Environmentally Friendly Landscapes
Today I’m at the home of Allison and Brandon Pike. They live in a community where the landscapes have been designed to be environmentally sensitive.
Native plants are used extensively, which means they are well adapted to our Mississippi weather, and they are tolerant of our Mississippi insect pests. Gulf muhly grass is a native perennial that is drought tolerant and was chosen as the Mississippi Medallion native plant for 2010. Combined with red knockout rose and ruby loropetalum, visitors are led to the pergola and the back yard. The focal point of the entry area are the blueberry bushes framing the miniature red climbing rose. Natchez crape myrtles frame the opening to the picnic area. I really like the hardscape of recycled fired bricks laid in a herring bone pattern. The steps to the porch are framed with fragrant rosemary. Moving along you enter the green area for more formal entertaining. The birdbath is surrounded by flowering Vinca. A favorite of mine that is planted in various places is the dwarf palmetto palm. With underground stems, the pinwheel shaped leaves seem to rise out of the ground. When combined with a dwarf version of the native wax myrtle, it creates a small screen for the garage wall. The large pavillion has wisteria and confederate jasmine being trained on the corner posts. And what better way to entertain than by cooking on the green egg.
Environmentally friendly landscapes using native plants are a great option. They require less irrigation and fertilization, fewer chemicals, without compromising on their beauty and interest. I’m Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening