Years ago, I rented a house in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and dabbled with a garden even though the sprinkler system was extremely unreliable and the yard was pure sand. I lived there for a few years and then one day I noticed a new plant coming up out of an abandoned planter box and the “weed” was interesting enough for me to decide to see what it would become. As the plant grew taller, I noticed that it was forming tendrils at the tips of the leaves and using them to grasp onto anything within reach in order to support itself. Eventually, I discovered flower buds and then spectacular red and yellow flowers began making appearances! I went through some plant books and identified the plant as Gloriosa superba ‘Rothschildiana.’ Apparently, their bulbs were dormant for several years but I was ecstatic that they came to life. The next few years, they went dormant from time to time but reliably came back after resting for six to eight weeks. The Gloriosas wrapped their tendrils around my heart as well so I found more varieties from Brent & Becky’s Bulbs and planted all of them. The yellow and orange varieties were interesting and amusing as a novelty but I found the most common “Rothschildiana’ to be my favorite. These lilies originate in Africa and Asia and are toxic as well as medicinal depending on how they are used. Unfortunately, in Australia, they are highly invasive because they move into coastal dunes and push out their native plants. Because they contain toxic compounds, they also cause deaths for their native birds and other animals when parts of the plants are ingested. I’ve never heard of this being a problem in the United States but it begs for further research. Most nurseries don’t grow them due to their occasional dormancy periods but I have also seen their bulbs at Home Depot every now and then.

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It seems that the flashiest and most luxurious landscapes in South Florida include at least one Date Palm. There are several varieties and hybrids such as the Roebelenii (Pigmy Date Palm), the clumping Senegal (Reclinata), and the most massive and stately Canary Island date Palm which is the one that looks like a pineapple and often has ferns growing in the “nut” just below the base of the fronds. However, the True Date Palm which produces the prized edible fruit is the Phoenix dactylifera and is also known by its most popular cultivar name, ‘Medjool.’ So with all of the gorgeous and expensive Date Palms planted all over the place, why don’t we have any dates around here? Dates are amazing; you can throw them in the blender with fruits and veggies to sweeten smoothies or just eat them plain or with peanut butter! They are rich in dietary fiber and also contain antioxidants such as tannins, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin which are thought to protect against various cancers, are anti-inflammatory and help prevent macular degeneration. If you could find a date around here, you would also find vitamin K, B-complex vitamins, potassium, iron, as well as minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium! These palms can be found at high-end resorts, in front of ocean-front condominiums, gracing expensive hotels, framing gated communities, inside malls, and in medians along the beach but no one will ever find a date there in South Florida. If you found these same dactylifera date palms in the Middle East or even in California or Arizona, you’d have yourself plenty of dates. Well, it turns out, these palms don’t produce dates here because they aren’t happy in our climate. They aren’t even grown here; most are shipped in from California and Arizona and are often older trees which have declined in production so they are dug, sold and shipped by a date producing operation to Florida to make room for younger more productive palms. The main reasons that these palms don’t like our Florida climate and growing conditions relate to rainfall and soil. South Florida receives approximately 65″ of rain each year, mainly in the hot summer months as opposed to their preference of 20-40″ of rain when it is hot with low humidity. The water table in South Florida is at 2-6′ so their roots will easily be in water much of the time which is very stressful for desert loving palm trees. There are things we can do to help them stay alive such as planting in sand, in elevated beds and away from water-loving plants but they sometimes remain in a state of slow decline often battling stress induced problems such as Ganoderma butt-rot, Phytopthora bud-rot, Fusarium Wilt, Lethal Yellowing, False Smut, Palm Weevils and nutritional deficiencies. So if you’re looking for dates in South Florida, and there are plenty of reasons to be looking, then you’re going to have to go to find them in a grocery store, which I’ve heard is a pretty popular pick-up location anyway!

