It is an age-old argument I have with my sons about the genetic connection that must exist with certain hobbies and talents. They believe it is strictly a matter of interest that comes from a decision to like something or to want to develop an ability. I don't see it that way and never have. Granted, I grew up on a nursery surrounded by plants and I had a mother who was a talented landscaper, but I hated it. I had no desire whatsoever to sweat in the dirt.
And then at some point in my mid-adult years ,just like my grandma Brannan and my grandma Smith and my mother, working in my beds and gardens became a hobby, a fixation, and a means of therapy. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a yard burst into bloom or produce a beautiful bounty to share with your friends and family.
Rule of thumb on my three green acres: If it comes up on its own the soil, drainage, and sunlight are suitable. As much as I love certain plants, I am not up for adding lime or digging down to get soil samples to make a plant grow well. Maybe in my later years with more time on my hands doing these things will feel more like a hobby, but as for now I try to work with what I have as much as possible.
There is a great deal of clay in our soil which has a negative charge and holds moisture well. Azaleas love it. Blueberry bushes love it. Crepe Myrtles, Gardenias, Beauty Bush, and Boxwood love it.
I have randomly grabbed up plants that I liked sitting on a shelf at the store only to watch them stagnantly remain barely alive where they were planted. Amending soil is a way to change a garden or lawn to be more inviting to other plants, but this is not a quick one-time treatment. It takes a couple of years to treat the area with products or organic matter.
For this reason, I was pleased to find out about the LSU AgCenter's Louisiana Super Plant list that comes out each year. This list breaks down into warm season bedding plants, cool season bedding plants, shrubs, and trees. They also work in conjunction with the local garden centers and nurseries to grow and provide these plants to the public. Not only do they list the plants but they list the specific type of plant that is hardier and easier to maintain in our local climate. We live in a subtropical humidity that is like few other places in our country. Other areas may have similar temperatures but lack the massive waves of humidity we experience.
This coming spring the LSU AgCenter will be announcing the Super Plants for 2025, but for the current year there are over 50 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees suggested for the local consumer ready to make a splash in their yard and find success in their gardens. Some of these are listed below in categories.
• Some warm season bedding plants recommended are Begonia-the Baby Wing series. Alco Hibiscus-Luna series, Impatiens-Beacon series, Lantana-Bandana series, Coleus-Flamethrower series, Pentas-Butterfly series, and Salvia farinacea 'Evolution'.
• Some cool season bedding plants are Foxglove-Camelot series, Viola-Sorbet series, Dianthus-Jolt series, Columbine-Swan series, Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo and Supertunia Vista Bubblegum.
• Shrubs suggested are Althea 'Aphrodite', American Beautyberry, Azalea 'Conversation Piece', Blueberries-Rabbiteye, and Gardinia 'Frostproof'.
• And trees are: Southern Magnolia 'Little Gem', Willow Oak, Southern Sugar Maple, Baldcypress, and Evergreen Sweetboy Magnolia.
These are only some from the list. For more information and upcoming lists that will be announced visit LSUAgCenter.com/SuperPlants. I remember my grandma Brannan having several books on flowers and herbs in her house. And my grandma Smith seemed to hold her own knowledge built on years of life on a farm in south Louisiana. For those of us with the new world of "living.com" it may be Hybrid Magnolia Jane, Zinnia Zesty, or Porterweed added to your property. Nevertheless, Happy Gardening!
