L.A. Jackson

Contributor at Carolina Country

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Articles

Hello, ‘Hot Lips’! Introduce this summer-blooming flower to your garden

4 weeks ago | scliving.coop | L.A. Jackson

I am sure that, on occasion, you have spotted a turtle or two moseying around your plant beds. Although they are slow, their visits are usually brief. If you enjoyed those fleeting moments, why not just add turtleheads to your garden? No, I’m not talking about doing vile things to cute critters. Instead, I suggest a plant called turtlehead (Chelone spp.).
The case for crocosmia, a devilish delight in the garden

1 month ago | scliving.coop | L.A. Jackson

I enjoy writing about plants with strange names—they make me seem smart, bordering on erudite, both of which I aspire to be someday. Crocosmia is just such an example of a garden pretty with a strange name, and I do like to dote on it. So, first, pronounce it correctly: “crow-KOS-me-ah.” Now, let’s grow it. Crocosmia (Crocosmia sp.), a South African native related to irises and gladioli, is a deer- and rabbit-resistant perennial hardy for all gardens across our state.
Unique Basil Varieties to Add to Your Garden and Cooking

2 months ago | carolinacountry.com | L.A. Jackson

Regular sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a common, easy-to-grow annual herb that I usually tuck away in a tiny corner of my herb patch. I do like this basil, but skimping on its space leaves more room for other basils with way more different twists in flavor, fragrance and looks. Here are three of my current favorites.
Avoid spring gardening mistakes for a summer veggie bounty

2 months ago | scliving.coop | L.A. Jackson

While spring is a season of giddy optimism for gardeners planting warm-season vegetables, summertime reality lurks in the form of meager harvests due to poor fruit set. This occurs for several reasons, but many can be cut off at the pass with proper gardening techniques. Below are four of the more common causes: Shady situation. Sun-loving summer vegetables will not properly produce in areas that receive less than six hours of Ol’ Sol a day. Why?
Ginger Lillies Summer Bloom Worth the Wait

Mar 24, 2025 | carolinacountry.com | L.A. Jackson

Looking for instant results from your new spring garden? Ginger lilies (Hedychium sp.) are not for you. These handsome herbaceous, deer-resistant perennials grown from rhizomes will wait … and wait … until the soil embracing them underground is warm enough before sprouting, meaning late spring. Then, their flower show won’t even start until midsummer, so you have to wait … and wait … even more.
Glory lily lives up to its name as a glorious garden beauty

Mar 1, 2025 | scliving.coop | L.A. Jackson

Gloriosa superba “Rothschildiana”—when it comes to botanical names, that’s about as pompous as it gets. But this beauty has the visual goods to back up such an ostentatious tag. Commonly called gloriosa lily, flame lily or (my preference) glory lily, this dazzler is an herbaceous perennial vine grown from tubers planted in the spring.
How to Choose Daylillies for Your Garden

Feb 14, 2025 | carolinacountry.com | L.A. Jackson

Night-blooming daylilies? You bet. They even have their own special codes! NOC is for Nocturnal daylilies, a delightfully strange group that blooms late in the day and persists through the night. Some Nocturnal daylilies flaunt their flowers well into the new dawn, meaning they remain enjoyable sights to see as you stroll in the garden with your morning coffee.
Bright kalanchoe is a midwinter garden showoff

Feb 1, 2025 | scliving.coop | L.A. Jackson

Kalanchoe is a succulent plant that hails from the subtropics of Madagascar, which suggests it could be a popular showoff outdoors in the steamy heat of our South Carolina summers. Instead, it is usually found full of blooms in the winter at local nurseries, waiting to be taken home as a houseplant to sustain gardeners visually while they wait for the glory that will be yet another spring. What gives?
African Violet Ailments

Jan 17, 2025 | carolinacountry.com | L.A. Jackson

African violets are just the right perky houseplants to comfort avid gardeners through the dead-of-winter blues. But while these potted pretties are dependable performers, they can have problems. Here are some of the more common African violet ailments and what to do about them. Bloomless beauties: They are starving for nutrients! Regular waterings that include diluted doses (usually about one-quarter strength) of an African violet-formulated fertilizer will help sustain a bloom party.
Flashy foliage plants bring sass to the garden

Jan 1, 2025 | scliving.coop | L.A. Jackson

The beginning of the year is when most gardeners’ green thumbs start to itch. Come on, spring! But while planting activities will have to wait, now, at least, is a good time to plan and prepare for the warm weather to come. So, what will you grow this year? If you are ornamentally inclined, extend your pleasure with sassy plants flaunting flashy foliage that will last through the whole, long growing season. Here are some of my favorites: Croton.