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