Possum and Pine

Ah, a native plant! The netted chain fern is not just native to America, but to the specific area where I live. It is found in the eastern parts of North America, and loves the wet, acidic bog-like areas of woodlands seen on the east coast. I live in a swamp, so it checks out! Ferns will grow in full sun if it gets enough water, but prefers shady areas. It spread via rhizomes that creep, and…

Microstegium vimineum, commonly known as Japanese stiltgrass, is an invasive grass seen throughout much of North America. Until this year, I did not know what this was or that it was invasive. Where it grows in my yard, I always mow super close to the ground, so I did not realize what it even was. Stiltgrass is not picky – it will grow in dry or wet areas, in shade or sun, and does not mind pH…

Ready for a rant about how bad honeysuckle is for us here in America? Lonicera japonica, or Japanese Honeysuckle – better known as Vine honeysuckle, is an invasive species that was introduced in America as an ornamental landscaping plant. It is a vine can can get well over 30 feet, and often will choke out trees and bushes that it climbs over. The nectar of the honeysuckle is edible – I…

Fleabane is a great native plant that is beneficial to pollinators and humans. They come in various colors, and even individual plants can have multiple colors with their blossoms. My yard is mostly full of the pale purple and white varieties. Fleabane originally was thought to keep away fleas (it does not). Making a tea out of the flowers (like you would with chamomile), was used by the natives…

Sometimes, you just have to laugh at yourself. I started seeds indoors in late January, and it simply did not work. I had maybe four seeds germinate. I was furious with myself. I had spent so much time sowing seeds, having grow lights and heat mats set up. I meticulously wrote down what I had growing in which cell and tray. All for nothing. So, I did what I call “rage seeded.” I planted almost…

I have never planted a petunia at my homestead. But they are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Each year, they pop up. Each year, a different spot, a different color. Usually pinks, creams, or whites, they appear. I’m not sure how they got here, or how to get rid of them, but I let them do their thing. So…yeah…. This is my feral petunia, helping to entice pollinators into the yard.

This is the first year that I am growing potatoes. I am growing both red and purple potatoes, so I get to see some cool differences between them. If you look here, I have a photo of the purple potato blossoms. The purple potatoes have a hint of violet to their foliage, especially the stalks. The purple potatoes also have pale white flowers with flecks of purple. However, as you can see above, the…

On the corner of my property are a few yucca plants. This is the first time that one of them have flowered, and I am so excited! There are multiple types of Yucca, all native to the New World. The type that I have growing here is the Yucca filamentosa, sometimes called Adam’s Needle. The bottom part is the foliage (not pictured), which grows about two feet tall in sword-like leaves that stick…

I recently traded oxalis with a friend. He has a gorgeous carpet of Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea) growing on his property. I fell in love with it (I’m a sucker for anything purple). He thought that the Iron Cross Oxalis I have is rad, so we decided to swap a few plants. The Violet Wood Sorrel is so tiny! The leaflets are about the size of a fingernail. Like most oxalis, they will do great…

Edelweiss, edelweissEvery morning you greet meSmall and white, clean and brightYou look happy to meet me A few years back, one of my friends who lives in Virginia started growing edelweiss from seed. It is native to the mountains, which leads some folks to believe that it cannot grow in warmer climates. However, this plant grows outside in zone 7. Edelweiss is considered an herb, and has…

These delicate purple flowers are Sisyrinchium angustifolium, better known as narrowleaf blue-eyed grass. It is a native grass, and for the past few years it has been spreading more and more in my yard. I am so happy, as this is a low-maintenance ground cover that is perfect for someone who does not want to mow. When I see the flowers, I try to mow around them so that they have the chance to go…

Did you know that potatoes are in the nightshade family? Related to the eggplant, pepper, and tomato, potatoes produce gorgeous, small flowers. The foliage is toxic, full of alkaloids, so please do not eat the leaves!

I did a quick project, and of course, I remember *afterwards* that I should have done a before and after photo. Oh well! I bought a used bakers rack and painted it white so it blends in with the house a little bit better. Then I simply put whatever house plants that could fit on it. Ta-da! My plan is to have some smaller plants in hanging baskets (or propagation jars in macrame cord), hanging to…

I tried macramé for the first time. I think I did ok. I had to redo this about three times in order for the knots to be spaced well enough to hold the jar. I’m not sure if this textile craft is for me, but it truly requires patience. I’m no stranger to textile crafts – I crochet all the time, and doilies are my go-to. However, the knotwork with macrame is a bit…. different. Maybe I will get the…

I have pink wood sorrel all over my property. It is such a beautiful oxalis. It clusters in soft mounds, up to a foot tall. Throughout the entire spring and summer, it has small, soft pink blossoms. Wood sorrel is hardy in zones 7-9, so it is normally a house plant in most of the United States. In climates where it can grow outside, it is a great border perennial plant. It propagates itself via…

Before work, I ran a few errands, and picked up this little guy in the discount section of the garden center. I knew it would be cool and over cast enough for it to be safe in my car while I was at work. However, I completely forgot that I bought it, and when I jumped into my car I surprised myself. It is a syngonium, but I am not sure of the exact variety. It is a brownish pink when it is not in…