Very, very busy summer. While it was hot, we did not get as much rain as in most summers, or so it seems. We didn't have as much trouble with mildew on the zinnias, and we had foxgloves blooming off and on through August. We have a batch of about 300 zinnias in 3 inch pots that are almost ready to go into the beds for fall blooms, and I started about 200 foxglove seeds for the spring garden. In addition, I seeded 200 marigolds, again for this fall, and I finally(!) have the kitchen courtyard garden I've always wanted that includes sweet peppers, green beans, beets, lettuces, various herbs, grape and patio tomatoes, baby watermelon and some squash. Fortunately all of these goodies are in an area that is contained, so to speak, and I can easily cover them all if frost should threaten. But then, of course, being the person I am, I consulted the Old Farmers Almanac, and it says we should have a mild winter with just a few chances of frost that if they happen will be on the light side. Here's Hoping!

Central Florida Gardening at Home

I've been very, very bad. Haven't posted in MONTHS!. Been taking college classes and teaching college classes in addition to the day job. But I'm ba-a-a-a-ck!

Since August, much has grown (and died!) in my Central Florida garden. We've also had something digging in the yard in addition to the deer munching on the Knock Out and Home Run roses, an also the daylilies and rudbeckia. The deer have also been tasting the new baby Red Ruffle azaleas we put in, but it seems the deer don't like them and have a habit of tasting them by pulling them out of the soil and then when they realize they don't like them, they just throw them aside. We think that our digging critters are either armadillos or the turtles. Can't be moles because they have their own way of marking their territory that is extremely apparent! If anyone has any other ideas what may be making 4 to 6 inch holes about 3 to 4 inches deep, PLEASE let me know. I haven't been able to catch any likely culprits in the act.