tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31607173113760744002013-05-25T08:08:08.983-04:00A Central Florida Gardening BlogMeemshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16341998120938921741noreply@blogger.comBlogger610125Lpyrhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3160717311376074400.post-48796013550439296652013-05-25T04:30:00.000-04:002013-05-25T04:30:02.318-04:00

Flax lily variegata (Dianella Tasmanica) is a tough perennial that provides contrasting foliage to evergreen plants. It's a low-growing, grass-like Florida- Friendly plant that will enhance any sunny or partially sunny Florida garden. Not only is Flax lily attractive to combine with other favorite perennials, but it can be utilized to border a planting bed, mass on its own and it even works great

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Begonias are one of those exotic plants that grow easily in West Central Florida. I've been gifted with a few varieties over the years that I plant as filler among layers of Florida-Friendly foliage throughout my garden. My attention has been on the conditions they needed to thrive without giving much thought to each varieties specific identification.  Begonias bloom luscious, long

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Take a seat on the edge of my Circle Garden and sip a slow cup of coffee or your drink of preference. It's the perfect spot to pause and take in a peaceful cool morning or find shade-relief from a sunny afternoon or rest in the evening from the toils of the day. This time of year Gardenias are blooming on the 'Miami Supreme' standard shrub nearby. A few more feet away Confederate jasmine (

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Layers of Florida-Friendly plants keep my front garden lush throughout the year. Variegated Shell Ginger plants are the middle layer in a sweeping, meandering bed in the front garden situated among clumps of happy neighbors like Giant Liriope,  Philodendron (Xanadu), Azaleas, Variegated flax lily, Cordyline, Begonia and Caladiums (in summer). Brightly colored, striped foliage of Variegated

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Every garden is as unique as the gardener who creates it. Mine has been lovingly planted with my own two hands and gradually designed with a few significant goals in mind. It is a peaceful place where I  toil and pause to center my soul. Most importantly, my family and friends gather here for events and holidays. Last, but not at all least, my garden provides an environmentally friendly habitat

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A new hyrid at Classic Caladiums (not available yet for purchase) Isn't it beautiful!!! The springtime alarm clock is on the verge of awakening sleepy-headed Caladium bulbs lying under the surface of dirt and mulch. When the soil warms from Florida's abundant sunshine and lengthier daylight hours, Caladiums will begin to push out new sprouts for another season of delightful textural foliage.  

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Thank you to each person who took the time to stop by and to comment for a chance to win this giveaway. It is a giveaway in conjunction with celebrating Pam Penick's newly released book Lawn Gone. To read my review on this excellent resource for low-maintenance, sustainable, attractive alternatives for your yard, see my previous post here.   From the first I saw moss rocks I thought they were

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Don't you love a fun garden party? If you've ever wondered where/how/when to start eliminating parts (or all) of your lawn to replace it with smart, time-saving alternatives, this party is for you.We're celebrating the release of Pam Penick's new book today. Six other garden blogging friends are joining the fun and hosting the chance to win some super-duper party giveaways. Lawn Gone! Low

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Powder Puff Calliandra haematocephala One of the beautiful wonders of living in a warm climate like Central Florida is that we get to see (and hear) pollinator activity from spring through winter. Powder puff is a 10-12' shrub that explodes with fiery red 'puffs' right in the heart of winter. It is clear the bees are as much a fan as I am. American Goldfinch Among the critters that only

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For the second winter in a row the climate, in my Central Florida location, has acted more like spring than winter. Not one single threat of freeze or frost with temperatures only as low as 36F one night. This Florida girl can take the heat of summer better than most. Truly though, I revel in the change winter promises with brisk coolness and low humidity! This time of year has always been a

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Nothing signals winter in Florida like the buds and blooms on Christmas Cactus. These bright pinkish-red flowers are a cheery sight on any January day! Mine are in containers protected by the screened lanai all year long. Here are some more of the flowers bringing a winter smile to our faces... Powder puff shrub (Calliandra haematocephala) Crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia milii) False

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Cordyline terminalis or Ti plants, as they're commonly called, are winter bloomers ... mine are just starting to bloom. Ahhh... Florida winters. No need to wonder why so many folks flock to our lovely state in winter. If the calendar didn't tell me it was January, I'd think it was April! Unseasonably warm and mild weather has graced our spring-like winter so far. Winter/spring blooming (

