Rankin County Master Gardeners

Thanks go out to the MG’s who showed up for the June Hill Garden workday.

The Summer Field Day at Truck Crops Experiment Station is a perennial highlight, and today's installment did not disappoint. Dr. Shaun Broderick's virtual tour, necessitated by the weather, featured captivating images and commentary, accompanied by a stellar lineup of speakers and appreciated door prizes.

🌱Fun Plant Friday!🌱

Nearly 20 years ago, the first-ever Petchoa (Pet-KOE-ah) hit the market. They are intergeneric hybrids between Petunias and Calibrachoas where the Petunia parent brings in larger flowers, while the Calibrachoa (Cal-ih-bruh-KOE-ah) parent brings unique colors.

The one pictured here is Petchoa EnViva™ Pink by Ball FloraPlant. It has an exceptionally hot pink corolla with a yellow eye. It is stunning and will liven up any dull space.

Thanks to all of the hard workers who showed up for our newest project at the MSU Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Lab in Pearl under the direction of our new member, Lanny Pace. Stay tuned for planting day next week!

The June meeting of our group was held at the Rankin County Extension Office and included refreshments and an informative presentation by Tatiana Martin, an expert in orchids. We also recognized Arlette Glass with her 5-year service pin, presented by Doug Carter, Extension Agent.

This is Tatiana’s Garden that spoke at our meeting today!

Tatiana Martin has a backyard garden in Vicksburg that demonstrates you do not need a massive landscape to create a major visual impact. Her thoughtfully planned landscape is dramatic and inviting.

One of the first plants that grabbed my attention was Double Play Candy Corn spirea, known scientifically as Spiraea japonica.

This plant deserves its colorful name. The new growth emerges in glowing shades of bright yellow, fiery orange and deep red, looking like a summer sunset tucked right into the flower bed. The foliage seems to shimmer in the sunlight, especially during flushes of new growth.

As the season progresses, the intense tones soften slightly into warm, golden-orange hues, but the plant never loses its rich color. Clusters of vivid pink blooms appear above the leaves, adding another layer of beauty.

Candy Corn Spirea handles the Southern heat impressively well and continues looking strong long after many other colorful plants begin to fade.

Another standout in Tatiana’s landscape is Sunjoy Tangelo Barberry, a plant grown almost entirely for its brilliant foliage.

This shrub glows with rich shades of orange, apricot and golden yellow. The foliage is especially eye-catching in the early morning and late afternoon light when the leaves seem to radiate warmth across the garden.

One thing I particularly appreciate about this barberry is its naturally neat, rounded habit. It maintains a tidy appearance with very little pruning, making it an excellent choice for borders, foundation plantings or low hedges.

Beyond its beauty, Sunjoy Tangelo Barberry is also an incredibly durable plant. It handles heat, humidity and poor soil conditions with ease, and deer generally leave it alone.

For gardeners looking for dependable color without constant maintenance, Sunjoy Tangelo is a tough plant that delivers season after season.

To anchor the landscape and provide year-round structure, Tatiana incorporated Fire Chief Arborvitae. This compact evergreen introduced a completely different texture into the garden with its soft, feathery foliage and dense form.

Fresh growth emerges on this arborvitae in bright golden tones that seem to glow against darker plants nearby. When temperatures cool in the fall, the foliage develops deeper reddish and bronze tones, giving the plant a new appearance for fall and winter.

Even during cold months when many other plants go dormant, Fire Chief Arborvitae provides a strong evergreen backbone while offering seasonal color changes to keep the garden interesting.

Tatiana’s garden is a perfect example of how a small grouping of carefully selected plants with complementary colors and textures can completely transform an ordinary corner of the yard into something memorable.