These two furry critters reside at a favorite local nursery and they managed to discover that the hot house there uses a double layer of plastic. It looks tight, but these two possums didn't seem to mind it or the activity taking place twenty or thirty feet below. Not only did they benefit from the radiant heat generated from the green house covering, but they also enhanced the warmness with some cute and cuddly snuggling.
One reason I enjoy this time of the year is because that call to do a little fruit tree pruning will typically come in. What's fun about pruning fruit trees? Well, you've got a point there, but the side benefit is that you've got clippings that can be brought indoors to eventually bloom into quite a nice bouquet. Fruit trees, from my experience, are best, but you might have success with other flowering plants such as flowering quince, forsythia, and jasmine. Take a few stems as the flower buds appear to be beginning to swell and put them in a vase of water. Sit the vase in a window and enjoy! Experiment with different plants (what about azaleas or roses) and let me know if you're having success! 
Photo Right: This grouping of peach tree stems didn't show any color at all a week ago.
It is early May. Or, early Spring; although, for this year, it seems as though we might have skipped Spring and sauntered into Summer a couple months early. It is important during early Spring, regardless of whether it feels like Spring or not, to monitor the rainfall that occurs. It is not uncommon to experience extended drought during late March or all of April. This time of the year is when our deciduous plants and evergreen plants take on a flush of new growth. That flush of growth results in an accelerated uptake of water by your plants and if the soil is dry, that growth will not be as full and vibrant as they might otherwise have been under normal rainfall conditions. Early Spring is also the time of the year we likely have pansies looking for one last hurrah. Insuring they are hydrated will make all the difference in the world. Of course, new plantings will not survive just because it is Spring. Watering is vital for all new, Spring plantings when we are not getting a thorough rainfall every 3 or 4 days. This Spring, especially the last 2 1/2 weeks (as well as the forecast for the next 10 days), is a perfect example of the "dry Spring" phenomenon. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, I'd at least set it to water once a week for as long as the dry weather continues. There are instances where water must be delivered to plants more often (new sod, for instance), but generally, you should be aware of the weather even though it isn't Summer, and respond accordingly.
Happy Spring and happy gardening!
PHOTO ABOVE: Tac, my amazing cat. The yellow dot just in front of Tac is a tennis ball thrown from quite far away.
Back in the day, I was the proud poppa of an incredible cat named Tac. Tac (cat spelled backwards) was no ordinary cat. He enjoyed being petted, chased cows for fun, and fetched tennis balls!
PHOTO ABOVE: Tac fetching a tennis ball. Notice Tac and the shadow he casts. My judgment is that Tac was a full foot and a half in mid-air as he pounces upon the ball.
Tac would not only fetch the balls over and over again, but he'd chase them down as I'd throw them out onto a field 20, 30, 40 yards out!
PHOTO ABOVE: Tac enjoying the spoils of victory, next to a wax leaf Ligustrum. Wax leaf Ligustrum, scientific name - Ligustrum japonicum, is an evergreen shrub that is often used as a screening plant in Central Alabama and other areas with similar climate (this is a gardening blog, after all).
Nature, whether it is enjoyed in a forest, on a mountain range, or among the flowers in your own backyard garden, gives a fresh perspective on life. Any specific moment spent in the amazing natural environments of this earth reveal secrets that are different for each and every one of us. These secrets soothe us and provide nourishment for our souls. I hope to take more time, this new year, to realize these moments with more appreciation and I hope everyone has a wonderful new year!
As we watch 2009 roll by and 2010 getting ushered in, I thought I'd post a video of some music, befitting of the season, for your enjoyment. Thanks goes out to my friends, Shawn, Bud, and Roy, for whom it is always an honor to share music with. Click here to watch the video.
Most folks I know tell me that Fall is their favorite season of the year. I’m in complete agreement. If you ever happened along an episode of Family Feud and the question was, “reasons people say Fall is their favorite season”, the answers would probably read something like this: “Out of one hundred people surveyed! 2 people said –the school year starts, 8 said – Halloween & Thanksgiving, 32 said- football season, and 58 said - leaves turning” [host then smooches the contestants]. With the colorful fall foliage being so popular, I've decided to present certain trees with awards.
As far as criterion to receive my award is concerned, it’s just this: all trees must be native to our part of the state. So, for example, dogwoods are in and crape myrtles are out, even though most crape myrtles offer excellent fall color. Figuring out what constitutes a native tree is an interesting question, but for now, we'll just say it's got to be a tree you might see while strolling through the Alabama woodlands.
So, on to the awards!