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Rosa 'Louis Philippe' Old Garden Rose/Antique/China Garden Rose also known as 'Cracker Rose' Ever notice how some plants in your Florida garden perk up when the temperatures quiet down a bit from summer's intense heat? They are the plants that perform 'well enough' throughout the year to call them year-round bloomers. But when the night hours last longer coupled with slightly cooler

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Regular readers of this blog have likely presumed I have a fascination and slight obsession over caladiums. I plant several different varieties of caladium bulbs each spring and through out the summer. Red Postman Joyner Caladium in back garden This year I experimented with planting additional bulbs each month beginning in June and the last were planted the first week of November. They

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Every autumn I hear the soft tweeting of migrating American Goldfinches as they arrive and gather by the dozens in the branches of my mature live and scrub oak trees. Eventually they make their way down to eye level at the bird feeders. They are extremely people-shy, flitting away at the sight of me and my camera. Until recent years, I put out thistle feeders just for them. A strange turn of

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Oh the merriment wrapped up in the holidays. I'm short on time and long on sparkle, glam, greenery, yummy cooking, holiday smells filling the house, nature, family outings/crafting/gatherings/performances. The baubles are glistening and the pine cones are doubling as tiny trees. Spray paint, dirt, rocks, plants, evergreens, lights and pots are my friends for Christmas decorating. (Yes,

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Have you ever wondered how to keep your grass from spreading in to your planting beds?  It takes a bit of diligence along with the proper tool. I'm kind of a stickler for keeping a clear delineation between the grass edge and whatever plants frame my beds. Just like mowing the lawn regularly is required for healthy grass, edging the grass is a repetitive gardening task required for clean edges.

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My house is filled with yummy smells of pumpkin and sweet potatoes and cornbread this morning. Tomorrow we celebrate a day signified by giving thanks. Family will gather here and favorite foods will flank our table. We are counting our blessings, small and large, on this day and every day. I want to wish each and every reader a Happy Thanksgiving if it is a holiday you celebrate. I'm thankful

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A November view through the back circle garden from the patio  Delicious autumn!   My very soul is wedded to it,  and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.   ~George Eliot 'Postman Joyner' Caladium in foreground and 'White Queen' in background. Vibrant caladiums are not necessarily what we expect to see in November. With careful planning, the central

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An EarthBox creates a contained/isolated environment for growing herbs and edibles. I have only two of them in addition to my in-ground edible garden. Tomatoes growing in Earthbox One of my Earthboxes has tomatoes growing in it for fall. I planted seedlings 9.2.12 and tomatoes are forming on happy, healthy plants! I've attached the extension rods you can add to an Earthbox and also a mesh net

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In Central Florida butterflies can be seen year-round. The population of them decreases as winter arrives. If it gets very cold, as in freezing, they may disappear until it warms up, but they are hiding somewhere safe until the temperatures rise. Monarch on Agastache 'Black Adder' The autumn garden is filled with an abundance of pollinator activity, including many varieties of butterflies.

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With the holidays right around the corner I'm doing my best to whip things into shape for autumn. I have a mostly all-white pumpkin/natural theme going on in my dining room but in the family room/breakfast nook I've mixed it up a bit. I know this is a gardening blog, but I don't think ya'll mind when I share some of my crafting fun with you like I have for past holidays. This weekend our

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Clerodendrum wallichii or bridal veil is a pretty fall bloomer in my garden. Cascades of white pendulous flowers grace this simple shrub every autumn. My elderly neighbor gave me a cutting from hers a few years ago. They root easily. It grows in partial sun or bright, filtered light. Mine is nestled under the oak trees. I forget about it until it blooms each year because it is a

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Recently I visited Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum in Nashville, TN. It is actually the second time I've been there. Gardeners know how very different each garden presents with each visit. Don't you love the intense colors in the plants/flowers in this vignette! The ornamental pepper 'Black Pearl' is stunning. A closer snapshot of the pink flowers on canna and purple of mexican sage in

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It's always nice to discover one more easy-care plant with outstanding attributes to grace our Florida garden. Brilliant, fiery red blooms would be plenty to convince me I needed firespike (Odontonema strictum) in my naturalistic garden beds. Red is red. Who doesn't love red! It attracts me AND the hummingbirds and butterflies! What a treat is has been to watch the Ruby-throated hummingbirds 

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