Sunrise in my garden

Even in a busy, suburban neighborhood, I find that sunrise in my garden becomes a quiet haven of rest from the bustle and noise of daily life.  The sun spotlighting God's creation reminds me that no matter what may be happening around me, all is well with my soul.

Weed or wildflower

Most of us consider Queen Anne's Lace a pretty roadside wildflower but in 35 states it is officially listed as an invasive import.  Queen Anne's Lace is an European import from colonial times.  This immigrant was so delighted with its new world home that it quickly established itself in almost every state.  I think it is quite lovely and deliberately turned it loose in my rain garden.  Sometimes I find a surprise in one of my other flower beds but it pretty much stays put.  If I find it is spreading a little too enthusiastically, I just dead head the blooms for one season.  Weed or wildflower, you decide.

Mystery tomatoes

Growing tomatoes is a major accomplishment in my garden each year.  The process begins in January with careful, agonizing decisions about which varieties to purchase.  I have favorites but I'm also frugal so the seed purchase must also be economical.

Then, germinating and developing healthy transplants takes over my kitchen as the only suitable window in my  house shines onto the kitchen table.  If you want to eat in my kitchen in February or March, you pretty much have to find somewhere else to set your plate.

I don't have a traditional vegetable garden so early April is dedicated to choosing enough sunny locations to plant my precious tomato babies.  This year, I had to find places for 16 plants in four varieties.  In addition to sunshine, I also need to take crop rotation into consideration since we have a serious blight problem around here.

This spring, it seemed like I had some of the best tomato transplants I have ever  started.  When I planted them in early April, they took off like gangbusters.  They already have blooms.

However, I made one critical mistake at planting time.  I used popsicle sticks to label each plant before staking and mulching them but now I can't find the sticks.  They are out there somewhere.  I know I have cherry, martinos romas, pineapple and celebrity tomatoes but their specific identities are a mystery to me. 

For the memories

There is a homely little plant in my backyard.  It isn't really a shrub but it is something more than a perennial.  It is the perfect example of what landscape designers call the 'wrong plant, wrong place' but nothing would induce me to dig it up.

I planted this lilac seedling in my backyard because I remembered the massive lilac shrubs of my childhood in Minnesota.  Every spring, when the lilacs bloomed the air was filled with the sweet perfume of hundreds of perfect purple, lavender, pink, or white flowers.  It was supposed to grow to 20 feet in order to provide a little shade and privacy to the downstairs bathroom window.

The reality is that the lilac is no match for our brutally hot Alabama summers.  My little lilac tops out at about 4 feet of scraggly stems.  I have managed to root a couple of clippings so I have three of these pitiful little guys struggling to survive. 

But every April, I remember why my lilacs are priceless to me.  Those little stalks produce about a dozen gorgeous purple blooms that send that classic lilac scent wafting across my back deck and through my open windows. 

My happy childhood returns for a three weeks every April.

Best in my show

The Best in Show award for Springtime Trees in my Alabama Backyard goes to Magnolia Ashii!

This native tree begins to bloom just as the fringe tree leafs out.  In my opinion, God saved the best for last. 

This native magnolia does everything bigger and better than any other tree in the Alabama woods.  Its leaves grow to an impressive 30 inches in length and its white blooms are the size of your average dinner plate.  If that isn't impressive enough, the fragrance from just a few blooms perfumes half my garden. 

Growing an ash magnolia can be challenging.  It grows without any effort as long as it is planted precisely; this tree requires well-drained, but moist and slightly acidic soil.  It wants some protection from the brutal Alabama summer sunshine but doesn't want to live in deep shade.  Because it is primarily an understory tree, it may grow in some unusual shapes but does not want to be pruned. 

There is just nothing like it.  I'm thankful that I have just the right spot for this tree in my own backyard.

First comes dogwood, then comes fringe tree

We all associate dogwood trees with spring in the south and their bright white blooms gracing the woodland edges are indeed lovely to see.  For me, however, the next native tree to bloom is far prettier.  Fringe tree,  or my favorite favorite name for this tree, grancy grey beard, creates a stunning show of bright white far superior to the dogwood show.

My photo of this tree does not do it justice, I couldn't get the lighting to cooperate with my limited photography skills.  What is really here is a giant puff ball of white fringe that dances in the wind and fills the vicinity with a delicate fragrance.

The native fringe tree has no issues with disease or pests, grows quickly to a manageable 20 feet, is easy to grow in full sun or partial shade, is a show stopper in the spring, and provides gentle shade all summer.

You would think everyone would have one growing in their backyard.  Sadly, they are hard to find in nurseries.  I'm privileged to have two of them that were given to me as seedlings.  If you ever see one at a nursery, buy it immediately!

Proof that God has a sense of humor

Only God could imagine creating a flower without petals.  These strange little flowers are commonly called Little Brown Jugs because that is exactly what they look like.  They are found under the fallen leaves in quiet woodland nooks and crannies during the early spring.  If you go for a walk in the woods you won't even see them unless you know to brush aside the dead leaves to look for them.  

A little research revealed even more of God's hysterical sense of humor because the lovely brownish maroon color is designed to look like decaying meat in order to attract the ants which pollinate the little jug-like flowers.  Fortunately, God didn't decide to add a roadkill fragrance to his little joke.

In a few days, the new foliage for the little brown jugs will begin to appear.  The foliage is known as heartleaf, a form of wild ginger.  The foliage is prettier than the flowers but the flowers are what make me smile at the wonder of God's creative sense of fun.