The Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Mother’s Day is here, so we’re all pondering on that special gift for Mama. If you’re blessed enough to still have your Mother with you, she deserves something special, doesn’t she? We owe all that we are to our Mother—She made me what I am today. Since most Mothers love flowers, plants are probably the most popular Mother’s Day gift. Whether or not your Mother has enough plants is hard to say. But to most Mothers, the gift is not as important as the giver. What I mean is, most Mothers just want to spend time with their children. Now that we’re grown and no longer living at home, we just don’t spend enough time with our Mothers. No matter which gift you choose for your Mother this year, include a special gift of some time with you. Take her to lunch, or fix lunch for her. If you choose a special gift of jewelry for your Mother this year, also spend the day with her. If you go with the gift of a plant, stay with her and plant it for her! Or work all day in her garden! Whatever you decide to give your Mother this year, make sure you spend Mother’s Day with her. That will truly make her Mother’s Day special!

American Fringe Tree Chionanthus Virginicus

Whether you know it as American Fringe Tree, Old Man's Beard, Grancy Gray Beard, or the common name given it by the British, Grandsir Graybeard (which is probably why some of us call it 'Grancy' Graybeard), Chionanthus Virginicus is one of the loveliest of all American native trees. Just looking at it takes my breath away. Easy to grow but difficult to find in local nurseries, Grancy Graybeard should be in every garden, native or not. This tree is drought tolerant and blooms in early spring. Blooms last up to a month, but the beauty lasts all season. Rich green elongated leaves stay beautiful all summer and are not bothered by pests. Even during winter when naked, the American Fringe is still very interesting. You can see for yourself the lovely 'puffy' white cloud-like blooms on the trees I saw as I passed through Shawmut, Alabama, in early April, 2008. As you can see, Chionanthus Virginicus grows well in full sun, but usually occurs naturally at the edge of woodlands. A very versatile plant, Grancy Graybeard is ideal for any garden. For more information on where to find this delightful tree, visit http://shadygardens.biz.

Gardening to Attract Birds & Other Wildlife

Gardening for Wildlife is becoming more and more popular as gas prices keep many of us from traveling like we used to. We’re staying home more, building outdoor rooms, and planting beautiful gardens to enjoy with our family and friends. More and more money is spent on bird feeding each year, because it gives us so much joy.

Attracting wildlife to the garden is really very simple. Our feathered friends need only a few things to make them happy: Food, water, and a safe place to nest and take shelter from predators.

The best food for all wildlife is natural food sources—plants with berries and seeds are perfect. You can supplement that with feeders containing wild bird seed.

Water is easy to provide—you don’t need a fancy pond or a babbling brook, although that would be nice. A simple birdbath or even just a saucer with fresh water will give the birds a place to drink and bathe. Remember to add fresh water daily.

Nesting sights are equally easy to provide. You probably already have thick shrubs in your garden. Consider adding shrubs with spines or prickles and berries. The spines will help protect the birds from predators, and the berries will provide a convenient food source for them.

Basically, all you have to do is plant a garden, and the birds will come!

Native Azaleas Brighten the Shade Garden

Each year at the beginning of spring, I eagerly anticipate the blooming of our native azaleas. Available in a rainbow of colors--pink, yellow, orange, white, or red, these plants are superior to any other plant, in my opinion. A member of the Rhododendron family, native azaleas are deciduous, and some varieties bloom before leafing out in very early spring. Most of the American native azaleas are fragrant too, with a very pleasant but not overpowering honeysuckle scent. Another important feature is that most of the Native Azaleas are drought tolerant, once established. ('Once established' is the key though, since no plant is established the first year!)

The first to bloom in my garden is the elegant Florida Flame Azalea, Rhododendron Austrinum. Drought tolerant, once established, this plant really lives up to its common name, because the blooms can be any shade of yellow or orange, or even a little of both--yes, the colors of a flame! As the name 'Florida' implies, the Florida Azalea is well able to tolerate any heat our Georgia climate can dish out.

Blooming at about the same time is our own native, the Piedmont Azalea, Rhododendron canescens. Beautiful pink blooms in late March or early April are exquisite.

If you love Alabama like I do, you'll love the very rare Alabama Azalea, Rhododendron Alabamense, with its lovely white blooms coming a little later in spring. This plant is native to East Alabama, and is rarely seen in the wild anymore due to land development in that area. We're fortunate to have a local grower with a love for native plants to propagate this delightful shrub. If you find it in the wild, please don't try to dig it up to move to your own garden. Several varieties of the native azaleas are endangered plants, making it illegal to remove them from the wild.

Most native azaleas do not root easily, so they must be grown from seed! I admire the well-known Mr. Ernest Koone for having the patience to grow these beauties, because I do believe it's important to preserve our native plants.

The native azaleas are becoming more and more difficult to find in nurseries, but can be purchased through mailorder. For more information on the different varieties currently available, check back regularly to read updated profiles of native azaleas with their bloom times and unique characteristics.

To purchase some of these rare plants, go to Shady Gardens Nursery.

Ashe Magnolia or Magnolia Macrophylla: A Rare Native Plant

Magnolia Macrophylla, more commonly called Bigleaf Magnolia, is a very rare plant native to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the most beautiful plants I have ever seen. Huge leaves can be up to 18 inches long! The flower is large--up to 6 inches across--and very fragrant. If pollinated, a seedpod will develop that sports very juicy-looking red seeds that are very ornamental, providing food for the birds.

Magnolia ‘Ashei’ is a variety of Bigleaf Magnolia that blooms at an earlier age than others. Shown in the photo above is our own plant with a bloom while only slightly taller than knee high.
Smaller and more bushy than macrophylla, Ashe Magnolia reaches a height of about 15 feet with a spread of about 12 feet, growing in a more rounded form.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 6 - 9.
Site: Prefers moist woodland soil rich in organic matter.
Light: Partial shade. Tolerates morning sun. (Needs plenty of moisture with more sun.)
Water: Needs regular water.

While some botanists have put this magnolia as a subspecies of Magnolia macrophylla in the past, the new Flora of North America has decided Ashei is a species in itself. It is much smaller & often multi-trunked, blooming at an earlier age (3 to 4 years). Magnolia ashei is the rarest Magnolia in North America.

Magnolia Macrophylla will provide a tropical look to your garden and is at home in any southern style garden. Provide some shelter from wind and hot sun, since the huge leaves are somewhat sensitive.