Tom OderGardening & Writing

Photo Gallery

From My Garden

A visual celebration of plants, pollinators and the beauty of Southeast gardening.

All photos: © 2026 Tom Oder and cannot be re-published in any form without permission.

Sun garden panoramic view with lush borders and colorful plantings

Purple anemone flower with golden center blooming in fall garden — Colorful anemones brighten the oranges, yellows and browns of the fall garden as it prepares to go to sleep for the winter. (October 2026)

Camellia Yuletide bright red flower with yellow stamens blooming in October — Camellia Yuletide, the Camellia with a Christmas name, is blooming in October. Perhaps it's taking its cue to show up early from big box stores and other retailers, who once again have put out holiday decorations before Halloween. (October 2026)

Bright orange rose hip seed pod on Viking Queen climbing rose — This is a rose hip (seed pod) that developed from the pink flower on the rose Viking Queen, which is growing on a mailbox in full sun. (October 2026)

Close-up of a Black-eyed Susan seed head with green petals — The dark central "eye" of Black-eyed Susan is actually hundreds of tiny, individual nectar-cup flowers in the summer that turn into seeds in the fall. The seed heads attract small songbirds such as American goldfinches, chickadees, northern cardinals, sparrows, juncos and others.

Bumblebee sleeping on Thai basil flower in the rain — A light mist falls on a bumblebee sleeping on Thai basil that has gone to flower. The basil is in an herb parterre that serves as my kitchen herb garden. I also like to plant herbs throughout the garden for the way they smell when rain falls on them, for when I brush up against them walking along a garden path and for the pollinators, of course. (October 2026)

Weeping Fall Shrub Mint Rostrinucula dependens pink waterfall blooms — You can be excused if you look at this image and ask, "Whazzat?" It's the flower of Rostrinucula dependens, the rare Weeping Fall Shrub Mint. It's endemic to the woodlands of Shaanxi, China, and sits quietly in Southeast gardens all summer until it produces its amazing pink waterfall blooms in the fall that are a magnet for native bees and a showstopper for two-legged visitors. (October 2026)

Seed pod of Angelpod Milkvine hanging from Oakleaf hydrangea Snow Queen — This is a seed pod of the rare native Angelpod Milkvine (Gonolobus suberosus). It is twining up a large and mature Oakleaf hydrangea 'Snow Queen.' Note a second seed pod in the upper left. (October 2026)

A honeybee looks for nourishment on an apricot drift rose — An apricot drift rose becomes a refueling station under a bright October sun. (October 2026)

Close-up of yellow and coral chrysanthemum flowers with water droplets — For many nurseries and garden centers, mums account for more than 50 percent of all autumn revenue, according to Greenhouse Management. Visit: https://tomoder.com/blog/the-marvelous-mum-part-one (October 2026)

Windmill palm Trachycarpus fortunei fan-shaped leaves catching early morning light — A Trachycarpus fortunei, the windmill palm, growing at the front of the woodland garden catches early morning light and the first leaves of autumn. It is called the windmill palm because its circular, stiff, fan-shaped leaves spread out at the top of a slender trunk in a way that resembles the rotating blades of an old-fashioned Dutch windmill. (September 2026)

Bumblebee nectaring on goldenrod flowers in early morning sunlight — A bumblebee nectars on goldenrod in early morning sunlight. Goldenrod is one of the top five plants for pollinators the State Botanical Garden of Georgia recommends for planting in fall gardens. (September 2026)

American pokeweed flower stalk with berries in all stages of ripeness and last flowers of the season — American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is a great nectar source for a variety of birds. This image shows a flower stalk with berries in all stages — eaten (by something!), green waiting to ripen in the afternoon autumn sun and the last flowers of the season. (September 2026)

Blue mist flower and black-eyed Susan blooming together in a fall garden — Blue mist flower and black-eyed Susan are a classic combination for fall gardens. (September 2026)

Brazilian verbena flowers blooming on wiry stems — Brazilian verbena (Verbena bonariensis), also known as tall verbena, blooms on wiry stems that sway in the breeze. Its dainty flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. (September 2026)

Switchgrass Panicum Virgatum 'Northwind' with seed heads backlit in garden — The switchgrass Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' is valuable to pollinators because it is an important food source and host plant for the caterpillars of several native skipper butterfly species, supports various grass-feeding insects and its seed heads feed songbirds in the winter. (September 2026)

An unidentified insect on orange milkweed Asclepias tuberosa in bloom — An unidentified insect (which I did not see when I took the photo) on an orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). (June 2026)

Bumblebee foraging on lavender bee balm Monarda wild bergamot — A bumblebee forages on a lavender bee balm (Monarda), also called wild bergamot. (June 2026)

Bumblebee foraging on a woodland sunflower Helianthus decapetalus — A bumblebee forages on a woodland sunflower believed to be Helianthus decapetalus. (July 2025)

Woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus with bright yellow petals and green center — The woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus. (July 2026)

Two black thin-waisted wasps mating on a yellow green coneflower — Black thin-waisted wasps (family Sphecidae) mate on a green cone flower. (July 2025)

European paper wasp foraging on yellow flowers of bronze fennel — European paper wasp, a species of social wasp, foraging on flowers of bronze fennel. (July 2026)

Phlox paniculata Robert Poore with vivid magenta-pink flower clusters — Phlox paniculata 'Robert Poore.' (June 2026)

Phlox paniculata 'Jeana' with small lavender-pink flower clusters glistening with raindrops — Phlox paniculata 'Jeana'. Her flowers are small but they are a butterfly magnet! (July 2026)

