This newsletter summarizes the plants growing at Maypop Hill Nursery and provides updates on the property. It describes how some plants fared well during the hot and dry summer of 2023 while others struggled. It also features the dog guides that escort visitors on trails and highlights native plants that provide food for wildlife, such as Calico Aster. The newsletter encourages subscribing to future free issues by email.

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An occasional report of what’s growing at Maypop Hill Nursery and the Miley homestead in
An occasional report of what’s growing at Maypop Hill Nursery and the Miley homestead in
Norwood, LA; to subscribe to the free newsletter, contact us by email:
Norwood, LA; to subscribe to the free newsletter, contact us by email: maypophill@gmail.com
maypophill@gmail.com.
.
Website:
Website: maypophill.com
maypophill.com
The Maypop Hill
The Maypop Hill
Newsletter
Newsletter
December 2023
December 2023
THE SUMMER OF 2023 was dreadful!
Temperatures were often above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but it was the drought that
did all the damage. Some plants that were irrigated still became overly dehydrated,
while others did fine with no supplemental irrigation. Because you never know what
lies below.
a deer was
here
Blueberry
plants made
healthy red
fall foliage,
as did
Arrowwood
and
Rustyhaw
viburnums.
Our 30-year
old Mountain
Laurel,
however,
turned a rust
red color. That
can't be good.

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Walk this way, please
Walk this way, please
Dog tour guides gladly escort visitors
on trails to see the natural views on
Maypop Hill. They work cheap, a dog
biscuit or a pat on the head.
Ellie,
Ellie, the Staffordshire Terrier, takes visitors
to see the pond, the creek, and the woods,
where she is here,
by the levee. Lots of
Slender Wood Oats
(Chasmanthium laxum)
volunteer in
shady areas like this.
It's a delicate clumping
grass, around a foot tall,
a nice filler plant,
drought-tolerant
and not pushy or
demanding,
compared to lawn
grasses that need
frequent mowing..
Souvenirs from the creek:
Souvenirs from the creek:
bottles and a brand new walking
bottles and a brand new walking
stick Yay!
stick Yay!!
Lucy, the rat terrier,
likes to show people
around the fenced
front yard. Here she
is admiring one of the
potted evergreens,
a purple Heuchera.
Daffodil, aka Daffy
Daffy,
the Tennessee Treeing Brindle,
enjoys running ahead of anyone
trying to take pictures of the
warty hackberry by the pond and
butterflies in the meadow.
Here she is about to take a swim
in the creek.



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Symphyotrichum
lateriflorum
The Calico Aster is
sometimes called Farewell to
Summer. We've seen it
flowering even in the dead of
winter. We let it grow wherever
it volunteers,
'cuz it's cute.
More importantly,
it's a critical wildlife food
source, providing nectar, pollen
and foliage for bumblebees
bumblebees,
butterflies, moths, and other
insects. It also supplies nectar
for migrating Monarch
butterflies. Songbirds and
small mammals eat the seeds
Food for us
Food for us
and
and them
them
Only one winter huckleberry
made fruit this fall, a disappointing
handful at most.
A Yaupon Holly surprised us with a good
crop of shiny red berries, which,
according to the
Many species of song and game birds
utilize the berries in the fall. Small
mammals such as raccoons, skunks,
foxes, and armadillos will also consume
berries. Deer browse the foliage, but it is
not considered preferred browse.”
Vaccinium arboreum
Ilex vomitoria
National Resources Conservation Service
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The lemon tree and sweet kumquat
are rolled into the porch when the
forecast calls for a freeze.
The garlic chives are ok outside.
The bird buffet outside the window attracts
The bird buffet outside the window attracts
woodpeckers, goldfinches, and lots
woodpeckers, goldfinches, and lots
of cardinals
of cardinals

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Maypop Hill Nursery & Publications
4979 Spec Garig Rd., Norwood, LA
Betty & LJ Miley, specializing in native plants of the South
email: maypophill@gmail.com web: maypophill.com
Geaux native!
Trick
Trick
question:
question:
What does this
What does this
picture have to do
picture have to do
with one on page 2?
with one on page 2?
Hint: See the brand
Hint: See the brand
new “souvenir” in the
new “souvenir” in the
bottom right photo.
bottom right photo.
To Clean or Not to Clean
Birdhouses?
Most sources, including
nestwatch.org
strongly encourage cleaning the
cute little boxes we love to put
outside for our feathered friends.
Because, yes, many avians will
make nests in cavities where
parasites like mites and blowflies
may proliferate and harm
nestlings.
Can you see me? and me? and me?