Incredible Fall

Our weather has turned for good to the perfect fall weather we love here in Florida.   Morning temperatures have finally fallen to the 60s, and lower in some places; daytime highs range from 75-85 degrees.  And the humidity has finally dropped. 

Thus, I have been able to put more time into the gardens and have nearly finished the weeding, even tackling the vegetable garden.  Did I mention that the weeds and grass there are at least 3 feet high?  But I actually look forward now to getting out into the cool/warm air and enjoy what Mother Nature has provided.  So this blog is mostly photos of some of my plants that are again thriving.

The ti plant in bloom:

The dwarf powder puff exploding with their puffs:

 

The snow bush that has recovered so beautifully after its decimation:

A newly flowering bleeding heart plant that a friend gave me as a 4-inch seedling:

The other result of the change in weather has been my restoration of the nightly walks around the neighborhood.  I couldn't resist taking this photo of the golden rain tree in bloom.  There are many of the trees growing as singles in our community but this photo shows several that have blended their branches for a spectacular show:

Our area won't have leaves turning to their fall colors until probably December, and then it is a brief show because trees will shed their leaves by January to begin the new growth.  

I don't know if I will be adding or changing anything in my gardens yet.  I have several ideas but I need to think about them more.  Planting time will be February-March.  Look for another post about that time.

In the meantime, wishing you a Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Anita

Fall renews the gardens

The past three months were among the worst we have encountered in our 30+ years here.  Ninety degree temperatures dominated week after week, then in September we had daily rain storms rivaling many tropical storms or even hurricanes.  Some daily totals were 5-7 inches.  The only plants thriving in this chaos were the weeds! 

This year I encountered the snowbush caterpillar.  My beautiful pink- and red-leaved bushes suddenly were reduced to naked stalks and stems.  First I found the caterpillars and then noticed the black-nosed moths (they looked more like moths than butterflies) here and there.  I sprayed the bushes with insecticide and then started searching the internet for a clue to what they are.  Finally I found a you-tube video by a horticultural professor that explained.  He himself had encountered them in his own gardens.  The strange thing is, according to the professor, they were never a problem until about 5 years ago!   Who knows what brought them to our Florida doorstep.  His recommended treatment for serious infestation was using Sevin, in several treatments. I thought I might have a chance to save the bushes because there were new buds showing on the branches.  I soaked the bushes including the ground underneath.  Within a week, new leaves were appearing.  I treated them a week later.  Now several weeks later, the bushes are full again!

Another successful venture has been the phenomenal growth of the sky vine I planted in the Spring next to the trellis.  This is the first vine I have planted that not only has thrived but is blooming beyond belief.  The vines have densely covered the side and most of the top of the trellis, putting out flowers along the way.  The most amazing blooming is the long stems growing down from the top with blossoms cascading like purple chandeliers.  Below are two examples.

If I have any disappointment, it is that the trellis is out of sight from the house except for the bedroom window behind it.  I am thinking of planting another one on the fence behind the house so I can see the blooms from the breakfast table.  Next year, maybe.

Much of the rest of the gardens have been nearly dormant all summer because of the heat.  But now with cooler temperatures beginning to show, I am hopeful other plants will be renewed, especially the roses.  They have usually produced their best blooms in the fall and winter.

Meanwhile, I am locked into weeding every week while the weeds keep spreading. 

Enjoy your Fall!

Ciao,
Anita

Time flies when gardens grow

Our Spring weather in May quickly transitioned to summer as daytime temperatures neared and jumped to 90 degrees.  Happily the humidity has not yet risen to summer heights so our plants are doing well.

The tomato plants have grown fence high and are producing very well.  We have harvested as many as 8 tomatoes at a time, but at least one or two per day.  I love having fresh tomatoes for sandwiches and salads!
Below is one day's harvest. Note the cayenne peppers at left.   The two plants have been prolific so far. 

I am very happy this year with the sky vine I planted on the trellis.  The honeysuckle and clematis vines finally gave up so I thought I would try this vine.  It is growing fast, moving up the posts.  The flowers are a pretty lavender.  The plant is considered an annual in most states but here in our zone (10), it may be survive as a perennial.  Time will tell.