Best Early Color – Dogwood (Cornus florida) – dogwoods are one of the first trees to turn and if they managed to get through the spring without too much leaf spot damage, the dark red colors (especially if highlighted with some of their bright red berries) is a sure sign that Fall is here. Another plus with dogwood is their ability to hold on to leaves and give an extended show. Runner up: black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
PHOTO RIGHT: Dogwood 
Best Red Overall – Red Southern Maple (Acer rubrum) – I’m sort of partial to the non-hybrid, old fashioned, Southern red maple. There is a little more variation in color, with reds usually dominating, but Southern red maple can also give us beautiful oranges and yellows. Runner up: Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum)
PHOTO BELOW: Southern Red Maple 
Best Orange Overall – Southern or Florida sugar maple (Acer barbatum) – I don’t recall seeing this tree in local nurseries, although, I could be wrong. Florida sugar maple is a nice change of pace from the oft used Southern red maple, and it’s more suited to our climate than regular sugar maple (Acer saccharinum). Orange fall color isn't so easily obtained, so an effort to get one of these trees in your yard may have me saying to you, one day in the future, “orange you glad you planted a Florida maple?” Runner up: American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus)
PHOTO LEFT: Florida Sugar Maple .jpg)
Best Yellow Overall – Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) – Deep banana yellow is how I’d describe its Fall color. This big tree makes an impressive statement. Pignut hickory is rarely found for sale in nurseries, so if you have one in your yard, consider keeping for its bold autumn statement . Runner up: Tulip poplar (Lirodendron tulipifera)
PHOTO ABOVE: Pignut Hickory
Best Late Color - Red Oak (Quercus rubra) - So many oaks to chose from! But red oak is definitely one of the better oaks for superior fall color. You'll have to wait, however, as the deep red colors don't show themselves until well into November. Runner up: A testament to it's long show of fall color- Dogwood (Cornus florida)
PHOTO RIGHT: Red Oak
Special award:
Best Fall color from a tree no one wants – Sweet gum (Liquidambar styracifula) – Sure, those prickly gum balls are a nuisance. You wouldn’t want to have one growing near your parking area or next to a sidewalk. Remember your mom telling the tree man to not cut any dogwoods down, but to “take out that ugly sweet gum!”? Faults aside, sweet gums do have great fall color. They are the “crazy uncle at family gatherings” of trees. Look up and enjoy! Yellows, reds, purples…it’s all there; just be careful not to trip over a gum ball when admiring them. Runner up: Popcorn tree (Robinia pseudocasia)
PHOTO LEFT: Sweet Gum
My apologies to the trees, very worthy of acclaim, which didn’t receive an award.
My phone is getting old, and it's gritty because of the work I do. I've actually completely submerged this phone in water, twice, once for about 5 seconds and again for about 2 seconds. The picture quality isn't the best, but it's convenient and I see things I just want to capture from time to time. I haven't downloaded pictures from my phone since the last snow (late 2008/early 2009 ???) so I wouldn't call some of these shots particularly timely, but here goes anyway:
PHOTO: One of my favorite trees. Chinese fringe tree, scientific name, Chionanthus retusus, is a wonderful flowering small tree. Not to be confused with American fringe tree, scientific name, Chionanthus virginicus, which is native to Alabama, Chinese fringe tree offers bountiful blooms and retains a nice natural shape. There are not enough of these trees being produced by good growers, so when I see a nice specimen, I try to find a home for it.
PHOTO: Simple rock border I installed for a front landscape in Greystone
PHOTOS: Weeping pussy willow
PHOTO: Snowy woods in Alabama
PHOTO: Mary praying in the snow
PHOTO: Holly berries from my yard awash in snow.
PHOTO: Extreme crepe murder! (not by my pruners, in case you wondered)
VIDEO: These are my little buddies, swirling around some food. They live in my pond that I'm building at my home...currently, still, otherwise, eternally soon to be finished...I am determined not to become the cobbler!
If you are like me, you have an appetite for good sources of information on plants. What is their hardiness rating? What new varieties are available for purchase? Hey, what does it look like!? These and many more questions come to mind. One of the better Internet sites I've found to answer these questions and more is monrovia.com.
Monrovia is a wholesale container nursery that was started in 1926, by Harry Rosedale. The first nursery was located in California, although, now they have nurseries as far east as Georgia. I can remember back in my early nursery days in the late 70's that Monrovia was synonymous with quality and innovation, and they still are today.
So, on to the site! The web site is divided into four sections, Inspiration, Design, Learn and Community.
The Inspiration section has interesting features that include a "style quiz" that helps to give you a sense of what type of garden you'd really enjoy as your personal outdoor environment.
In the Design section of the website, you'll find tips on landscape design and a helpful "how-to video". The "how-to video" was well done and relevant to the season of the year.