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There are treasures all around us but most of us never even notice them. I struck gold a few weeks ago when I stumbled upon a Monarch Chrysalis in my Rangoon Creeper vine. The pale jade green color of the chrysalis blended in with the leaves of the vine but the shiny gold band and spots immediately caught my eye and left me breathless for a moment. I always wondered how they made this metallic-looking band around the top and formed the gold spots near the base so I decided to do a little research and this is what I found out. Apparently, no one knows how they do this as it is one of life’s many mysteries. In the 1970′s, a scientist decided to destroy the gold spots to see how it affected the formation of the butterflies. I can’t fathom causing harm to any of these beautiful creatures to satisfy my own curiosity but alas, this guy cauterized the gold spots and when the poor butterflies emerged, they had fewer scales on their heads and abdomens or their wing scales were faded (depending on which spots he cauterized) so he concluded that the gold spots are associated with scale formation and pigmentation. However, some scientists believe that the cauterization of the gold spots may have damaged the tissue of the pupa which was the cause of the faded pigments and scale deformities. You don’t need to visit a jewelry store to bring gold to your garden but it does help if you have some Milkweed plants which are the food source for the caterpillars. Loss of habitat is causing a decline in the world Monarch population. A major cause of their habitat loss and subsequent decline has been from genetically modified crops which are herbicide resistant. Saving Butterflies is one of the many reasons to say “yes” to organic and “no” to genetically modified foods. Monarch Watch is a great resource for learning more and getting involved in helping these beautiful creatures!

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Every Saturday, from around early October through early May, a parking lot in Boca Raton is transformed into a bustling farmers market filled with produce and so much more! The Boca Raton Green Market has been open since 1996 (15 years!) and has become a local gathering place for people to bring their dogs, soak up some sunshine, relax with a cup of coffee, wander around listening to live music and purchase fresh produce and other items. It’s the perfect place to find out about upcoming community events on the information table near the entrance or directly from the organizations who are sometimes present to share information or promote an upcoming project. Several vendors offer interesting and rare edible and ornamental plants which make great additions to home landscapes. A primary goal of this market is to support the Florida Agricultural Industry and the South Florida Economy. The market is open from 8:00am to 1:00pm and is located in the parking lot of Royal Palm Place at the corner of South Federal Highway and South Mizner Boulevard. One of the market sponsors, Aurora Nurses, provides free shopping bags so you can arrive empty handed and leave with plenty of seasonal, fresh locally-grown fruits, herbs and vegetables along with juices, soaps & lotions, potted orchids, ocean shells, fresh cut flowers, fresh baked goods, prepared foods, oils & vinegars, gourmet foods, hydroponic and organic foods, fresh pasta, jewelry and doggie treats!  This is the perfect place to relax, pick up something for the garden and purchase healthy food for the home!

The Boca Raton Green Market is sponsored by The Boca Raton Tribune, MetLife, Florida Health & Chiropractic Medicine, Aurora Nurses Home Health Care, Inc., Investments Limited, Inc., Costco, Palm Beach County, Farm Credit of South Florida, and “FRESH from FLORIDA,” a promotional campaign of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs.

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On a recent episode of HGTV’s ‘Weekends with Luis’, Luis Bosch, the star of the show and general contractor, helped a young couple turn an unused carport into an extra room of living space in Ft. Lauderdale. Luis specializes in helping homeowners get high-end designs without high-end budgets.  HGTV asked us to provide the landscaping to accessorize and complete the project. Due to filming restrictions and television deadlines, we had to move fast, asking one of our favorite nurseries to open outside of their normal business hours so we could pick up the specimen plants which we wanted to use to showcase the home. We arrived at the destination on a Sunday morning and it was mobbed with other contractors feverishly working inside the house.  Their vehicles and the trucks from the production crew were scattered along the street and the police came by a few times to ask people to move their cars.  Curious neighbors inquired about the cause of this mysterious commotion in their normally quiet neighborhood. We were; however, sworn to secrecy until this episode aired so we couldn’t tell them much. Luckily, the morning drizzle cleared so we could get to work setting up the plantings. The homeowners were sent away for the day so they would be surprised by the final result. When they returned, they were ecstatic about the new look of their home and they fell in love with the tropical landscaping. We utilized colorful, tropical plants in the design including Ground Orchids, Crotons, Bromeliads, Crown of Thorns, Firespike, Ti Plants and Bird of Paradise. A short clip of the episode can be found on the HGTV website featuring our landscape work at the end!  We were thrilled to help Luis and the homeowners create a luxury look with a manageable budget and would love to do the same for you!

