Lilttle Cypress Natives in Florence, Alabama

Native Azalea buds

Today I celebrate the turning tide in this country, maybe the world, toward using native plants. The gardener's mantra is "Right Plant - Right Place." I've made so many mistakes in my gardening career but have found that following that rule makes gardening so much simpler.


Carroll and I traveled to Florence Saturday afternoon to one of our favorite places on the planet - Little Cypress Natives. Harry & Linda Wallace live in this gorgeous wooded area flanked by wide open, green fields. Down the road is the historic Forks of Cypress plantation built by James Jackson who long ago was president of the Alabama Senate. That's another story entirely for another post one day. For the purposes of this post it's enough to note that Little Cypress Natives nursery is located on land once owned as part of the famous plantation.


Harry and Linda became enchanted by native plants when they built their home here. Over time their hobby became a thriving business. The best part about their nursery are their home grounds overlooking Little Cypress Creek. You can hear the creek waters running while strolling pathways that wind through their native gardens that sport huge rocks, moss, unexpected resting areas and, of course, native plants. It's extremely helpful seeing these plants in various garden settings as you can see how they grow and what works well together.


The resident cat, Dick, is a charmer who loves to be loved on and makes kitty biscuits while softly purring. Dick the cat nearly came home with me, but I figured Harry & Linda might miss him so I let him be.


Harry just put this new redwood swing deep in the grounds. A jasmine laden trellis grants shelter complete with heady floral scent. The old push mower adds a humorous touch while Dick looks on.
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The view from the swing - Little Cypress Creek far below the hillside.

Another place to rest and enjoy nature.

Yet another place to rest. Beside this overhanging porch is a little stone waterfall that Harry and Linda had installed that rambles over stones and gives the birds a constant source of water. It's nice to listen to as well while one takes in the view and listens to the birds.

Charming.

Simply enjoy.

The native azaleas are beginning to bloom now.

Garden pathway with Little Cypress Creek visible on the right.

After our gentle saunter through the woods we return to buy plants.

Thanks Harry & Linda (and Dick)

Happy Easter everyone.

Buckeye Report

My sloping bank is filled with buckeyes. They gleam in the morning and afternoon sun and already attract early emerging butterflies and bumblebees. My heavens, our bumblebees are the size of zeppelins. Miniature dirigibles blundering from plant to plant, buzzing and pollinating. I love bees, but I digress. Soon the hummers will migrate from points south and begin feasting upon the buckeyes. It's time to dust off the hummingbird feeder and get ready for the show.

Just stopping by to say "hi!" I'm busy spring cleaning. The garage has been emptied, cleaned and prepared for a garage sale. Today, my task is to go through Bill & Elgin's things - throw away, sort for charities, price for garage sale, etc. Our stuff, too. It's GOTTA go.

Everyone have a wonderful, stellar, remarkable, magical day!

Sunday Night

Storms brewing to the west at sunset enthralled us with a theater of cloud formations. Boiling, racing, brewing, ever changing charcoal mountains with gleaming white and silver accents. Rays of sunshine framed appendages of feathering puffs. The odd rainbow effect of refracted light would shift with the winds, which whipped the clouds into odd formations.

Powerful visions such as these humble me into silence as I ponder just how small I am.

Nature can paint a picture like no other.

Truly spectacular.

There are no words for these miracles.

To the east, the clouds were beginning to cover the rising moon.
An hour later it was dark and the rains came in torrents.

150 Year Old Dogwood

This week I've been attending the Alabama Master Gardeners Conference in Huntsville, Alabama. The conference began Thursday, the same day the horrid weather moved in. Before it did, we all were able to take a tour of Huntsville Botanical Garden. And, for the 3rd year in a row I stumbled upon the 150 Year Old Dogwood in full bloom. My buddy, Carroll, is to the right which gives you an idea of scale.


Both sides filled with huge blossoms. I'm off to attend the last day but had to leave you with a little eye candy for your weekend.

Enjoy!

Doublefile Viburnum

When we moved to the lake I was determined to landscape with plants that I love, while also using as many native plants as possible since we would be living on a major watershed. One of my all-time favorite plants that I'd craved forever is a Doublefile Viburnum.


It's one of the first plants I put in the ground. The next spring I realized it was in entirely the wrong spot so I moved it to a corner by the garage. This viburnum is now as tall as the garage, and is as wide as it is tall. In this perfect location, its branches are able to stretch and dance, and this year it is completely loaded with delicious white blossoms.


Doublefile Viburnums are called by some the "Queen of Shrubs." It's a matter of taste and preference of course, but I tend to agree. This particular Doublefile has been in the ground now about 6 years and I've already begun pruning back some of the woody stems. It has a tendency to grow multiple stems up from the base, but they can be easily pruned. I've read that as viburnums age it's helpful to cut back the older woody growth, but we've not reached that part yet with this one.

What I love about this particular planting is the combination of plants in this eastern bed. This photo is taken from the lake side looking back toward the street. The viburnum is easily the largest shrub at this time, but on the other side is a variegated weigela and a small Japanese red maple. The colors together are stunning. That'll be another post once the weigela fills in better this spring.

So there you have it. My Doublefile Viburnum. One of my favorite non-native plants.