Shades of Purple and Blue in Your Southern Garden

Note to the reader: These plants were all photographed in a Botanical Garden in Columbia South Carolina which is zone 8a.

    Photograph by Dawn Gagnon © 2023

Spanish Blue Bells

(Hyacinthoides hispanica) 

If you're looking for something to plant where other plants wont grow, while adding a lovely splash of blue Spanish Blue Bells may be the solution. These lovely bell shaped flowers point downward and each stalk produces around 12-15 flowers. These flowers are known for their ability to reproduce and spread in all types of soil, sun or shade and are ideal for a novice gardener.

Photograph by Dawn Gagnon © 2023

Wisteria

Wisteria is a member oddly enough of the legume family and they are absolutely beautiful with flowers resembling clusters of grapes. They have ropey climbing wood vines and are used to add color to fences and trellises. They can have a light smell or a pungent one depending on which type you buy. In the southeastern US this vine is often seen wrapped around the trunks of pine trees and in roadside ditches flanking dense forests. You can also find them in other parts of the world such as Canada, Japan, Vietnam, China, Korea and in the middle east. If you have lots of pets this plant could be toxic to them so use caution.

Photograph by Dawn Gagnon © 2023

Larkspur

(Ranunculaceae)

Delphinium

There are over 300 species of Larkspur so you will definitely have no problems finding this beautiful plant in your local nurseries and home and garden outlets.  The come in both annual and perennial varieties. They originate throughout the Northern hemisphere and are considered a toxic plant to humans and pets, so research this plant thoroughly before planting in your garden, especially if you have toddlers or pets that like to sample everything.

Photograph by Dawn Gagnon © 2023

Bengal Clock Vine

(Acanthaceae.)

Known also as Thunbergia Grandiflora, the Bengal Clock Vine is a plant by many names including Blue trumpet vine. It is a native of India, but it is found in a lot of areas of the world, including China, Nepal, Burma etc.  It can grow up to 30' and grow on woody vine stalks. 

Carolina Bird Watch: The Carolina Wren

If you love to garden, chances are you love nature in general and that includes our lovely winged friends that visit our gardens, always adding lovely tunes and keeping insects in check. Since this blog is about the southern garden I decided it was high time to start sharing with my readers the lovely bird photographs I have taken through the years and also a little information on them as well. Today we will be highlighting quite appropriately, the Carolina Wren.

Dawn Gagnon Photography ©2023

Carolina Wrens can be best identified by their white brow strip located just above their eyes, their long pointed beak and up turned tail. They are typically a warm brown color and quite small. They eat a wide variety of insects and are not particularly skittish of human beings. 

I have had them land on my front porch just within several feet of where I am sitting. They tend to fuss a little  but that no doubt is due to the fact they were nesting which they do all summer.

Males and females tend to mate for life and nest in many odd places. Their nests are shaped differently than other birds often having an enclosed structure with a side entrance.

                                 Dawn Gagnon Photography © 2023

This baby Wren flew out of his nest after outgrowing the tiny space shared with several siblings.  This little fellow allowed me to pick them up and move them to safety.