A hybrid summer phlox with soft pink flowers and deep pink centers — A hybrid summer phlox. The name tag was lost years ago. (July 2026)

Sleeping bumblebee resting on a lace cap hydrangea bloom — A sleeping bumblebee on a lace cap hydrangea. When bees sleep like this they are not drunk on nectar, but exhausted from foraging. (June 2026)

Miniature rose Bees Knees with golden yellow and orange blooms — Miniature rose Bees Knees. (June 2026)

White coneflower Echinacea purpurea with white petals and green center — White cone flower (Echinacea purpurea). (June 2026)

Rose Topolina ground cover rose with open pink flowers and yellow centers — Rose Topolina, a ground cover rose with open flowers that attracts pollinators. (June 2026)

Rose Topolina with a bumblebee — Rose Topolina, with a bumblebee. (June 2026)

David Austin rose Golden Celebration, a large golden-apricot cupped bloom — The David Austin rose Golden Celebration. (June 2026)

Gemini hybrid tea rose, a large pink and cream bloom with red center — Gemini is a hybrid tea rose that won the American Rose Society's prestigious All-America Rose Selections award in 2000. (June 2026)

Rocket rose, a deep red hybrid tea rose bloom against dark green leaves — The rose Rocket by the breeder Stephen Roussell in Lake Charles, La. (April 2026)

Viking Queen climbing rose, a large soft pink bloom with a bud, growing on a mailbox — The climbing rose Viking Queen growing on a mailbox. (April 2026)

Clematis virginiana Virgin's Bower white star-shaped flowers in full bloom on a mailbox — Clematis virginiana, also known as Virgin's Bower, growing on a mailbox in full sun with the climbing rose Viking Queen. Amazingly, I did not plant this clematis. (August 2026)

Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea in bloom with buds — Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), a drought-tolerant, deer-resistant native perennial. (June 2026)

Gulf fritillary butterfly sipping nectar from butterfly weed — A Gulf fritillary sips nectar from butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). (July 2024)

Indian pink Spigelia marilandica native woodland wildflower with red tubular flowers — Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a native woodland wildflower that thrives in shade and attracts hummingbirds. (May 2025)

Bumblebee on swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata — A bumblebee on a leek that has gone to flower. (May 2025)

Four-toothed mason wasp feeding on a green-headed coneflower — A four-toothed mason wasp feeds on a green-headed coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). (July 2024)

Fiery skipper resting on Rudbeckia laciniata green-headed coneflower — A fiery skipper rests on Rudbeckia laciniata. (July 2024)

Bumblebee on green-headed coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata — Bumble bee on green coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). (July 2024)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly feeding on a panicle-flowered hydrangea — An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) feeds on a panicle-flowered hydrangea. (June 2025)

Bumblebee on swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata — Bumblebee on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). (September 2025)

Hydrangea Macrophylla Amethyst pink blooms in a pot — Hydrangea Macrophylla 'Amethyst' stays small and does well in a large pot. (June 2026)

Oakleaf hydrangea Snow Queen covered in white blooms weighted down by rain — The native Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen, weighted down here by recent rains, is a profuse bloomer. (June 2026)

Bumble bee sipping nectar on the climbing rose Clair Matin — Bumble bee sips nectar on the climbing rose Clair Matin. (June 2025)

Hydrangea Macrophylla Nikko Blue large round blue mophead flowers — Hydrangea Macrophylla Nikko Blue is known for its large round blue mophead flowers. (June 2026)

Aging Nikko Blue hydrangea blooms with antique pink and green tones in summer — As hydrangea blooms age, they develop a new kind of beauty -- rich antique tones and a papery texture. This is Nikko Blue in the dead of summer. (July 2026)

Moonstone hybrid tea rose with creamy white petals and pink center — Moonstone, a hybrid tea rose. (June 2026)

Apricot Drift Rose blooms with soft peachy-pink petals in cottage garden style — Apricot Drift Rose, bred in France with the delicate color palette of classic French roses, captures the cottage style look of our front sun garden. (July 2026)

Penelope Lively English shrub rose from David Austin with deep pink blooms — Penelope Lively, an English shrub rose from David Austin. (June 2026)

Miniature rose Erin Alonso with soft yellow and cream petals — The miniature rose Erin Alonso. (June 2026)

French Lace floribunda rose with ivory-white blossoms and subtle apricot undertones covered in raindrops — French Lace, a floribunda rose that features ivory-white blossoms with subtle apricot undertones. (June 2026)

Edgeworthia chrysantha Chinese paperbush with clusters of golden yellow tubular flowers — Edgeworthia chrysantha, known as the Chinese paperbush because it has been traditionally used to make paper. It blooms around Valentine's Day and is highly fragrant. (February 2026)

Saffron crocus Crocus sativus in bloom with vivid purple petals and bright red stigmas — The fall blooming saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) easily grows in a sunny spot. The bright orange-red stigma, or female portion, of the flower is what is used for the saffron spice. Harvest the entire flower. That will not kill the plant. (Photo: Tom Oder)

Lemon Zest landscape shrub rose with a bright yellow bloom and orange center — Lemon Zest blooming on a young and still small landscape/shrub rose. (June 2026)

Hydrangea Limelight with large chartreuse panicles blooming against a brick wall — This is, I believe, Hydrangea Limelight. It's the first time since I planted it five years ago I have seen it flower — the deer have always eaten the buds before the panicles could bloom. (June 2026)

Bumblebee foraging on orange milkweed Asclepias tuberosa with pollen grains visible on its leg — A bumblebee forages for nectar on orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Note the grains of pollen on its leg. (June 2026)

Garden Videos

A bumblebee forages on a native clematis. (June 2026)