“Winter blues are cured every time with a potato gratin paired with a roast chicken.”
–Alexandra Guarnaschelli

Mama will surely  comment about the above menu, ” I raised you better than that. Where are the greens?”  Appease Mama and add Savoy cabbage to the table. A milder form of cabbage than the familiar green cabbage, Savoy will add sassiness to the plate-just cook the roughly chopped leaves  in a little olive oil, with onions and peppers. As Savoy is not a common find in the produce section,  plan on adding a few plants to  the winter garden.  Now you’re cooking!

Learn more about Savoy cabbage at the following links.  Wikipedia

All Recipes.com

“Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes.”
― Clare Ansberry, The Women of Troy Hill: The Back-Fence Virtues of Faith and Friendship

Camellia sasanqua, a   traditonal favorite in southern gardens, is wearing her finest in December.  Bellingrath Gardens, nestled on the banks of Fowl River, is ready to show off these exotic beauties in their finery.  Take  time to stroll the walkways with friends  and partake of the delicate blossoms gracing the landscape. You will not be disappointed!

Learn more about sasanquas at the links below.

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/camellia-sasanqua/

https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/camelia-fall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sasanqua

Come, little leaves,” said the Wind one day, “Come to the meadows with me and play. Put on your dresses of red and gold; For Summer is past, and the days grow cold.”
― George Cooper

Vibrant signs of autumn can be found in L.A.  They include  the  dramatic chrysanthemum displays at Bellingrath  Gardens and the unique leaves of ginkgo trees, also found  at Bellingrath. 

Learn more about ginkgo trees at the following links.  https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeGuide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=1092

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba

 

Fall, not spring, is the time in this region to clear away dead leaves and branches, to renovate the borders, to start new gardens…. And even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence, A Southern Garden

While the leaves may be turning in some southern gardens, Mobile gardens still have an abundance of flowers to enjoy. In the photo, the large blue flower is  plumbago or Plumbago auriculate, while the smaller one, is pigeon berry or Duranta erecta.  Both attract a plethora of pollinators.  However, pigeon berry may not be suitable for all gardens as the small yellow fruit is toxic.

Click on the following links to learn more about these perennials.

Duranta erecta  

Plumbago auriculata