MISSISSIPPI GARDEN

Off On Medical Leave Until Further Notice

2010-01-11T15:28:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year To All Visitors! Due to major medical problems I have not been able to update or maintain this blog. I cannot use my cameras, and it is very painful and difficult for me to write or type because my hands are affected. If and when I get better, I hope to be able to post again. Best wishes for your good health in 2010 and don't take it for granted as I foolishly did before this Parkinson's Disease struck me. We never know what the fickle finger of fate will bring us.

Angel's Trumpet in Full Bloom

2009-10-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

Angel's Trumpet...Brugmansia 'Cherub"

2009-10-10T15:23:00.001-05:00

Hedychium Coccineum "Apricot Ginger Lily"

2009-09-12T17:48:00.002-05:00

Not fragrant this year as usual. I don't know why.

Pink Peeking Out of a Corner

2009-09-05T13:17:00.002-05:00

Black Magic Pics on 9-5-09

2009-09-05T12:58:00.006-05:00

Crotons and Philodendrons on 8-29-09

2009-08-29T16:25:00.007-05:00

Left mouse click on the pictures to view them full screen size.

More Florida Garden Picutres From Hunter

2009-08-25T12:53:00.003-05:00

Carolina Wren Video...Turn Your Speakers On and Up

2009-08-10T16:39:00.001-05:00

My Cousin Hunter on His New Deck in Florida

2009-08-04T14:07:00.004-05:00

Left click on the photo with your mouse to see these photos full screen. My cousin Hunter has 10 green thumbs.

Hunter's Backyard Garden in Florida

2009-08-04T14:00:00.001-05:00

Shots From Florida Garden Of My Cousin Hunter

2009-08-04T13:52:00.004-05:00

Home Sweet Home.....Returned Home From Hospital

2009-08-01T10:45:00.005-05:00

FYI, Just a quick post to let y'all know that I have been in the hospital and nursing home since March 21, 2009. I had to have major surgery and was in intensive care for 22 days and then skilled care for the past 4 monnths. I was finally able to come home today, August 1......for good I hope. When I am able I will post some more photos. I have really missed my computer and being online. There is no place like home.

Mardi Gras Colors....Purple, Gold, & Green..Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler=Let The Good Times Roll

2009-02-24T19:22:00.000-06:00

Today is Mardi Gras Day but I could not go to New Orleans this year for the biggest street party in America as I usually do. However, the spirit of "Laissez les bons temps rouler"="Let The Good Times Roll" is always in my spirit. The 3 primary colors of Mardi Gras are purple for JUSTICE, gold for POWER, and green for FAITH. Rex, the King of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, selected these colors back in 1872 and they have been used ever since then. Trivia: Later Louisiana State University adopted the purple and gold of Mardi Gras for their colors, and Tulane in NOLA selected the remaining green then added blue. For Mardi Gras season I love these 3 colors, but they cannot compare to the beautiful red and blue of Ole Miss the rest of the year.

Mardi Gras Goes To The Dogs: Krewe of Barkus Parade

2009-02-21T02:23:00.006-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRH7ajmxGFU Back in the "good ole days" when we had our apartment in the French Quarter, the Mardi Gras season was full of a jillion parades all over New Orleans, and being a "dog parent" one of my favorites was always the dog parade put on by the Krewe of Barkus. It raises lots of money to help animal rescue shelters. I did not make it to this one last weekend but above is a video of it from You Tube. Just click the arrow and enjoy watching it! The parade dogs are dressed in cool costumes and usually their owners are too. Despite many expensive registered dogs parading, the "Queen" can only be chosen from those females adopted from an animal rescue shelter.

Does Hebe Give You The Heebie Jeebies?

2009-02-16T11:36:00.003-06:00

These are some photos I took of the lovely Bloom Fountain in Vicksburg. It was installed in 1927 near the city rose garden thanks to a bequest of $6,500 in the will of Louis Bloom. The statue is of Hebe, the Greek goddess who personified the eternal beauty of youth. (Is this Vicksburg's "Fountain of Youth"?) Hebe is pronounced correctly two ways: "Hebe" as in "Hebrew" or "Heebie" as in "Heebie Jeebies". Hebe was the cup bearer of the Greek gods on Mt. Olympus serving them ambrosia carried in her pitcher from the cup in her hand at their heavenly feasts. (However only plain water drips from the cup in her hand at this fountain.) In addition, Hebe was the patron goddess of young brides and also the attendant of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. TMI I know but I like trivia. Some people who stare at Hebe's face of the Bloom Fountain statue think her eyes and expression are strange which makes some viewers nervous thus giving them the "Heebie Jeebies". Personally I like her serene gaze. What do you think?

Refreshing Rain: Wet Pansies For GBBD

2009-02-15T13:33:00.001-06:00

I have accepted the invitation from Carol at May Dreams Garden to join her Garden Bloggers Bloom Day so this photo is my first submission of something blooming in our little cottage garden. It was so good to get a rain here as we have had an unusual dry spell for February. My pansies got a nice drink and shower. With wet faces they are kind of cute I think.

Valentine Vine For Valentine's Day: Think Green

2009-02-13T14:59:00.006-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones! Here are some photos of the lush green Valentine Vine growing on my patio trellis in July, 2008. Because of its heart shaped leaves it is called by many names such as: Valentine Vine, Heart Vine, Air Potato, Air Yam, Bitter Yam, and "blankety-blank" by those in south Florida and the tropics who hate it and find it to be an invasive pest and noxious exotic weed. Here in central Mississippi I love this rampant vine perfect for shielding and screening the west side of our patio from the scorching afternoon summer sun. Our frost and winter stop it from growing out of control. I suppose it is a plant that you either love or hate depending on how you use it. In Africa the fat "potatoes" that grow on its vines high in the air are eaten after boiling to remove the poison.

