October 2021: Turtlehead (Chelone)

Oct 3, 2021

Ellen Honeycutt White turtlehead (Chelone glabra), showing the pink tips which sometimes occur. Turtlehead (Chelone sp.) plants are fairly modest looking perennials most of the year, often overlooked in their preferred moist habitats. The simple, oppositely arranged... read more

September 2021: Wingstem (Verbesina)

Sep 3, 2021

Ellen Honeycutt Left: Verbesina occidentalis. Right: Summer azure on V. alternifolia. Verbesina is a genus that includes eight species in Georgia, most of them tall and robust plants that thrive in damp areas throughout Georgia. The common name wingstem comes from... read more

August 2021: Angelica

Aug 3, 2021

Ellen Honeycutt Hairy Angelica (Angelica venenosa) blooms and foliage. As a native plant advocate, I love to tell people about the relationships between native plants and native insects. Butterfly gardening advice is a perfect time to bring home the message about... read more

July 2021: Monarda didyma

Jul 3, 2021

Ellen Honeycutt My seasonal choice for this month’s newsletter always reminds me of fireworks, which I think is appropriate for early July. Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma) or Oswego tea is a perennial native plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) blooming now. In... read more

June 2021: Rhododendron minus

Jun 3, 2021

Ellen Honeycutt The genus Rhododendron consists of native azaleas (which are deciduous) and the plants commonly referred to as rhododendrons (which are evergreen). The smallest of the evergreen rhododendrons is one called Rhododendron minus. It looks a bit like a... read more

May 2021: Chionanthus virginicus

May 3, 2021

Ellen Honeycutt Left: Fringetree in full bloom (photo by Ellen Honeycutt). Right: Willam Bartram’s painting of fringetree (http://www.wikigallery.org/). Our Plant of the Year for 2021, as chosen by our members in November 2020, is fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus).... read more