Wow! May is a busy month! My calendar is full of tryouts (for loved ones) playoff games, Mother’s Day, sports events, church projects and VBS planning, graduation, NanO responsibilities, end of school programs, awards day celebrations and I really want to just go play in the dirt!
On my frequent drive to Gordo in Pickens County Alabama, I have been amazed how quickly the trees have budded out and the abundance of Queen Anne lace along the roadside. As I enjoy a pass along plant from a friend or a really good deal, I did a bit of research on adding the dainty flower to a bed at the Camp David. I need to be careful. Queen Anne’s lace and poison hemlock are easily confused.
They both have white umbrella shaped flower clusters. Poison hemlock is significantly taller with smooth, hollow stems, smooth leaves, and purple blotches on the stem. It can grow up to 10 feet tall. It is toxic to humans and animals and can cause blisters from skin contact.
Queen Anne’s Lace does not grow much taller than three feet. Its solid green stems are covered with tiny hairs. Its leaves are also hairy. Their lace-like cluster is delicate white with a single dark, tiny red flower in the center of the umbel. An umbel is a type of flower cluster where multiple flower stalks radiate outward from a common point, like an umbrella. The tint red center represents a drop of Queen Anne’s blood from pricking her finger while sewing with a needle. Its taproot resembles a domestic carrot.
Take time to research plants before adding them to your home environment. Some plants may be best enjoyed from afar!
You should be enjoying those early cool season vegetables. We are thankful to friends that share lettuce, greens, radishes, and onions. Our garden at the camp, where most of the direct sow crops are planted, is struggling due to the abundance of rainfall. Hopefully, we will soon be able to replant the sweet corn, okra, green beans, cucumbers, and squash. Watermelons and cantaloupes can be added to the list. Check out the local farmers’ market, where several Master Gardeners will have fresh produce for sale.
Keep an eye on your shrubs. As they finish blooming, trim carefully to induce a growth of good strong branches for next year’s blooms.
Do not prematurely remove the spring bulb foliage or next year’s flower production will decline. Allow the foliage to die down naturally or wait until most of the foliage has yellowed. Once the foliage has died, bulbs can be moved or divided as needed.
Non-hardy bulbs such as gladiolus, caladium, dahlias, cannas, elephant ears can be planted as the ground warms and night temperatures reach 50 degrees or higher.
For many years I had a large, beautiful bed of daisies in our backyard. My second-grade teacher friends and I shared those plants back and forth many times. About two years ago, we had a plumbing issue. Of course, the repairs needed were made coming through the daisies. I have pouted over the loss of the daisies ever since.
At our recent Master Gardener plant sale, I purchased a pot of Shasta daisies. I also had some daisy seed packs. That small six-foot spot has been overtaken by spider wort. The early morning purple bloom is pretty, but it is not something I want to edge the patio. I want my daisies. When I asked for advice on a gardening chat group, they told me spider wort is beautiful and it makes a wonderful tea. I have dug out a large wheelbarrow load so far. Hopefully, the remaining spider wort will be out of the flower bed and into the wheelbarrow with a few more hours of digging. I know one man’s weed is another man’s flower! I want my daisies!
We enjoy watching the bees, butterflies, and birds. Hopefully, a combination of annuals and perennials will give us lots of enjoyment and enhance the environment. My head and my heart tell me that I should strive toward a pollinator friendly atmosphere around our rural Lowndes County home and the West Alabama property. The back, knees, ankles, and feet of this old schoolteacher, who stayed on her feet walking around the classroom almost half of her life, are saying simplify and enjoy what you have!
Former elementary teacher and avid gardener Olivia Sansing lives in the New Hope community and shares timely tips on behalf of the Lowndes County Master Gardeners.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