Japanese Magnolia Blooms In The Afternoon Sunshine on 2-12-09

2009-02-12T21:02:00.009-06:00

This Blog Is Dedicated To The Memory Of My Beloved Sister, Lynn

2009-02-12T04:47:00.007-06:00

This is a picture of my sister, Lynn, taken not long before she passed away in 2007. Because she lived far away in Montana and had become very ill, she was not able to visit Mississippi so I created this as a private blog in 2006 just for her to see what I was doing and growing in my garden down here. Today is Lynn's birthday and she would have been 68 years old. She was my only sister and was a close friend all my life. She was only 18 months older than me. I miss her dearly but I know she is in a better place now free from all her years of pain and suffering. This little orphan deer that my father found in the woods about 1946 became our pet and we named him Bambi. We raised him on bottled milk and he was much fun to play with. When he grew up he answered the "call of the wild" and voluntarily returned to the woods where he was born. During our childhood on our family farm we always had many pets like this litter of puppies. These old faded black and white photos are over 60 years old, but the happy memories I shared with Lynn are as fresh as yesterday. How time flies!

Some Sweet Spring Signs!

2009-02-09T18:28:00.007-06:00

My first two King Alfred daffodils opened this past weekend to signal spring is near. This sleepy little Ultima Morpho pansy has finally awakened from her winter slumber.

Candlelabra Tree: Senna Alata: A Lotta Seeds Started

2009-02-07T20:04:00.009-06:00

This afternoon the weather was wonderful and in the 70s and I started some Candlelabra Tree seeds from a bunch of pods I collected and dried from last summer. This fast growing tropical plant can grow into a small tree in one season here, and I love it as do our butterflies. It is called many names such as Candlelabra Tree, Candlestick Bush, Golden Candle Tree, Emperor's Candles, etc., and in Latin often classified as cassia alata or senna alata. It makes a lot of seeds and I will share babies from the flat I planted today.

Every Gardener Needs Chocolate Chip Cookies and Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip'

2009-02-07T01:02:00.008-06:00

After all the hard work of taking this photo of my patch of ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip', which is one of my favorite ground covers, and noticing the newly emerging dark chocolate chip sized spring growth, I felt dog tired and just had to go inside for a snack of my favorite Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies. To curb my craving, I took my chocoholic diet pill. Since I am both a plantaholic and a chocoholic this satisfied me temporarily.

Farfugium Japonicum 'Gigantea' The Leopard Plant

2009-02-06T21:49:00.007-06:00

Norman Winter, a Mississippi horticulturalist and writer, wrote a feature article named "Leopard Plant Is Made For Shade" in today's Southern Gardening column. If you would like, click on the blue colored link above to read it. I have just a few of these strange plants that I got from a nursery in Washington state. Mine are not the spotted variety that gave rise to the name "Leopard Plant" but rather the solid green 'Gigantea' type with large dinner plate sized leaves. I like them only for the foliage and not for the dinky and weedy yellow flowers, and I have found they love dense shade and lots and lots and lots of water. For some silly reason I get a kick out of saying the Latin name "far-FOO-gee-um jah-PON-ih-kum". Perhaps I am remembering my fun classes of high school Latin years ago. My favorite courses were Latin, algebra, and geometry. To brush up on your Latin pronunciation of the botanical names of plants, just click this blue colored Fine Gardening magazine audio index link to hear whatever you want to scroll to.

Pretty Patch of Purple Pansies

2009-02-02T20:00:00.002-06:00

As I try to THINK SPRING I remember the saying "Hope Springs Eternal" so I am HOPING these very late planted yellow daffodil bulbs will get a growth spurt soon and bloom this coming spring. My plan was to have a bright combination of colors in this patch. I also know you can't hustle Mother Nature who does as she pleases so I will just have to wait to see what happens.

Swiss Chard "Bright Lights": Stained Glass In The Sun

2009-01-31T13:18:00.007-06:00

I love how some plants glow and shine like stained glass when backlit by the morning or afternoon sun. On this frosty morning my young Swiss Chard "Bright Lights" put on a nice show and got my day started off with a smile. Left double click on the photos to enlarge and see the details close up. Some have asked me if I eat my Swiss chard, ornamental kale, and cabbage plants, and I explain that I grow them only as ornamentals, but if they are hungry, they are welcome to pick some leaves to take home for supper.

Be Positive Minded: Think Spring!

2009-01-30T19:43:00.004-06:00

Mother Nature uplifts and rejuvenates all of Creation with the miracle season of spring. It is just ahead so let's be positive minded and THINK SPRING!

Chinese New Year Of The Ox: Kung Hei Fat Choi=Congratulations And Be Prosperous

2009-01-25T04:00:00.003-06:00

When I lived in Southeast Asia many years ago I visited Chinese gardens in Hong Kong and Singapore and fell in love with their diversity of plants. Click the word CHINESE in the title above to read about the flora of China. Since it is the beginning of Chinese New Year and in their zodiac cycle this is the Year of the Ox. As a gardener I am thankful for the wonderful plants we grow today that originated in China. Can you imagine what we would do without having rice, tea, soybeans, oranges, cucumbers, lemons, peaches, apricots, ginger, anise, ginseng, and the hundreds of species of rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias, viburnums, gardenias, jasmines, forsythias, primroses, chrysanthemums, etc., etc.?