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Addison Mizner (1872-1933) had a dream for Boca Raton, Florida:  “It is my plan to create a city that is direct and simple… To leave out all that is ugly, to eliminate the unnecessary, and to give Florida and the nation a resort city as perfect as study and ideals can make it.” As a son of a Diplomat, Mizner spent a portion of his youth in Guatemala where he was first exposed to South American art and architecture.  After his family discovered his desire to pursue these endeavors, they sent him to China in hopes that he would change his mind.  To their dismay, this only solidified his goals and ultimately led to the incorporation of Asian art and architecture into his own Spanish Revival style architecture.  Mizner grew up to be a 6’2″ man of 250 pounds with a joking sense of humor and a large social network of wealthy friends and clients including the social elite of Palm Beach such as the Vanderbilts, Stotesburys, Biddies, Dukes, and Wanamakers.  Most of his clients were part of the aristocracy or nouveau riche and they commissioned him to build mansions and resorts and many still exist today.  He felt that the commonly used Northern Architecture didn’t work with the subtropical environment and hurricanes and he shared his clients’ desires for the nostalgic and romantic images of Europe.  He not only designed the buildings, but he supplied many furnishings as well.  He even set up Mizner Industries to manufacturer and import the Spanish tiles, columns, wrought iron, carved wood, stained glass, and pottery that he wanted to feature in his work.  Sadly, during the 1960′s and 1970′s, many Mizner works were demolished to make way for the new look consisting of exclusive and sophisticated condominiums and subdivisions.  His first Florida work, the Everglades Club, remains a private retreat club off Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.  He also designed the well-known Boca Raton Resort & Club.

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There’s a party with a purpose coming up on April 21, 2012 at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Ft. Lauderdale!  Taking care of our homes involves more than our personal dwellings; we all need to care for our planet.  This is the perfect place to learn how to do it and get inspired!  This all day event is packed full of activities involving community, sustainability and fun!  Some of the planned activities include dune restoration and Sea Oat planting, native tree giveaways for your home landscape and garden, plus live entertainment featuring Teri Catlin, the Didgeridoo Band, and a sunset Drum Circle.  There will also be organic and vegan food available as well as local vendors with displays and information.   Our South Florida environment is unique and the ways we can care for it are unique and varied as well.  The Sea Turtle Oversight Protection Organization will be at the event to enlist volunteers to help with this summer’s Sea Turtle Rescue Program.  If you live in South Florida and are interested in helping endangered turtles and witnessing the miracle of a baby sea turtle hatchout, then this organization is for you!  There will be workshops throughout the day for kids and adults.  The kid’s workshops are directed by Camp Live Oak, Kid’s Ecology Corps, Lori’s Beakers and Bugs Company, The Girl Scouts of America, and Trash to Treasure.  Samantha Whitcraft, a marine conservation biologist with Sharksavers.org will be speaking and be sure to catch Ann Wiley’s talk titled “Making Your Backyard Your Bird Feeder.” Take a moment to get to know Trash to Treasure while you are there. They are known as the “Greenest and cheapest art store in South Florida” and they have a demonstration Community Garden in Ft. Lauderdale which contains vegetables, native plants and butterfly plants. They regularly teach rain barrel workshops so you can learn how to collect and use rain water for your garden.  Come by this event and let these experts motivate you to explore and enjoy the environment and find additional ways to Go Green!

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Gopher Tortoises are considered “Threatened” or a “Species of Special Concern” because their numbers are decreasing, mainly from habitat destruction but also in part by people eating them and their eggs, by raccoons or other predators taking their eggs, and even by fire ants who can kill the hatchlings. The tortoises dig tunnels, which are also protected, that can reach forty feet long and are usually 7-15 feet deep which provide shelter and homes for over 350 other species including Scrub Jays, Burrowing Owls, Snakes, Lizards, Frogs, Mice, Insects, and others. At maturity, Gopher Tortoises are about a foot long and may live to about 100 years.  Gopher Tortoises live in sandy, dry areas and feed on Gopher Apples (Licania michauxii), Saw Palmetto Berries, grasses and other herbaceous plants.  It is important to leave natural areas in our landscapes and to incorporate native plants to support the local wildlife.  Botanical Visions has been a member of the Association of Florida Native Nurseries for many years and we will be assisting with this volunteer opportunity on Saturday.

