News Filed Under Flower Gardens

Vincas are one of the most beautiful and versatile plants I have ever come across. With their vibrantly colored petals, drought tolerance and low-maintenance nature, these plants are perfect for any landscape.

Fall is a wonderful time to add some vibrancy to your garden, and French marigolds are an excellent way to do it. With such a wide variety to choose from, finding the perfect one to complement your outdoor space is easy. These stunning flowers feature delicate petals and bright colors that are truly a sight to behold.

As of September 23, it’s officially fall! Cue the pumpkins, apple cider, and bonfires! The weather normally takes a while to realize that it’s actually fall but isn’t this cooler weather glorious!

This summer has been exceptionally hot, and during a recent visit with my friend Catherine, I couldn’t help but admire the vibrant purple and blue salvias thriving in her garden despite the scorching temperatures.

During my recent visit to the Henington House in Hattiesburg, I came across a stunning garden pond in the backyard. The clever use of plants within and around the pond created a tranquil atmosphere, perfect for unwinding.

Garden enthusiasts of all ages are welcome Oct. 21 to Fall Garden Day at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mississippi State University facility.

During a recent visit with a friend, I admired her stunning indoor plants. She mentioned some of their names, and I realized that a couple of them had outdated names that have been recently updated. Plants, like all living things, are constantly evolving and changing.

I recently visited a beautiful moss garden at the home of Jack and Nadine in Petal. As I entered the garden, I was welcomed by a charming moss garden sign and a variety of ant sculptures scattered throughout the area, adding a delightful and whimsical touch.

September is one of my favorite months. The scorching hot temps will soon turn into nice cool weather, and the leaves will start to change colors.

I have noticed that more gardeners than ever are interested in having native plants in their landscapes. This trend just makes sense. Native plants occur naturally in a region without being introduced by humans. They are adapted to their region and do not require a lot of maintenance or upkeep.

One native plant you might like to include in your landscape is the American beautyberry.

Recycling objects and turning them into container planters can be fun, and it is a unique way to add visual interest to your landscape. If the object can hold soil, it can be used as a planter.
An old wheelbarrow turned into a beautiful container planting adds a whimsical, country feel to any garden space.

The Barbie movie has been a popular topic lately, and pink seems to be showing up everywhere we turn. If you’re a fan of the doll or the movie, try some pink in your landscape. Although Barbie’s pink world is plastic, a landscape celebrating pink can be full of life and pollinators.

I think a mailbox garden is a great way to welcome visitors to your home. Since it stands out at the road, it is a nice way to add beauty even before you get to the house.

My friend Tim has a mailbox garden that he started in 2011. Over the years, he has transformed it into a beautiful garden with multiple layers of interest.

August is typically a busy month for many people! The kids are back in school, and people are returning to their fall routines after summer.

I recently visited the home of Marian Hill in Tupelo and toured her beautiful pollinator gardens full of plants buzzing with activity. There were several varieties of yarrow, some bachelor’s buttons and Stokes’ aster planted throughout.

It’s no wonder Mississippi is called the Magnolia State. The Southern magnolia is an iconic symbol in our landscape and across the Southeast. I have many great childhood memories of my sister and me climbing and playing in my grandparents’ large magnolia tree in their front yard. Its numerous, small-diameter branches made it a great tree to climb.

I recently visited the Magnolia Botanical Garden at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona, and I saw some impressive ornamental grasses at this Mississippi State University location. Ornamental grasses are great landscape choices and can add color and interesting texture to any garden.

I recently visited with my friend Doyce Deas in Tupelo and was amazed by her beautiful, shady backyard garden. Some people struggle with the challenge of growing plants in shady areas of their yard, but not Doyce. She has done a great job of selecting plants that grow well in the part-shade and shade of her yard.

It’s July, and that means it’s pumpkin planting time. Pumpkins are part of our American heritage. Both Native Americans and the first European settlers grew them and depended on them for food.

In the landscape, begonias are often thought of as annual plants you grow in shade areas, but most of today’s varieties grow well in full sun. This makes them very versatile.
A benefit of begonias grown in the sun is that they tend to develop more flowers than those in the shade. All begonias tend to bloom continuously throughout the summer and early fall.