Peppermint Camellia Buds And Blooms on 1-24-09 and 1-28-08

2009-01-24T19:53:00.006-06:00

About 150 miles downriver from Vicksburg is the famous Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana. In its garden the mother plant of my Peppermint Camellia still lives. About 20 years ago after touring the mansion and its gardens I bought mine from a nearby nursery down there, and they explained that it was grown from a cutting taken from the original shrub at Oak Alley planted long before the Civil War. (I was curious but I didn't ask just how they obtained the cuttings.) Many antique camellias have fancy French, Chinese, or Japanese names, but my research at sites like the American Camellia Society has not yet revealed the correct name for this "Peppermint" one I have. Note: this post is an update with today's new photos of my previous post on 1-28-08.

Pansy Patch Portraits on January 22, 2009

2009-01-22T21:42:00.007-06:00

Left click on the faces of these ladies if you want to see the fine details of their complexions and makeup.

A Bit Of Color In My Frozen January Garden

2009-01-16T20:42:00.005-06:00

Many years ago I bought several dozen of these colorful handblown glass fruits and vegetables to fill up an old, ugly cracked bird bath (which would never hold water) for a punch of color in a dark out-of-the-way corner. Truth be told, it is a tacky sight except on dreary and cold days in January...like today...when my garden looks dull and dead and frozen solid at 25 degrees. I am amazed at how bright these colors have remained after all these years of exposure to the ravages of weather. When people see this mound of color they can't resist asking what it is and my answer is simply: "A bright spot just for January". Left click on this photo to see the small details.

Cold Cool Colorful Cabbage

2009-01-15T00:18:00.006-06:00

My winter garden this year only has a dozen flowering cabbage plants but they provide some interesting color especially when there is a play of sun rays on and behind their thick leaves. Rain drops on them sparkle like diamonds in the sunshine because they stick on their leaves similar to nelumbo.

A Sign Of An Early Spring I Hope

2009-01-14T21:03:00.001-06:00

My magnolia fuscata, called "Banana Shrub" by some folks due to its fragrance of ripe bananas from their yellow flowers in May, is already showing small fuzzy buds. I don't recall seeing them bud out in January so I hope this is a sign of an early spring. I'm sick of winter and more than ready for the rejuvenation that spring always brings to me.

Identity Gumbo: What does it matter if we know, or tell our personal stories?

2009-01-12T02:31:00.000-06:00

Shrimp gumbo is my very favorite to-die-for dish. Click on GUMBO in the title above to go to her blog, then under "Recent Posts" click on "Identity Gumbo" there to read a very interesting essay/post by the writer and cookbook author,Crescent Dragonwagon, which reveals her thoughts/philosophy on food and gardening and why people write (or blog). I love her cookbooks and recipes and her writing style and her free spirit.

Memo To Myself: Stop Whining and Think Spring!

2009-01-11T19:19:00.000-06:00

During these difficult and troubling times politically and economically and aggravated by the short and dreary days of winter we must all stop whining. Times are bad and likely to get worse. Life is not perfect now and never has been and probably never will be. SOMETHING is better than NOTHING and we should be grateful for whatever positives there are in our lives and focus on them, not the negatives. Whining never solved any problems and often we find our conversations spiraling down into a "pity party". Whining is contagious, negative, tiresome and self-defeating. Let's remove the IF's and BUT's from our minds and conversations and get out of the "too...too" rut syndrome of "too cold, too wet, too hard, too expensive, too...too ad nauseum, etc., etc. Better and longer days of sunshine are just ahead so let's just shut up with the whining and THINK SPRING!

Ole Miss Wins The Cotton Bowl 47 to 34..How Sweet This Victory Is!

2009-01-02T19:34:00.003-06:00

DALLAS (AP) -- Ole Miss isn't just the team that handed Florida its only loss. These Rebels are seriously on the rise. No. 20 Mississippi overcame an early deficit and beat No. 7 Texas Tech 47-34 in the final Cotton Bowl played in the stadium of the same name. It came behind Jevan Snead's passing, Dexter McCluster's squirming runs and some big returns by Marshay Green. The Red Raiders (11-2) converted a pair of early turnovers into a 14-0 lead, but Snead led the Rebels to touchdowns on their next three drives, followed by a go-ahead field goal shortly before halftime. Once Green returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter, Ole Miss (9-4) was well on its way to capping coach Houston Nutt's first season in grand style. This was Mississippi's sixth straight win, matching its longest streak since 2003. That's when Eli Manning was a senior. That also was the last time the Rebels had been to a bowl. This was the 73rd Cotton Bowl and the last in its namesake home. The game is moving next year to the $1.1 billion stadium being built by the Dallas Cowboys. The bowl founder's widow handled the pregame coin toss and the dates 1937 and 2009 were painted on the field between the words, "Celebrating 73 years."

Happy New Year! What To Eat For Good Luck On New Year's Day?

2008-12-31T00:25:00.006-06:00

Although I am not at all superstitious...except for avoiding black cats, always keeping a rabbit's foot in my pocket, picking up pennies on sidewalks, trying not to hear thunder in February, never drinking bourbon while eating bananas, or milk with fish, etc., etc....I do follow the old Southern tradition of ALWAYS eating black-eyed peas, cornbread, and greens (the color of money)...cooked with ham hocks (because pigs always go forward since they cannot see or walk backwards) for good luck and prosperity in the new year. Besides, I like these healthy dishes. What do y'all eat on New Year's Day? Please page down or scroll down to the bottom of this page to see my animated Happy New Year's Card.

Christmas Scents That Trigger Happy Memories?

