Thanks, Beth!

Yep, burr gherkins and rat tail radish seedpods and cherry tomatoes do make a nice salad combo! 😋

Glad I could whet your appetite -- hope you had a nice lunch 😊

Hey Greg,

Thanks for your note! It's fun to know that people are still reading this buffalo grass post!

That's fascinating to learn that buffalo grass is doing well for you in Huntsville! Did you grow it from seed or from plugs? How often do you mow it in a typical year?

I think you're right that buffalo grass would do much better than Bermuda in a drought scenario, especially since buffalo grass is native to the arid Western U.S. (http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Bouteloua%20gracilis.png)

I didn't like that buffalo grass tried to creep into my flower beds, but I presume it's *much* less pushy in that regard than Bermuda grass!

Thank you, Jason! I'm really stoked for the upcoming year in the garden 🤩

Thank you, Phillip!

Thanks, Beth! I agree with you 110% 😊

Excellent idea, Charles!

I've had good success using Bt to vanquish bagworms that had been attacking my Juniperus virginiana trees.

If I try growing collards or other brassicas again in the future, I'll certainly keep Bt in mind as a potential resource.

Thank you for the suggestion :)

Hi Cliff!

Thanks for your note.

I think you mean 'trumpet creeper' (Campsis radicans... also known colorfully as 'cow itch' and 'devil's shoestring'). https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/campsis-radica...

Yes, this is a very aggressive vine. I would strongly discourage anyone from planting it in their garden. And if anyone is on good terms with a neighbor who has or is thinking of planting it, maybe you can talk them out of it or even partner with them to remove it?

Unfortunately, I too have a neighbor who has this planted on their fence, and I have both sprouts and seedlings from their vine coming up on my property. :(

Technically though, trumpet creeper can't be 'invasive' in the Southeast, because it's actually native to most of the Eastern U.S. <a href="http://(http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Campsis%20radicans.png)" target="_blank">(http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Campsis%20radicans.png). Meaning that it probably was growing throughout much of the continent long before European settlers first arrived.

Seeing how aggressive it can be in gardens, I do wonder why it doesn't take over natural areas, but I never see it running rampant in Tennessee woods.

I believe that native plants usually don't run roughshod over natural areas because they have co-evolved predators (insects that eat their seeds or foliage) to keep them in check.

It's the exotic plants that sometimes become invasive and disrupt ecosystems because none of our native caterpillars or weevils or nematodes or fungi or whatnot have evolved to feed on them.

In time, of course, I suspect that 'predators' will evolve to feed on any abundant native plant, but that process could take thousands of years or more. Meanwhile, the invaders will wreak havoc on natural landscapes and degrade biodiversity.

We can all do our part as gardeners by not planting invasive exotics and discouraging our friends and neighbors from planting these plants (and removing pre-existing or volunteer invasive exotics whenever we can).

But sure, I'd also avoid planting certain super-aggressive natives like trumpet creeper. Even if they have a beneficial role to play in a forest, they're far too wild to have in a home garden (IMHO).

(More on invasive plants from the U.S. Forest Service ... https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/invasives/)

Your clay and my clay sound like they are in the same color palette, Emily!

Did your French breakfast radishes reach 'normal' size? (I ask because when I've tried to grow carrots in the heavy clay, I can technically get a crop, but they end up being ultra skinny.)

IME, sunflowers (the annual kind and some of the perennials) grow just fine in clay soil - http://www.gardenofaaron.com/2017/06/a-sunflower-...

This year, I'm trying few-leaved sunflower. I wintersowed it here and there in the garden (just scattered the seeds basically) and I have a fair number of seedlings. They haven't bloomed yet, but so far I'm liking the plants a lot. Their broad basal foliage definitely seems to help with weed control! https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/74405/#b

Oops.

Well, this is embarrassing. I don't know why I was thinking of 'Blue Satin' because of course you're right -- this is 'Blue Bird' hibiscus, purchased from YOU at Gardens in the Wood of Grassy Creek in October 2012! http://www.gardensinthewood.com/hibiscus-syriacus...

There is one called 'Blue Satin' (https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/hibiscus/azurri-blue-satin-rose-sharon-hibiscus-syriacus) which looks very similar to 'Blue Bird' and is supposed to be sterile.

For what it's worth, I never got a seedling from 'Blue Bird' prior to this year, but I think I may have some growing around the shrub now after 8 years!

I also grow 'Diana' (the pure white one) and added a new one (maybe 'Aphrodite'?) last year.

Today, I saw a hummingbird visiting 'Blue Bird'! :)

I rather like rose of Sharons, although they are susceptible here in Middle TN to damage from late (or even typical) spring frosts and freezes...

Good to hear from you. Wishing you strength, good health, and many flowers!

Thank you :)

Yep, I grow some common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) too ... And you're right, the bees go gaga over it. It's just starting to bloom now.

Common milkweed is also extremely fragrant with a delicious aroma! IMHO, this 'weed' has a better fragrance than most of the hoity-toity fancy rosebushes out there.