Vitex agnus-castus, aka Chaste Tree

The Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste) tree should actually be called the  "Magic" tree! Because it's touted to reduce libido in males, the black berry produced on this tree has been used by monks for eons to maintain celibacy!   Now, now ladies - don't go grinding these berries and slipping it in hubby's coffee!

Conversely, the Vitex agnus-castus berry is also used to increase fertility in females, regulate menstrual flow, increase milk flow in lactating mothers, and relieve PMS symptoms. It supposedly combats acne and other skin problems. Also, our ancestors used it widely in producing baskets, chair bottoms or anything that required strong, pliable branches.  A handy little tree to have in your yard, wouldn't you say?

Since I don't need it for any of the above, I just grow it for it's beauty as an ornamental tree in our gardens.The Chaste Tree is very reliable in this area. It's drought tolerant and doesn't require a lot of attention. In many areas you'll see a copse of these trees in the landscapes  . .and believe me, it makes a beautiful display! I've tried unsuccessfully to root some of the cuttings.

I fertilize mine with a balanced fertilizer (usually 10-10-10) when new growth begins to show in the spring. Again when it begins to set bloom and a final feeding as the seeds begin to form.

Even though this tree usually blooms only once a year, I have found that if I'll snip the first flush of blooms off (deadhead), it will bloom a second time.

There are NO pests bothering this tree and no diseases - man, it's great to just feed, water and enjoy!

 Bees and butterflies dearly love it. It is said that bees love this tree so much they will actually sleep in it.

In fact, yesterday a friend was visiting and when we walked past the tree we must have disturbed 20,000 bees! Scared the fool out of him . . but I knew that they only wanted the nectar from the tree - NOT us!!! I got a big chuckle.

I haven't seen many butterflies so far this year. But I'm sure they'll come. As a rule, they literally cover this tree!

Quite frequently the Chaste Tree is confused with the Buddleia (butterfly bush), and when you look at the blooms above, you'll understtand why.  But they are two different trees entirely.

It Feels Good to Love and be Loved!

On  April 16, my three sisters, one niece, and a very good friend had a day trip to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. Not only was the company perfect, the weather cooperated as well! The sky was clear, comfortable temperatures, a slight breeze shuffling the leaves and our white hair, and very low humidity.

The time spent together is absolutely priceless. One reason it is priceless is that soon Patsy will be moving to North Carolina and we may not be able to get this group together for a long, long time ...but NO ONE can steal the memories of us being together on April 16.

Knowing that I have a very strong aversion to both Jimmy Carter and Pink Flamingoes . .I was 'presented' with these 'gifts' when we entered the park . . .Gotta love 'em (the sisters that is, not necessarily the gifts)!!!

A video of Jimmy Carter preaching was sent by one of my favorite brothers-in-law, John, Helen's hubby.  Since the day John learned that I have an aversion to pink flamingoes and Carter, I can always count on him for a 'gift'! Helen gave me the stuffed flamingo . . .I almost want to snuggle with it . .hahahahah. Then Patsy presented me the 'sippy' cup - which, by the way, came in quite handy the following week. Patsy's getting about as 'good' as giving me flamingo gifts as John . .. heaven help us all!

On to more serious stuff! The azaleas were not blooming as we had anticipated, but the rhododendrums were beautiful  as well as other woodsy plants. This made up for the disappointment about the azaleas. After strolling through the park for a few hours, we went to the Butterfly House then the gift shop. Everything was perfect there as well. The exotic plants were fantastically groomed and the staff was cordial and accommodating. I could have spent days in there - but the sisters were pulling at me to leave!

To avoid having to search for a restaurant and possibly interfere with our having our 'private' time together and maybe even inhibiting our 'have fun' attitudes for the day . .we had decided to take a picnic. .it, too, was perfect and wonderful.

Just a few 'identifying' photos: 

Below: Joyce, Number One Roddy Sister

Norma, Number Two Sister

Helen, Number Three

 then there's Patsy

The story wouldn't be complete without of a photo of the "InstiGAILor" . . .she's the one that kept the fun going and FORCED us to laugh at ourselves!

But to give her the credit that she so richly deserves, below is a more 'lifelike' photo of her . .here she is with her mother, Helen. Gail also made these fabulous photos. We are forever indebted to her!

Last, but certainly not least, is one of my very best friends, Olive. Olive has been an acquaintance for over 30 years, but a good friend for only five . . .she is part of my Bible Study Group and, just like my sisters, she's always ready to take a trip, fun to be with and she'll stand by you through thick and thin - no matter what the circumstances. My sisters and the instiGAILor fell in love with her as well!

A few more shots to show you how much we truly enjoyed behaving as kids, laughing, and teasing each other!

