Grow_Dammit, I love that name, however, you are not going to need it anymore...Heck, I moved only 2.5 zones south and it's a whole new world for me. You are going to have a BLAST. The dogs however will probably want to be in more in July and August than they were in Alaska!!
Here are some links on garden column articles from MSU http://msucares.com/news/print/sgnews/index.html

And here's a page of great links!
http://www.gardensites.info/states/ms.htm

I'm sorry, I don't know much about gardening in your climate, but I hope these things will help.

GGG

Thanks for the links, that will be a big help! We had to shave one of our dogs, poor Jake, I told the groomer to leave him some dignity, but they shaved him bald.. turns out he didn't have any dignity to start with!

~Alison

Hi and welcome to the Cottage! I'm zone 4 so I won't have good info for you either but wanted to suggest that you go to some of your local nurseries and talk to the plant people there. I'm sure they would be able to help you select plants that would be suitable to your area. As for potted plants (and window boxes) it does help to cut down on watering if you place a disposable diaper in the bottom of the pot as it will hold a lot of water that your plant roots can then soak up as needed. That certainly won't get you through 6 weeks of heat but may cut the watering chores back to a manageable task for your DH while you're away.

MeMo

Hi Allison, can't help you with the plant choices but we stopped our German Shepard from digging by putting her poop and covering it, in each hole she dug, kind of icky but it worked, she'd go back to dig some more and found the holes not very appealing. Finally she gave up digging altogether.

A......

Welcome. My sister lived in Eagle River, AK for 20+ years.
Keep an eye on the dogs. They can easily get sunburned until their fur grows out a bit.

Memo, you have been holding out on us. How come you never mentioned the diaper in a pot thing before. LOL

Alison, what a great idea.

Welcome, Allison. My dogs have no dignity, they love to be shaved naked *lol*.

I've struggled with window box plants. They dry out so fast. Thank you Memo for the diper tip.

Edna

Alison,
Boy, that's quite a climatic change for you guys & the pups-the bugs & humidity are really going to shock you, make sure you drink plenty of water any time you're working outside, you'll sweat it all out, trust me!

Anything in containers, you'll have to water frequently; self-watering containers with a reservoir will help a bit, but you'll still need to keep an eye on them.

I second the advice to check out your local nursery & see what they advise-begonias, impatiens, ferns, torenia, coleus, caladiums are all annuals that will do ok in shade up here in zone 7, but I bet you have lots of stuff that would do well in your zone that I haven't even considered...

grow_dammit, Welcome! You found the right place to get all kinds of help and info. I've learned so much here, it's an invaluable resource.

I moved from Northern California to Altanta 6 years ago. It's been quite an adjustment but nothing like the change you're going through. Holy humidity, batman! Wait until July and August :-)

I have a window box on the front of my house that faces north and is shaded by a dogwood. I have planted red impatients and varigated ivy in it. The impatients grow up and the ivy trails. The colors brighten up the shade pretty well. I have these planted in pots, not directly in the window box.

I have to travel for business from time to time and when I leave my DH in charge, I group all the potted plants together in the shade right by the water hose and then call him and remind him to water. So far he hasn't killed anything but then I have never been gone for more than 2 weeks.

I have 4 dogs (45 lbs. and smaller) and there has been some digging issues. My 45 pounder is the worst about it and I've caught him in the act and talked to him ... I'm lucky because a guilt trip works wonders with him (my mother taught me well!) Mine, when they dig, are trying to catch voles which I inherited with my property. There are tunnels everywhere and one of my mini Schnauzers successfully catches them on a regular basis. He got a mouse and a vole over this past weekend. So you might want to check and make sure your dogs are not going after something.

Lots of bugs and varmits in the South. You'll have fun gardening though because the season is long and as you've already discovered, everything grows like wildfire.

Have fun and post often. Just join in, like I have, and you'll be a regular in no time.

bloominganne

I am picturing a bunch of old ladies (cause you know I will do this when I am old) wearing gardening gloves and big hats, filthy with dirt, running into the grocery store to frantically buy boxes of Pampers!!

GGG

If you're near Natchez, you're as far south as me, latitude-wise. I'm in south Georgia.

The link to MSU Cares is great advice.

