Gardenig in state Alabama. Tips & Guides

Keeping plants healthy and vibrant in the extreme summertime heat can be a daunting task, especially when breezy spring turns to stifling summer in the sunny South. But most who garden or enjoy plants want to ensure that their plants, whether indoor or outdoor, stay hydrated and healthy. No one wants to lose a beloved plant or vegetable, especially if there are simple steps you can take to set the plant up for having a successful growing life. Granted, there are some drought-tolerant plants that fare better than others in the heat of summer, but there are also some easy steps to take that can help most potted plants stay healthy. In fact, there is one specific step that inspires health in a plant, and it’s one step you don’t want to skip when potting your plants.

Whether you call them woodchucks, whistle pigs, ground pigs, or groundhogs, these large ground squirrels can be a real nuisance in your yard and garden. “Groundhogs eat whatever is available and most nutritious,” says Sheldon Owen, PhD, wildlife extension specialist at West Virginia University. “They consume large quantities of herbaceous vegetation, especially fruits and vegetables. But they’ll also eat clover, bark, and landscape plants.”

How to Grow and Care for Heavenly Bamboo Nandina domestica

Without a doubt, there is one pot of flowers that is the most colorful on my patio right now. The surprising news is we just recently potted it despite the hot summer heat we're experiencing. I’m in steamy Alabama, with record humidity, so it’s a soupy, sticky, kind of hot here outdoors. Daily watering of many of my plants in the summer heat is simply is a must.

What is this flower that was found growing on a rock in the middle of a river?

Growing vines is a fun way to add foliage and colorful flowers to archways, fences, posts, and trellises in your yard. Vines add depth, dimension, and texture to a landscape and create a visually appealing space. Choosing fast-growing vines means enjoying the beauty of the season quickly and often longer, whether it's the pretty leaves, blooms, or both. Plus, many vines attract important pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Garden experts recommend their favorite vines to grow that will quickly transform your garden.

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I was first introduced to Mohr’s rosinweed on a botanizing trip to northern Alabama. It’s a true native stalwart and one of the many durable plants in the genus Silphium that are indigenous to prairies, meadows, and grasslands across the United States. These resilient members of the aster family are known to be both beautiful and extremely low maintenance in a garden setting.

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Courtesy of White Flower Farm

From bold burgundies and ravishing reds to unique purples and even captivating oranges, okra offers a rainbow of colors that can add a vibrant twist to both your garden and your plate. Read on to discover Different Okra Color Varieties that can transform your gardening experience and culinary adventures.

Camellias (Camellia spp. and cvs., Zones 6–10) are mostly thought of as shade shrubs, and common camellia (Camellia japonica, Zones 7–9) varieties do look best in the shade. The foliage stays a dark glossy green instead of the sunburned yellow it would be with more sun. However, there are some camellias that do fine in sunny conditions, even here in the hot South. Mostly sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua, Zones 7–9) varieties and crosses can tolerate sun; they can grow in most landscape situations except for wet or high pH soil. As long as they have good drainage, they will thrive. Here are a few camellias that are sun and heat tolerant.

NASA unveiled the Artemis I mission emblem in January 2018. The Artemis program will return humans to the Moon and is named after the twin sister of Apollo. Artemis I is the first integrated flight test of NASA’s deep space exploration system: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

Everyone loves falafel—it’s a year-round staple, and the frozen options at Trader Joe’s make it incredibly easy to prepare. But today, you should probably rid your freezer shelves of any Trader Joe’s falafel: In the company’s third food recall this week, on July 28 Trader Joe’s recalled its fan-favorite Fully Cooked Falafel after being informed by the supplier that rocks were found in the food.

Ten species of hemlock tree exist worldwide, with four of those species native to North America (NA). The eastern United States is home to two of the native NA species, Canadian or eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana).

