Dad Had a Green Thumb

My father was my buddy.  I looked up to him all of my life and I always knew when I had crossed the line.  All he had to do was clear his throat and I knew I was in trouble.  He never laid a hand on me and taught me that respect for my parents and others was of utmost importance.

Dad worked hard all of his life to provide for our family.  He was retired Air Force and went on to sell insurance while mom stayed home with my brother and I.  I know that selling insurance was not his dream career but he gave it his all to make sure we had everything we needed.

Working in the yard on the weekends and spending time with family seem to be what Dad enjoyed the most.  He didn't go out to bars or hang out with the guys from work.  After retiring from Prudential he began to dabble with gardening. Dad took the Master Gardener's course at the Pinellas County Extension and then began volunteering his time there. Sometimes on his volunteer days he would take my daughters along to help stuff envelopes or whatever needed to be done.

Dad delighted in helping others with plant problems and coming up with solutions.  Eventually, he became involved with the design and installation of a beautiful butterfly garden at the elementary school that two of my daughters attended. He spent hours there setting it up and maintaining the garden and loved the looks on the faces of the children as the garden came together.  The butterfly garden area became an outdoor classroom and a plaque was installed in Dad's honor.

I know that if my dad were alive today he would be fritzing and fratzing around our nursery doing anything he could to help out.  That was my dad.  I love him and miss him still and think of him every time I see butterflies hovering over the flowers in the nursery.  I know he is here with us in spirit and watching over us in the garden. Here's to you Sid Turner, for passing your love for nature onto others and reminding us of what is most important.

Do You Remember Your First?

Spring is that time of year for thousands of flowers everywhere to present us with their glorious annual display. As I sat here thinking about the beauty of Spring, I began to reminisce about the very first time I noticed certain flowers.   

I was just a small child visiting my Aunt Mary and Uncle Richard in Montgomery, Alabama.  They lived in a beautiful brick ranch-style home that sat back from the road quite a ways.  Leading from the street to the front door was a slightly winding walkway, lined on both sides with hundreds of colorful daylillies.  It was like something I had never seen before and to me seemed absolutely magical.  This was the first time I had ever seen daylillies and to this day when I see them I always think of my Aunt Mary.

Born an Air-Force brat meant moving a lot when I was very young.  I lived in several states before starting second grade in Florida.  Once we moved to Clearwater, we were able to visit family who vacationed in Zephyrhills every year as they escaped the winter weather in Maine.  Mom and Dad would sit around and visit with Wally and Lully in their apartment and I would go outside to skip up and down the sidewalk.  On the edge of that walk was the biggest tree I had ever seen.  I would stand underneath that tree and try to see the top but it was too massive.  That tree just happened to be a magnolia and not only did its size intrigue me but its plate-sized lemon scented flowers were intoxicating. Ever since then, magnolias have been my favorite tree and yes, I can still picture myself skipping along that sidewalk in Zephyrhills every time I see one.

Do you remember your first?

Baby It's Not Cold Outside

Between the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the warm temperatures we have been having, the last thing on anyone's mind is protecting plants from cold weather.  With temperatures in the high 70's and low 80's it may be easy to forget that the potential for a blast of cold weather is still possible.

Start looking around your yard and assess where your potential problems are.  Do you have plants in pots that will need to be moved indoors or into protected areas of the yard in the event of a freeze? Do you have an area set aside for that purpose?  If the area is indoors, is the space clear of clutter and ready to house your plant material?

Determine what plants if any will need to be covered in the event of a heavy frost or long duration of freezing temperatures.  Do you have enough material to adequately cover these plants?  Old bed sheets work great or you can buy frost cloth from some local garden centers.  Sometimes cheap bed sheets can be found at thrift shops or dollar stores. One thing you do not want to do is use plastic for covering your plants.  Plastic can do more harm than good.

Don't underestimate the value of Christmas lights for warmth.  In the past I have used Christmas lights to wrap around Staghorn ferns that were too large to bring inside during long lasting cold weather.

