GardenZeal

11/02/2026

Such a great time for this presentation. Come join us and be inspired!

Join the Norcross Garden Club on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, as we welcome back horticulturist, Jennifer Petritz to learn about berry-bearing plants that bring seasonal color to your garden, add beauty to holiday arrangements, and provide food for birds.

Jennifer will share photos and discuss a mix of unusual and familiar evergreen and deciduous plants that add fall color and winter interest to the landscape. From colorful berries nestled among greenery to striking clusters on bare stems, these plants offer inspiration for Thanksgiving centerpieces, Christmas wreaths, and fresh-cut arrangements—all while helping create a bird-friendly garden.

Click here to learn more about Jennifer and her presentation, and register for the event click here. This event is open to the public but we ask everyone to register so we can plan for seating and refreshments. Details are linked here: https://mailchi.mp/f26cb9e87bfe/november11-10-26jenniferpetritzpresentation

10/17/2026

I Skewered My Okra. Guess Why!
I love decorating with dried okra and other dried flowers. Those long, pointed pods with their pronounced ribs add striking shapes and texture to fall arrangements.
Pods can get moldy when drying them on a flat surface, so sometimes I hang them on a string. This year, I decided to put some overgrown okra pods on skewers—giving them instant stems for taller arrangements!
I collect dried flowers and seed pods from my garden and enjoy them around the house in vases, bowls, and other containers. A little piece of the garden to keep as the seasons change.
Do you save seed pods or dried flowers for decorating?

09/25/2026

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Ozzie Johnson! He'll share photos and stories of his travels and plant-hunting expeditions and tell us how he has bred Mahonias, Begonias, and Hydrangeas. The presentation is open to the public. Please register to attend to help us plan for seating. Click below for details that include the link to register.

Mark Your Calendars! The Norcross Garden Club will host Ozzie Johnson at the Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center on October 13. For more than five decades, Ozzie has earned the respect of the horticultural and gardening communities through his work for private clients, his development of remarkable new plants, and his volunteer service to organizations including the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The presentation is open to the public, but we ask everyone to RSVP so we can plan for seating and refreshments. The event is free to members; non-members will be charged $5. More information and the link to register are here: https://mailchi.mp/c82f4067c36b/norcross-garden-club-october-speaker-ozzie-johnson

09/11/2026

08/31/2026

Our Hummies are getting to know us and we’re getting to know them! I was alarmed when I saw red marks on their necks until I read more about Ruby-throated Humming Birds.

08/31/2026

No, this is a young male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. When we started putting small feeders on our kitchen windowsill, 4 tiny Hummingbirds began squabbling around them. We noticed something about this tiny “Hummie”. He had a spot on the side of his throat. At first we thought it was an injury, but we did some research and learned that juvenile male Ruby-throated hummingbirds begin developing their brilliant red throat feathers, called a gorget, a few feathers at a time (females have a white throat and chest). We nicknamed this little fellow,“Rudy,” and kept an eye on him. Then we noticed the others were forming ruffled areas with red spots as well. Rudy seems to be the bully of the bunch, and I think he has run the others off. Today he’s been enjoying the feeder to himself, and we have been able to get a closer look. His red spots are quickly spreading all across his throat. I slowed the video down so you can see the tiny flashes of ruby spots on his throat. Can you see them? Eventually, Rudy’s throat will be covered with bright light-reflecting, iridescent red feathers..

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are common in Georgia and the eastern United States. I’ve seen them before, but I’ve never recognized the juveniles or known about the gradual development of the red throats.

Have you seen them in your garden?

08/27/2026

We’re really getting to know our Hummingbirds!

08/27/2026

Our Secrets for Getting Close to Hummingbirds

I found these tiny hummingbird feeders and wondered if they’d work—and they do!
I’ve seen videos of hummingbirds feeding from people’s hands, and I always thought it must have taken a long time to get them that comfortable around people. We have hummingbird feeders throughout our garden, and I’ve even been buzzed by a few Hummies when they thought I was getting too close. Then I found these tiny feeders that fit right on our kitchen windowsill.

My husband, Simon, has been diligent about keeping them filled, and it’s been fun to watch the Hummies gather around. Today we had three or four darting back and forth outside the kitchen window—sometimes feeding and sometimes chasing each other away. Hummingbirds are famously territorial, so there are plenty of squabbles around the feeders. But they all seem to be getting surprisingly comfortable with the people on the other side of the glass.

Lately, they seem to appear as soon as we approach the sink to make our morning tea.
Recently, I reached outside to check a feeder, and one flew so close and hovered so confidently that, for a moment, I thought it might land on my hand!

These tiny feeders need to be filled frequently, and we’ve noticed that the sugar water heats up quickly in direct sun. But when we keep them filled with fresh sugar water, the Hummies seem to appear almost immediately. As I placed a feeder outside this morning, they were so eager to get to it that I thought one might fly right into the house!

Stay tuned and follow along—I’m working up to holding one of these tiny feeders to see if a Hummie will eat from my hand!

So, what are our secrets to making Hummie friends?
1. Feed consistently and predictably.
2. Place feeders near a window with shrubs or trees nearby for cover and perching.
3. Refresh the sugar water regularly, especially in hot weather.
4. Red feeders and flowers work best
5. Give them time to get used to your presence.

Have you ever had hummingbirds come right up to your window—or even eat from your hand? Tell me about it in the comments!