Ten tips for growing great garden roses Story by Hugh Conlon Roses (Rosa spp.) contribute beauty and fragrance to any garden. There are many varieties of roses to pick from, many wanting little extra care. To get your roses off to a great start, plant them in the right spot and select the best varieties. Rose …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Green is a many faceted word – it can indicate a color, a feeling, or in recent decades, a way of life. The spectacular Baton Rouge home and landscape of Tricia Day and Joe Simmons incorporates all three of these meanings. The modern house is said to be …
Add some pizzazz to your plantings with these choices Story by Helen Newling Lawson Foundation plantings – usually evergreen shrubs – have always had a reputation for being boring. To make matters worse, many of the South’s go-to choices are now also suffering from a host of disease and insect problems. Luckily, there are several …
The new gourmet ‘it’ vegetable for Southern kitchens Story and Photos by Cynthia Wood While on a food and native plant pilgrimage to Austin, Texas, I was offered a small plate of charred, wrinkly green peppers sprinkled with sea salt. The waiter said that the peppers were called shishitos and that they were native to …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon Woodland phlox, also known as wild sweet William, is a low-growing native perennial sporting masses of white, pink, blue, and lavender blooms. Pollinators, such as swallowtail, gray hairstreak, and western pygmy butterflies, are attracted to the fragrant flowers. Phlox forms colonies, spreading by shallow roots from stem nodes, …
6+ decades of gardening Story and Photo by Jennifer Williams If you have been a gardener in the Shreveport-Bossier City area in the last 30 or so years, you have probably heard of Dr. Joe White. The gold standard in gardening for the northwest Louisiana community, Dr. White has a long and varied history in …
Quick-growing plants for container gardens Story and Photos by Courtney Keck I’m sure you’ve heard the terms filler, thriller, and spiller when it comes to container gardens. A filler fills the space, a thriller draws the eye, and a spiller balances out the other two. In combination, they make for very attractive displays. Container gardens …
An ongoing series of container recipes Story and Photo by Barbara Wise When the heat of summer sends you hunting for shade, let this container planting be your companion. The rose-like blossoms of Begonia Nonstop Mocca mix, spilling over with the hummingbird-attracting ‘Santa Cruz’ begonia, lighten up a shady spot. The cool chartreuse of the …
An ongoing series of container recipes Story and Photo by Barbara Wise Ah, the mixture of foliage and flora as a harbinger of spring. Bring color and textual contrast to a sunny spot with this combination of perennials and annuals. Save a little money with this combination by planting in early spring from 4-inch pots …
Choosing the best plants for your little piece of earth Story and Photos by Kristi Cook Gardening is a fairly simple affair. Provide the right location, the proper amendments, and adequate water and you’ll likely enjoy a good harvest. However, with a bit more planning, you can increase your garden’s success by selecting the best …
