Furry Friday: Meet Delilah!
Delilah is very much a puppy with a lot of energy! She is still learning manners & can be rough when playing with other dogs. Delilah is crate & potty trained, & can be a bit scared in new situations. Delilah is heartworm positive & not a good fit for young kids or small animals.…… Continue Reading
Furry Friday: Meet King!
Meet King, the goofy, high-energy pup who will have you laughing and maybe even questioning who’s really in charge-spoiler alert: it’s not him! King’s hobbies include playing fetch, roughhousing with his dog buddies, and giving out endless kisses. He’s still got some puppy energy in him, so prepare for a ton of fun! In his…… Continue Reading
Find zen in your garden with zinnias
My mother-in-law, Jean Reeves, was smart, hard-working, industrious, caring and pretty. She loved gardening, and taught her equally pretty daughters about vegetables and flowers and how they co-exist in nature. When I fell in love with Melissa, I also fell in love with her parents’ extraordinary and expansive dairy farm. The vegetable garden was always spacious, pristine and yummy. Jean’s talent for growing flowers was equally as impressive. Her sizable zinnia garden was memorable for the vivid colors. I think a low flying plane would have flown around to get another look.… Continue Reading
Furry Friday: Meet Moon!
Moon is a sweet, low-key lady who’s ready to leave her stray days behind and find a stable, loving family to call her own. Quiet and calm, she prefers to take life at her own pace-happy to explore with her nose to the ground and soak in her surroundings without rushing. She shares a special…… Continue Reading
‘Naked lady’ spider lilies bring surprise blooms
Every regular co-host on the WPTF Weekend Gardener has discussed with delight, at one time or another, the attributes of the “naked lady” spider lily or Lycoris radiate. I have read that the name “Lycorus” refers to the mistress of the Roman leader Mark Anthony. Of course, there are other names for this popular bulb: “Cluster amaryllis”, “Equinox flower”, “Hurricane lilies”, “Magic lily”, “Resurrection lily”, and “Surprise lily”. Yes, this extraordinary perennial bulb is in the amaryllis family and is a native of China, Korea and Japan, but there are varieties that are native to the southeastern U.S. including North Carolina. … Continue Reading
Furry Friday: Meet Cooper!
Copper is a 1-year-old male with a sweet, gentle spirit. At the shelter, he can be a little shy in his kennel at first, so he just needs a bit of time to relax and feel safe – but once he does, he’s easy to collar and walks calmly past the barking dogs without a…… Continue Reading
Salvia: A colorful, hardy favorite for Carolina gardens
Everyone should have some type of salvia in their landscape. Sage advice, I must say, if you like puns that is! Salvia also is known for its medicinal qualities for oral health, digestion problems and cognitive issues. I for one have never considered eating salvia. Sage is, of course, considered a culinary herb, so I suppose I have eaten some over the years. There are over a thousand salvia species and just as many cultivars and hybrids. Just like several plants I have in my yard, salvia is part of the mint family. Most salvia flowers don’t have fragrance, however their foliage does. Salvia is also a pollinator favorite.… Continue Reading
Furry Friday: Meet Sunkist!
Sunkist is a one-year-old bulldog/boxer mix who loves snuggling close and savoring life’s little moments-like stopping to smell the roses on a peaceful walk. She’s the perfect blend of playful curiosity and calm affection, ready to share both adventures and cuddles with her forever family. Sunkist knows exactly what she likes and isn’t shy about…… Continue Reading
Lantana: The sun-loving, pollinator-friendly powerhouse
I have grown to love lantana. I never really had anything against it. It’s just the fact I haven’t had a lot of sun areas in my landscape and lantana can take up a fair amount of room if it is happy. Most of North Carolina is hot throughout the summer and we certainly have drought periods. Lantana is made to order for these conditions. Lantana is in the verbena family and is sometimes called “shrub verbena.” It comes in various sizes from 1 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide according to my friends at the Cooperative Extension Service. It loves full sun, moist, but well-drained soil to fully perform. Lantana grows particularly well in the piedmont and thrives on the coastal plain and coast of North Carolina. It is even salt tolerant.… Continue Reading
Lantana: The sun-loving, pollinator-friendly powerhouse
I have grown to love lantana. I never really had anything against it. It’s just the fact I haven’t had a lot of sun areas in my landscape and lantana can take up a fair amount of room if it is happy. Most of North Carolina is hot throughout the summer and we certainly have drought periods. Lantana is made to order for these conditions. Lantana is in the verbena family and is sometimes called “shrub verbena.” It comes in various sizes from 1 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide according to my friends at the Cooperative Extension Service. It loves full sun, moist, but well-drained soil to fully perform. Lantana grows particularly well in the piedmont and thrives on the coastal plain and coast of North Carolina. It is even salt tolerant.… Continue Reading