Flagstone overlaying concrete patio

I'll occasionally run into a client that has a concrete patio that they think just isn't all that attractive. That was the case for a lady I met last year. She had a screened in porch (about 120 square feet) off her den that was crying out for brown flag. I visited her today to take a look at the potential for creating a new stone walkway for her yard and while I was at it, I took a quick pic of the stone work I did outside her den. The formula was this: (1) clean the existing concrete pad with a wire brush and acid (2) clean the thin brown flagstone with several different brushes and water (3) mortar the stone in using type S mortar with a buff dye and an acrylic adhesive (4) final clean-up

This is the outside portion of the patio that I built. The inside flagstone overlay and the outside flagstone patio are really both one continuation.

Harmony Landscapes on Harmony Hydrangea

This is a Harmony hydrangea planted in my yard...doesn't my hand make a fine prop?

Just to set the record straight, as far as I know, Harmony Landscapes, Inc. was formed at least a few years before the oak leaf hydrangea, 'Harmony', was named. Regardless, I clearly won't take credit for the naming of one of my favorite plants.
Secondly, I absolutely think oak leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are a wonderful fixture in Southern gardens and, of course, a most recognizable native plant in the woods of the Southeast and elsewhere. Through the years, oak leaf hydrangeas with special characteristics have been either discovered or hybridized and, in the process, become quite popular. 'Snowflake', 'Pee Wee', and 'Alice' are a few that come to mind and are available at some of your better garden centers.
Harmony hydrangea is especially interesting to me. What sets it apart from the native species is its blooms. The blooms are huge! And they are double, which is probably selling it short. They may very well be triple, quadruple, etc.

Photo: Harmony hydrangea planted under the shade of a Crepe Myrtle

I've planted quite a few of this particular hydrangea and I've found it to be quite the curiosity. Like all hydrangea, they thrive in good, composted soil with excellent drainage. I've found Harmony hydrangea to do especially well in filtered afternoon shade. My experience is that, in full sun, the blooms become so large that they tend to weigh down and drag the ground. Also, older Harmony hydrangeas seem to support the heavy blooms better (some weigh as much as one pound each). So, if you do plant one or a few, be patient. The wait will be worth it. One thing is for sure, Harmony hydrangea is an eye catcher. Note: Fall planting is ideal for hydrangea. Also, while hydrangeas respond well to hand pruning, remember that any pruning done after around July 1st is likely to remove next spring's hydrangea blooms. Your best bet is to prune Oak leaf hydrangea just after the peak of their bloom cycle, which in Central Alabama, is around mid to late June.

Picture and a poem

Gypsy Forest
the dolphins live in the open sea
and the gypsies live in the forest
while the owls and the crows and the sure foot does
still live like those before us

and the oak and the pine and the sycamore shines
and the day spins round like a feather
and the sawmill whines and the bluebird dines
and the song goes on forever

now the old folk tell of an ancient bell
somewhere sunk in the meadow
but the shepherd there with the snow white hair
just sings in the evening shadows

and no one knows where the clear creek goes
when the moonlight fades in the forest
but the peacock screams and the gypsy dreams
of a time gone by before us

round and a round and a round and a round
round and a round and a round
round and a round and a round and a round
round and a round and a round...

Lyrics are copyright 1975, 1976 Steve Cash & Randle Chowning



Pond I built in 2002

Vigorous Ground Cover = Asiatic Jasmine

Many descriptions come to mind when I think of Asiatic Jasmine...fast growing, pretty foliage, drought tolerant, tolerates sun and shade, and so on. While this plant may not be for everyone, especially if you are looking for plants that require "no attention", this little gem just might be a plant to work into some situations in your landscape.

Asiatic jasmine is a ground cover that forms a thick carpet of shiny, evergreen leaves. It grows to a height of anywhere from 4" to 12+" as a ground cover, but can grow up a wall or down from a hanging basket or the top of a wall by as much as 10+'. Along a side walk or up against a house, the vine-like nature of this plant will require some maintenance. You may want to prune the jasmine to keep it from growing up the outside walls of your home and into the crevices of your windows, especially if they are within one foot of the ground. Along a sidewalk, an occasional trimming will keep things looking neat. Asiatic jasmine is tough, so it will tolerate heavy pruning, weed eating, or even pruning by mower (never thought I utter those words!).
One of the best things about Asiatic Jasmine is that it is quite pretty. A nice planting surrounding an accent stone, small specimen tree or garden art is quite a nice touch. This specific jasmine (scientific name Trachelospermum asiaticum) can bloom on long stems, but typically, you will not have flowering. It's just an elegant, yet strong plant (Zone 7-10) that can adapt to a variety of situations. You should give it a look for your landscape. It's certainly a plant I use from time to time in my exploits as a plants man.


Several varieties of Asiatic jasmine are available, including variegated forms and dwarf types.



A great plant for erosion control.

My Mom: Queen of the Jungle

Under the old Pecan tree at her Aunt Rachael’s house was where she pretended to be Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. My mom played and dreamt and found comfort there along with her trusty canine companion, "Boy". Growing up in Texas and living their, now, my mother gained an appreciation for plant life and has become quite the gardener so I thought I’d post some of her gardening thoughts by virtue of an interview she unknowingly (I know, mom’s always know!) gave me last night on the phone.
MFE(manfromearth): So mom, do you have any early childhood memories that have to do with plants?
MOM(my mom): Well, of course, I remember the pecan tree at Hershel and Rachael’s house. They didn’t have many plants, but there was a fig tree and Uncle Hershel grew vegetables. And, oh yes, the lantana bush! I was telling Darlene, a fellow nurse that I used to work with about the plant and she said, “Melba, that sounds like a lantana”. She went home and gave me a piece and I just grew it.
MFE: What are you growing in your yard this spring that you find particularly interesting?

MOM: I love the Hibiscus. I’ve got red, salmon and pink in my back yard where it’s sunny. I’m also growing Mexican petunias (see picture to the right) and plumbago (see picture below).
MFE: Mom, those plumbago will be blooming soon, right?
MOM: No, they are in bloom now. I have impatiens that came back from last year and also geraniums, marigolds, and Mexican heather.
MFE: And is George growing any vegetables, mom?
MOM: Yes, he has pots with squash, tomatoes and peppers.
MFE: Sounds like you have lots going on in your yard to keep you busy.
MOM: I have red tips in my back yard that are growing so tall that I can walk around in my nightgown.
MFE: Mom!




So, there you have it. My Mother’s Day garden interview with my mom.
Happy Mother’s Day!

Recommended Quick Trip

Maybe not real quick, but worth the five hour drive from Birmingham. It's Dale Hollow Lake. It's been a while since I visited, but I'm betting the lake is still beautiful and in a pristine state.
{Note: I just checked and it is indeed still in a pristine state} Dale Hollow Lake is actually under jurisdiction of the Army Corp of Engineers, so there are no homes dotting the shore line of this waterway. As the official site of Dale Hollow Lake explains, "Come float the pristine waters and relax, surrounded by the sounds of nature. There are no McMansions staring you in the face as you cruise the peaceful lake. It feels like you are back in time, back to a virgin forest with an unspoiled lake teeming with fish". I remember renting a house boat at East Port Marina, in North Tennessee, for a few nights as part of a family vacation.

The night sky was incredible and the everywhere you looked was just gorgeous, and not an exceedingly crowded lake, either. Plenty of solitude to be enjoyed. Vacationing in a house boat on an awesome lake, like Dale Hollow, is something I'd definitely recommend.
The Suncruisin2 - still slicing through the waters of Dale Hollow Lake!