Learn is broken down into six categories: soil story, plant catalog, new plants, gardening basics, zones and resources. Lots of good info here, particularly the resources area where you'll find a bunch of interesting links, but the main reason for visiting monrovia.com is the plant catalog and new plants portion of the Learn section of the website. Monrovia's catalog is vast and detailed. If you have a particular plant in mind that you want to get information on, you can simply access that info from the search engine at the top left of the home page, but it you are searching for advice on what might work in a specific situation, then use the searches in the plant catalog and new plant section of Learn. There are lots of ways to narrow your search using those two engines, but I'll warn you in advance not to put too many criteria in place when performing the search or you'll get zero matches. Once you find a plant, you are rewarded with fine photographs of the plant, plus info on light needs, mature size, etc. 
PHOTO: Just one of hundreds of photos you'll find at monrovia.com. This one is Viburnum Opulus 'Aureum'
Community gives you an opportunity to develop a personal profile and participate in online forums, read blogs, and subscribe to a newsletter.
In conclusion, monrovia.com is a fun site with a lot of interesting and helpful places to visit in the site. It's plant search engine is a good way for you to get suggestions on what to plant in a specific spot in your yard and if you have a specific plant in mind, you can get some good info on that plant and perhaps find some closely related new varieties, as well. Rob's 5 star rating guide for monrovia.com: ****1/2 (4.5 stars)
This is a question I get asked from time to time and like many in my profession, I have my opinions. The criteria I am going to use for ranking months to plant woody shrubs and trees is survivability. Planting a large tree in scorching July heat, for instance, could be so stressful that a tree could perish with less than optimum care. So here are the rankings, from worst to best:
#11 and #12 - July and August - I wouldn’t suggest planting woody shrubs or trees in these two months. July is the hottest month in Central Alabama with an average high of 91 degrees; however, it can be a wet month, averaging a little over 5” of precipitation a month. August might be a little more tempting of a month due to its closer proximity to fall, but with an average high temperature of 90 degrees and it being the second driest month, with less than 3.5” of rain, on average, it is just as unsafe a month to plant in as July is.
#10 - June - Spring has sprung and summer is gaining momentum. Don’t get fooled by a few pretty days. With average high temps of 88 degrees and an average monthly rainfall of 3.78 inches (third worst month), June offers little upside for planting things like forsythia, maple and other shrubs and trees.
PHOTO: Red Sunset maple
#8 and #9 - May and September - Neither is an awesome month to plant in, yet neither is off limits. If the subsequent care (especially watering) of the plants being considered for installation is going to be good, I will plant them. Both of these months average over 80 degrees. September is a slightly drier month than May, but September is closer to fall (a very planting friendly season), so it’s a draw between these two.
#7 - April - I know. I know. That is a month when nurseries are bursting with folks looking for things to plant. Well, there are two things to consider. One, those people aren’t well informed….just kidding, haha. One, many of those people are looking for annuals and perennials to plant and my list is for woody shrubs and trees. And two, April is just two and a half months removed from the summer season. I’m not saying this is a bad month to plant in; it is a good month to plant in, just not the best.
#6 - March - March is a very fine time to plant. With an average high temp of 66 degrees and the wettest month of the year, March is plant friendly. But there are even better months ahead!
#4 & #5 - December and January - I love planting in December and January. These months would be ranked higher if not for the disclaimer I need to provide for them. Disclaimer: I would "consider" excluding plants with a zone hardiness rating of 8 or higher (some examples would be oleander ,pittosporum, or some varieties of gardenia), because of their susceptibility to cold damage. Don't let the disclaimer scare you off, though. Put on your long johns, grab a shovel, and plant your sweet shrub and dogwood, knowing they are loving you for caring enough to find them a new permanent home at the right time of the year.
PHOTO: Sweet shrub (fragrant, deciduous flowering shrub)
#3 - October - Why isn’t October #1 or #2? Well, it gets edged out because it can still be rather warm in October and it’s typically a dry month (the driest on average of all the months, averaging just 3.23” of rain). Still, fall has just begun and you’ve got all of this great root growing season ahead of you (fall and spring are the seasons when roots grow the most), plus the mild Alabama winter and then spring greet us before the harsh summer whacks us upside the head. October is a winning month for planting, for sure.
#2 - February - This is a great time to plant. Root growth is occurring. Deciduous plants haven’t leafed out, yet, reducing the amount of transpiration (water loss), which can stress a plant out. Yes, February is a wonderful time of the year for getting in your hydrangeas, magnolias, and other such flora. If not for the fact that February is less than four months away from summer, it would probably be #1. But forget that! It’s a totally awesome month to dig in. Can you dig it?
Ta,,,ta,ta,ta,ta,ta,taaaaaa!
#1 - November - This is the best of all the months to plant in, with February and October following close behind. November features an average high temperature of 65 degrees and is in the top half of rain producing months. The root growth of the plants you are planting will be through the roof and you have plenty of time before mean ol’ summer arrives. 
