Today, I take you to the Sparrow Field Pollinator Garden on Skidaway Island, GA. Every Friday morning, a small group of women and a couple of men work to keep this area along a golf course a beautiful berm of pollinator plants and teaching tool. We are approaching a very challenging season due to heat and humidity and fire ants…but onward in the garden.
Sparrow Field Pollinator GardenLoofah vine in flowerBee houseEvidence of deer grazingPine straw, a Southern ground cover
Though they’ve been bitten by fire ants, stung by ground wasps, frightened by venomous snakes and thwarted by greedy deer, the work goes on to show Island residents the native plants that will improve our ecosystem. This tenacious group of volunteers are making a difference.
The Queen’s jubilant celebration of 70 years on the throne couldn’t be held at any better time of the year…June. The old saying, June is busting out all over, is apt. The Chelsea flower show, the Queen on her balcony, Louis acting up humorously…it’s all wonderful fun. And a wonderful distraction to the grim side of life…wildfires, inflation, political divides, war….
So let’s see what is busting out all over this week.
A new day LilyHydrangeaElaine’s begoniaMandevillaGarden harvest on Sunday
Who has time to keep up a blog when the vegetables need attention. Heat index in Savannah will be 107 today! Shocking! Stay cool, if you can.
There was so much happening in April and this year the weather has blessed Savannah with a cool dryness,….yes, we all like the rain to wash the garden, but the humidity in Savannah can be brutal. 2022 has been quite different and except for some bothersome days with gnats, the gardening life couldn’t be better.
However, May will bring on summer, long before the rest of the country experiences it. The weathermen say we may see 90 degrees next week. In the mean time, look what is blooming on Skidaway Island in my garden. And visit The Propogator who hosts Six on Saturday (I am a day late) featuring links to gardens all over the world!
Salvia ‘Hot lips’Unnamed begonia with a Mahonia, not the leather leaf typeKitchen window boxHydrangea ..an Easter hostess giftBegonia, tuberousLantanaView from Delegal marina
That is my six on Sunday! My readers of many years may notice that I am more casual in naming my plants with their botanical names. While accuracy is important and I have worked hard to research and recall the proper names, amidst the ever changing science, over the years…. My status has changed. I am now officially a GCA Horticulture Judge Emeritus.
So just as I have retired from actively judging GCA flower shows, I am completing the UGA Master Gardener program. Naturally, my decades as a gardener have taught me more than I could possibly learn in a 6 month course and a year long volunteer commitment, as a Master Gardener, but I recommend taking a master gardener program wherever you live. You will learn so much, and be exposed to more science than you have had since college! All of the Latin names for plants that I have committed to memory will not be as important without my Judging assignments to study for. My focus this past year has been more on the science based workings of plants. The 978 page textbook includes such chapters as: Basic entomology, plant pathology, propagation, vegetable gardening, turf, plant and pest management, with organic gardening, composting and landscaping design thrown in along with so much more!
The view out over the marsh says so much…keep your eyes on the horizon because there is always something new to learn and to experience with each new day you are blessed to live!
LeucojumSnap dragons planted in December, now in bloomCamellia ‘Royal Velvet’Red Buckeye – blooms in time for the hummers to returnSatsuma orange tree blossomViburnum
The garden is a mess, because of wind and rain and our no-show lawn guy. But the plants bloom on. I am joining the Propagator as usual on Saturday…. well, not exactly usual, but I do try to carve some time to see what is going on in his world and his fellow garden followers! check it out! Rain and bad weather is heading for coastal Georgia this afternoon, so I will sail across the ocean just now!
You might say we are long on lorapetalum on Skidaway Island.
Lorapetalum
As a member of the same family as witch hazel, they can take the occasional freeze of a cold Winter here. But best of all, the deer don’t eat them and they can take our hot, humid summers. You will see a range of colors and sizes and styles. Some like to trim them as a hedge, and others prefer a natural look.
Amaryllis
This is also the time of year that I begin to look for a blooming stalk of amarylis to emerge from the many bulbs I have planted in the ground, after their Christmas blooming is finished. This is the first one this year and I hope the freeze expected tonight won’t harm it!
Azalea
The azaleas are out in full force, at least the tops of the azaleas are blooming. Our hungry deer on the Island have made quite a mess of the many azaleas we usually see at this time of year.