All my new roses are thriving although I don't have any new photos.  And I have been surprised and pleased with the magnolia that has already had four blooms with a few more budding.  I am hoping for more leaf and stem growth this summer.

For the next several months (through August at least), gardening will comprise weeding and watering.  If there are any changes to existing plants, I will try to update this blog.  Meanwhile, happy gardening.

Ciao,
Anita

April springs in like a lamb

The forecasters say we have seen the last of cold weather here in Central Florida.  This week's highs of 80s would seem to reflect that.  And my gardens reflect the warmer temps as well.

The tomatoes have doubled in height and width and show flowers.  The Rutgers plant (far left) even has small green tomatoes already!  Disappointing is the Better Boy (far right) whose leaves are filled with holes.  I cannot see what is eating on it but I have used a general spray.  I hope it controls the infestation because the other plants are okay so far.

The two pepper plants are equally doing well (one is at right), with plenty of flowers on them.  We are hoping for a bumper crop this year.  Jim likes to make his own hot sauce.

 



And, finally, the zucchini leaves are large so I hope the flowers are not far behind.








In the last update I mentioned the Heritage roses.  They did start blooming last week but I discovered they do not hold the blooms for long.  In the photos, they are already fading.  Fortunately, the scent lingers so I don't cut the faded blossoms until they fall from the hip.

 

 

Finally, the last photo is from the neighborhood.  The giant palm I wrote about a year or so ago has been showing up in other landscapes.  The one in this photo I have been noticing for several years but it takes that long to achieve the prominence that draws the eye.

 Hoping your Spring is on its way.

Ciao,

Anita



Spring Has Sprung

Pardon the cliché, but that is what the weather has been doing here for the past 2 months--springing back and forth from cold to warmth and back to cold every few days.  Finally, we seem to be stable in spring.  Luckily, this past winter we did not have any hard freezes, so I didn't lose any plants, but the swinging temperatures left a lot of confusion.  Blooms have been sporadic.

I did lose 3 rose bushes in my island in the front yard but not to the weather.  One was expected, but 2 were broken by careless roof workers when we had the roof replaced.  To replace them,  I was lucky to find my favorite Mr. Lincoln rose bushes at a local garden event: the Botanical Fest at Florida Institute of Technology.  This is held every year on the FIT campus, featuring dozens of vendors of orchids, citrus, tropical plants and roses.  I bought three Mr. Lincoln.   I also found Heritage roses at our local Lowe's!  I bought a rose-colored bush and a lavender.  They haven't bloomed yet but there are quite a few buds.  Maybe this week.  This is what the rose island looks like now.

My vegetable garden is planted .On the left side are 3 tomato plants  (1 Better Boy, 1 Early Girl and 1 Rutgers).  I'm trying new varieties this year.  Accompanying them are 2 cayenne pepper plants, 2 parsley and 2 zucchini. The zucchini are on the right side, close to the fence.  As usual, I added yellow marigolds in the garden to help with the nematode problems we have.

 

       

I am always on the lookout for different plants that will bring color to my gardens.  Recently I found a tri-color ginger.  The leaves are red on the back, cream and green on the top, for a grand array of color.  I planted 2.  The larger one is in the southeast corner of the yard, between the snow bushes and in front of the garden statuary.   I am excited about the results when it grows to full size (about 2 ft.).  This is what it looks like now (in the front).

Right now my front yard is blooming well, especially the azaleas.  They are in different stages though.  The bush next to the screen started blooming in December (one or two) and gradually worked up to the full bush.  Others just burst in bloom in a matter of days.  Same with the back yard (bottom). 

 

   

 

 That's all for this month.  When my Heritage roses bloom I will post some photos.

Ciao,
Anita

 

 

 

 



New blooms in fall

Finally there is a change in the weather patterns and somewhat cooler temperatures are prevailing.  I spent 2 hours working in the gardens this morning and the air was actually comfortable.  First on the to-do list was pruning the roses.  That accomplished, I moved on to pruning a small topiary by the front door.  This is a plant that I had had potted on the screened porch of the front door and didn't do well: one side died.  I moved it to the garden that runs in front of the house.  After a year or more, it is finally filling out and requires trimming.