Not to be outdone, another favorite brother-in-law, Ron (Patsy's hubby) was visiting Vegas that weekend and could NOT refrain from sending me the photo below! I laughed my butt off!!!!

But I must admit it feels good to love and be loved!



Daylilies

Daylilies are not my favorite plant, but I do have tons of them. All were given to me by one source or another. I've NEVER purchased one! As you probably know, it's one of the easiest plants to grow and propagate. .that's probably why I've never cared too much for them - no challenge. (smiley face)

Anyway, I do have some favorite daylilies. This red one was packaged with an order as a 'free' gift. I almost didn't plant it but am truly happy now that I did. However, a 'relocation' is in its future!

I have a one garden in memory of my mother. With red being her favorite color, only red flowers are allowed there . .and it sure looks like this one needs to be in her garden. 

Another favorite is this yellow one. I have no idea where it came from nor who gave it to me, but I think it's gorgeous.

It's one of the tallest daylily I have. Notice the number of petals and beautiful, feminine ruffling on the petals. I'm letting this propagate to make a large bed. I only have about six at this time . .and I need about 20 or 30 to make a good showing!

hmmmmmmm . .now that I think about it - since these daylilies bloom simultaneously, maybe a bed of the yellow surrounded by red?

What's Behind the Green Plant?

Careful, if you recognize the song lyrics in the title (replace plant with door), you might tell your age!!!

I don't know about you, but one thing I truly dislike in a garden is visible hoses.  I've tried all types of disguises and holders, but nothing. absolutely nothing, suited my taste.

I complained and complained to hubby (hoping for ideas/remedies), but the only response I got was, "Well, everyone knows that if you garden, you must have a hose." I usually came back with something like, "Well, everyone knows I need a shower after gardening, too, but I don't want a stall sitting in my living room".

Not only that, each time I used  the hose, I had to be diligent to avoid pulling it over plants and/or dragging mulch all over the place.. .what a drudgery! One of the very few gardening drudgeries I might add.

Finally a solution . . .yesterday, I picked up an 18-gallon, green, Rubber-Maid container. I had hubby drill a hole in the side and toward the bottom of the  container. Then I slipped the female connector of the hose through the hole and 'snaked' it to my faucet. Then placed the remainder of the hose inside the container. I put a 50-foot hose in it - but it's obvious that a 100' would easily fit. Then I placed the lid on the tub to avoid getting rain water inside the container. A couple of plants that I'm 'babysitting' solves the problem of the wind blowing it off. . .then pulled another more mature plant to the front of the container .  Now when I want to water, all I have to do is lift the lid - grab the hose and water where I want.

So far, this has worked great for me  . . the hose goes in and out like a breeze. . .no dragging across mulch and/or plants. And unless some nosey someone (like Patsy) goes sniffing around, they'll always wonder how in the world I keep that bed watered so good!

But the BIG reward is that I don't have to look at hoses on a reel or worse yet, laying on the ground when I'm out just to admire my gardens. . .
Now you know what's behind the green plant!

Mr. Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose

Tea roses have a reputation for being difficult to raise, but new technologies in disease and insect control plus equipment engineering have definitely lessened the job.

 A good soaker hose under mulch in your rose bed along with a water timer - eliminates hydration guesswork. In the past, I depended on Ortho for my rose care products, but this year I'm trying Bayer's new product which contains fertilizer (roses are BIG eaters), fungicide, and insectide in granular form. The granules are sprinkled around the base of the plant then worked into the soil from one to two inches. Since this is the first year I've tried it and most of the pests and diseases are yet to show themselves, I can't vouch for the product at this time, but I do know that Bayer produces wonderful products. And I'll post my comments on the product at the end of the growing season.

Mr. Lincoln is absolutely my favorite Hybrid Tea rose. Deep red, velvety blossoms atop a long stems with a soft, gentle aroma makes it my number one.

Mr. Lincoln is a great cut flower as well. Lasts well over a week provided the water is kept fresh by changing it  daily and adding either an aspirin or a teaspoon of bleach to the fresh water - and keeping it out of direct sunlight. The aspirin or bleach  keep down bacteria in the container.

One bouquet will keep your home smelling like a rose garden for days!

Coreopsis

If you're in to Xeriscaping . . .here's another plant that might interest you. It's a hardy Coreopsis. Gorgeous green foliage and fantastic yellow  blooms. This is a no care plant that thrives almost anywhere you place it - as long as it gets at least six hours of sun - full sun is better. One of the first plants  to show its colors in the spring and it blooms intermittently throughout the growing  season. Or, if you're in to deadheading, you can keep it blooming constantly. Here in SW GA, it's evergreen and I enjoy it even during the winter.

