Fragrant Winter Honeysuckle Gets Me Outside in January!



Lonicera fragrantissima is an American Native Honeysuckle Shrub that blooms in winter, hence the common name, Winter Honeysuckle.

The blooms are small but very fragrant, and they simply cover the shrub in January and February, making walks in the garden eagerly anticipated on those warm winter days we often have here in Georgia. My shrubs are already covered with flowerbuds although we had very little rain here this year. Drought-tolerant and easy to grow, this native shrub should be in any garden if you have the space for it.

Winter Honeysuckle will develop into a large shrub and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. Red berries form in summer, but they're so well-hidden behind the leaves that they usually go unnoticed by all but the birds who seem to know where to look.

Master Gardener Course

Do you love gardening so much that you just can’t get enough of it? Are you eager to learn all you can about all aspects of gardening? Does the thought of giving something back to your community appeal to you? If you’ve said yes to all of these questions, you should become a Master Gardener! You’ve probably heard the term before, but maybe thought you could not go back to school. Becoming a Master Gardener doesn’t require attending college or signing up for a lengthy course. The Master Gardener course is offered yearly, and is conducted by your local County Extension Office. Classes are held twice weekly for about 8 weeks, and a course fee is required. Speakers are very knowledgeable, and come from all over the state, often including professors from your state University. In exchange for all the instruction you will receive, you will be required to perform volunteer hours in some aspect of gardening. Some volunteers prefer to work with children, others find it very rewarding to work with the senior citizens, and some just want to do office work. Whatever your forte, there is something for you to do that will make a difference in your own home town. For more information on how you can become a Master Gardener, contact your local County Extension Service or read more about the Georgia Master Gardener Program online at: http://www.caes.uga.edu/departments/hort/extension/mastergardener/index.html.
Although we’ve received some rain, we do need more, so please continue to pray for rain. Happy New Year!

Arizona Cypress Loves the Georgia Drought


As rain continues to remain scarce, we are constantly seeking out drought tolerant plants that will beautify our garden. A couple of years ago, we discovered the stately yet durable Arizona Cypress. We’ve had 2 years of drought here in West Central Georgia. The Arizona Cypress trees are planted in the hottest, driest part of our garden where the soil is nothing but hard clay bricks. The columnar Arizona Cypress ‘Blue Ice’ has continued to grow taller and taller while maintaining its narrow form. We just love it. The blue color of the foliage is just as beautiful as the Colorado Blue Spruce, yet grows much better in our hot Georgia climate. Our Arizona Cypress Trees receive no supplemental water at all. Last year, in the middle of our summer drought, we added two more trees, and they have responded so well to the drought that we think they actually enjoy it! The Arizona Cypress does love the heat—as its name implies, it is a native of Arizona. The Arizona Cypress makes a great hedge or screen, and it is available in both a pyramidal form and a columnar form. Both are equally beautiful and they also make a great living Christmas Tree. Hardy in USDA Zones 7-10, the Arizona Cypress Tree will make a beautiful addition to your garden.