2008-12-22T13:50:00.004-06:00

As pictured above fragrant pomanders made with oranges and cloves hanging around our house perfumed the air. Other favorite spice aromas in the kitchen came from ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The smell of freshly cut cedar which we got from our woods for our Christmas tree and door wreath was pleasantly pungent. Colorful fruit bowls of oranges, tangerines, satsumas, and apples were a feast for the eyes and nose and tongue. The wonderful smell of a huge ham covered with whole cloves and brown sugar baking on Christmas morning was mouth-watering. Southern-style fruitcakes packed with pecans and saturated with good bourbon gave off delicious smells when the tins were opened on Christmas Day. Which Christmas scents trigger happy memories for you?

Kenny G and Winter Wonderland Christmas Display Video

2008-12-21T00:26:00.003-06:00

This is a cool video with a Christmas lights display nicely sequenced to Kenny G's famous version of "Winter Wonderland". Turn up your speakers and enjoy and get yourself a dose of "Christmas Spirit".

Poinsettias Slideshow December 2008

2008-12-15T00:18:00.001-06:00

Porch Poinsettias and Ambassador Poinsett

2008-12-13T19:41:00.004-06:00

The history of the poinsettia: The plant we know today as the poinsettia has a long and interesting history. The fact is, that lovely plant you place in your home during the holidays was once used as a fever medicine! Native to Central America, the plant flourished in an area of Southern Mexico known as Taxco del Alarcon. The ancient Aztecs had a name for this plant found blooming in the tropical highlands during the short days of winter:cuetlaxochitl. Not merely decorative, the Aztecs put the plant to practical use. From its bracts they extracted a purplish dye for use in textiles and cosmetics. The milky white sap, today called latex, was made into a preparation to treat fevers. Joel Roberts Poinsett: The poinsettia may have remained a regional plant for many years to come had it not been for the efforts of Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779 - 1851). The son of a French physician, Poinsett was appointed as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico (1825 - 1829) by President Madison. Poinsett had attended medical school himself, but his real love in the scientific field was botany. (Mr. Poinsett later founded the institution which we know today as the Smithsonian Institution). Poinsett maintained his own hothouses on his Greenville, South Carolina plantations, and while visiting the Taxco area in 1828, he became enchanted by the brilliant red blooms he saw there. He immediately sent some of the plants back to South Carolina, where he began propagating the plants and sending them to friends and botanical gardens. Among the recipients of Poinsett's work was John Bartram of Philadelphia, who in turn gave the plant over to another friend, Robert Buist, a Pennsylvania nurseryman. Mr. Buist is thought to be the first person to have sold the plant under its botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima (literally, "the most beautiful Euphorbia"). Though it is thought to have become known by its more popular name of poinsettia around 1836, the origin of the name is certainly clear!

"A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote (Click On This Title To Read It)

2008-12-12T23:52:00.000-06:00

Every Christmas season for about the last 30 years I have found time to pull out my thin copy of Truman Capote's extremely touching, bittersweet classic "A Christmas Memory" to re-read. It is a short, simple and beautifully written account of a poor, young and unwanted boy in rural Alabama during the Great Depression, and his special relationship with his elderly distant cousin he called "Sook", and his memory of a wonderful Christmas they created and shared together. Reading this makes the "giving spirit" of Christmas come alive. Click on the word "Christmas" in the title above to read it and warm your heart.

Santa Claus: The Coca-Colarized Version Americans Love (Click This X)

2008-12-11T00:29:00.003-06:00

In 1931 the Coca-Cola Company commissioned the famous illustrator Haddon Sundblom of Michigan to create some advertising that would encourage customers to drink Coca-Cola in the winter instead of just in hot summer weather. The focus was on showing Santa Claus drinking Coke at Christmas and depicting Santa in a new American style very different than European art versions of St. Nicholas and Father Christmas. Those old world art versions of Santa were NOT fat and jolly...in fact, he was shown as tall and skinny, and his facial expression was dour and frightened children, and those costumes were not colorful enough to suit Coca-Cola's ad campaign. Voila! Sundblom created the classic fat, jolly, smiling Santa in red and white clothing that Americans came to love and know even today. The bottle of Coke in Santa's hand is from what began in Vicksburg in 1894. (See my post on this down below.) Click on the title at the X above to go to the Coca-Cola Coke Lore site to read all about this.

Farewell To Fall..Autumn Leaves Video Sung By Eva Cassidy

2008-12-10T01:07:00.004-06:00

The strong thunderstorms that swept through this part of Mississippi today have stripped almost all of the fall leaves off. Due to strange climate patterns and irregular rainfall this year our fall colors here were rather disappointing. This song, "Autumn Leaves", is one of my favorites and is sung by the late, great Eva Cassidy who had a purity of voice very rare and beautiful. Turn on your speakers and click the arrow. Enjoy!

A Random Act Of Kindness With A 42 Cent Stamp: Update: This Program Has Ended

2008-12-05T01:35:00.001-06:00

Update 12-18-08: It has been brought to my attention that this particular card program has ended due to insufficient organization, deadlines, security concerns, and other factors. Thus do NOT send a Christmas Card to the address below as it will NOT be delivered. A Wounded American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20307-5001 It is sad to me that this good program has ended. Too many formerly positive things in this country have gone away and/or now broken.

