Iris verna, is a dwarf iris that actually enjoys drier conditions. You get short tuffs of grass like foliage and these amazing blooms in the spring, even when growing in a drier garden bed! It's native range is all across the Southeast with some rare populations in North Florida.
A rare fruit I had the opportunity to try in Peru. This is the fruit of the Inga edulis tree native to South America. The most common name in English is the Ice Cream Bean. Locally called guaba.
When you have historic winter weather on the gulfcoast, there is less to worry about with native plants! See below. My citris tree needed a little help!
Most of the plant nurseries in my area will say, "you can't grow phlox on the gulf coast". That may be true if you buy plants from New Jersey. Growers using seeds from local wild flower populations of Phlox pilosa know better (caption below). Lesson - local ecotypes and local growers are important.
Polygala incarnata, or Procession flower, is a diminutive but beautiful flower when viewed up close. It looks like grass when not in bloom. Its growing range goes across all the Southeast and more sparsely up north into Canada and Michigan.
Something I do a lot of this time of year is seed collection. I have a tip in the below video to help prevent collecting and trying to germinate dud seeds.
Asclepias tuberosa, or butterfly weed is a native garden favorite. Native butterfly weed is a host plant for the monarch butterfly. It is very adaptable and drought tolerant. Local seed sources always perform best for this plant. Its native range is across most of North America.
Monarda fistulosa, or wild bergamont, shown in the below photos, is one of my favorites. I'm collecting seeds now in preparation for the end of winter. They look amazing in mass.
Asemeia grandiflora, or showy milkwort, makes a very beautiful, almost pea like flower. It occurs naturally in the Southeast, typically in pine savanahs. It is not typically available for purchase, so enjoy it if you have the opportunity!
Melanthera nivea, or Salt and Pepper Bush, is another absolute pollinator magnet. It ranges all the way up to Southern Illinois and well down into South Florida. It is very easy to grow, though it can grow large (5ft tall), making it more favored in pollinator gardens and wild flower plots.
Rudbeckia maxima, or giant blackeye Susan has gained some popularity in my area. The cabbage like leafs and unique flower shape make it a wonderful addition to a native flower bed. It grows to 5-8ft in my garden and puts on a show with giant flowers swaying on green poles when the wind blows.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) always seems to bloom right at the end of fall for me. The long string like petals are captivating. As a bonus, the plant is used for many medical benefits, mostly related to skin care and healing.
Cover the Warden Burger in Baldwin County Alabama. One of the Alabama Jails (of which Alabama is under federal orders to improve overall) is serving a punishment food to inmates. The warden curses and takes some typical movie style southern stances on punishment. It's pretty entertaining.
Trilisa odoratissimus or deer tongue is a beautiful purple fall flower. As a bonus, the plant's dried leafs smell like vanilla and were traditionally crushed and used to cover up a hunter's scent.
Gaillardia aestivalis, or the lance leafed blanket flower. It's been a wonderful plant for me in the Southeast and is also found throughout the south and southern great plains. It's very prolific and hardy.