Weeding was an afterthought as I moved through the gardens.  Funny how only certain areas had weeds while the rest was weed-free. 

Next on the garden chore list is fertilizing and mulching.

Besides the weather change, Fall brings flowers on some species.  Several trees in the neighborhood are blooming now.

               

 

The ixoras in the front yard have been blooming all summer and are still full.  Although not blooming, the magnolia has been growing well so I have high hopes for a better Spring than last.  I had a surprise while weeding.  In one garden where I had had hanging baskets of flowers, the baskets are long-gone but they left seeds behind that are now growing and flowering on the ground.  I'm letting them stay to spread as ground cover.

 

In a month, the roses should be blooming again.  There have been sporadic blossoms over the hot, hot summer, but they jump to life again with the cooler temperatures.  They won't get much rain, but the sprinklers take care of the water needs. I hope to have good photos of their blooming.

 

That's all for now.  Happy gardening.

 

Anita

What price summer?

In more than 30 years in Florida, I don't remember a summer, especially August, so continuously hot.  My garden upkeep has been sporadic at best, starting about 7 or 7:30 a.m. when I feel up to it.  I try to stay in the shade and if the sun makes its searing heat felt, I quit. 

That's what happened this morning as I made my way to the vegetable garden that sits in the NE corner of the back yard.  I laughingly call it a garden because the truth is it is a jungle right now.... or was until I tamed it.  There was no sign of the pepper plants that were the last to bear.  I had pulled the dead tomato and parsley plants at least a month ago, as they had faded and collapsed in the unbearable heat.  But I'll tell you what didn't collapse:  weeds!  crabgrass!  Johnson grass!  and more!  I was certain frogs and snakes had moved in but happily saw no sign of them.

It took a shovel to begin loosening the root systems before pulling anything.  That's why my hands gave out after two hours.  Some of the roots were 8 inches or more deep. 

I'm sorry to admit the garden is only 90% weeded because I couldn't bend or pull another stalk.  Plus, the last section was squarely in the sun.  Yes, I know, that was a poorly planned attack on the weeding.  I should have started on that end. 

Once finished, I have a quandary about how to keep it weed-free over the winter.  Does anyone have any ideas?  The last time I tried a black cloth weighted by mulch there were still some weeds growing through it by the spring. 

The summer has not been all bad, however.  Some of my flowering plants have done well, blooming frequently:  the dwarf powder puff and the ixora are very colorful now.  The roses bloom sporadically.  The most prolific and unusual have been the snow-on-the-mountain bushes.  As if their new leaves aren't colorful enough, the bushes have sprouted their flower stalks, putting a halo of pink across the top.   Below are the newly planted bush and the mature plants, both in bloom.

             

 





When you live up north, gardeners typically spend their winters dreaming and planning their gardens for the spring.  Just the opposite is true here in Florida; at least for me.  I already have ordered some beautiful red star lilies I want to plant near the front door.  And since my honeysuckle is nearing its demise, I'm considering what other vining plant(s) I could replace it with. 

That is all I have to add today.  I hope your gardens grow well.

Anita

Is Summer Over?

I can't say we really had Spring this year.  My last post talked about the new growth of so many of my plants; within 2 months the plants are showing summer stress, especially the roses and tomatoes.

Tomatoes ready to pick--early June

First harvest -- June

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We had a fairly steady harvest every few days for a month, but only two green ones are left and no further flowers showing.  Normally this stage doesn't happen until mid-July, but unusual high temperatures early in the season have shortened our growing season.

One plant has enjoyed the high heat, though, and that's the Queen of the Nile lily.  One of four plants I have is a good producer and put up two stalks this year.  It's in the pool garden.

Queen of the Nile

I have younger plants outside the pool area which have doubled in size but no sign of flower stalks yet.  Hope springs eternal in the garden.