Camellia
The camellias carry on. Tomorrow there will be a meeting of the Coastal Georgia Camellia Society, at a member’s home, and I am excited to see a private garden and more camellias!
I’ve linked to the Propagator’s Six on Saturday and I know you will enjoy what is going on in his British garden. http://www.thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com. His Six on Saturday is a good way to start the week end. The world is in such turmoil….getting out in our gardens helps to lessen our worry, doesn’t it?
I so appreciate the Six on Saturday posts from The Propagator blog. Check out his bloghttp://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com, It is a check point in my week. A checkpoint that I hardly ever check off until Sunday or Monday. The expression, better late than never, rings true.
Gecko friendBegonia
Saturday was spent repotting begonias and moving them out of the garage or from their sheltered Winter homes.
Pansy
The pansy that won’t quit! This plant has lived in a pot on our outdoor dining table since Fall with only a couple evenings covered due to freezing dips in temperature. Amazing!
Viburnum hedge…newly planted
Just a little experiment. Planting a new viburnum hedge with pennisetum ‘Sky Rocket’ and newly divided iris planted in front. Let’s see how each does by July.
Sparrow Pollinator Garden
Bottoms up ladies! I volunteer at this garden, sponsored by the Skidaway Audubon group, once a week. Cutting back the “brown stuff’ last week. Within a few weeks, you will be surprised to see how it changes so fast on coastal Georgia!
Seeds are sprouting on the warming mat….tomatoes, lettuce, asters, and basil. What are you starting from seed?
My Six plants a growing (sorry the 12 Days of Christmas is still playing in my head!) on this Saturday….
Camellia behind Shell Ginger
On my daily walks I am seeing more and more camellias in bloom. Love to see them in January!
Camellia
The Camellia japonicas are especially showy. Tomorrow I will be going to the Judge Soloman Camellia trail at the Coastal Georgia Botanic Garden.
Queen’s Tears
I showed this plant last week, and now the “tears” are beginning to fall. By next week, the bloom will be fully out…it is a process to look forward to for plant geeks.
A lovely home that illustrates our Winter on Skidaway Island, in Savannah, Zone 8b that feels like 9.
Lily of the Valley
Today is the sad task of taking down the Christmas tree. I imagine that anyone who celebrates Christmas and is reading garden blogs also has many garden themed ornaments. The Lily of the valley, gifted by a friend, is a perennial favorite! The tin pail behind it, showing hydrangea blooms is another favored ornament.
Will 2022, become 2020 too? Let’s hope that 2022 brings about all good changes from 2020. Better health and a better understanding of how to achieve that in the age of Covid 19! And more acceptance of other points of view. There is no way to achieve that if we do not listen to one another. Listen with compassion in hopes of understanding.
More time in the garden, because that is where you can find deep satisfaction, alone with your thoughts in the solace of the natural world. This is what is happening in our garden. This is where solace awaits.
Trough at Christmas
The trough is quite lush right now. This will most likely need to be divided in Spring.
Parsley
The parsley by the back door has revived with warm temperatures.
Queen’s Tears or Billbergia nutans
The original Mother plant was given to me by my son and daughter in law when they first visited us in Georgia. It is now divided and I have several. It is always exciting to see it bloom, and makes me think of them…miss them, so far away.
Camellia from seed
This camellia bud is beyond thrilling. Why? Because when Hurricane Matthew struck Savannah, we evacuated to Augusta GA, and spent a day visiting Aiken SC. While there, walking through a public garden, I picked up a camellia seed pod, and planted it when we got home. I now have three camellias growing from that attempt. This plant is still in its pot. The other two I planted in the ground have not set bud. So perhaps the lesson is to keep young plants in a pot longer. Anyway, I am so excited to see what the bloom will be! Since camellias do not always grow true to seed, it will be a surprise!
Camellia
The camellias are out in full force in my neighborhood. The combination of camellias flowering among the Spanish Moss draped from towering live oaks is a sight that never fails to take my breath away.
I didn’t make the Saturday deadline for The Propagators blog this week, but I resolve in 2022, to live life at my own pace, so deadlines need not stress me. Let’s see how long that lasts! In the meantime, visit him, he is very good with deadlines! http://thepropagatorsblog.com
Jayne In Georgia 