Let's Say Thanks To Our Troops Overseas Card Project (Click This X)

2008-12-04T01:56:00.005-06:00

Xerox has a really cool site for its project to send FREE and QUICK thank you cards to individual soldiers serving overseas. See the soldiers above holding their cards. The art on these various cards was created by kids all across America, and you can select from a menu of messages you want written on your card. Regardless of how we may feel politically about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, our soldiers deserve our thanks and support for all they are doing. Especially during this holiday season, I'm sure a soldier would get a kick and a smile to receive a card from us. Click on the title of this blog above to go to the Xerox card site and send a card. It is so easy and just takes a second to do. http://www.LetsSayThanks.com

Happy Thanksgiving Greetings 2008

2008-11-24T00:23:00.013-06:00

Norman Rockwell, the famous American illustrator and painter, created this series of posters below during World War II based on President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech to Congress in January, 1941. FDR inspired and lifted the spirits of the American people during the Depression and war and quelled their fears, and Rockwell captured the scenes and values of small town America and reminded us of our precious freedoms perfectly. Left click on this picture to see it better. Thanksgiving ... a time of joy... warm thoughts...reflecting on..and counting our many blessings and expressing gratitude for all of them and our American freedoms during these troubling times...and never, ever taking any of them for granted. Remember that "Freedom is NOT FREE" and was bought and paid for by the blood, sweat, tears, and vigilance of every generation of Americans. May all of these gifts and more be yours... Happy Thanksgiving!

Daffodil & Pansy Planting November 2008

2008-11-23T16:30:00.004-06:00

On a perfectly beautiful fall day recently while the weather was sunny and cool, I planted 148 daffodil bulbs as an underplanting for 72 purple Pansy Majestic Giants II. All gardeners are optimists so even though I was late working up this daffodil and pansy bed, my thoughts were of spring when in February and March, 2009 this combination should hopefully put on a nice show of purple and gold for Mardi Gras color celebration (not for LSU. I'm an Ole Miss red and blue guy!). In my mind's eye I can imagine this punch of color by the driveway and it gives me something to look forward to for those chilly and windy months.

Hotty Toddy! Ole Miss 31, LSU 13; Ole Miss 45, Miss. State 0

2008-11-22T14:07:00.002-06:00

As an alumnus of the University of Mississippi, it was particularly sweet to me to see the Ole Miss Rebels beat the LSU Tigers 31 to 13. Our football rivalry goes back for generations and is serious and fun! I hope Ole Miss will now go to the Cotton Bowl. Update on 11-28-08: Ole Miss beat Mississippi State 45 to Zero in the Egg Bowl!

Biloxi, Mississippi Weekend For Kenny G Concert

2008-11-17T00:46:00.000-06:00

Kenny G, the Grammy winning saxophonist, performed at the Beau Rivage on Friday night and his sold out concert was about the best one I have ever seen. With great passion and extraordinary talent, he played most of his top hits including "Songbird", "Forever In Love", "End Of The Night", "The Joy Of Life", etc. I love instrumental music and Kenny G's genre of smooth jazz and adult contemporary is my favorite. He played his heart out on his soprano saxophone and the audience was spellbound. The Beau Rivage Hotel is where I usually stay when I go down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It is the largest and finest hotel in the state of Mississippi. It was wrecked by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but has been completely restored/rebuilt to its former glory. This is a famous historic landmark on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at Biloxi. Built in 1848 of cast iron and masonry, this lighthouse has survived many hurricanes during its 160 years including the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Do you REMEMBER these? A cool site where the '50s and '60s come back to life

2008-11-13T00:55:00.000-06:00

Left click on this menu below to see the shockingly low prices! Click on the word REMEMBER in the title above to go to this cool site loaded with nostalgia and of interest to you if you are of a certain age...like me...OK, a senior citizen or dinosaur or whatever we are called. There is a jukebox that plays all the great music hits of the '50s and '60s, plus a menu of slideshows and videos and all sorts of stuff to bring you happy flashbacks. Turn up your speakers and lose yourself REMEMBERING the good old days when times were really good.

Coca-Cola In Bottles: Brilliant Vicksburg Idea In 1894

2008-11-05T02:16:00.000-06:00

Have you ever heard the expression: "If we could put that in a bottle and sell it, we could make a fortune"? Well, in 1894 here in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Joseph Biedenharn, owner of a candy company and soda fountain, got the brilliant and novel idea to put his soda fountain Coca-Colas into bottles and distribute them by the case to stores and small towns throughout this region so that folks could buy them already mixed and ready made to take home. (In early days people craving a soft drink had to go to a soda fountain where they were mixed with syrup and carbonated water at the counter and served in glasses.) His bottled Coca-Colas became wildly popular, and as they say, the rest is history. Cokes and other bottled soft drinks are now sold all over the world. Canned soft drinks came much later. Click on the word IDEA in the title of this post above and also on my righthand sidebar link to visit the web site of the Coca-Cola Museum here in Vicksburg.

Goodbye To The Steamboat "Delta Queen"

2008-11-04T16:47:00.002-06:00

This is a photo from the Net, not one I took, of the legendary "Delta Queen" steamboat cruising majestically on the Mississippi River. When she docked at Vicksburg, I could not get a good shot because of the strange position she tied up on the west side of her sister the "American Queen". On November 3, 2008 I took these photos of the steamboats "American Queen" and "Delta Queen" at the Vicksburg river landing. The barely visible "Delta Queen" is moored to the far side of the "American Queen" in the foreground, and this is the last stop she made going downriver to her retirement in New Orleans. It was sad to see this famous steamboat's last call here. Many people including me came to see her and bid her farewell. Thankfully the modern luxury steamboat "American Queen" will still continue to operate up and down the Mississippi River and stop at Vicksburg as usual and perhaps one day the "Mississippi Queen" will resume operation. All passengers on the "Delta Queen" boarded the "American Queen" to finish their trip downriver to New Orleans. This welcome sign is painted on the flood wall at the riverfront landing where Mississippi River steamboats tie up to shore still as they have done so since the 1820's. The river gage marks on the flood wall at the river front in Vicksburg show the high record levels the Mississippi River reached in certain years.

Thank You Note

2008-11-03T13:36:00.002-06:00

After my complicated eye surgery on 9-4-08 I had to be offline from this blog for many weeks while I was recovering in order to avoid eyestrain. Many people left comments here with kind words and best wishes, and I received lots of personal e-mails and get-well cards also. I want to express my appreciation to everyone for your concern. It is a blessing to me to have so many thoughtful friends in the blogosphere community and in the real world. Thanks y'all!

