Happy Valentines Day!

BY SKEETER

 Happy Valentines from my GEORGIA GARDENS, to yours.

 The Ever Red Loropetalum aka:Fringe Bush has a beautiful Red bloom that is very difficult for me to capture through a photo. But believe me, it is bright red and has a dark almost chocolate leaf. I planted 2 last fall and have 3 more yet to put into the ground. Maybe this weekend.

 My Royal Princess Nandina has beautiful Red Berries that no critter seems to want.

 And last but not least are the beautiful Nandina's in the Butterfly Garden.  

All I know about these beauties is, they were here when we moved into this house. I did move them to a better spot than the previous homeowners had placed them. I enjoy their beautiful Red Color on this HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Loropetalum (Fringe Bush)

BY SKEETER

  I have a new love here in my GEORGIA GARDENS! Not this cute kitty but rather the pink bush in the background. This photo was snapped on March 10 and the bush was already full of blooms. I did not take a photo of the bush beginning to bloom as I was paying more attention to the Daffy Explosion in the gardens.

Here is a photo of a smaller bush I have next to the larger one. This photo was snapped on January 3. We had a very mild winter so this bloom time is not normal.

 I added Loropetalum or Fringe Bush as I like to call it, a few years ago. I discovered them while in Macon, GA enjoying the Cherry Blossom Festival. Click HERE if you would like to see that beautiful posting.  

 I just love the little fringe blooms of this bush.

 Our area is full of these hardy bushes and this year has been a great Spring for them. They are glowing all over town. This one was really filling in by this photo snapped on March 14.

 Here you see the smaller one up front and the larger one in the back. I am so happy with these that I will be adding more as I find them on sale. The small one in the front is the one I showed in full bloom in the second photo. However, this photo was snapped March 16. Yep, that little bush was on its second blooming cycle for this year! Crazy Winter and Spring for us here in GA.

 Fringe Bush is native to China, Japan and South east Asia and is in the Witch Hazel family. March 16 and she was at her full peak bloom.

By March 24, she was starting to drop some blooms as others were still opening. 

 The Crabapple tree was in full bloom at the same time, making for a beautiful sight out my sunroom windows as I sip coffee each morning.

Just beyond the larger bush you can see a tiny plant. Yep, another Fringe bush. You can also see the Magnolia which is in topiary form thanks to a rutting Buck Deer.

  This photo was snapped March 30 and even though many of the blooms have fallen to the ground, there remains plenty of color to enjoy for days to come. This bush is awesome and I have enjoyed those blooms for over a month on the larger bush and since Jan with the smaller one. I know with a warm Winter this is not normal but this bush has blooms for a month if not longer in its normal state. All I do for it is keep the deer away!

I see them in landscapes trimmed round or square shaped. I just do not understand why people trim them and azaleas in that form as they were not meant to be trimmed as such! 

I planted 4 on the hillside by the driveway but they all died. I was not surprised as the area was saturated with water when planted. They seem to be okay in a saturated area once established though as this area is pretty moist during high periods of rain. And we have seen the rain since last August in our gardens. I will go with another type plant where the others died as I will not risk loosing these again.

I also have a red Fringe which is making a come back. It was thriving until last year when a deer got to it and a squirrel broke off the main branches. I gave it a good pruning and she is hanging in there. Maybe by next year, I will have some good news to report of the Red Fringe Bush. Until then, I shall continue to enjoy this long blooming LOROPETALUM (FRINGE BUSH), In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Yep, Spring is Here!

BY SKEETER

 Nothing says Spring more so then a Forsythia in full bloom here in my GEORGIA GARDENS!

  And a blurry photo due to pollen in the eyes.

 The deer have enjoyed nibbling the leaf of my favorite Fringe Bush (Loropetalum)  this winter.

 But the nibbling did not keep the blooms at bay. Doubt I can say this for the Azaleas though. Sigh...

 The Smaller Pink Fringe is blooming nicely as well with more leaves in place.

 Ah, pink blooms say Spring.

 Bridal Wreath Spirea remind me of the snow we did not have this winter. Thank You Mother Nature!

 Millions of tiny flowers adorn the bushes.

 These bushes glow in sight from my sun room windows!

 Kitty is bird watching.

 The Lady Bugs which sought refuge inside the house are now outside in their warm world. Get busy on aphids please.

 A few more Grape Hyacinths have popped up.

 A few of these unknown name to me have popped up. I must have planted them but the memory is lacking today.

Flower Beds are becoming weeded and mulched.

 Lily are being attacked by either deer or rabbits. After todays rain fall, I shall get the Liquid Fence to work or I will not have blooms.

YEP, SPRING IS HERE, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

New Garden

BY SKEETER

It has been almost a year since we had a horrible Ice Storm here in my GEORGIA GARDENS. With such events comes destruction such as this fallen tree.

 And a very large tree indeed! Look at the root ball of that Willow Oak tree. 

In this area, we lost several large trees. With an open area for sunlight, came weeds that we did not like to see this past year.

 What does one do to get rid of weeds? Well, create a new Garden of course! In the Garden's, Master Gardener, Tina visited me during the McCorkles Giant Plant Sale last fall. I had her help me collect plants to start this new garden. How fun to have Tina's eye in my garden. 

 Next came the clean up of this area by the Saint and I. Piles of debris lay in the area from that Feb day until late Sept. Tina set the plants in place before she left us.

 Due to underground roots, the holes were not dug exactly where Tina had placed the plants. But we got them into the ground before winter which was our goal. We also spread many bales of pine straw as mulch. I was hoping that in time, it would become natural looking.

 The leaves begin to fall in time slowly blending the mulch.

 I was happy with the transformation taking place.

 We now jump to the present time and the area is really looking natural. We have yet to decide what to do with the tree stump but for now, I will NOT allow the Saint to cut it down as he so wants to! we checked into getting a chainsaw artist work magic but we did not have an extra 1,000.00 laying around for that! I see a birdhouse or something atop this tree and in time, something will happen. But for now, Back Away from this stump Saint!!!

Only issue I am having thus far, the deer have found the Azalea and Loropetalum plants and have enjoyed munching them! With all the rains we have had this winter, I let my guard down where the gardens are concerned. Last week, I sprayed Liquid Fence on the plants and hope they will make a comeback this spring. Thanks Tina for your help in creating this NEW GARDEN, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Bird Watching

BY SKEETER

 I have some Red Blooms in my GEORGIA GARDENS this week!

The Fringe Bush, (AKA: Loropetalum) is putting on a pretty show for me.

 Nandina is looking pretty as well. This is one of 4 that we have in the front porch planters. We plan to move the Nandina elsewhere soon. They are starting to crowd the Japanese Maple trees. Since  the Maples are the focal point in those two planters, the bushes must go.  

 Do you see what I see on the front porch post? Look up high.

 A birdhouse, which the birds have decided is not good enough for a home. But good enough to support a nest behind. Ha, those silly Wrens.

 It looks as though, the Wrens are using leaves from the Japanese Maples I just mentioned. I see pine needles and other leaf as well. The Wrens did this last year as well and there was not enough room to lay eggs. But they are back giving it a second go. I have 9 birdhouse's on the front porch for the birds to use and they are the least bit interested in them. Geesh....

Small Flocks of Robins are starting to show up in the gardens so they are on the move. Oh yes, Spring is near and I am BIRD WATCHING, In the Garden... 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden