Saturday, September 24, 2011

Fabulous fall- Florida’s second planting season

Fall is a wonderful time to plant.  The key is to plant “cool” tolerant plants.  Although the colors of crotons, Hawaiian Ti, and copper leaf plants may seduce you with their beautiful autumn foliage, they are considered tropical and should be used in containers so they can be protected in a frost.  However, when it comes to “cold- hardy, Florida Friendly” landscaping plants, such as ligustrum, pineapple guava, and juniper- now is a great time to plant them.  Try to get them in by end of October- to get them “hardened off” for the winter.

What is “hardening off” and why is it important to prepare my yard for winter cold?  Hardening off is the process of a cell that changes permeability to seep into its intracellular voids.  The cells store large amounts of food which also decreases the freezing point.  Sign up for our pruning class demonstration for proper pruning methods in your North Florida garden.


·      Dianthus, perennial, in the carnation family, therefore loves cooler temperatures.  Zone 3-9, comes in a variety of colors- red, pink, purple, and white, single or double blooms and are fragrant.  Stays clumping and compact 6”-36” tall and wide.  Great for containers, planting beds, cut flowers and butterfly gardens.  Likes sandy or clay well-drained soil.  Full sun to partial.  Be careful not to cover the plant with mulch- it can be susceptible to stem rot.  Deer resistant!

·      Dusty Miller, Jacobaea maritime, perennial with silver, felt-like leaves.  Heat, drought and salt-tolerant.  Zone 8-10, full sun to shade, 18”-24” tall and wide.  Pinch yellow stem to prevent leggyness.  Deer do not usually eat!

·      Onamental Cabbage & Kale, Brassica oleracea, perennial and annual that is extremely cold-tolerant (as low as 5 degrees).  It has showy ornamental ruffled rosette leaves, available in white, red, pink and purple.   Full sun to partial, best time to plant is in early fall in moist rich soil.  Will “bolt” when warm weather arrives.  Salt tolerant. 

·      Snapdragon, Antirrhium majus, a hardy perennial, comes in pink, crimson, yellow and white colors.  The dwarf variety (Tom Thumb) is more compact and 12” in height, compared to the tall-growing variety which can reach 3 feet tall.  Full sun to partial, more blooms in sun.

·      Pansy and viola, Viola x wittrockiana, most popular cool weather annual with heart-shaped bright colored flowers that are edible (if free of pesticides).  Zone 7- 11, full sun to partial shade.   Compact growing; 6”-12” height and width, great for edging borders or in containers. Not very heat tolerant but may re-seed themselves.

Fall is a great time to plant annuals and perennials such as:  begonias, shasta daisy, marigolds, pansy, petunia, snap dragon, verbena, dianthus, flowering kale & cabbage and violas.  There is no better time to plant your gardenias, azaleas, camellias and all deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs.  Sub Tropical and Tropical plants should not be planted now, unless in a container that can be moved to a sheltered spot.  
September:  Fertilize azaleas, bougainvilleas, and poinsettias with a slow release fertilizer.  Fertilize fruits such as pears, grapes, and figs with a slow release fertilizer.  
September– Mid-October:   Fertilize Lawns, Citrus, and Palms no later than the second week in October. 
Fall is a great time to freshen up your mulch.  Apply up to 2 inches of mulch, but remember not to get too close to the trunk of your plants and trees with the mulch– leave 2”-4” around the trunk free of mulch. 

To make your fall garden look spectacular now:
Mums the word…
To welcome the arrival of autumn we have garden mums. Don’t forget to check out our wide assortment of colors at a beautiful price!

I know you are all anxious and ready for some fall color.  Once we start to cool a bit (temp. below 90’s) get the “right” flowers planted and established before the winter and you can have color from fall, winter, and through the spring!  Notice what held up last winter- Dianthus, dusty miller, ornamental cabbage and kale, snapdragon, pansies and violas.  Check out my favorite picks for more information and how to save money.

