Category Archives: Plants

Inspiration from the clearance aisle!

Sometimes you find inspiration for a new garden bed on the clearance rack at your local nursery. I am such a bargain shopper! I love the challenge of bringing a plant back from near death and a few years down the road I brag that I only paid a few dollars for that now beautiful plant.

I found the below Blue Flag Water Irises on clearance and decided they would make an excellent border around my pond that is only half buried.

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I am also not against taking plants others have thrown away for garbage. The below St Joseph’s lilies ((Hippeastrum x johnsonii) came from a pile someone had placed on the curb. There must have been thirty or forty? There were enough that now I have them down the drive and around the patio. This is historically considered the very first hybrid amaryllis and it multiples freely!

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This iris came from a curbside garbage pile,too!

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These Oakleaf Hydrangeas were from the clearance aisle of a nursery a few years ago. After a few seasons of care they are beautiful! Hard to believe I only paid a few dollars for them.

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And, yes, even Gus was a discount dog. He came from the local dog shelter!

Pass-a-long plants are a wonderful way to grow your garden on the cheap! Keep an eye out as you are driving around as you may never know where your next idea for your garden may come!

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Filed under Design, Plants

Really? Lowe’s is selling the awfully aggressive and invasive Japanese Honeysuckle?

I was strolling through a Lowe’s Home Improvement store this morning and froze in my tracks when I saw this. I was going to call the police but I am not sure it is illegal or not here in Raleigh, North Carolina?

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I was like: “You have got to be kidding?”. I fight this plant every season creeping over from my messy and weedy neighbor’s property that is covered in English Ivy, poison ivy, and honeysuckle. My neighbor’s trees are covered. I have to spend hours cutting it off my fence all Summer long.

I am close to organizing a protest at Lowe’s! I am still in shock that their buyers don’t know what they are purchasing!

I am going to have to write a letter!
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Filed under Pest, Plants

I love ferns!

I love ferns. I have many in my garden. Some are clump forming. Some spread quite aggressively and others will form a crown. Here are some of my favorites.

Japanese Silver or Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) – Beautiful silver and burgundy fronds. Gus is sniffing up something in there!

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Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosoa) – Named so because the new fronds in Spring, shown here, are a bronze color like Fall foliage.

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Dixie Wood Fern (Dryopteris X Australis) – a very tall fern that is a natural hybrid.

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Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) – Named after its very lacy fronds. Behind it to the right is a Christmas Fern. Behind it to the left is a small Japanese Painted Fern.

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Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) – I purchased this about 5 years ago in a 5 inch pot and now it is about 2.5 feet tall and three feet wide.

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Korean Rock Fern (Polystichum tsus-simense) – This fern has a nice netted pattern on the fronds but not much of a grower. Behind it is a small Lady in Red Fern which is a Lady Fern with a red stem.

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Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) – named so because the leaves are killed by the first frost. It also has an unusual fertile frond that sticks straight up like a flag pole and is brown. You can see in the background of this picture.

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Here in The South it is important to make sure ferns receive enough moisture to survive the heat. Otherwise, they do not thrive and slowly wither away.

Some may spread aggressive when the conditions are right. Sensitive Fern, Hay-scented Fern, and Bracken Fern can all be aggressive when conditions are perfect! Be careful where you plant them!
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Filed under Plants