Gardening – Page 3 – Bella Jardins Boutique

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Buds, Blooms, and Berries 12/29 – 01/04

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing holiday season. Ziva and I sure did.

How’s your garden growing this time of the year? I love doing walkabouts through Bella’s area and my personal garden to see what’s blooming. Being able to have something blooming in every season is just one of the many perks of living in the South. Keep in mind that in our area, October through April is the best time to plant those perennials, shrubs, and trees.

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Ziva’s Flora Fav: Southern Shield Fern

Ziva sez she admits she has been oh so far behind on making her Ziva’s Flora Fav posts. She sez she’s gonna try her best to post more often.

Today her favorite native plant is the beautiful Southern Shield fern, Thelypteris kunthii.

Posted on December 9, 2024December 9, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Plant of the Day: American Hornbeam Tree

The American Hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana, is a beautiful and very much underused native tree. Some of its common names are musclewood, hornbeam, and blue-beech. The name “hornbeam” comes from the extreme hardness of the wood.

Posted on December 7, 2024December 7, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Garden Shop Changes; Fall Color

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon: clear blue skies, warm in the sun although a bit chilly in the shade. Ziva and I have been outside most of today enjoying life in the South in the fall. Hope you have been enjoying it too.

Posted on December 2, 2024December 2, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Plant Pick Up, Weather, and What-Not

Hi there, my fellow flower freaks. Ziva and I hope everyone had a stress-free Turkey Day celebration. We sure did.

Speaking of Ms Ziva, her 9th birthday was Saturday, Nov. 30th. She was not real thrilled with the wearing o’ the birthday crown. lol Since the weather has cooled down, you’ll once again see her riding shotgun with me on deliveries.

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

10/04 Plant Pick Up Post

Well. We got through Hurricane Helene, then Mother Nature says “next up is Hurricane Milton.” ~sigh~ Please, everyone in his path be safe. I’ll keep sending out comforting and safe energy to all of you.

Posted on September 19, 2024September 19, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Milkweed, Caterpillars, and Pop Quiz (Part 2)

Monarch and Queen butterflies (pic courtesy of Journey North)

Howdy howdy. Two days ago I posted Part 1 of Milkweed, Caterpillars, and Pop Quiz. Thank you to Kelly and Brit for correctly answering that one of the caterpillars in this pic is a Monarch! The one on the leaf is a Monarch, and the one on the stem is a Queen. So, you may be asking, how does one tell the difference between a Queen and a Monarch caterpillar cause they sure do look a lot alike. Let’s talk a bit about how to tell them apart.

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Milkweed, Caterpillars, and Pop Quiz

Monarch butterfly (pic courtesy of UNC Chapel Hill)

Was doing a walkabout through Bella’s area the other day enjoying all the birds, butterflies, and bugs that were hanging out with the flowers and foliage. I noticed that the Asclepias incarnata, Pink Swamp Milkweed, was looking bare of their leaves so I walked over to check it out. Three days. Three days was all it took for the caterpillars to eat almost all the leaves on the 15 plants I have in stock. Was I mad? Nope, because giving the cats the food they need is why we grow native milkweed.

Posted on September 5, 2024September 5, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

Stokes’ Aster

The Stokes’ Asters, Stokesia laevis, I have in stock are showing off their beautiful lavender blooms! I took this picture just a couple of days ago.

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Jeanni — Leave a comment

08/15 Plant Pick Up Post

I’m picking up more cool native plants from my supplier this Thursday! Here’s what I’m getting. Click on the highlighted plant name to be taken to its page.

Rudbeckia fulgida, Orange Coneflower, 1-gallon
Thelypterius kunthii, Southern Shield Fern, 1-gallon
Dyschoriste oblongifolia, Twinflower, 1-gallon
Styrax americanus, American Snowbell, 3-gallon (picture at the top of page is a close-up of the blooms)
Eupatorium perfoliatum, Common Boneset, 1-gallon (new)
Nyssa sylvatica v sylvatica, Black Tupelo, 7-gallon