1. 1
January
2017
An occasional report on what’s growing at Maypop Hill Nursery
and the Miley homestead in Norwood, Louisiana;
to subscribe to the free newsletter, contact us by
email: maypophill@gmail.com web: maypophill.com
A weed is a plant that
volunteers in our yards, usually
where it is not wanted. Ah, but
if we gardeners make an
attitude adjustment, we may
find that weeds can serve our
purposes.
Weeds for Landscaping; yep, you read that right; one of the best
fillers in a drab winter garden is Spiderwort (Tradescantia species),
whose grasslike leaves often turn lovely shades of purple in mid-winter;
tall blue flowers appear in spring; need to be chopped down when
stems get floppy; they return reliably
when temperatures cool again.
On Maypop Hill we try to identify winter
rosettes of plants that make short
clusters of leaves that are tough
enough to withstand extreme
conditions that turn other plants to twigs or
mush. These are common in much of the
South:
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) – tall red flowers in late summer
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) – white spring flowers
Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata) – blue flowers on spikes in winter to spring →
2. 2
Brick paths, rocks, metal
stakes, and concrete statues
help young seedlings and
newly planted trees survive.
They protect plants from
dogs, lawnmowers, drought,
chemicals, moles,
armadillos,& neatniks
3. 3
Birdfeeders are not yard art.
They are wildlife habitats,
along with evergreen
trees that provide shelter
from the elements and
nest sites. We leave some
stands of native grasses
and wildflower for birds
to forage for seeds. We
find many birds in the
red cedar trees
(Juniperus virginiana),
from which
Baton Rouge
derives its French
nickname,
Red Stick.
Have you signed up
for the Lady Bird
Wildflower Center’s
newsletter?
Click to sign up here
https://news.wildflower.org/magazine/
and check out this page
http://www.wildflower.org/collections/
collection.php?collection=xerces_nati
ve
4. 4
Edible Winter
Weeds?
Watercress, wild
onions, curly dock,
chickweed, dandelion
(a delicious non-
native) – are just a few
cold weather
volunteers that are
showcased in this
online article
“Twelve wild greens for
the Winter Solstice”
http://www.suburbanfora
gers.com/2012/12/17/twel
ve-wild-greens-winter-
solstice/
In Edible Plants of the Gulf
South, Charles Allen writes
that thistle
(Cirsium horridulum
and other spiny species
taste like celery and can
be eaten raw or cooked.
Gloves or baseball mitt
seem like a good idea to
collect thorny leaves!
Maypop Hill Nursery & Publications
Betty and LJ Miley, specializing in native plants & sustainable land use
web: maypophill.com email: maypophill@gmail.com
2017 Events for Gardeners
• Feb. 3-5, Louisiana Native Plant Society Annual Meeting,
Woodworth, LA http://www.lnps.org/
• March 4, Madisonville Garden Show, Town Hall River Front, Madisonville
• March 11, Spring Garden Day, Hammond Research Station, Hammond
• March 18-19, Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show, Parker Coliseum, LSU
• March 17-18, Northshore Garden and Plant Sale, St. Tammany Parish
Fairgrounds, Covington
• April 1, Good Earth Market, 112 Library Drive, Houma
• April 1, Spring Plant Sale, Baton Rouge Botanic Garden, 7950
Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge
• April 8-9, Spring Garden Show, City Park, New Orleans