We grow gingers instead of hostas; crape myrtles instead of lilacs; amaryllis instead of tulips. Crinums, cannas, colocasias and caladiums are good choices. Daturas, porterweed and pentas have a good chance of surviving winter if your drainage is good. We never worry about whether our hydrangeas will lose their buds to a late frost. Stokesia and Shasta Daisies are green year-round. Azalea bushes grow as big as a minivan and old Camellias are often the size of a gazebo.

Apart from the obvious impatiens for your planters in shade, there's begonias -- angel wing or fibrous rooted, not tuberous begonias. They look good with airplane plant. Begonias need less frequent watering than impatiens.

When you leave for six weeks, leave simple instructions for watering, but be prepared for disaster when you return. It does happen. It's okay. It'll be time to be thinking about winter annuals: violas, snapdragons, dianthus, flowering kale and other goodies.

Oh, and the dogs: they dig because the ground is cool and they're making a place to lie to chill a bit. Devote an area in a shady corner somewhere to them, preferably behind a large shrub or two. They might enjoy a rigid kiddie pool, too. If you leave a path between the fence and any flower beds, they can chase passersby without running through your plants. Fence in the flowers instead of fencing in the dogs (inside your property fence) so the dogs have more room.

Welcome south, have fun.

Nell

Welcome to the south, Alison. I've lived here all my life. Not because I don't know any better but because I love everything about it - okay, I don't love the heat but I do everything else...oh, wait! I don't love the humidity either. :-/ Other than that, the south is a great place! We have great seasons; summer (when it's hot and humid), fall (starts in Oct and ends in Dec), winter (last about 2 month in Jan and peaks back in for a couple more in Feb) and spring (March thru May).

Do drink lots of water. Haircuts, shade and a baby pool for the dogs. Ice in their bowls sometimes or frozen treats. Learn about poison oak, poison ivy and poison snakes.

Allison

P.S. I once lived/worked with a gal named Alison. They called us Single L and Double L.

Alison, don't you just love this forum? Everyone is so eager to help and if they can't provide advice they brighten your day with a bit of humor. Welcome to the surprising south. I'm in southern Virginia where (like you) we can grow almost everything. I've grown the sweet potato vine you mentioned. I quit growing the bright green vine as it gets eaten by some bug we have around here and looks like heck in no time. The dark vine "Blackie" works best for me and does great in containers but will require daily watering. The MSU Cares site that GGG posted will be your best bet for what does well in your area. Vikki

(My post is suppose to read "last 2 weeks in Jan" not 2 months. Oops!)

I love to garden also and only started posting about it a few weeks ago. After shade gardening for 20 years, I've got full sun flower beds now. It's like a whole new world of gardening has opened up.

If you're really worried about your plants, and you have a knack for setting up gizmos, you could put together a drip system with a battery-operated timer. The timer scrws directly onto a hose faucet and is easy to use. I think Raindrip makes one especially for their system. The drip part of it just requires some 1/4" tubing, platic connectors and the drippers. You can even buy a kit. Everything just plugs into everything else. It's pretty easy, but takes a little fiddling to get everything arranged right.

Welcome to the Cottage GD!
I can tell you're gonna fit right in here. Impossible for me to type much this AM, Dickens the cat keeps trying to lie on the keyboard. I'm thinking of trading him in for a sled dog.
PattiOh

Wow, what fantastic advice! Thank you so, so much! I wanted to post a picture of myself under the the forum where everyone is doing pictures, but as of yet, my tiny brain has not figured out how to post pictures... I'm thinking if I stare at my laptop long enough, it will just do it on its' own.... Great advice on plants and dogs, now if I could find a container large enough, I would simply plant the dogs. I figured out why Jake (AKA The Log) has been staring at the fence... he's looking for lizards. He nearly bowled me over this morning chasing one. I assume from his belching and hiccups, he caught it... gross. I am going to head to the nursery this morning and chat them up, hopefully they won't do what the people at Lowes did, stare at me hard and finally say "you ain't from 'round here, are ya?"... whoops! Was my Boston showing? Did I drop a "wicked" into the conversation?? Yikes!! Everyone have a great green day!
~Alison

LOL at the people from Lowe's - that is a standard conversational rejoiner in these parts!! The south is the center of the universe, par none - that is why so many Yankees keep moving here!! (Actually, I am in Charleston, which as we all know is the REAL center of the universe, but I didn't want to make the rest of ya'll feel bad...bless your hearts!)

