, consider the cassias or sennas. They come from many lands. Most of them do well in the South. Some have medicinal value, but those I list here I grow just for their outstanding beauty. Cassia Alata Empress candle, Cassia alata, is a … Read more
Why not make friends and influence people by serving some exciting new citrus fruits grown on trees in your backyard? If you live in the Lower South where you can grow citrus trees outdoors, or in a colder area where you grow them in tubs that you bring in during winter, you can have a … 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
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
A well-placed tree, thoughtfully chosen, carefully planted, and lovingly nurtured, is beautiful and a fundamental contribution to any landscape plan. Trees are frequently planted to frame a home or to provide its background. By all means, consider these important roles when planting trees on your property, giving thought to eventual size and habit. But supplement … Read more
For distinguished achievement in horticulture” is the bold line across JL the top of a parchment citation which was bestowed upon Hulda Klager of Woodland, Washington, by the Oregon Federation of Garden Clubs at its annual convention in Bend, Oregon, on June 18, 1947. Mrs. Klager, just past her 84th birthday, could not make the … Read more