On Gardening: Gardens of beauty await those for whom the coral bells show
Heuchera varieties Dolce Spearmint and Primo Wild Rose show off their beauty in front of Double Play Candy Corn spirea at The Landings Shopping Center in Columbus, Georgia. (Norman Winter/TNS)
By Norman Winter, Tribune News Service
There are gardens of untold beauty for whom the coral bells show – and I know many of you in the South desperately want them. Just think all of those pages of gorgeous heuchera varieties (coral bells) have their DNA forever linked to natives in the United States.
The Garden Guy came across gorgeous wild ones in the North Georgia Mountains, yet it has been rare to see them growing in a garden. To be exact, I have never seen them in a garden in the South with which I wasn’t somehow associated. I know they must be there, and I invite photo submissions.
Proven Winners verbena a treat for pollinators in Savannah
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Bob Hatton
This is one of the times of the year when I wonder if people are thinking when it comes to watering their landscape. Now that grasses are growing and people are fertilizing, watering systems are turned on, sometimes daily, without regard to the need.
It is not yet summer. Lawns and landscapes do not need as much water as when the temperatures are in the 90s or above. Water does not evaporate or get used by plants as quickly now. Clay soil retains moisture a long time.
More water is not better. After soaking the ground to a depth of about 10 -12”, more water is largely wasted because the feeder roots of most plants, including trees, is in the top foot or so of soil. Also, in our arid environment native and adapted plants are programmed to grow with less water. Too much is a detriment.
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The female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail sports blue on the bottom wings which seems to echo the colors of the Superbena Stormburst blossoms.
Superbana Stormburst verbena tumbles over the rock wall at The Garden Guy’s house.
This colorful Pipevine Swallowtail finds the Superbena Stormburst verbena to be just perfect. Photos by Norman Winter Sun, 04/18/2021 - 5:00am
Spring has been incredible at The Garden Guy’s house, and I am absolutely thankful for the Superbena Stormburst verbena. You see swallowtails, and hummingbirds were really early, not only in Georgia but throughout the Southeast.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Female and male Eastern Tiger swallowtails feed on the blue and white Superbena Stormburst verbena blossoms. (Norman Winter/TNS)
On Gardening: A Stormburst of verbena blossoms and butterflies awaits your pollinator garden
By Norman Winter, Tribune News Service
Spring has been incredible at The Garden Guy’s house, and I am absolutely thankful for the Superbena Stormburst verbena. Swallowtails and hummingbirds came really early this year, not only in Georgia but throughout the Southeast.
So while I have been waiting for lantanas, salvias, agastaches and cupheas to reach the blooming stage, the Superbenas came roaring back as if they were juiced on steroids. The runners are long, deep green and bearing huge blooms. Eastern Tiger and Spicebush swallowtails along with hummingbirds have been making them part of their daily nectaring ritual.
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