Eddie Smith, Michigan State University Extension Service
The well-maintained gardens are a peaceful retreat in which to relax and enjoy. The gardens combine Japanese maples with many other plants. (Photo by MSU Extension/Eddie Smith)
Recently I told you about the spring-blooming native plants I saw during a visit to Sarah Young's backyard garden in Tupelo. The benefits of this garden, filled with native and exotic plants, go beyond the beauty of the plants themselves.
Gardening is a form of physical activity. Digging, planting, weeding and harvesting improve your flexibility, strength and endurance. It's a great way to stay active without feeling like you're exercising.
Spending time in the garden has proven positive effects on mental health. Caring for plants, being surrounded by greenery and being in contact with nature can reduce stress, anxiety and depression. It's a therapeutic way to escape the demands of everyday life.
Backyard gardens contribute to a healthier environment: they provide habitat for beneficial insects and birds, promote biodiversity, and absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
Gardens often bring people together. Whether it's exchanging seeds or gardening tips with neighbors, participating in a community project, or simply sharing your harvest, gardens have the power to create connections.
It's also visually appealing: a well-maintained yard adds beauty and curb appeal to a home, creating a tranquil retreat for relaxing and entertaining, and a well-landscaped yard can increase property value.
Young's backyard garden is planted with Japanese maples. These small to medium sized deciduous trees or shrubs are prized for their aesthetic appearance and ability to thrive in a variety of growing conditions.
The delicate leaves come in a variety of colors, including green, red, purple and mottled. Japanese maple leaves are generally deeply lobed and finely toothed, and often turn vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow in the fall.
Hostas are easy to grow and popular for their beautiful foliage and shade tolerance. (Photo by MSU Extension/Eddie Smith)
Young has many different types of hostas planted throughout her garden. They're popular plants grown for their beautiful foliage and shade tolerance.
Hostas generally have large, broad leaves that can be solid green, teal, yellow, or variegated and have smooth, wavy, or undulated edges. The plants produce white, lavender, or purple flower spikes in summer, but the leaves are the star of the show.
Hostas are easy to grow and require little maintenance. They are often used as ground covers, flower beds, or accents in shady gardens.
One of my favorite plants in Young's garden is the coral honeysuckle, a species native to the southeastern United States and grown for its fragrant flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
The flowers are trumpet-shaped and a vibrant coral red that fades to pink as it ages. The flowers usually grow in clusters at the ends of the vine's branches. The leaves are glossy evergreen, making coral honeysuckle vines attractive even when not in bloom.
This fast-growing vine is often used to cover walls, trellises and fences. It can also be grown as a ground cover. Coral honeysuckle vines are easy to grow and require little maintenance. They are also known to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Dr. Eddie Smith is a horticulture expert and Pearl River County Coordinator for the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and host of the popular television show, “Southern Gardening.”
The delicate, fragrant flowers of the native coral honeysuckle bloom in spring and summer. (Photo by MSU Extension/Eddie Smith)