·       Fall Container Garden Workshop,with Janine, Sat., Oct. 1st 10-11:30, Cost $15
  • Hands-on workshop.  Create your own fall container garden to take home.  Cost includes all materials & handouts.
·       Design Your Own Planting Bed, with Rudy, Sat., Oct. 1st 12:30-2:00, Cost $10
  • Hands-on workshop with guidance from Rudy, you will design your own planting bed.  A well landscaped home adds tangible real estate value.  Come & learn how to add value through enhancing your planting beds. Cost includes handouts and drafting tools needed.
·       “Earth Box” Demo. & Fall Veggie Gardens, Sat., Oct. 8th 10-11:00, Free
  • If you haven’t tried the “Earth Box,” it is definitely worth the investment.  The Earth Box is a complete garden kit which comes with fertilizer and casters.  Its water reserve makes it almost ‘fool proof’ when it comes to watering your vegetables or herbs- letting you know when you have enough water.  Plants grow faster and you will get 6-8 times the amount of vegetables compared to planting directly in the ground.  The Earth Box is a heavy durable plastic available in hunter green or terracotta that will last over 15 years.  We carry them in stock.  Sign up early for this workshop and receive a coupon toward your Earth Box, vegetable, and soil purchase.
·       Shade Garden Workshop, with Rudy,  Sat., Oct. 8th 12:30-2:00, Cost $5
  • Ever look at that shady spot in your yard where the grass simply won’t grow and wonder what to do with that spot?  Shade gardening can be one of the most rewarding areas of your garden using splashes of color and lots of different textures.  Come join our shade gardening class and get excited about that forgotten spot in your yard!
·       Plant, Prune, & Fertilize 101, Sat., Oct. 15th 10-11:30, Free
  • Every time we prune we stimulate new tender growth in our plants.  Strategic and proper timing is critical to make sure your plants are hardened off or tough enough to survive winter cold damage.  Join us for our pruning demonstration and discover how to root prune when planting, prevent girdling and how to keep those trees and shrubs full and lush.
·      Create Your Own Hypertufa Pot, Sat., Oct.15th 12:30-2:00, Cost $25 (plus $2-$6 accent tiles

  • Create your own hypertufa pot (a light weight– concrete mixture with vermiculite & peat moss).  Dress for a mess and prepare to have fun!  Cost includes all materials, hypertufa receipe, and a mold to keep.
 If you enjoyed the last Hypertufa workshop, you will love this one, as well.  We will be featuring a different pot design and size just for you.


Design Your Own Planting Bed, Sat., Oct. 22nd 10-11:30, Cost $10
  • Hands-on workshop with guidance from Rudy, you will design your own planting bed.  A well landscaped home adds tangible real estate value.  Come & learn how to add value through enhancing your planting beds. Cost includes handouts and drafting tools needed.
Take a look at these Florida friendly plants!  Print and use during your planning sessions.


Columbus 2 Day Sale, Sat., Oct. 8th & Mon., Oct. 10th
All Plants 20%-50% off, Pottery 20%-30% off, Gift Shop Items 10% off

·       Annual Holiday & Anniversary Sale and Art Show, Sat., Dec. 3rd  & Sun.,  Dec. 4th
Entire stock 10%-25% off, Take a photo with Santa Claus 1:00-3:00, refreshments and homemade cookies, local Arts & Crafts Show, with holiday gifts in mind, kids activities & workshops

Reminder: VIP punch cards are not valid for redemption on sale items
Friday, September 23, 2011
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
A special thank you goes out to all of our patrons who helped make our "Artists at the Gardens" event on February 26 & 27 so successful. As a result of your support, donations were made to Stuart F. Meyer Hospice House, here in Palm Coast, of over $3,800.00.


Thank you so much to all who donated, volunteered and participated.


Community contributions came from:
Dunkin' Donuts, Flagler Fish Company, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Publix Super Markets, The Golden Lion Cafe, Java Joint, Quizno's Subs, Starbuck's Coffee, Bubba & Gianni's, Woody's Barbecue, Martin's Restaurant, Rental Land and JT's Seafood Shack.

About Me

Come and visit us soon!

5208 N. Oceanshore Blvd.
(A1A - Just North of Palm Coast Parkway)
Palm Coast, Florida 32127

Phone 386-446-9154
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