J B Art and Plants

06/18/2026

I grew up a PK and even as a young child I loved to go with my dad on his church trips or visits with the sick. He had a few friends that he visited with ever so often and they would get into heated arguments over certain Bible verses and what they meant. I’d take a few toys and just play on the floor listening to them which I loved and yet could not comprehend how they would get so loud with each other and then laugh like they were telling jokes and always end with coffee and finally verbal praying.
I remember so many of those visits and even the floors I played on.
However, the trips I enjoyed the most were………remember I was a little boy…….to funerals because of all the flowers. I didn’t understand all the business of the wake and crying and hugging but I absolutely would count the flower stands and just get lost in all the amazing colors, shapes, textures of those flowers. My very favorite was always the hydrangeas, the giant blue mop head ones and ever great once in a while a big pink one.
Now years later I still love hydrangeas. I know a little bit about a few of them and have several in my yard.
I had a total of 50 beauties when Rita the hurricane hit and when she moved away from us I had 3 left. I told myself I’d never mess with hydrangeas again but never say never and now I’m back into the hydrangeas cause of a friend giving me one 6 years ago and I’ve gone nuts over them again.
My white ones are all Paniculata and I do 3 things to them.
I cut them back to 18” and remove all stems smaller than a pencil at Valentines, I fertilize heavy (whatever kind I have on hand), and I keep them moist.
They reward me by blooming like most of my other plants.
I wish you could see them in person as some are 17” in length.
Remember to enjoy this day cause it will never happen again in our lifetime.
James

06/10/2026

I searched for years to get a Pagoda flower (Clerodendrum) for my yard.
It’s one of those flowers I’d see as a boy around old home places and I just loved the big green heart shaped leaves and giant red blooms.
I always heard they were aggressive and now I can vouch for that bit of information but to me their beauty far outweighs their aggressiveness. Now if all of a sudden my yard turns up red, I will definitely alter my opinion of them.
I found mine several years ago at a stop in Opelousas. I went with a flower friend to Sunset to trade a plant but I really caught up on my prayer life. On the way she informed me her childhood dream was to be a race car driver. I kid you not! When I finally got home, her car had two feet impressions on the passenger side floorboard. My heart was throbbing in my head at every moment of that trip.
So when I see a giant red bloom in my yard now, guess what I instantly remember? It reminds me of how blessed I am to be alive!
Oh, and I had to give that old man $30 for what looked like a very sick plant but now it’s all ok. Good memories.
I planted my pot of Pagoda in the sun and now they are pretty much in the shade and thriving. Perhaps it’s so hot here now they have acclimated from sun to shade.
The blooms are loved by hummingbirds and butterflies. Speaking of butterflies, I’m not seeing as many as I used to. That really bothers me cause I love butterflies.
From what I’ve read, these beauties spread by roots. One thing for sure, if this is so there are some mega long Pagoda roots in my yard!
There is an old house in Lake Charles near St Louis that has a gorgeous bed of Pagodas in front of the porch on the north side. Every year they are in the same place, unlike my unruly bunch here. Then there is a house on HWY 190 going towards Opelousas that has a fabulous bed of Pagodas on the north side and they are back every year in the same spot. I always enjoy slowing down and admiring them when I’m near either.
I may need to give mine a good set of instructions to stop their moving around!
Anyway, enjoy the pictures and please enjoy this day cause it’ll never happen again in our lifetime.
James

06/07/2026

If you want to hear me share some of my gardening tidbits about color in my garden and also gardening tips from three horticultural experts, get your ticket for Friday at Lafayette
Remember to enjoy this day too
James

06/05/2026

Thought I’d share another flower love of mine that’s blooming right now. I love the unusual.
I ordered several out of a catalog several years ago and planted them around the yard. Most I planted in shade or part shade and they’d come up, no good blooms, and puny looking at best.
I went back looking for directions and naturally discovered they require a different zone, full sun, and can’t over winter.
I moved 3 of them to the cottage a couple of years ago and they are now getting larger each year and are they beautiful. I do not take them out of the soil but I do use a lot of Longleaf Pine Straw mulch.
I wish I had more colors and intend to get some.
They seem to enjoy half day of morning sun and return each year larger than before.
If you haven’t noticed by now I love trying different flowers. Ever once in a while I get blessed.
Oh, I forgot to tell you they are called Pineapple Lilies. They are supposed to give off a slight odor but I haven’t noticed any.
Remember to enjoy this day cause it will never happen again in our lifetime.
James

