We ordered 300 poinsettia liners from Knox Nursery in Clermont, Florida; Bill Moore is our rep for Knox. We picked them up on August 25th, picked up the poinsettia potting mix from BWI in Apopka. We spent Sunday putting them into gallon pots with Osmocote fertilizer tabs. We didn’t pinch the growing tips at that time since they were just rooted cuttings. We only had a spot that had high partial shade to put them with one group of 100 getting a bit more sun than the other 200. Scott said they would do better without full sun. I was skeptical since poinsettias are natives of Mexico, but they have come a long way through hybridization since they were first brought to the U.S.
Anyway, the poinsettias that were in more sun are more compact and not as leggy as the other 200 that had more shade. We never did pinch them back, and I think it’s too late to pinch now. I don’t think we have enough growing time between now and when I want to plant them in the yard for the holidays. I am thinking of pinching maybe 10-15 of each of the 3 varieties to see how they react… so more on that to come from My Central Florida Garden. I will get some pictures and the variety names in an upcoming post.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Autumn in My Central Florida Garden
September 20th
Funny how the incoming Fall season’s arrival is heralded by subtle changes in the smell of the air and the change in not just the shade patterns cast by the sun, but even in the colors of the sunlight. Fall officially begins this Friday, but we are still reaching consistently into the 90’s each day with the frequent rainstorms. Our rainy season ends in about three weeks signaling our real end of summer. The humidity will drop as cool weather fronts (we don’t often get Cold Fronts) slide down past the middle of the Florida peninsula and we begin the months that make enduring the hot Florida summers all worthwhile. We will again remember why we live here in October, November, and on through next April, when summer will again begin for us in May.
Our trees, shrubs, and lawns, although a blowsy, frowsy green, are looking tired, as though they also are waiting for the respite of cooler weather. They have lost the exuberant light green of billowing new growth which is subsiding with the shorter days’ light. I love my Central Florida Garden and all the frantic planting, seeding, and weeding that the summer brings. But I must admit, the Autumnal twinge in the air sets my sights toward Halloween, Harvest, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and our Anniversary, Scott’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, St. Pat’s, right through Easter, before the onslaught of the heat of next summer in my Central Florida Garden. Happy Fall!
Funny how the incoming Fall season’s arrival is heralded by subtle changes in the smell of the air and the change in not just the shade patterns cast by the sun, but even in the colors of the sunlight. Fall officially begins this Friday, but we are still reaching consistently into the 90’s each day with the frequent rainstorms. Our rainy season ends in about three weeks signaling our real end of summer. The humidity will drop as cool weather fronts (we don’t often get Cold Fronts) slide down past the middle of the Florida peninsula and we begin the months that make enduring the hot Florida summers all worthwhile. We will again remember why we live here in October, November, and on through next April, when summer will again begin for us in May.
Our trees, shrubs, and lawns, although a blowsy, frowsy green, are looking tired, as though they also are waiting for the respite of cooler weather. They have lost the exuberant light green of billowing new growth which is subsiding with the shorter days’ light. I love my Central Florida Garden and all the frantic planting, seeding, and weeding that the summer brings. But I must admit, the Autumnal twinge in the air sets my sights toward Halloween, Harvest, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and our Anniversary, Scott’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, St. Pat’s, right through Easter, before the onslaught of the heat of next summer in my Central Florida Garden. Happy Fall!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Carnations and Rudbeckias in My Central Florida Garden
Surprising and Spicy Carnations and Rudbeckias in My Central Florida Garden
I had quite a surprise last week…. After looking as though they were done for the season, the carnations I started from seed last year that bloomed so profusely this spring sent up two light pink blossoms that held that lovely spicy scent right here in my Central Florida Garden. The carnations purchased in the stores just don’t have that incredible perfume that the old-fashioned carnations have. I remember my grandmother’s flower garden up in northern Illinois always had at least two long rows of carnations. She would cut some to bring in the house to fill her little front room with their sweetly spicy smell. Thinking back, she did the same with lilacs, sweet peas, and lily of the valley, each in their own seasons. It was my grandma who lit the flower gardening fire in me, while it was my dad who did the same for my love of vegetable gardening. Unfortunately, neither Dad nor Gram are with us, but their gardening legacies live on even as I pass them on to Tyler.
A year ago we ordered several hundred plant liners that included rudbeckias, buddleias, and sages. I potted them up into 4” containers in flats of 18. I have a dirty little secret to share… I’m embarrassed to admit that we just finished planting them in the garden beds and berms JUST THIS WEEK! Yes, they have been languishing in those tiny pots for over a year! I had been on a planting binge back in June and planted about 6 flats of the rudbeckias – the Prairie Sun and Cherokees. And THOSE are already blooming in the gardens! One of the unplanted Prairie Suns was so determined to get going that it sent up a flower and bloomed in the 4” pot! The flower was only about an inch across and only about 4 inches high. Contrast that to those in the gardens which are over a foot high and 5 inches across! That little plant was certainly persistently working toward getting its bloom cycle in this year! I’ll post if any of the newly planted old-baby plants bloom still this season.
I had quite a surprise last week…. After looking as though they were done for the season, the carnations I started from seed last year that bloomed so profusely this spring sent up two light pink blossoms that held that lovely spicy scent right here in my Central Florida Garden. The carnations purchased in the stores just don’t have that incredible perfume that the old-fashioned carnations have. I remember my grandmother’s flower garden up in northern Illinois always had at least two long rows of carnations. She would cut some to bring in the house to fill her little front room with their sweetly spicy smell. Thinking back, she did the same with lilacs, sweet peas, and lily of the valley, each in their own seasons. It was my grandma who lit the flower gardening fire in me, while it was my dad who did the same for my love of vegetable gardening. Unfortunately, neither Dad nor Gram are with us, but their gardening legacies live on even as I pass them on to Tyler.
