Some of Lemuria’s customers call me from time to time, even from other states, and ask me for suggestions for good gardening books since I am in charge of the gardening section. (I’ll be glad to help anyone in the store or over the phone for suggestions for Christmas gardening book gifts, a gift all gardeners love!)
With the summer we have just had with extremely high temperatures and very little, if any, rain, and with the drought now reaching fire potential this fall, gardeners are looking for the tried and true plants and flowers which will survive. Although the summer of 2010 was the hottest summer in a decade, according to records, gardening Mississippians have now recognized the chosen winners capable of survival with very little water. One such gardening book which focuses on tough “native to the South plants” is the new release by Sally and Andy Wasowski entitled Gardening with Native Plants of the South. I also recommend the older releases by Felder Rushing, especially the one titled Tough Plants for Southern Gardens, as well as the three helpful gardening books by Pamela Crawford, one title being Easy Gardens for the South.
In my own yard, I have noticed what has endured, and the photos show the proof. I took a walk around my parched garden this afternoon to see what is still living. Since I don’t water but once a week, as recommended by the gardening gurus, the photos show the native plants which actually have thrived on heat and humidity, unlike me!
The yellow blossomed tall flowering plant is the native G0ldenrod. You will love the bright, bright yellow long, slender blossoms. Some people erroneously blame it for their allergies and hay fever when it is really another’s fault, the awful ragweed which has just stopped blooming, thankfully, as it had me in its snare! Standing 5 to 6 feet tall, Goldenrod gracefully sways in a breeze. Felder Rushing says, “A garden with goldenrod looks and feels like home.”
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The second photo is an herb called Rosemary. Just look at it thriving in this weather! Pick a few leaves and squeeze them between your fingers for a delightful poignant scent. It can be used to flavor many dishes, especially meat.
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The third photo is our beloved perennial lantana. Although it may look a little “droopy” right now, it was mid afternoon when I took this photo. It will revive, on its own, without water, by nightfall and will greet the morning smiling and thriving.
None of these plants photographed and shown here have had ANY water in a week. Go figure! Want to quit dragging the hose around or stop paying the astronomical watering bill for a sprinkler system? Well, then use native Mississippi plants in your garden. It really does work, and they really do stay alive, even in a drought! Lemuria has the books to help you choose what to plant now so that next year, you won’t have to watch countless plants, flowers, and shrubs die as your dollars burn up in the ground! -Nan
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