06/03/2026

And so the phoenix at the “Folly” rises again.
The tours are over, the summer heat has begun, and I have returned to my latest spot of playing.
It’s taken a while to get all the parts together and finally getting Patty and my youngest daughter’s approval on my layout has allowed me freedom to work.
I must admit yesterday’s labor was half wasted due to today’s revision but hopefully after lunch and a nap I can hit it running. Still a lot to decide but at least I can play with rocks for a while.
Stay tuned and remember to enjoy this day cause it will never happen again in our lifetime.
James

05/27/2026

Gloriosa/Flame Lily
I’ll never forget the first time I ever saw a Flame Lily. That flower started a flame of desire burning in me so furiously I had to try and put it out by locating a Gloriosa for my garden.
I eventually got a single tuber in a paper bag with the message that one was all I could have.
I planted that one and it multiplied like rats in a barn. I had such a giant bed of them before I realized it.
Then one day I was cleaning around that bed and decided to burn the debris and the fire got away from me and headed directly to the Flame Lilies. Boy did they flame up!
However, they came back the next year.
Now years later I have bunches of them in many different varieties and even some that have crossed and look just like peppermint which Google says doesn’t exist. Perhaps Google should see James Burnett Jr’s bed of Gloriosas.
The Gloriosas have an interesting history and come in many different colors of red, orange, yellow, green, mixed, and mixtures of all the above. For the purest at heart, there are 12 main varieties. I think I have about 8 of the 12 plus some mixtures that have evolved over the years.
I had planned on moving mine this year but didn’t get to it and now they are smothering everything in their path. I must move them this year for sure. They’ve even smothered roses.
Some will always yell about their toxicity but then many plants are toxic. I personally have never experienced any problems with them. I don’t plan on eating any.
Do enjoy the photos and remember to enjoy this day cause it will never happen again in our lifetime.
James

05/21/2026

Daylily….just that! One lily only for a day and that is a shame cause many are so beautiful they need to last for days.
I remember years ago ordering from a catalog I had received and the pictures were beautiful showing these big blooms. I was so excited I ordered a bundle to plant in a row across our front yard. When the bundle arrived the lilies were so small they looked like sprigs of grass.
Since that wonderful experience I’ve tried to buy daylilies that I can physically look at in the ground or in a pot with real blooms. That way I can tell what I’m buying!
I’ve also learned to buy in the cheap no name fields. Some of my prettiest have no names and that’s fine with me. I get so sick of “what’s its name?” I buy for looks and how it makes me feel. If I get excited when I see it, that’s good enough for me.
I thought I’d sale some of mine but then I will divide them and replant around the yard so they can make me happy for another day in a different spot.
They are a lot of trouble for such a short blooming time but in quantity they are truly difficult to outdo for a beautiful spot.
Today many were blooming so this is truly an overload of photos but in this crazy world of ours why not enjoy an overload of beauty?
They don’t talk ugly, hate, envy, get jealous, curse, kill, or provoke evil racism because each one is different to the one next to them. They just hold their heads high, and send waves of beauty toward each other and to anyone willing to pause and take notice.
Day Lily……. I really think they are telling us to enjoy our day cause it will never happen again in our lifetime.
James

05/14/2026

Time
I remember as a little boy thinking summer would never arrive. Christmas? Years away! Daylight,…..oh the nights were so long and even my legs didn’t feel like they would ever grow so my feet could touch the floor when I was in a chair.
The dream of getting to high school to be one of those giant boys. Wow, time moved so slowly! Then boom, I’m a senior citizen. How did that happen? Come on, my feet wouldn’t touch the floor at the table yesterday and today they barely do cause of my figure that arrived overnight by express sugar delivery.
Time. How do I get more or slow the ticking down?
It’s already May and my youngest grand graduates tomorrow. OMG, great grands are next? Heavens help me!!!
I noticed yesterday chamber bitters popping up after all the rain. I told Patty this afternoon I was tired and just couldn’t get things done. Should have kept my thoughts to myself. I got my cart loaded by how many projects I have going, how many times I say I didn’t get to do this or that, or how much I’m here and there. I finally asked, got any sugar for me? Should’ve kept my mouth shut again!
I guess I’m so busy I’m like a dog chasing my tail and spinning around in circles rather than moving forward.
My boss reminded me of a few projects she’s been hearing about and I should’ve kept that secret. I could’ve used that sermon time on a project. 😊
I left the kitchen and went outside to spray paint one of my many projects. Wait till you see it. Oh, oh, it’s gonna be good!
Anyway, I walked around and took a few pictures to use my time wisely and I’m sharing the pictures with you.
Remember to enjoy this day cause it will never happen again in our lifetime
James

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

Talk about sweet smelling
Don’t forget to enjoy this day cause it will never happen again in our lifetime
James