Keep in mind that when we have a combination of cold weather and wind, plants will dry out faster.  Make sure you keep your plants well irrigated during these times.

Don't get caught off guard.  Remember that the first day of winter hasn't even arrived yet. Prepare for the cold now so you aren't kicking yourself later.

Water Please

There is no denying that we are having a dry spell of weather right now. Because of this we cannot forget to water our potted plants. Keep in mind that your containerized plants are not able to take in moisture from the surrounding soil as the plants in the ground do. Containerized plants dry out much more quickly and if not kept hydrated can easily die. If you are going away for the weekend or taking a longer spring break trip, ask a friend or neighbor to water your potted plants.

Experimenting with Air Layering

Air layering is an old fashioned way of starting new plants that are typically difficult to root. Examples of these plants would be Crotons, Magnolias, Azaleas, and Lychee nut. Earlier this year I was able to watch as my husband demonstrated the process on a Michellia alba in our own yard.

First, Chuck measured down from the tip of selected branches approximately 12 inches. Using a sharp knife he then peeled away the outer bark leaving a “wound” of about ¾” to 1” long all around the branch. Next he applied a very light dusting of rooting hormone to the wound. Using moist but not sopping wet sphagnum moss, Chuck then wrapped the wound for complete coverage. After applying the moss he covered the entire area with aluminum foil which created a fully enclosed pouch. The foil will reflect the sun light away from the newly exposed area and keeps the sphagnum moss from getting too hot and drying out.

Weeks may pass before any rooting is obvious and patience is required for this technique. Check for roots by gently opening the foil pouch, being careful not to let the moss fall away. Once your plants have rooted, you can cut the new plant away from the mother plant and plant as you would newly rooted cuttings. The air layering process is best done in the spring but can also be done indoors with household plants throughout the year. Try this experiment at home but be prepared to wait awhile for results.

Fall Color

While vacationing in Maine last week, I couldn't help but notice the leaves were starting to turn brilliant colors of orange, red and gold. Bright yellow Goldenrod was everywhere, which according to my sister is a sign that Fall is in the air. So, why should northerners be the only ones to enjoy the show? There are many tropical plants available to those of us in Florida, that when combined together will give your home and landscape an Autumn look that would make any New Englander jealous!

Inside your home you can create a stunning table centerpiece just by placing Petra Croton foliage in a vase or using them as a base with mini-pumpkins and squash on top. The colors of the Petra Croton leaves are perfect for a Fall look.

Outdoors in the full sun, in addition to the vast array of Croton choices, you might consider using Bulbine, Red Fountain grass, Bromeliads or Firebush. Dallas Red or Gold Lantana will give you that bright red, yellow, and gold look.

In slightly shady areas of our nursery, we have planted the combination of bright green and black Sweet Potato Vine during the Fall months and it was a beautiful tribute to the season. Dragonwing Begonia and Coleus are also great choices for shade with new varieties coming out on the market all the time.

At your main entry or on your deck, throw in a couple of hay bales from your local feed store along with some Indian corn and potted flowers for a bit of Fall decor. Don't forget to pull up your Adirondack chair and sit down with a cup of hot apple cider to enjoy the full affect. Happy Fall!

Seasonal Container Gardens

Being right on top of the holiday season, container gardening is perfect for adding color and flare to entry ways, steps, decks, and patios.

If you are looking for a small ornamental tree but have limited patio space, consider planting a gardenia or citrus tree in a large pot. At this time of year, topiaries are quite attractive placed in pots and decorated with lights, at each side of a front or garage door.

Annuals make a great choice for containers and allow you to change things up based on the season. Combinations are endless and at this time of year may include the following: Sweet Alyssum, Impatiens, Petunia, Persian Shield, Snapdragon, Dusty Miller, Lantana and Pentas. Geraniums, Flowering Cabbage, and Calibrachoa are also several of the seasonal options for creating your color bowls.

Keep in mind that plants in containers tend to dry out faster than those in the ground so make sure to provide plenty of water. Go ahead and let the true artist in you emerge as you dazzle your clients with festive living art.

Happy Holidays!