Try those little water crytsal deals when you plant - I swear by them. The only time I water my garden is when the plants are babies and struggling to get established - after that they are on their own and they are fine.

I had asked my vet about shaving the royal puppy ( a pommie) to cool him off in the summer. The vet said the fur acts to trap air and keep him cool in the summer, the same way it keeps him warm in the winter. Sounds like the same reasoning that says HATS keep a person warm in winter and cooler in summer...

Hey pagan we live next to each other! Where in Charleston?

Yes, Alison, gardening in the south is great! We have such a long growing season and we can grow just about anything here. I think it will definetly be a climate shocker on you all so yes drink plenty of water when outside in the summer heat!! Welcome to the cottage garden!
Meghan

OK, I got Coleus, sweet potato vine, impatiens, and begonias... they look great!

~Alison

Oh, what fun you're going to have. I'm zone 5 but I do lots of window boxes. I hooked mine up to a low pressure watering system on a timer (run the tubing under the siding laps...you will barely be able to see it). Works like a champ and if you did this your husband would just have to make sure it is working. I can leave mine for 2 weeks while I go on vacation.

I do use the diaper trick as well.

Great, Alison! Now once you get them all planted up we will certainly expect a picture. Go to Search...choose entire site...type in posting photos or posting pictures...you'll get more responses than you care to read. Photo Bucket is the easiest photo posting site to use IMHO. But you'll find out how to do it, and we'll be waiting ;)

MeMo

I do love your 'handle' for the forum! You'll have lots of success growing plants.

When you are away on vacation, you can sit all of your potted plants in a kiddie pool so that they take up water from the bottom. I don't know if it will last six weeks, but it does well for weeklong vacations when you don't trust someone to water the potted plants. You can get a bio-friendly mosquito dunk to put in there to help with that problem.

It will be too hot for your dogs to dig in the summer. They'll dig out a cool place to hang out and stay there!

Welcome and have fun!
Cameron

Alison - welcome to the forum. I can tell you're going to be loads of fun. Anyone who moves from Alaska to Mississippi and maintains a great attitude and a sense of humor has my thumbs up! What a change for all of you. Especially for those dogs. Mine get bent out of shape if their dinner time goes past 6:00. I won't be able to offer much in the way of plant advice for the Southern gardener (Bay Area here), but I'll look forward to reading about your adventures. You found a great bunch of folks here at the ol' CG, many of whom are from the South. You're in good hands. Come back often and with detailed updates.

Steven

Alison, I don't post here much but I just had to jump in and say WELCOME TO MISSISSIPPI!!!
You don't say exactly where you are...I live in south central Miss(zone 8a)...the only plants I can add is lantana, pentas, vinca, and zinnia for the sunny areas.And
get ready to water,water,water!
I'm not by any means an expert but if I can help in any way
feel free to e-mail me. I know several local nurseries if you're interested. Miss. is a wonderful place to live and I hope you enjoy it.

Happy Gardening,
Debbie

thank you thank you thank you everyone for all your kind words and great tidbits of advice!!! I have been having a hoot and a half planting, cursing, planting, watering, and cursing some more... I am going to head out and take some pictures, I will post them soon!! Steven, I know what you mean about feeding dogs, we call that "food o'clock" in our house- Jake plants himself by the food dish and won't budge until you feed him. Very determined gourmet, he is. Hope everyone's weekend is going growingly!!

Debbie-- we are on the Gulf Coast, in Biloxi!

~Alison

Alison,
Oooh, I'm jealous! From what I know, you'll just about have
a year round growing season and you can grow all sorts of
tropical stuff that wouldn't overwinter here! What fun!!
Happy Gardening!
Debbie

Welcome to CG!

Please check out the gallery and off-topic area too!

I spent a summer in Bristol Bay--what fun!

Leasa
Eastport, Maine

Welcome Alison! Wow, Alaska to MS - what a change! Don't worry about the cursing. It's just part of gardening, or at least that's my excuse. ; )

Diana in sunny So.Cal

Patti, my cat Lewis is behind the monitor as I type, swiping his claws at my every move. He's gonna be a more than neutered if he doesn't find a new toy quick!