On Saturday, February 25, we need volunteers to help remove invasive plants which are threatening the Gopher Tortoises by causing habitat loss. In early March, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be visiting the park and may de-list this critical area as a protected habitat for these tortoises. Deerfield Island Park is a Broward County Park which is only accessible by boat and due to park budget cuts, the staff has not been able to control the intrusion of invasive plants. We have only one day to get as many volunteers as possible to clean up the park. Dragonfly Expeditions is coordinating the three minute boat transport to allow volunteers onto the island to work. Tools will be provided and the island has restrooms, soda machines and water fountains. Volunteers are requested to be at the dock at 10:00am but can leave anytime on boats which will be going back and forth regularly throughout the day.  Wear clothes that can get dirty, appropriate shoes and bring gloves if you have them. The park is located off of Hillsboro Blvd. on Riverview Road (on the North side of Hillsboro) which is across from the Cove Shopping Center, just west of the Intracoastal. The address is 1720 Deerfield Island Park, Deerfield Beach, Florida. If you are able to help, please RSVP to ckropke@dragonflyexpeditions.com.

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The sky is its own ever changing landscape. If you’re lucky, you just might catch the red light at Sample Road and Federal Highway in Pompano Beach around 6:00pm to witness the murmuration consisting of possibly thousands of Starlings who gather there each night. Technically, the word “murmuration” simply refers to any flock of Starlings just as the word “murder” refers to a flock of Crows. However, most people associate the word with what the birds are doing rather than what the birds are being. And what they are doing is creating an amazing sight which has baffled scientists, inspired poets, and entertained anyone and everyone who has cared to witness them for as long as they have shared the planet with us. The “living cloud” commences as a small flock swoops and swirls from side to side of the intersection in an ever-changing waving motion. As the sun continues to set as a backdrop, more smaller flocks join them after foraging and the formation becomes more complex and mesmerizing. Recently, a murmuration video on YouTube went viral after two women tourists were canoeing and happened upon the birds and recorded them performing their dance over the River Shannon in Ireland.

Starlings in formation can reach speeds of forty miles per hour and flocks range in size from hundreds to thousands of birds. Scientists have determined that this phenomenon is similar to an avalanche, a system on the brink, capable of near instantaneous transformation. It is one of nature’s many reminders of the Power of One; if one bird in the group decides to change speed or direction, all of the other birds would rapidly do the same because each bird is copying their six closest neighbors. Similar to a school of fish or swarming insects, scientists suggest that this is a “safety in numbers” type of dance but they haven’t fully convinced themselves of this theory. As the poet Richard Wilbur states, these birds are “Refusing to be caught in the nets and cages of my thought.”

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January 22 is Florida Arbor Day at Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach from noon to 4:00pm. I prefer to think of this day as Tree Appreciation Day; a time to ponder the gifts trees give us and to learn more ways to give back to them and to our planet. Trees are the thankless providers of the Earth giving us and other creatures beauty, food, habitat, and oxygen. They control erosion, provide building materials and energy, cool our cities and save energy. Trees also provide healing therapy as evidenced by patients who have views of trees outside their windows healing faster and with fewer complications. Studies have also shown that trees aid concentration and reduce mental fatigue and that children show fewer symptoms of ADHD when they are exposed to trees and nature. What better reasons to attend this event and bring kids too?

The celebrity appearance will be Smokey the Bear from the Florida Forest Service with a message of fire prevention. Woodsy Owl from the United States Forest Service has not confirmed yet but still sends his messages “Give a hoot- don’t pollute! and “Lend a hand- care for the land!” The Palm Beach County Library will also provide Storytime in the Garden. There will be other activities and exhibits throughout the garden from various environmental organizations as well as guided garden tours of the impressive tree collection at Mounts.

If you are inspired by the ceremonial tree planting at the event to add a new tree to your own landscape, you can claim your free seedling or purchase larger trees or plants from the nursery. The event is free to members or $5 for non-members.

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