PHOTO: Grancy gray beard (small tree or large shrub)
If you notice, the three worst months to plant in are in the summer. Heat does not blend in well with planting shrubs and trees. It can be done, but as you see, there are better times of the year. I really don’t have a problem with any of the other nine months for planting, but some are just a little better or a little worse than the other. It’s Novermber, now, so if you’ve got a little snowball viburnum or Grancy gray beard that you’re think of planting, there couldn’t be a better time than now!
Grand Daddy Long Leg Convention
PHOTO ABOVE: Click on photo for an enhanced view.
Thank you, Linda, for taking this awesome picture of these spiders enjoying the shade of fig leaves.
Early on, I decided to honor my dad with a unique gift for Father's Day that had that "landscape dude" angle. There was no Father's Day plant that I knew of, so I invented one. Well, I didn't create a new plant in my basement with vials of bubbling brew. 
Bwah Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!
I found a plant that was in bloom on Father's Day and renamed it "The Father's Day Plant". My biggest challenge was in finding a plant in bloom in mid-June that didn't already have a very recognizable common name. I wasn't going to rename daylily, crepe myrtle or rose. I mean, really...is a dainty pink rose an appropriate plant to call "The Father's Day Plant"? Not my pop! In the case of my dad, I could have renamed the Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior). After all, my dad is strong and solid as cast iron!
Just like my dad...The Cast Iron Plant (see photo, right)
In the end, I decided to rename a plant that doesn't have a real recognizable common name, the lilac chaste tree; scientific name, Vitex agnus-castus (this re-naming is really only legitimate in my own myopic world, of course, but I encourage you to use it, as well). I've planted a few for my dad over the years (just about one for every house he's lived in the past 25 years). 
The Father's Day Plant bloom is blue flower spikes (a white flowering variety is also available)(see photo, left).
I'm sure I'll be planting another for him, soon. I'm just waiting to make sure he isn't going to try to move from his current home within the next week or so. Just kidding, Dad!
Father's Day Plant - grown as a small tree (10'-15' by 8'-12'), typically multi-trunked. Zone 6 - 9.(photo right).
Happy Father's Day, Dad!!!!
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
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!
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!
Once a year, this special plant, a gift from my friends Joe and Ann, blooms without fail. The plant is tropical, so I keep it inside during the winter. The blooms are awesome and the show will last several weeks. I thought I'd share the beauty of this plant to all visitors. I hope you enjoy it! Of course, Joe and Ann told me what kind of plant this is, but I am suddenly afflicted with memory loss. When I find out, I'll let you know. Or better yet, does anyone know what it is?
UPDATE: I have had correspondance with Joe and Ann! Ann says the plant is called Clivia. I knew that! After doing a little research, I'm finding that there is a cult of Clivia lovers all over the world. Clivia is considered a prized indoor plant and valued for it's beautiful blooms. While the orange flowering variety is most common, there are yellow and even pink blooming Clivia plants, as well.
Somewhere in the tiny town of Alabaster, AL, a woody creature lurks. The legend and folklore is alleged by many, known by few, but spoken of by none. Until now. Call me crazy? If not for these undoctored photos I took one late March afternoon in the year 2008, I suppose I'd call myself and my claims crazy too!
I first noticed the ellusive beast as he wandered past some potted plants in my back yard. Do you see him (or her, I don't know?) resting next to my rosemary plant?
He tried to run away, but the unexpected fencing stopped him in his tracks. Suddenly, he was faced with a decision: Be caught or run for the cover of a corner foundation shrub!
I decided that I should lay back and allow this barked creature to calm down, so I waited a few minutes before continuing my pursiut. That is when I found him hiding in this American holly. 
My strategy paid off as Sasgwood began acting as if no one was there. I even caught a rare glimpse of him grazing on some wax ligustrum leaves.
Suddenly, this amazing beast heard the click of my camera and became alarmed. I ran after him to no avail as he was just too fast for me. My last snapshot is a blurry one of Sasqswood running with abandon across my backyard into some surrounding woods filled with the cover of native azaleas and hydrangea. 
Will this wonderfully woody creature find his way back into close proximity of this population of human lifeforms? I'll be waiting with camera in hand, if he does.
In the swamps of Lafitte there is lots to look at and talk about. Gators and insects and plant life abound. One such plant is the Salt Marsh Mallow (Malva sylvestris). This native plant has become more evident in the swamps due to the loss of larger trees during Katrina.
More interesting, though, are the shenanigans of two fishermen that recently graced the tiny town of Lafitte, Louisiana. From their last resort, overnight stay at a bed and breakfast that caters to newly wed couples to a nice haul of red fish, it seems my dad and brother made a serious impression on this Cajun town. For an in depth report on the fishing trip, go to: http://lafittefishing.com/ (click on fishing report and read the March 15 entry). 
