Florida’s rainy season is just starting. That means being watchful of potential fungus and bacterial infections in the garden. Heavy rain amounts may cut down on your irrigation bill, but they also can cause a lot of issues, and wash away mulch and soil. A few rainy days in a row may combine with our humidity and high temperatures to create the ideal environment for fungus and bacterial issues in the garden. During the hurricane months — June to November — Florida may experience daily rain and sometimes heavy downpours. Hunting Fungus in the Garden First, begin looking for the early warning si ..read more

Victory Gardens became popular in the 1940s during World War II. Millions of American families planted fruit and vegetable gardens in their backyards to feed America, and the impact was that more than 40 percent of all the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed in the United States were grown in these amazing independent gardens. It was so popular, even Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden on the White House lawn to demonstrate support of America’s commitment. Victory Gardens were not unique to America. Many allied countries — Canada, Australia, and France for example — successfully plant ..read more

My pink hibiscus is under assault from aphids! As I walked past the plant and took a quick glance at an unopened blossom, I saw tiny black spots. An aphid problem will spread and infect the whole plant, and others, if left unchecked. It can easily spread to other plants in the yard. You can see that the aphids in my photo are covering the base of the bloom and are making their way up onto the blossom. Treating aphids is relatively easy if you catch the infestation early. I prefer to start with natural solutions and work my way gradually to pesticides if and when they become inevitable. Introd ..read more

The entrance at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a relative newcomer to the public gardens scene. The Selby Gardens was founded in 1973 when Mrs. Selby left her home and surrounding gardens for the public to enjoy. We spotted the garden’s sign while looking for antique shops. I love to visit public gardens, and I am fascinated by the stories of those who settled in the state during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Florida was raw and unpaved in those early days. Florida’s early residents were adventurers at heart. The Selby’s Come to ..read more

Growing a pineapple in your home garden is a fun, cheap educational project with kids. Most store-bought pineapples will take quickly to Florida’s sandy soil and produce fruit in12-24 months. Choosing the right pineapple Picking the perfect pineapple at the store starts with choosing a ripe fruit. Choose one that has good top folliage and smells, well, like a pineapple. Pull at the leaves at the top. If the leaves remove easily with just slight pressure, put it back and try again. Preparing the top Don’t let that pineapple sit on the counter too long. The best time tip in getting that pineappl ..read more

They’re back! The Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers are devouring Florida in 2021. This isn’t a total surprise. These grasshoppers rise up annually beginning in mid-March, almost from the ground, and devour the fresh foliage of Spring. Left unrestrained, lubber grasshoppers can seemingly eat the leaves of a shrub almost overnight. Identifying Lubber Grasshoppers The Southeastern Lubber Grasshopper is native to the Southeastern United States. Although they vary in color, they are typically black with yellow, red, or orange stripes on the front legs and head. These babies travel slowly and as a f ..read more

Decades after I moved to Florida, I still love a good southern storm. Florida is legendary for the rain that comes every afternoon to cool off the hot summer days. Afternoon rain in Florida during the summer. The “Sunshine State” rainy season is May to October, or basically the entire period when Florida’s temperatures rise above 90 degrees and the heat collides with the ocean breeze to create bands of thunderstorms. They are usually loud storms that drop buckets of water and lower our afternoon temperature by at least 10 degrees. They are a welcome respite for most gardeners. The post Let’s g ..read more

Florida enjoys an average of 237 bright, sunny days every year. Welcome to Tropical Florida. They call Florida the “Sunshine State” because literally, the sun is shining on average 237 each year. A lot of people move to our State to enjoy our mild winters and our low taxes. They may spend a fortune trying to grow the beautiful bulbs and plants and gardens they remember from their northern backyards. The bad news is most of your northern plants die in Florida’s summer heat. The good news is there are a lot of plants that will love your new environment. Our average daily temperature may exceed 9 ..read more

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