It’s standard practice to cut down living trees and make them into painted fences or decorated trinket boxes, but rare to leave a dead tree standing and turn it into sculpture. Continue reading “Keeping Fondren Funky: Tree Art by Bill Taylor”
The Last Days of Ebullient Ralph Sowell’s Daffodil Collection
My sweetheart was sorry to hear that his affable gardening friend Ralph Sowell of Jackson, Mississippi, had died and, because his printing company’s property was to be repurposed, his raised beds brimming with many dozens of award-winning daffodils and hybrid daylilies had to go.
It turned out that the garden needed to be emptied more quickly than expected, and unfortunately the daffodils were at the peak of bloom or just about to flower. Bulbs physically empty out when they produce flowers and need a few weeks of sunlight energy hitting the growing leaves to re-fatten for next season. The size and diversity of Ralph’s collection added an extra challenge. Continue reading “The Last Days of Ebullient Ralph Sowell’s Daffodil Collection”
Quercus virginiana: Southern Live Oak Cloaked in Ferns
We don’t have live oaks (Quercus virginiana, Southern live oak) in Lancashire, more’s the pity, as they are spectacular trees. Continue reading “Quercus virginiana: Southern Live Oak Cloaked in Ferns”
Garden Creatures, Mississippi Style
2020 was a year we’ll remember for the worst reasons, but there were a few highlights. I learned, for example, what this was.
The artwork was covering a window or gap in an alley in Jackson, MS. I immediately took a shine to it because of the fierce creature’s eyes, the flowers and the (almost) heart shaped nose. But I had no idea what it was – it could have been imaginary for all I knew. We don’t have opossums in England. The nearest I could think of was an alternative badger with a tail and a decidedly uppity expression. Continue reading “Garden Creatures, Mississippi Style”
Autumn Gleanings And Thanksgiving Wishes
Wishing my American friends a very happy Thanksgiving.
For the last few years I’ve been in Mississippi to enjoy the day with some lovely people, but 2020 had other ideas. Although I know y’all can celebrate perfectly well without the British (I’ve been there for Independence Day too 🙂 ), I decided that a blog celebration was in order. Continue reading “Autumn Gleanings And Thanksgiving Wishes”
Kindness
I’m getting into the proper spirit of KindaSquare today by reminiscing.
Last October, Jeff Brown and Donald Van de Werken invited us to the first annual Sweet Tea Festival held in Poplarville, Mississippi, on the town green. Food and drink experts, local artists, craftspeople and musicians came together to celebrate one of the South’s favourite refreshments. Continue reading “Kindness”
Friday Flowers, Mississippi Style
Goldenrod, callicarpa (beautyberry), vitex (chaste flower), Celosia cristata (cockscomb), roses and African blue basil give a flavour of Jenny Nelson’s Mississippi garden. Continue reading “Friday Flowers, Mississippi Style”
Susan Rushton 