Swamped By Swamp Sunflowers?

2008-11-02T00:43:00.003-05:00

This is a classic old-fashioned Southern passalong plant given to me many years ago by a dear lady in south Mississippi. It is a native perennial that is tougher than an Ole Miss quarterback and can flourish in any extreme soil, water, or weather condition known to the South. My little starter plant has multiplied into a background hedge at least 50 feet long and that is a good thing and just what I wanted it to do. I just pull out babies to keep them under control. Left alone these can grow up to 10 ft. tall, or they can be pruned in early summer to stay knee high if you prefer. They bloom only in late summer and early fall, and since I love yellow flowers I am happy with them.

The Holly Days Are Coming Soon My Tree Tells Me

2008-11-02T00:18:00.003-05:00

Many years ago I dug this tiny wild native holly tree seedling up from the forest and brought it home to plant. This year it has a nice crop of berries just starting to turn red. Is this a sign of an early and extra cold winter ahead? I hope not as I dislike cold weather. I left my heart in the tropics of Southeast Asia years ago! It always amazes me to think of how our local Choctaw Indians used this tree's leaves and berries to brew a purgative drink to purify their bodies.

November 1, 2008 Slideshow

2008-11-01T20:02:00.001-05:00

Alternanthera 'Party Time' Pleases People

2008-11-01T19:40:00.002-05:00

I could not say no to this striking and exotic tropical plant that called out to me by my first name as I browsed in a nursery. It was all alone (perhaps due to its price tag) and it double-wowed me with its multicolored leaves that almost seem unreal. I had seen and read about this new release in catalogs and had added it to my "gotta have" list earlier this year. Alas, I am a hopeless plantaholic....I want 'em ALL, and I want 'em NOW....especially when it comes to variegated plants.

BOO...don't let the goblins grab you this Halloween!

2008-10-31T22:29:00.004-05:00

This is the perfect Jack O'Lantern for those of us who are dismayed and disappointed by this tiresome political campaign season, the economic meltdown, and the loss of the Tampa Bay Rays at the World Series. The expression carved into this pumpkin captures perfectly all of the emotions many of us have during these scary times. One of my favorite magazines is "The New Yorker" which has such excellent writers as well as its wonderful cover art (as seen in the picture above) and delightful cartoons. My subscription to it helps me to stay sane as it keeps my sense of humor alive and healthy and my mind sharp. It has been said, and I believe it, that laughter is the best medicine of all. My prolonged ordeal of recovering from eye surgery has been NO fun and games, but I do try to laugh...both out loud and mentally... whenever I can and I do feel better afterwards.

Left Eye Problem And Going Off On Medical Leave

2008-09-03T15:42:00.001-05:00

FYI, tomorrow I will have complicated surgery on my left eye involving a triple procedure: a corneal transplant, cataract removal, and a lens implant...all to be done in one fell swoop. Needless to say I will have to be offline for some time to allow my eye to recover. I have great confidence in my surgeon, one of the best in Mississippi, so I will be in good hands. God Willing, I will see y'all later and be back online later this month. BTW, this is a public domain Net picture and not one of my own eye.

We Dodged Hurricane Gustav's Bullets On 9-1-08

2008-09-01T15:06:00.005-05:00

It is a blessing for us that Hurricane Gustav's path from south Louisiana inland to the northwest has allowed us to dodge his bullets of destruction. Here in central Mississippi we have received only light winds and light rains, and we are glad this hurricane is to the south and headed to the west of us. We pray that our friends, relatives, and neighbors in Louisiana will be safe and sound. What really ticked me off was while preparing for the worst scenario of this hurricane's arrival I discovered that our portable generator has been stolen from the storage shed! This is the first time ever to have anything STOLEN from this house and yard in all the years of living here. I despise theft and I do hope the jerk who stole our generator gets electrocuted if he tries to use it.(Just joking!) Thank goodness we did not lose our electricity thus not actually having a need to use the generator.

Variegated 'Glacier' Ivy Gettng A Bath On Labor Day

2008-09-01T14:57:00.002-05:00

With your left mouse button double-click your cursor on this photo to see the details of this favorite variegated 'Glacier' ivy. Most of my photos are in very high resolution and are best viewed if you double-click to enlarge them fully.

Hurricane Gustav's Rain On My Begonias and Peppers

2008-09-01T14:37:00.004-05:00

Hurricane Gustav is a gentle giant here in central Mississippi, and I thank him for bringing us only light winds and light rains.

Hurricane Gustav's Rain Bathing My Plants On Labor Day

2008-09-01T13:48:00.005-05:00

Thank the Good Lord we were spared damaging winds from Hurricane Gustav as he came ashore this morning about 250 miles south of here near New Oleans. Here in central Mississippi we are receiving only light rains and light winds and my plants are enjoying a bath.

Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-01T00:39:00.005-05:00

It is after midnight and I have been glued for hours to the Weather Channel and CNN and local stations tracking Hurricane Gustav in the Gulf of Mexico as it takes aim at the New Orleans area and our Mississippi Gulf Coast. Just 3 years ago Friday we were hit by Hurricane Katrina which killed over 1,600 and left misery and devastation in Mississippi and Louisiana from which our region has still not fully recovered. I shudder to think of the horrors tomorrow will bring as Gustav comes ashore. Please keep our area and people in your thoughts and prayers.