I had only ever seen a bottlebrush buckeye (Zone 5-8) once before, at the public garden called Wave Hill in New York City, a giant suckering mound of a thing probably 20 feet across and more than a dozen high. It grew there in the semi-shade of tall trees, as it is does in its natural habitat of the Southeastern United States, specifically rich woodlands in Alabama, Georgia, and northern Florida. I loved its big mountain of a presence right away—and then on that shopping trip to Allen Haskell’s former nursery in New Bedford, there it was. My plant!Though from a distance the flowers appear to be cream-colored, each tiny one on the long wands (technically panicles) is delicately splashed with drops of orangey-red paint–actually the red anthers and pinkish filaments inside the little trumpets. Butterflies and many insect pollinators love to visit them (that’s a silver-spotted skipper sampling the offerings, above).One year, a group of Baltimore orioles explored them enthusiastic

The ‘Rogers’ strain is technically Aesculus parviflora var. serotina ‘Rogers’ (I know, a mouthful), a selection of a Southern U.S. native variety labeled serotina. Though much younger than my plain old Aesculus parviflora, my ‘Rogers’ is already much larger—more than 20 feet across and probably headed for 15 or so high. It was too hot and sunny for a good photo while it was in is prime, but you get the idea from the one below. A beast! So big, in fact that I planted it way too close to something it is now engulfing (left side of above photo). Funny to think about this Alabama, Georgia and northern Florida native being perfectly at home and so robust way up North in my garden, but it is.Either Aesculus makes a bold statement and is perfectly happy in

What do you do if you’re a garden designer and your clients tell you they know nothing about plants, don’t want to learn anything new, and would just like a yard that’s pretty and simple to maintain? If you’re Anthony Brewington, you begin by determining what the Florence, Alabama, backyard requires to be transformed into the homeowners’ vision, which they described as “a cozy town garden.” Here’s what he advised to give them a low-effort, high-reward place to relax with friends.

I am Renata Puckett. I plant mainly gifted and some bought plants in Morgan County, Alabama. I grow and divide them to fill my country gardens around the house. I have plenty of space to fill, since we have four acres around the house. It’s a lot of work but also a lot of pleasure to see my plants in bloom or as a background for the blooms. I try to mix colors and textures and have something blooming all the time. I start each season by watching for buttercups and end with ginger lilies. I have some shade and sunny spots. The pictures were taken on June 21.

There’s absolutely nothing as amazing as a fresh-picked tomato still warm from the sun. In fact,tomatoes are one of the most popular plants in home gardens, alongsidebeans, summer squash, andherbs such as basil. But with hundreds and hundreds of tomato cultivars, or cultivated varieties, it’s tough to choose which ones you should plant to stand up to the heat and humidity of the South. Whether you’re a traditionalist and plant only heirloom types your Granddaddy grew or you’re all about experimenting with new types bred for improved disease resistance, you’ll get the highest yield when you grow a few different types. Just make sure to set plants out after all danger of frost has passed in your area, and give them at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Tomatoes do not do well in shade.

Spring is on the horizon, and while there still may be a chill in the air, thankfully, there will soon be sunshine, dew-covered green grass, and warmer days, beckoning the first sightings of spring. While we’re waiting, we can plan ahead by stocking up on the right tools ahead of the planting season. When it comes to nurturing a green thumb, working with the correct tools can help make the job—big or small—easier and help us make the most of the season. 

Ben Birchall — PA Images / Getty Images

Looking to upgrade your garden with a durable evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest and doesn’t require the backbreaking labor of higher-maintenance plants, such as roses or hedges?Look no further than heavenly bamboo.We link to

Though often typecast as a mere Thanksgiving pie ingredient, pecans are more than deserving of a spot in your pantry (or freezer) all year long. That’s because beyond their delicious taste, these crunchy favorites are also packed to the brim with nutrition. Read on to find out just what makes pecans such a healthy addition to your lifestyle as well as some tasty pecan recipes to get started.

Plants that Pleased at Chelsea I’ve been trawling through my many images of Chelsea and. Some are just for admiring – others I may well emulate. Orange was definitely the colour du jour with geums, verbascums and erysimums popping up in many of the gardens.

If you are a fan of palms but live in an area that witnesses low temperatures, then don’t worry. We have some beautiful, Most Cold Tolerant Palm Trees for you!

Now that all the hubbub has died down and I have had time to think about this year’s Chelsea, I thought I would report on the lasting impressions, rather than my instant reactions. And as this was the first Chelsea in sixteen years that I have attended without an editor’s hat on there was no need to rush around checking trends, looking for the latest new products, or planning features. Phew! Instead, I tried to look at everything through the eyes of a gardener rather than as a journalist. And have some fun! Plants – Purple & Oran