A year ago we ordered several hundred plant liners that included rudbeckias, buddleias, and sages. I potted them up into 4” containers in flats of 18. I have a dirty little secret to share… I’m embarrassed to admit that we just finished planting them in the garden beds and berms JUST THIS WEEK! Yes, they have been languishing in those tiny pots for over a year! I had been on a planting binge back in June and planted about 6 flats of the rudbeckias – the Prairie Sun and Cherokees. And THOSE are already blooming in the gardens! One of the unplanted Prairie Suns was so determined to get going that it sent up a flower and bloomed in the 4” pot! The flower was only about an inch across and only about 4 inches high. Contrast that to those in the gardens which are over a foot high and 5 inches across! That little plant was certainly persistently working toward getting its bloom cycle in this year! I’ll post if any of the newly planted old-baby plants bloom still this season.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Central Florida Gardening in the SUMMER
Dang! It's HOT! Been in the mid and upper 90's and it's not even the middle of August yet. All the plants are looking tired, tired, tired. One bright note today: It's raining just now. We have not had the regular daily afternoon rain, but today it rained for about 30 minutes this morning, and we just had another rain storm. Thank you heavens! The eggplants will be ever so happy for the drink. I watered them yesterday, but I didn't even think of them this morning when I was out watering before starting the work day.
Surprisingly, the coreopsis (which I thought was all done for the season) pushed a few more bright yellow blossoms out over the weekend. The marigolds which are usually really starting their blooming about now look totally tuckered-out. Even the usually perky impatiens are leggy and just tired looking. The pentas that are out in one of the drier areas of the beds are not too robust looking.
On the bright side (pun intended) the rudbeckia Cherokee Summer (I think) and Prairie Sun are just spectacular. They don't appreciate lots of rain in the hot Central Florida summers, but since it has been a bit on the dry side in our area, they are putting on their late summer show.
Oh, and the potatoes I started earlier this season did well in the pots where I planted them. Tyler was so eager to eat them, I sent most of them home with him for his mom to cook up for dinner. Not bad for those "free" potatoes! They were fun.
Surprisingly, the coreopsis (which I thought was all done for the season) pushed a few more bright yellow blossoms out over the weekend. The marigolds which are usually really starting their blooming about now look totally tuckered-out. Even the usually perky impatiens are leggy and just tired looking. The pentas that are out in one of the drier areas of the beds are not too robust looking.
On the bright side (pun intended) the rudbeckia Cherokee Summer (I think) and Prairie Sun are just spectacular. They don't appreciate lots of rain in the hot Central Florida summers, but since it has been a bit on the dry side in our area, they are putting on their late summer show.
Oh, and the potatoes I started earlier this season did well in the pots where I planted them. Tyler was so eager to eat them, I sent most of them home with him for his mom to cook up for dinner. Not bad for those "free" potatoes! They were fun.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Central Florida Free Potatoes!
We had some sprouted potatoes in the pantry, so Tyler and I planted them in a few pots on the back flower terrace on March 27th. The spuds sprouted and are now every bit of a foot tall. Four year-old Tyler is now the "official" water boy, and he keeps them nicely moist without putting on too much water. He told me he is learning to be a gardener as we were out in the planting beds dead heading the carnations, coreopsis, foxgloves, and marigolds (don't you just LOVE what you can grow in a Central Florida Garden???)
This time last year, the little guy was in Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children fighting for his life due to a ruptured colon. The angels watched over him (and the angel-doctors and angel-nurses at Arnold Palmer Hospital). With the help of all those angels and the prayers for the little guy, he is now doing well and learning to enjoy the Good Earth and all that it can offer with some tender loving care - AND some water!
This time last year, the little guy was in Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children fighting for his life due to a ruptured colon. The angels watched over him (and the angel-doctors and angel-nurses at Arnold Palmer Hospital). With the help of all those angels and the prayers for the little guy, he is now doing well and learning to enjoy the Good Earth and all that it can offer with some tender loving care - AND some water!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Missing the flowers just about now.
Last year most of the time and energy put into the yard went toward planting perennials such as Rudbeckia, cuphea, coreopsis, and the self seeding hollyhocks.
This year I am determined to perfect my veggies. They just do not do very well in the Central Florida native sandy soil, and even though its had truckloads of mushroom compost and mulched tree trimmings, it still needs more amending. That is at the top of the list before a single seed is planted.
That said, I better get at it!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Veggie Tents and Going Mobile in My Central Florida Garden
I am in the process of setting up my phone to allow on-the-go blogging. This will allow me to share great ideas, pics, and tips as I go, and it seems anymore as though I'm always on the go as all of you are.
I constantly work to find the fastest and most economical ways to do my gardening, and this year will be no different. Being in sunny Central Florida, many of my veggie plants overdose on sunshine and tend to get sun scald which ruins the skins on tomatoes, peppers, and melons. I've even had green beans and cabbages wilt under the strong rays and heat.
So this year, I think I'm going to give my veggies little tents to help them through the heat of the sun. I'll try it and see how it works. If anyone has an idea about this, I'd love to hear about it. My initial plan is to use a layer or two of cheesecloth. We'll see!
I constantly work to find the fastest and most economical ways to do my gardening, and this year will be no different. Being in sunny Central Florida, many of my veggie plants overdose on sunshine and tend to get sun scald which ruins the skins on tomatoes, peppers, and melons. I've even had green beans and cabbages wilt under the strong rays and heat.
So this year, I think I'm going to give my veggies little tents to help them through the heat of the sun. I'll try it and see how it works. If anyone has an idea about this, I'd love to hear about it. My initial plan is to use a layer or two of cheesecloth. We'll see!
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