Southern Lagniappe | Mississippi Gardener

Bring Me Purple Pansies
by Janie Fortenberry - posted 12/29/11

Pansies

O give me not red roses,
That early dews have wet!
They speak to me of kisses
That are remembered yet.

O bring me not white roses,
That summer winds have drest!
For once I placed white roses
Upon a quiet breast.

But bring me purple pansies ...

If so you wish to please ...

For them I have affection ...

For pansies are "heart's ease."

~ Poem written by Louisa Cooke Don-Carlos [1874-1949]

[Photos taken at Mynelle Gardens, Jackson, MS, by Janie Fortenberry]

Poinsettias—Stars of Bethlehem
by Janie Fortenberry - posted 12/12/11

Most of us probably have one or more Poinsettias brightening a corner of our house for the holidays, but have you ever really looked at them up close?

This is a little $3.99 plant from Home Depot, but just look at how glorious it is ...

I did a little research on poinsettias and discovered that they are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett, who brought the plants to America in 1828.

The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus, the poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow, but surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.

Even the finest handmade ruffles can't hold a candle to this one made by God ...

The holidays are always a busy time — but in the midst of all the decorating, cooking, baking, and shopping, I encourage you to take the time to "stop and smell the roses," and take a closer look at a Poinsettia or two along the way.

Who Plants a Seed ...
by Janie Fortenberry - posted 11/29/11

Before I continue with this story, I need to go back in time to a September day in 2010. That was the day I discovered "Balloon Vines," and here are the balloon vines I captured with my camera ...

After returning home that day, I researched the vines and discovered their name and also found that their seeds are called "heart seeds," because of the unusual markings on them. When I read that, I knew there was another chapter to add to my story.

I returned to the patch of vines and gathered a few of the pods so I could see their "hearts" for myself, and I wasn't disappointed. This is a picture of what I found inside the pods:

Now, let's fast forward to January 2011.

The above picture was taken January 10, 2011, and the little girl is our six-year-old granddaughter Avery Grace. She was planting the heart seeds at our land in Madison County, Mississippi.

These are the seeds she planted ...

And here is a picture I captured recently of our very own little Balloon Vine!

I was absolutely thrilled, to the point of tears, to see those tiny pods ...

I hope this experience will instill in Avery a love for gardening that we will be able to share for many years to come.

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