Patsy, if you're interested, you can either pay Wayside $9 for a plant - or you can tell your sister and she'll send you as many as you want for FREE! But I will say, Wayside's photography is much prettier than mine. . .can't say that much about their plants though!

Xeriscaping

Left alone, sometimes nature provides the prettiest and easiest to maintain gardens. Technically, this is called Xeriscaping. In layman's terms Xeriscaping is using plants that are indigenous to your area  . ..these plants normally require a minimum of care. They have acclimated themselves to the soil, temperatures, available sunlight and water to thrive in that particular area.

Each spring these orange and lavender plants appear in my Memory Garden and I leave them to their own volition.


I call the lavender plant (I have no idea what the botanical name is) a 'wild geranium' simply because the bloom is shaped like a geranium. The organge flower is the Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa ). As the name implies, this plant beckons butterflies (and hummers) by the tons. Both are gorgeous this time of year and I did absolutely NOTHING to create this scene . .nature did it all!



I first noticed the 'wild geranium' long before I began establishing the garden - and decided that this is where my first garden would be....LONG before I'd ever heard of 'Xeriscaping.'

You  will see the Butterfly Weed growing by the roadside almost anywhere in the south. If you decide to dig one, be sure and dig deep (have a man with you, if possible -  as these tubers grow deeply) to get the entire tuber . .it is another ''no care" plant. With deadheading, the Butterfly Weed will continue to bloom until frost.

When 'wild geranium' blooms out, I let it go to seed for next year and then overplant with annuals. Next year, I'll be blessed with the same scene - only bigger and better!

My Sister (BS) Makes me Laugh

Earlier this year, Patsy called me all excited and enthralled about a plant she had purchased And it only cost her $10.00 plus shipping!!! Plus it is the Plant of the Year (2011)!!!

Even though she'd forgotton (at the time) the botanical name as she so enthusiastically described the plant, I KNEW exactly what she was talking about - . .. The plant is Amsonia commonly called Blue Star Grass.

This bushy plant produces these gorgeous blooms in the early spring and the foliage turns a beautiful gold color in the fall. The fall color is just as gorgeous as when it's in bloom. Frost kills it back to the ground, but it is one of the first to show its head in the spring! Another 'no care' plant that will only get bushier and more beautiful as it matures.

It's easy to  understand why its common name is Blue Star Grass. 



Quite reluctantly, I let her know that each year I removed some of the pups around my plant and tossed them into the woods . . .oh, if I had only known . .I would have sent her 50 Amsonia for $10  . . .I LOVE it when she makes me laugh!



Keeping Family Alive

Earlier this month one of my favorite nieces moved into a new home in North Carolina. She honored me by asking for some of my favorite plants for her yard. Therefore, I spent early spring digging, labeling, packing and mailing plants for her. A labor of love, I might add!

So many plants in my gardens have significant familial memories and these are the ones she mostly wanted. .. I sent plants from both her grandmothers' homes, some from her childhood home, some  from her aunts' homes and many from other sources. Of course, I threw in other plants I thought she might like into the box as well!

She is one of the fortunates. . .she has a landscaper (ahhhhhhh . .only a dream for me). He (the landscaper) developed a 'holding' bed for her so that she can watch the plants (and they can propagate) then determine exactly where she wants to permanently place them. I'm sure that as her three boys (all under 8 - and one with CF) get older and more independent she'll take a hands-on approach to gardening. With me and her mom she has the Best of Advisors .  . .

Other than getting joy and satisfaction out of gardening, this is one of the other great benefits . . .keeping FAMILY alive all over the country!

Just Life

Life has kept me too busy for the past few weeks . .but I'm ready to get on with life and with my posting!!!

Water is scarce here in SWGA . .but, I ain't complaining - rather have to move the hose and sprinklers than be blown away or flooded.

My heart breaks for the people hit but those horrible tornadoes a couple of weeks ago. . .now they're dealing with floods! May God Bless!

I really haven't done much this year - except try to keep things alive.

But I will comment on my Guara. Last year (2010) was my first year trying the Guara. This photo does NOT give it justice . .but it's a bushy plant with tremendous spikes that product Pink flowers up the entire stem. 

As summer progressed, the spikes reached almost my height (5'4") and bloomed prolifically.

Since I liked it so much, I decided to try to root some. I was successful; and decided to put my 'new' plants in containers. I have them sitting in my 'lounging' area in the yard. You can see how much they've grown . .plenty of spikes, but no blooms yet. I'm thinking they don't get enough sun where they're located. But I'm gonna give them another month or so, and if they don't start blooming, move them to a brighter location.

I highly recommend this plant as it is pretty, effective and very, very easy to maintain (and propagate). It does well with a minimum of water. .requires no staking and just seems to take care of itself. LOVE IT!