Garden Lookaround Slideshow 8-15-08

2008-08-15T14:28:00.001-05:00

Ajuga "Black Scallop" Struggling In This Heat

2008-08-15T10:49:00.003-05:00

Once again I am trying to grow this new and expensive ajuga variety called "Black Scallop" which was developed in Germany. It is a beautiful pitch-black in cool winter and spring weather, but becomes dull and weak in our awful Mississippi summer heat and humidity. I should have known that what is a winner in Germany's cool climate must be at risk in Mississippi's sweltering temperatures. However, I like this plant so much I might bring a couple of babies inside for the air-conditioning.

Begonia and Creeping Jenny Border

2008-08-15T10:36:00.002-05:00

As a trial this year in a flower bed I did this border of bronze-leaved begonias and golden creeping jenny, but I have been less than pleased with this combination. What was in my mind's eye and the reality of how this combination has turned out do not match. How true it is that we gardeners learn from trial and error and our mistakes, but then move on. Next year I will try something else in this bed for sure.

New Orleans Memory Lives On In My Garden

2008-08-15T10:17:00.002-05:00

For many years we kept an apartment on Chartres St. in the heart of the French Quarter to use for weekends and Mardi Gras, and let me tell you, the good times really rolled there and I have fond memories galore of that happy time in my life. It had a front patio and a rear courtyard full of lush, beautiful tropical plants. The baby maroon castor bean in the picture above in my garden is a descendent of the mother plant in New Orleans which was as big as a small tree. I brought some of its seeds home years ago to plant and ever since they have flourished here. The seeds self-spread and come up around my garden every spring and bring me pleasure and happy memories of my French Quarter days.

Garden Walkabout Random Slideshow

2008-08-10T16:54:00.001-05:00

Red Velvet Ant Invasion This Season But Beautiful and Beneficial

2008-08-07T10:29:00.004-05:00

Common Name: Red velvet ant or "cow killer" Scientific Name: Dasymutilla occidentalis (Linnaeus) Order: Hymenoptera Description: These insects are wasps, not ants. Females are wingless and covered with dense hair, superficially resembling ants. The red velvet-ant is the largest velvet-ant species, reaching about 3/4 inch in length. They are black overall with patches of dense orange-red hair on the thorax and abdomen. Males are similar but have wings and can not sting. Several other species of velvet ants are common in Texas, including the gray velvet ant or thistle down mutillid, Dasymutilla beutenmulleri, and D. fulvohirta. Most are solitary parasites of immature wasps (Vespidae and Sphecidae), solitary bees and some other insects such as beetles and flies. Winged males can be confused with other Hymenoptera. Adults of the tiphiid wasp, Myzinum sp. (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) are black and yellow, 3/4 inch long . They can occur in large numbers, sometimes on flowers of landscape plants. Larvae are parasites of white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae). Life Cycle: Females seek the immature stages of ground-nesting bees, digging to the nesting chambers and eating a hole through the cocoon. She deposits and egg on the host larva, which soon hatches into a white legless grub. The immature velvet-ant eats the host larva, developing through several larval stages before forming a pupa. Habitat, Food Source(s), Damage: Mouthparts are for chewing. Lone females can be found crawling on the ground, particularly in open sandy areas. Adults are most common during the warm summer months. Larvae are solitary, external parasites of developing bumble bees. Pest Status: The common name, "cow killer," is thought to describe the painful sting these insects can inflict to man and animals, although it is doubtful that many cows are actually stung.

Hibiscus 'Red Hot' With Hot Red Flowers

2008-08-01T22:43:00.005-05:00

Even if Hibiscus 'Red Hot' never had flowers, such as its bright red blooms shown here, I would love the plant. Its beautiful variegated leaves with red stems and red high lights pleases me greatly. When it does put out flowers, it is like trying to "gild a lily".

Yellow Mandevilla Flower

2008-08-01T22:37:00.002-05:00

This tropical vine-like shrub is called "Yellow Mandevilla" but it is really not a mandevilla at all. My reference books verify it to be "Urechites Lutea", which is a mouthful to pronounce, isn't it?

Vivid Violet Vigorous Verbena

2008-08-01T22:32:00.004-05:00

There are many flowers in each cluster, and although it is named "Purple Homestead", I would call this color violet, not purple, but whatever...I like its color and vigorous perennial growth habit.

Hibiscus Variegata's Lovely Leaves

2008-08-01T22:26:00.002-05:00

This hybrid variegated Chinese hibiscus has leaves that are amazing to me. Each one has different variegation and the effect is dazzling.

Yucca 'Color Guard' Stringy Swords

2008-08-01T22:19:00.003-05:00

The center sword-like leaves of this wonderful variegated yucca have strange stringy strands that curl off the sides. This plant has plenty of personality and I love it.

Bedraggled Hibiscus 'Mella Yella'

2008-08-01T22:12:00.002-05:00

We were blessed with a thunderstorm last night and today bringing much needed rain. The winds tore the edges of these blooms.

Gaura 'Dancing Lady'

2008-08-01T22:06:00.003-05:00

This little perennial is almost too dainty to be in my jungle, but I like its variegated leaves of pink, green, and white and the delicate flowers on its stalk.

Valentine Vine's Very Vigorous

2008-08-01T21:55:00.004-05:00

This is a vine that people either hate or love as it can easily become too rampant and invasive if not monitored. I love the shade it provides on the west side of our patio from its huge dinner-plate size, heart-like leaves shaped like big green valentines.

Alocasia Calidora a/k/a "Persian Palm"

2008-08-01T21:48:00.002-05:00

I grow several types of "Elephant Ears" but this variety has the most upright and pointed spear-shaped leaves, which will be huge by late summer.

Purple Coneflower Dancing In the Cabaret

2008-07-30T10:34:00.003-05:00

Purple coneflowers are among my favorite perennials and I like this one swaying in front of my huge clump of Cabaret grass. When the wind blows, they are lovely dancing together.

