http://statebystategardening.com/ar/blog_02_summary/ en lbr845@cox.net Copyright 2012 2012-05-19T01:54:39+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/my_favorite_daylily/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/my_favorite_daylily/   This daylily has very thick petals and sepals. I call it Dawn’s Early Light.     2012-05-19T00:54:39+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/my_return_to_the_garden/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/my_return_to_the_garden/ After planting a 'Little Gem' Magnolia, I fell and broke right arm. About 3 weeks after that I went into a fibro flare. I have fibromyalgia, a muscle-pain syndrome. The fall pushed it into overdrive, so I've been at home and in bed a lot since February. I'm making my post-fall debut with a study of nature's intricacy in flower and leaf shape and arrangement. Flowers or leaves that circle the stem are so unique. The native wildflower, Penstemon murrayanus, has very architectural leaves that resemble eucaplyptus. Pink Phlomis flowers encircle the leaf facing outward, as does the foxglove. These arrangements are a treasure trove of nectar for the bees and other insects. Hummingbirds enjoy the Penstemon. See you in the garden! Leaves of Penstemon murrayanus are perfoliate, meaning the stem comes up through the leaves. 2012-05-09T15:58:57+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/my_latest_escapade_in_the_garden/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/my_latest_escapade_in_the_garden/ Hello to everyone. I’ve been away from my blog since the last of February. After my husband, Jerry, and I planted a ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia on our new berm (140′ x 12′ x 4′ to buffer wider Crossover Road), I slipped in the mud and fell forward on my hands, HARD! My right radius is broken and my left arm is severely sprained, so my typing skills are limited. But,  so much is blooming this month, I just had to share with you. Empress Daffodil from Old House Gardens. Snowflakes are a minor bulb with dainty green-tipped blooms. The Geranium Narcissus is an old-timey favorite because of its color and fragrance. 'Cameo' is a beautiful cultivar of the red flowering quince. Flowering Cherry blossoms opened very early. This Georgia Speedwell, Veronica, makes an excellent ground cover.   2012-03-16T22:02:34+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/whats_new_in_february/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/whats_new_in_february/ Even with the unseasonably warm weather, lots of plants are blooming right on time: Winter Daphne, Flowering Quince, Red Maples, snowdrops and early daffodils. Purple hyacinths are blooming early but the Lenten Rose is open on Ash Wednesday, today. While the sun is shining, walk around your own yard or a park nearby and see what is blooming. Winter daphne has the sweetest lemony blooms, better than gardenia for me. snowdrops are opening on time. Lenten roses can be of several different colors, Helleborus orientalis or x hybridus. Another color of Lenten rose. My purple hyacinths have multiplied 4-fold and are blooming very early. 2012-02-22T16:39:17+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/whats_blooming_in_january/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/whats_blooming_in_january/ Grape holly bloom clusters. Unseasonably warm weather has caused some buds to open early. Yesterday I walked around taking pictures of the blooms. The honeybees were taking full advantage of the pollen and nectar from the flowering apricot, Lenten Roses (hellebores), 'John Clayton' honeysuckle and Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia). These little jewels get me prepared for the real winter weather to come. This freckled bloom isn't usually seen until late February. Fragrant blooms of flowering apricot have opened a month early. 2012-01-21T17:10:17+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/seasons_greetings/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/seasons_greetings/ December is usually quiet in the garden. Most plants have yielded to their age-old cycle of resting, but for some, this is a time to shine. My Pink Icicle camellia has more blooms on it than it has ever had. John Clayton honeysuckle is still blooming (see last post) AND it has berries, a double bonus. I wish peace and happiness to you all and to all creatures, great and small. Pink Icicle hardy camellia Nutcrackers from my son, Mark's, decorations 2011-12-22T18:31:37+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/novembers_treasures/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/novembers_treasures/ November is usually a brilliant month. There is something about the fall sunlight on the colored leaves and flowers that shows them at their best. Bright contrast and details of leaves not seen with the chlorophyll present. I'm pairing the last rose of fall with the first camellia to bloom and 'John Clayton' honeysuckle that has some blooms all year long.  Happy Thanksgiving. 'John Clayton' honeysuckle with crossvine Queen of Denmark 'Pink Icicle' camellia 2011-11-23T15:18:31+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/word_for_wednesday._._._ephemeral/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/word_for_wednesday._._._ephemeral/ The word for Wednesday is ephemeral: fleeting, short-lived, impermanent. Two examples: the web of the zipper spider or Argiope aurantica and the spider herself. web and black and gold garden spider 2011-11-02T14:16:12+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/creature_feature_evolve_._._._metamorphosis_._._.pandora_sphinx/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/creature_feature_evolve_._._._metamorphosis_._._.pandora_sphinx/ Moth caterpillar in defensive posture. Caterpillars change and grow by spitting their skin. A new, larger one is under the old, tight skin. They change through several instars (stages). Then they weave a cocoon and change into a moth. This is the caterpillar of the Pandorus Sphinx. It is a beautiful, large moth, a feeder on night-blooming plants (such as the Moon Flower Datura in the thumbnail photo) with a proboscis (tongue) about four inches long. Larger instar. The Pandorus Sphinx has good protective coloration because it blends in with its surroundings. Pandorus 2011-10-20T00:41:05+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/fall_color_reigns_at_botanical_garden_of_the_ozarks/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ar/blog_02/fall_color_reigns_at_botanical_garden_of_the_ozarks/ Flowers at the entrance to the Totemeier Center. The garden is located between Fayetteville and Springdale on Crossover Road. Kudos go to Susan Regan, Gerald Klingaman and all the staff and volunteers for such creative and thoughtful designs. Full flower borders highlight metal sculpture.                                                                                                                            2011-10-19T14:29:33+00:00