On Anderson Pond
For the past 30 years, my friends Julia and Allen have been collecting native plants to grow around their pond. Today I’m visiting, enjoying some of these native beauties. Clumps of Louisiana iris grow straddling the water’s edge. Allen has several species and varieties that bloom at different times. Iris fulva is classified as a red iris, but is actually more brownish orange and is commonly called “copper” iris. The other species starting to bloom is Iris brevicaulis. The flowers are typically blue with a beautiful yellow signal. They tend to open down in the foliage and the stem has a zigzag to facilitate. This Asian viburnum has naturalized, and is a good choice for around the pond. This plant has a weeping, spreading habit that thrives and stabilizes the pond bank. The creamy white flowers open in mid spring in broad flattened clusters, but be aware that they look a lot better than they smell. All along the pond bald cypress are growing. Growing at the edge of the pond the flair of the buttressed trunk and cypress “knees” add a south Mississippi touch. Though it is a conifer, bald cypress are deciduous, and the feathery light green leaves turn a coppery red to yellow and drop in the fall season. You don’t need a pond to grow these beautiful native plants. With a little planning for water you could enjoy these in your landscape. I’m Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.