Story by David Longron A long-time favorite, clematis (usually pronounced kle-MATIS in the South, but actually, proper pronunciation is KLEM-atis) is a flowering vine that is sometime disparaged as “overused.” The reason that it is used so frequently is because few others can match its showy, sometimes up to 6 inches across, flowers that bloom …
How to liven up your shade garden with a little color Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon In Louisiana, shade gardens are prized for the green coolness they offer on hot, humid summer days – places to sit and relax while sipping a cool drink. A garden in shade can be lovely when planted …
Low-growing, low-maintenance perennials for your landscape Story and Photos by Richelle Stafne “First you spread your limbo feet, Then you move to limbo beat, Limbo ankolimboneee, Bend back like a limbo tree … Limbo lower now, Limbo lower now, How low can you [GROW]?” Selecting low-growing, low-maintenance perennials for your landscape may be easier than doing …
An ongoing series of plant profiles for Louisiana landscapes Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon A pond filled with masses of 6-inch blue or purple flower spikes jutting from the attractive green foliage of native pickerelweed is a sight to behold. Among the flowers, you will surely see an assortment of brightly colored butterflies, …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon If you enjoy large, showy, saucer-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and pollinators, then you will love native rosemallow. This cold-hardy, heat-tolerant hibiscus grows well in wet places or in moist full-sun to part-shade beds and perennial borders, in formal or naturalized settings. Several outstanding cultivars and hybrids have …
Growing plants with a purpose Story and Photos by Cindy Shapton When we moved from our city suburb to the country, I made a decision to be more conscience of plant material choices. No longer feeling the pressure to be just another pretty garden, I could chose plants with a purpose, ones that could move …
Secrets to having perennial cacti in the Southeastern United States Story by Nick Yorlano Succulents take many forms and come in many shapes and sizes. They are also widely known for their ability to survive in less-than-ideal conditions. Cacti are a type of succulent that is distinguished from other succulents by having areoles. It may …
Ten native shrubs and perennial plants to build a beautiful landscape Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon If you’d like to create a beautiful landscape that is also easy to maintain, consider giving native shrubs and perennials a try. Native doesn’t necessarily mean wild and unruly. There are hundreds of showy, hardy, low-maintenance indigenous …
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, …
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 …
