Georgia Backyard Nature

Blackberry Lily

July is the month for Lilies! This is a Blackberry Lily, also known as a Leopard Lily. The orange spotted blooms are only about 2 inches in diameter, much smaller than other summer Lilies. I’d never heard of Blackberry Lilies before I saw them on a nursery web site. Later I learned that they’ve been around for a long time. In fact, Thomas Jefferson grew them at Monticello. Care is the same for other Lilies—plenty of sun and good moisture. I love finding new flowers and the Blackberry Lily is a great addition to the garden.

 

Bee Balm

 

The Bumblebees are swarming the Bee Balm. This hardy perennial is also known as Bergamot and comes in a wide variety of colors. No matter what the color, it’s a magnet for Bees, Butterflies, and Hummingbirds. This Bee Balm plant languished in another part of the yard for years and never bloomed. I moved it to the sunny front yard and it came alive! I’ve ordered more Bee Balm in other colors so the pollinators will be even happier next year. So will I!

Grandfather's Favorite Rose

This red climbing rose was my Grandfather’s pride and joy. My mother rooted several cuttings from his and they grew gloriously in her yard along a fence. She rooted this one for me and I treasure it. Several years ago I talked to my landscaper about some changes to this flower bed. He proposed moving the two rose bushes to another spot and adding a different shrub. When I explained the red rose’s lineage and sentimental value, he quickly came up with another plan because he realized it was too dear to risk moving.

Heralding Hellebores

The Lenten Roses, or Hellebores, certainly live up to their name. Blooming right on schedule to herald the beginning of Lent, these evergreen shade perennials bring variations of pink, purple, and white to liven up the winter garden.

Love and Repentance

 

Today is both Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday, the first time since 1945 that they occur on the same day. For some the dichotomy of the two days causes a dilemma, but not in the garden. Despite being battered by ice, snow, and frigid temps, the double crimson Camellia burst into bloom on schedule. This lovely red flower serves as tribute to love as well as a reminder of Ash Wednesday obligations.

Lemony Lenten Rose or Heavenly Hellebore

Lent begins in a few days so the Hellebores, or Lenten Roses, should be in full bloom soon. Most of these shade-loving evergreen perennials come in hues of pink, lavender, white, and purple.  I had no idea that they could be yellow, but I spotted this one at the garden center last year.  There was only one lonely plant left, so of course I didn't hesitate to bring it home. It's the first Hellebore to bloom this year.  The plant is still quite small but I’m thrilled to have even a few sunny blooms.

Ablaze Amaryllis

The frigid temps have taken their toll on the garden. The Camellia flowers are brown and shriveled and other plants are laying flat on the ground. Meanwhile inside, beautiful Amaryllis blooms ease the dullness of winter. Thanks to a wonderful gift from friends, brilliant color warms my house. The bulbs have seven open blooms, six big buds, and three stalks emerging. I’ll have spring-like flowers throughout the dreary days of winter. Nice!

Springtime Saucer Magnolia

Georgia Backyard Nature

Georgia Backyard Nature

More signs of Spring! The Saucer Magnolia is in bloom. This is one of my favorites because I love the big two toned blossoms--delicate purple on the outer side of the petals and a creamy white inside. We had one of these trees by our front porch when I was little, but we always called it a Tulip Tree; some call it a Japanese Magnolia. No matter the name, it's stunning when in bloom!

 

 

 

Feasting Finches

Do you deadhead your flowers to encourage blooming and make them tidy? I used to, but when I realized that birds love to mine the seed heads, I quit. Even though it's early summer, some plants already have seed heads that attract colorful birds especially Goldfinches. They swarm the Black-eyed Susans and Catnip. This is the reason Goldfinches nest later than most birds--availability of seeds makes feeding their young a lot easier.

Goldfinches aren't the only birds that flock to seed heads. I didn't realize until yesterday that their cousins, Purple Finches, do the same. The one below  landed on the Catnip and stayed for a while ferreting out tasty seeds.

Now that I have quit deadheading, my flowers look a little unkempt, but who cares when they're decorated with colorful birds?

Cleome Cousin

I didn't find any Cat's Whisker plants (my favorite annual) this year, but I did get one their first cousins, a pink Cleome. These bushy annuals have softball sized flowers with long stamens, giving them the nickname Spider Flower.

They can grow 3-6 feet high and will bloom all summer. Hummingbirds and butterflies love them, too. Although similar, Cat's Whiskers have pyramid shaped flowers with curved stamens. My Mother loved Cleomes and had a big bed of lavender and white ones. I've never seen a pink Cleome before and wish I had gotten to the nursery earlier--this was the only one left!!