KIX Kitties and K9s: Meet Scully!
Meet Scully. If you ask what breed mix she is, we honestly don’t have an answer for you (other than a smart kind). Whatever it is, those teefers are always on display. She’s a little bit over two years old and weighs around 40 pounds. Scully knows tons of tricks and commands. Things like “sit”,…… Continue Reading
Meet Illicium: A Shade-Loving Shrub with Personality
I can remember a time when there were few shade-loving shrubs from which to choose for the North Carolina landscape. In the early years of the “Weekend Gardener,” Erv Evans or those who filled in for him, would primarily recommend: acubas, rhododendrons, azaleas, or hydrangeas. Now there are a plethora of woody plants for the darker areas of your yard. What I am building up to is the world of Illiciums or Illicium parviflorum, illicium floridanum and illicium parviflorum anise shrubs. The leaves of this species have a distinctively pleasant scent when crushed. Most people say it smells like licorice, which is not my favorite. However, I do think it has a unique fragrance. The flowers of the floridanum have another distinctive attribute. They are pretty, a red to maroon color with a raw fishy fragrance. Some say it smells like a wet dog. This odor is not apparent unless the flower is right up to your nose. The plant usually blooms in April and May.… Continue Reading
KIX Kitties and K9s: Meet Moonpie!
Meet Moonpie! He’s a black and white tuxedo cat so he’s always fancy. He’s got a big personality and an even bigger love for playtime—especially if it involves wrestling with his feline buddies. He’s got a curious heart and a signature head-tilt hello that’ll melt your heart on the spot. He needs a little time…… Continue Reading
KIX Kitties and K9s: Meet Colman!
Meet Colman! He’s an all-around good boy, tennis ball enthusiast, and your future best friend. Colman is a 10-year-old hound mix with a heart full of love and a mouth full of tennis balls (seriously — he likes to keep one on standby at all times). His happy place? A big fenced yard where he…… Continue Reading
Why the ninebark shrub deserves a spot in your garden
How many of you have ever heard of the Ninebark shrub or Physocarpus opulifolius for those of you who like to get technical? I hadn’t until recently! Since then I have learned that the Ninebark is also referred to in horticulture circles as Common Ninebark, Atlantic Ninebark, or Eastern Ninebark and is native to the eastern United States including North Carolina. Most frequently seen growing in the mountains and foothills of North Carolina, but seen less often in the central part of the state. It seems to like rocky hillsides and slopes near rivers. You won’t find ninebark growing very much in eastern North Carolina.… Continue Reading