All posts filed under: GARDENING

Mississippi pansies vs. California pansies.

Mississippi weather mood swings and the curious case of angry pansies

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In Mississippi, the weather has more mood swings than a soap opera villain. One day, it’s warm and sunny with birds chirping and neighbors mowing their lawns in shorts and flip-flops. The next? You’re wrapped in an electric blanket, sipping hot cocoa while watching snow flurries dance outside your window — in February. Or April. Or literally whenever the state decides to throw a seasonal tantrum.

This climate confusion has had me pondering one particular flower for a couple of years now: the pansy. Yes, that sweet little bloom with a face. A face that, if you look closely, kind of seems to judge you as you walk by.

A news article about the popularity of bottle trees featuring a multicolored bottle tree.

Why bottle trees are making a colorful comeback in Southern gardens

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Rick Griffin, a Jackson landscape architect, grew up seeing bottle trees on trips between Ocean Springs and Vicksburg. Fascinated by their charm, he built a 10-foot bottle tree in his own yard, calling it a symbol of fun and individuality. “It’s about being a nonconformist,” he says.

Once dismissed as kitschy folk art, bottle trees are now booming in popularity across the South, especially in neighborhoods like Fondren, where urban horticulture expert Felder Rushing has documented a sharp rise in their numbers. Rushing believes this trend reflects a cultural shift toward more relaxed, expressive outdoor spaces. “For a long time, lawns had to be perfect. Now, people feel freer to add personality and history to their yards,” he explains.

You can plant a greeting card?

Plantable Greeting Cards: Send a message that blooms with wildflowers

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Did you know you can actually plant a greeting card and grow flowers from it? That’s right — your next heartfelt note could double as a wildflower garden, thanks to the clever, eco-conscious creations from Round Robin Press. These beautiful cards aren’t just for show; they’re embedded with real wildflower seeds that can bloom once planted in soil.

Created by artist Shannon Lowry, the cards are printed on recycled paper and feature calming, nature-inspired illustrations — primarily of birds. For Lowry, birds symbolize peace, joy, and the quiet strength of nature.