Memphis gardening services
Memphis, Tennessee is primarily famous for the Memphis blues music and delicious barbecue food. It also contains the second-most-visited home in America: the home of Elvis. However, the modern fascination of Memphis gives little hint to its varied and turbulent history.
The early history of Memphis begins with the initial exploration of the New World. The area was subject of controversy between the French, Spanish and the English. However, the city was not established until 1819. It rapidly became one of the largest cities in the South before the Civil War. Its economy was based primarily on agriculture and lumber.
When the war began, Memphis was of high strategic importance to the Confederate forces. The first Battle of Memphis changed that. Much of the rebel fleet was destroyed at Memphis, and soon the railroads that connected Memphis with much of the Confederacy had been destroyed. The Confederates abandoned Memphis. Despite this, there was a second battle of Memphis in which Bedford Forrest and his men staged an attack on the city to release prisoners and capture Union generals. His attack was only partially successful.
The fact that Memphis was of dubious value and had ended up in Federal hands when it did, meant that it was saved the destruction that so many other southern cities saw during that time. The period after the war saw Memphis growing exponentially instead of suffering from the deprivations that other places endured.
During the 1870s, the city went through a difficult period of yellow fever epidemics that severely weakened the city and sent many thousands of people fleeing to escape the illness. The situation was so severe that the city went bankrupt and lost its charter. It was the determined citizens who worked to pay off the debt and restore their town to the beautiful place it had been before. It got the charter back in 1893.
Memphis continued to be extremely important to the industry of agriculture in the form of cotton. It went on to be the largest market for hardwood lumber in the world and the largest mule market as well. The railroad became prominent in the city leading up to the 20s.
During World War II, there were several essential supply depots in the region and a prisoner-of-war camp as well. Aviation training came to Memphis during this time.
As the years passed, the city also played a surprisingly important role in the Civil Rights Movement. It is now home to the National Civil Rights Museum. Of course, it had a big part in the development of the Memphis blues as well. One of its big attractions is the annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, which attracts over 100,000 visitors to the city annually.
Memphis has also begun to thrive in terms of enhancing its aesthetic appeal and sustainability. It has a significant green movement that increases in effectiveness by the year. Memphis now has an abundance of beautiful plants to help clean the air and enhance its beauty.
One such plant that makes a beautiful garden shrub is azalea. Azaleas are a stunning flowering shrub. It flowers profusely in pink, red and white and attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds. Some varieties bloom twice. They do best in the shade, but they will grow to be as big as five feet tall and five feet wide. There are many different varieties such as coral bells azalea, encore autumn amethyst azalea, fashion azalea, Formosa azalea, and so many more.
Another plant that does well is the canna plant. With incredibly vibrant colors, not only of the blooms but also of the stalks, cannas attract hummingbirds and butterflies. These do very well in the sun and also come in many different varieties. They require regular watering but are not as prone to disease as many other types of plants. They will give your garden an exotic, tropical look. They do not, however, stand up to frost.
The Tennessee state flower is the iris. No wonder. The iris is a beautiful, showy flower. Its name means rainbow. There are many different colors of iris flowers. They are perennials rather than annuals, so you won't have to plant them again every year. They also spread well.
Another flower that grows excellently in the region is the large flowered climbing rose known as the Eden Climber. It was voted the World's Favorite Rose, and it is extraordinarily hardy. The blossoms are pink and cream. It has an richly-colored foliage. It is also highly disease-resistant.
Lastly, there is a unique plant known as goatsbeard or bride's feathers for the feathery foliage. It is a perennial plant from the rose family that requires a considerable amount of moisture. While it grows like a bush, if you are not careful to trim it, then it will grow to as much as six feet tall. The flowers are cream-colored. The blooms are not confined to spring, but will often last throughout summer as well. It performs best in cool areas, but it is not picky about soil or the amount of sunshine it receives. It has sometimes been used as a medicinal herb.
All of these plants make an excellent addition to any garden, but there is so much involved in gardening. Especially in the hot months, gardening can become quite a tiresome chore. Not only that, but some people seem to be specially gifted with a tendency to kill off their plants. Sometimes, nothing can be better than to hire a professional gardener for all your gardening needs.
If that describes you, we can help. At Lawn Love, we work with you to give you the garden of your dreams. Whether you need help planting shrubs or merely keeping up your garden, we make it easy for you to get a professional to assist you. You can get a completely free quote online. If you live in the Memphis area, look no further. Call us today to get your professional gardening services.