Gardening in the Coastal South

by Harrison, Marie

• ISBN13: 9781561642748
• ISBN10: 1561642746
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: Pineapple Press

Summary

Take a stroll through the garden of a self-confessed hortimaniac. Gardening is Marie Harrison's avocation, passion...some might say, obsession. In her personal, witty style (she refers to her husband as Amiable Spouse, or A.S. for short), Marie divulges her own tried-and-true ways of gardening along the coasts of the southeast United States. Marie covers perennials, flowers grown from bulbs, herbs, shrubs and small trees, vines, edible flowers, and herbs for flower borders. A section of full-color photos captures these beautiful plants and flowers in all their vibrant glory. Charming pen-and-ink illustrations are sprinkled throughout the text. Marie discusses the edible and medicinal properties of various plants (there's even a quick or two!), as well as coastal considerations such as salt tolerance; environmental issues such as pesticide use, beneficial insects, and exotic invasives; and gardening for birds and butterflies. She also offers her musings on the seasons in Florida and how she spends her time in the garden during each phase of the year. Whether you

Author Biography

Marie Harrison is a Master Gardener and director of District I of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. She writes gardening columns for a number of newspapers and other publications as well as teaching gardening at her local university and community college. Along with lecturing frequently at garden clubs, centers, and seminars, she often judges at flower shows. She was an English teacher in Mississippi and Florida for thirty years. She lives with her Amiable Spouse in the midst of her lovely garden near the Gulf Coast in Valparaiso, Florida

Table of Contents

Where is the Coastal South?	viii
Introduction	ix
What's in a Name?	xi
Perennials
Butterfly Weed, Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)	1	(2)
Mexican Heather, Cigar Plant, Bat Face (Cuphea spp.)	3	(2)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)	5	(1)
Gaura, Whirling Butterflies (Gaura lindeheimeri)	6	(2)
Firebush (Hamelia patens)	8	(2)
Louisiana Phlox (Phlox divaricata laphamii `Louisiana Purple')	10	(1)
Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata)	11	(2)
Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)	13	(2)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.)	15	(1)
Salvia, Sage (Salvia spp.)	16	(3)
Goldmoss, Stonecrop (Sedum acre)	19	(1)
Princess Flower (Tibouchina urvilleana)	20	(1)
Verbena (Verbena `Homestead Purple')	21	(1)
Other Reliable Perennials for the Coastal South	22	(6)
Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes, and Tubers
Hardy Orchid, Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla striata)	28	(1)
Caladium (Caladium spp.)	29	(3)
Crinum Lily, Crinum (Crinum spp.)	32	(2)
Glory Lily, Gloriosa Lily, Flame Lily (Gloriosa rothschildiana)	34	(1)
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.)	35	(2)
Iris (Iris spp.)	37	(2)
Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum)	39	(2)
Oriental Lily (Lilium, Oriental Hybrids)	41	(1)
Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium)	42	(2)
Society Garlic (Tulbaghia aviolacea)	44	(1)
Rain Lily, Fairy Lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora)	45	(2)
Ginger (Zingiberaceae)	47	(5)
Herbs
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)	52	(2)
Bay (Laurus nobilis)	54	(2)
Borage (Borago officinalis)	56	(2)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)	58	(1)
Cilantro/Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)	59	(2)
Dill (Anethum graveolens)	61	(2)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)	63	(1)
Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)	64	(2)
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)	66	(1)
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)	67	(2)
Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida)	69	(1)
Nigella, Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)	70	(2)
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)	72	(1)
Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)	73	(2)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)	75	(2)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)	77	(2)
Scented Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)	79	(2)
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)	81	(1)
Thyme (Thymus praecox)	82	(2)
Edible Flowers	84	(2)
Herbs for the Flower Border	86	(2)
Other Herbs for the Coastal South	88	(7)
Shrubs and Small Trees
Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia and Datura)	95	(2)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)	97	(2)
Camellia (Camellia spp.)	99	(2)
Grancy Gray-beard, Fringe Tree, Old Man's Beard (Chionanthus virginicus)	101	(2)
Common Fig (Ficus carica)	103	(2)
Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis)	105	(1)
Althea, Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)	106	(1)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)	107	(2)
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)	109	(1)
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)	110	(3)
Chinese Fringe, Fringe Flower, Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)	113	(1)
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)	114	(2)
Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)	116	(1)
Banana Shrub (Michela figo)	117	(2)
Sweet Olive, Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)	119	(1)
China Rose (Rosa chinensis)	120	(4)
Vines
Malabar Spinach (Basella alba `Rubra')	124	(1)
Love-in-a-Puff (Cardiospermum halicacabum)	124	(1)
Carolina Jessamine, Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)	125	(1)
Moon Vine, Moon Flower (Ipomoea alba)	126	(1)
Trumpet Honeysuckle, Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)	127	(2)
Mandevilla (Mandevilla sanderi)	129	(1)
Passion Flower, Passion Vine (Passiflora incarnata)	130	(3)
Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)	133	(1)
Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)	134	(2)
Other Reliable Vines for the Coastal South	136	(5)
Coastal Considerations
Salt-Tolerant Plants for Home Landscapes	141	(16)
Trees	144	(3)
Shrubs	147	(4)
Annuals	151	(1)
Perennials	152	(2)
Grasses	154	(1)
Vines and Groundcovers	154	(1)
Tropicals	155	(1)
Bibliography	156	(1)
Environmental Issues
Reasons for Concern	157	(1)
Other Dilemmas	158	(2)
How Can Gardeners Help?	160	(2)
Mulch---An Idea Whose Time Has Come	162	(1)
Managing Pests in the Landscape	163	(1)
Integrated Pest Management Offers Safer Pest Control Alternatives	164	(2)
Enlisting the Aid of Beneficial Insects	166	(1)
A Lesson Learned	167	(2)
What About Exotic Invasives?	169	(2)
Getting Back to Nature	171	(2)
Wildlife
Gardening for the Birds	173	(3)
We Make a Butterfly Garden	176	(2)
A Tale of Worms and Weeds	178	(1)
Happiness Is a Hummingbird in Your Face	179	(3)
Conifers are Must-Haves for Bird-Friendly Backyards	182	(25)
Seasonal Musings
Spring
It's the Loveliest Time of the Year	185	(1)
February and March in the Coastal South	186	(2)
The Glories of Another Gardening Season	188	(1)
Summer
Bright Color for the Dog Days	189	(3)
Reflections on the Late Summer Garden	192	(1)
Fall
Excerpt from the Diary of a Southern Gardener	193	(2)
A Fall Guide for the Southern Gardener	195	(2)
Winter
Winter Approaches	197	(2)
Winter Opportunities and Delights for the Dedicated Gardener	199	(1)
Plant Seeds of Hardy Annuals	200	(2)
A Meal Fit for Royalty	202	(1)
Protect Tender Plants from the Cold	203	(2)
Overwintering Plants Calls for Creative Solutions	205	(2)
Gardening for the Love of It
The Call of High Spring	207	(1)
Gardeners Reap Many Benefits	208	(2)
The Show Goes On	210	(2)
A Well-Designed Backyard	212	(1)
The Sensual Garden	213	(2)
Are You a Floraholic or Hortimaniac?	215	(2)
Kindred Spirits	217	(2)
Garden for the Health of It	219	(2)
The Perennial Quest of Steady Gardeners	221	(2)
Remembering the Basics	223	(2)
Index	225	(8)
About the Author	233