Yellow Shrimp Plants and Ceres

2008-07-30T10:24:00.002-05:00

My little statue of Ceres is being shaded by large yellow shrimp plants and lotus leaves and some pleioblastus behind her.

Tropical Foliage Combination

2008-07-30T10:14:00.003-05:00

This mixed planting of tropical plants is a combination in my shade garden that has more punches than a boxer.

Frydek and Ferns

2008-07-30T10:04:00.003-05:00

In my backyard jungle I like the contrast in foliage of these Frydek alocasias with native ferns, Rice Paper plants, and my timber bamboo. It reminds me of my tropical gardens when I lived in Thailand and Laos many years ago, but I try not to think of tigers and pythons.

Sago Palm Growth Spurt

2008-07-30T09:55:00.003-05:00

I have had this old Sago Palm for years and this season it has looked like me, about half dead, but it keeps on keeping on and this week is putting out its yearly growth spurt. By late summer this will be a massive cluster of evergreen fronds about 3 feet long.

Colorful Charming Coleus

2008-07-30T09:42:00.003-05:00

The Duchess of Windsor once said "you can never be too rich or too thin". I say "you can never have too many coleus". They always add charm and color to spots here and there around my garden.

Red Stem or Rhubarb Taro

2008-07-30T09:35:00.003-05:00

The beauty of this colocasia (taro) is in its vivid red stems as the leaves are very dull and drab. In the morning sun the red stems are striking.

Morning Sun Behind Lime Zinger and Pineapple Coleus

2008-07-30T09:26:00.003-05:00

The play of light and shadows in my garden's foliage turns me on more than flowers. I particularly like foliage when it is backlit by the morning or late afternoon sun.

Red Mandevilla 'Haley's Comet'

2008-07-30T09:15:00.003-05:00

This is a new variety of red mandevilla on the market called 'Haley's Comet' with the PPAF still pending. I like it better than the other red mandevilla vines I am growing called 'Red Riding Hood' because its blooms are darker red and larger.

Flowers And Foliage...Black, Gold, and Green

2008-07-30T09:04:00.002-05:00

I like how this young clump of Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' pokes up through this rampant ornamental sweet potato vine 'Ace Of Spades' and the ajuga.

Cicada Invasion...Strange and Interesting Katydids

2008-07-30T06:56:00.004-05:00

These pictures of cicadas...or Katydids as we call them in Mississippi...are from the Internet, not my camera. For unknown reasons we are having an invasion this week and their very loud singing in the evening is music our two rat terriers dislike. The type of cicadas we have here usually emerge every 13 years or so and were last seen by the billions in 2001 and 2002. This brood is about 7 years early!

Rudbeckia Isn't Rude

2008-07-25T21:49:00.003-05:00

The rich golden yellow of these Rudbeckia "Indian Summer" flowers glows in late afternoon. This is my favorite variety of rudbeckias. Since we have no bees this year I doubt any seeds will be fertile so I fear I might lose these.

Butterfly Ginger Is Just Peachy This Year

2008-07-25T21:42:00.002-05:00

To me the delicate peach color of this ginger matches its delicious fragrance perfectly. It makes me happy that bugs and slugs dislike it.

Banana Bloom and Baby Bananas

2008-07-25T21:33:00.002-05:00

My clump of bananas is just starting to bloom, but this one is not making many baby bananas for some reason. You can see just a couple of tiny ones at the bottom of this stalk, but since they are not edible anyway I am not concerned. This variety like my Musa Basjoo bananas are ornamentals only.

"Fruit Cocktail" Shrimp Plants

2008-07-25T21:24:00.002-05:00

This year I have only a couple of these "Fruit Cocktail" Shrimp Plants. They are not nearly as vigorous or as showy as my red and yellow shrimp plants and have been very slow to bloom this season. This one is just starting to show a little color. I think they are not happy with this awful heat unlike their red and yellow cousins.

Baby Lemons Getting Fat and Happy

2008-07-25T21:14:00.002-05:00

My two small Meyer Improved Lemon Trees are going to have a decent crop of fruit this year. Here is a shot of 3 of the babies getting fat and happy. These lemons get very large and are quite sweet and will make wonderful lemonade and Whiskey Sours in the fall.

Miltonia (Pansy) Orchid In Bloom

2008-07-23T19:24:00.003-05:00

My cousin Hunter sent this photo of another of his orchids currently in bloom in his collection in his Florida garden. Left double click on this photo to see the incredible details of this Pansy Orchid.

Grammatophyllum Scriptum Orchid In Bloom

2008-07-23T19:14:00.004-05:00

Two pictures my cousin Hunter sent to share of his huge G.S. orchid now in bloom in his tropical "Garden of Eden" at his home in St. Petersburg, Florida. This is what a guy with 10 green fingers gets as a reward!

Water Hyacinth...Pretty Pet Plant Or Pest?

2008-07-21T18:50:00.003-05:00

Some states have banned importing or selling this extremely invasive floating water plant, and most fishermen hate it because it clogs their lines and hinders navigation. In my water gardens it grows and multiplies so fast I have to continually pull out thickets of it to keep it under control. Its roots are wonderful filters and keep the water clear, and when it sends up flower stalks like the one in this photo, I enjoy it.

Bushy Bloodleaf

2008-07-21T18:40:00.002-05:00

This houseplant has grown by leaps and bounds on the patio and needs me to whack it in half before it collapses under its own weight. Some people call this Beefsteak Plant, another form I also have is called Chicken Gizzard plant, and then I have a yellow, white, and green leaf type. They are all in the Iresine family and I like them all since I am a nut for variegated plants.