I did some pruning of bushes and trees early this month, but Mother Nature apparently decided I needed more.  My husband and I came home from a weekend in Jacksonville (celebrating our grandsons' birthdays) to find a large branch of the ash tree lying on the ground in the backyard.  There had been strong, gusty winds the night before and the branch just snapped.  A few weeks before, the oak tree in the front yard lost a few branches, too, but this was a first for the ash.  Unfortunately, the garden below has been left in a lot more sun, which doesn't bode well for the azaleas.  Only time will tell.

An update on the magnolia in the front yard. It has recovered from early insect damage and finally has grown new leaves.  Last night I noticed a flower bud, so there is hope again for more. I saw at a medical pavilion what my tree could/should look like and I keep trying to channel those images to the tree.  Don't know if that works, but I've tried everything else.

I'd love to see pictures of your gardens, especially the ones up north.  I miss so many of those flowers.

Have a great summer.

Ciao,
Anita

Spring has sprung!

After the coldest March, I believe, in Central Florida records, the plants around the Barrett house are celebrating the arrival of warm weather with wonderful growth.

First are the tomato plants which have doubled and tripled in size.  Flowers starting forming two to three  weeks ago and now we have tomatoes of various sizes.

One of the plants had holes in the leaves last week but a thorough spray for chewing insects seems to have curbed that.  The only other problem I'm having now are the weeds.  A new variety has joined the other typical weeds and they are much harder to dig up.  Mulch doesn't seem to prevent them and I suspect may be the origin of some, especially the new weed. I spent an hour this morning digging and pulling the weeds until the heat and sun chased me inside.  I may have to start doing my gardening before breakfast to avoid the problems I encounter with too much sun and heat.

Another successful plant in that garden is the Italian parsley I planted last summer.  It not only weathered the cold winter but has continued growing to an unbelievable size, about 2 feet high and 3 feet wide..

Beyond the vegetable garden, you may remember that I added new snow on the mountain plants last month.  They are doing well, but the previous plants are even better.  At left is an image of the plants I pruned last month -- they already have the beautiful new growth.

newly pruned snow bush

unpruned snow bushes

 Nearby (right) are the plants I haven't pruned.  I love the many shades of red, pink and white on the leaves. Even better, they can be seen from our breakfast room, which is delightful.

 Above, I couldn't resist snapping a shot of my second favorite rose, the Don Juan, that is on our trellis.

Finally, my husband, Jim, decided he wanted to try to grow some pepper plants from seed.  He harvested the peppers a few months ago and planted them in an egg carton.  So far there are 6 plants poking their first leaves above the dirt, as you can see in the photo.  The other photo is the originating rejuvenated pepper plant -- the original leaves and stems died back over the winter but new growth appeared and is doing well so far.

That's how my gardens are faring this spring.  How about yours?

Ciao,  Anita

It's Spring!

There have been just enough warm days in the past 2 weeks to get me in the gardening mood.  Witness to that is the shopping I did at Lowe's Garden Center and South Brevard Nursery a week ago.

Although I didn't do much in the gardens over the winter, I spent quite a bit of time just pondering the garden spaces -- what was missing, what could/should be removed, what I could plant.

First was what could be removed.  Weeds always.  Then the blue wonder I added to the gardens last spring performed beautifully into the fall but had so overgrown their spaces by then they were no longer attractive and nearly overpowering the bushes.  I imagined the roots of all the plants were fighting for water and fertilizer.   So the blue wonder was the first to go. And in at least one area, I saw that there now was room for a snow-on-the-mountain bush.  The others I have been growing have done so well, I have high hopes.

 Above left is the full snow bush I hope to duplicate on the south garden with the new plant at right.  And I've added another in the garden behind the pool.  The view from the patio should be lovely in a year or two when the new plants are the same height and color.

Moving to the front of the house, I added a new rose bush, Double Delight, (right) to the rose garden, filling a space left after pulling out more blue wonder.  The scent is strong, a welcome addition to the other heavilyscented bushes.

Wanting more color closer to the house, I made use of the space left by removal of the dying boxwoods and planted different-color moss rose (portulaca) along the walkway.  I also added a shepherd's hook (left) for a hanging basket of impatiens.
 

I also planted my vegetable garden last week, with tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, and marigolds.  I'll have photos next time.

Happy Spring, everyone.    May flowers always bloom in your garden of life.

Anita