A Magical Garden on the Banks of Lake Martin

Several months ago I had the opportunity to cross one off of my “Garden Bucket List”:  a visit to Jim Scott’s 12-acre lakeside property on Lake Martin in central Alabama.  Each year for a two month period, he graciously opens his garden to regional garden clubs.  Several of our club members had toured this legendary […]

Chinese Snowball Vibernum: A Southern Garden Classic

My favorite Southern garden shrub is Limelight Hydrangea although Chinese Snowball Vibernum runs a very close second!  This widely used ornamental plant is one of the easiest ways to make an early spring statement in your garden.  They are sometimes confused with the old-fashioned Annabelle hydrangea because of their large, showy blooms, but they make […]

Living Easter Baskets

Easter, the season of celebrating life and hope, is one of my favorite holidays as the resurrection of Christ is observed.  Childhood memories linger of  live bunnies, ducks, chickens, gathering brightly colored eggs, new Easter dresses often designed and made by my Mother (always complemented by white gloves and the perfect straw hat with ribbons […]

Celebrating Fifty Years Along Dothan’s Azalea Dogwood Trail

Spring is inaugurated about this time each year in the Dothan area with the long awaited viewing of the Azalea Dogwood Trail scheduled to open this Sunday afternoon, April 6, 2014.  With the azalea blooms and Dogwood trees at their peak, local residents as well as visitors from the Florida Panhandle and southwest Georgia can […]

Dreaming of Daffodils

While in Mississippi last weekend, I couldn’t resist photographing the glorious abundance of daffodils which are making their spring debut.   After a long, cold and colorless winter, daffodils sing of hope of joy!  Their sunny blooms, although short-lived, just make the day seem worry free and brighter.  In my last post, I pointed out […]

A Mississippi Spring – Reflections on Gardening, Family and Friendships

Spring is definitely in full bloom in my hometown of Pontotoc in north Mississippi.  I spent the weekend there enjoying the glorious weather while capturing some of the early spring blooms with my ever ready camera. Another highlight of the weekend was visiting with some of our life long friends who were especially close to […]

Spring into Color with Easy Floral Design

When the first tiny vibrant  confetti blooms of  forsythia appear along with the delicate Bradford Pear, plum, and cherry blooms of the season, I just naturally get inspired to start bringing some of this grandeur inside.  While at the same time, all of the new garden center additions, give me inspiration to start redoing garden […]

In Praise of Spring!

What a difference a week makes!  With temperatures in the low 70’s lower Alabama is experiencing a true taste of spring.  While perusing local garden centers and on my daily run this weekend, the vibrant busts of wondrous spring color forecasts the promise of spring and new life… I spotted a few azaleas just starting […]

A Glimpse of Spring

The transition to spring is just around the corner.  Hopefully, the worst of the frigid temperatures, ice, and snow has passed.  Although garden centers look a little desolate right now, in just a couple of weeks their inventory will be restocked with an endless supply of irresistible  spring annuals in a myriad of hues. Already […]