10 Sun-Loving Perennials and Annuals
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
6M ago
10 Sun-Loving Perennials and Annuals Since spring is the best time to work in the garden, now is the perfect time to introduce you to my favorite sun-loving perennials and annuals. I garden in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which is growing zone 7a, recently shifted from zone 6b after an update in the USDA Plant Hardiness Map. (Check your zone HERE.) Depending on where you live, my favorites may not be the best choices for your area, but many of these will do well in a wide range of the country. As always, research before you plant. I’ll start with plants that are perennial in northwest Arkansas ..read more
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We Created a Moon Garden!
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
7M ago
We created a moon garden by accident! I realized this a few nights ago when, half asleep, I trudged outside with Gracie and Annabelle and saw the Man in the Moon perfectly situated in the sky above our backyard. It was like he was waiting for us. And, even though he was still one day shy of full, his brilliant spotlight made our plants glow. We’ve created a moon garden, I thought, completely mesmerized by the scene. Sometimes, darkness brings light. The next night, under April’s Full Pink Moon (named Pink Moon in honor of the creeping pink phlox that blooms in April), I spent more time outsi ..read more
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There’s Nothing Common about the Common Buttonbush
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
1y ago
I’ve been enamored with the Common Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) since I first noticed it growing wild along the shoreline of Lake Norfork. Even when I knew nothing about this plant, it’s fragrant pom-pom flowers fascinated me. Seriously, I love any plant that looks Dr. Seuss-inspired. Now that I understand its importance to wildlife, I’m one of its biggest cheerleaders. One thing that makes the buttonbush unique is its love of water. This particular plant thrives in marshes, bogs, along shorelines and streams, and other low-lying wet areas. (This explains why it lines the shores of ..read more
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How to Make Botanical Confetti
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
1y ago
I decided to try my hand at making botanical confetti. Since it’s my birthday week—yay!—confetti is definitely in order, but really, you don’t need a special reason for a confetti-filled day. And what can be better than confetti made from nature? Can you believe all the colors found in our backyard? The small dots of botanical confetti look like paper. But they aren’t. Each leaf not only provides a glorious color, but also a completely unique pattern. No two pieces of confetti are the same. In the first batch I made, I tossed in bits of clover and other blossoms, so it was a little like po ..read more
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How to Make Botanical Confetti
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
2y ago
I decided to try my hand at making botanical confetti. Since it’s my birthday week—yay!—confetti is definitely in order, but really, you don’t need a special reason for a confetti-filled day. And what can be better than confetti made from nature? Can you believe all the colors found in our backyard? The small dots of botanical confetti look like paper. But they aren’t. Each leaf not only provides a glorious color, but also a completely unique pattern. No two pieces of confetti are the same. In the first batch I made, I tossed in bits of clover and other blossoms, so it was a little like po ..read more
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Notes from a Garden Tour
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
2y ago
Well, friends, after months of anticipation and preparation, the Arkansas Master Gardener garden tour has come and gone. Whew! Now that I’ve had a minute to sit back and think about it, I scribbled down a few random notes about the whole fabulous experience. Start Early. Gardening is one of our favorite hobbies, so in a way, we’ve been preparing to be on this garden tour since we bought our property in 2014. But, as soon as we officially agreed to participate in this year’s state garden tour, we began honest-to-goodness planning. The end of winter seemed a very long wait. We pulled weeds bet ..read more
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Skipping Winter?
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
3y ago
After last year’s major whammy of a winter, we seem to be skipping winter altogether here in Arkansas. One thing’s for sure—our weather is becoming more and more extreme. I hope that by calling out this crazy idea of skipping winter, Ole Man Winter will straighten himself out, and we will indeed have more seasonable weather in January. The plants and animals depend on it. We all do. I’ll admit it—eating cobbler and vanilla ice cream outside on Christmas Day was kinda nice. Walking Annabelle and Gracie without wearing our Icelandic gear has been kinda nice too. But I need a little winter ..read more
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The Santa Succulent ~ 5 days til Christmas!
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
3y ago
Today’s Santa Succulent is a fun, last-minute gift for the plant lover in your life. (Or, for yourself.) Really, this is for everyone reading today’s Christmas Countdown post, right? Aren’t they adorable? I saw these whimsical fellows at Greater Goods Marketplace in historic downtown Van Buren, Arkansas, and thought about how fun it would be to make these for Christmas gifts. Santa Mugs This time of year, vintage Santa mugs can be found front and center at resale and thrift shops everywhere. Many retailers sell cute reproductions too. The price seems to be about the same for vintage and new ..read more
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Life in Milkweed
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
3y ago
Life in Milkweed Milkweed is vital for monarchs because it is THE host plant for monarch butterflies (meaning, monarch butterflies lay eggs ONLY on milkweed, AND monarch caterpillars ONLY eat milkweed). Of course, there are a variety of other species besides monarchs that enjoy nectaring from milkweed. This year, I’ve been keeping track of the critters I’ve noticed in my swamp milkweed—life beyond monarchs. And, I thought it would be fun to document this life in milkweed, the teeny flies and bugs, frogs and just-hatched insects, the butterflies feeding every afternoon. Each time I inspe ..read more
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Purple and Blue in the Summer Garden
Grace Grits and Gardening » Gardening
by Talya Tate Boerner
3y ago
I love purple and blue in the summer garden. Blue, especially, is more rare. Don’t you think? If you want to attract a variety of pollinators to your garden, it’s important to include diverse plantings in a variety of colors. Adding blue and purple will attract certain butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and even bats. Today is all about a few of my favorite purple and blue blossoms for your summer garden. Black & Blue Salvia The bluest flower in our garden is Black & Blue Salvia guaranitica. I discovered this variety a couple of years ago and absolutely love the dark stems and vibrant ..read more
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