Two Florida gardeners living in a sub-tropical paradise. Find us on Google+!
Farfugium japonicum var. giganteum is the name, but sometimes you see these plants called Ligularia or leopard plant. Growing in zones 6-10, Farfugiums grows on thick stalks about a foot and a half to two feet tall. Our’s started off at about a foot tall and has since grown to the promised two feet or […]
Do you have paths in your garden? Do you have certain routes that you always take when going from one part of the yard to another? Do they look more like trails than paths? Worn areas that have been trampled down from repeated use? If so, here is a sure fire way to convert those […]
It must be spring. The sounds of garden equipment on Saturday mornings and folks standing in lines at local nurseries. And as yards are greening up and new plant growth is seen everywhere, the bare spots from last year’s failures and winter’s destructive nature seem to stick out like a sore thumb. Here are a […]
“Sunny Wind Hibiscus is one of a group of compact tropical hibiscus called Trade Winds Hibiscus. Grown by Green Leaf Plants, the Trade Winds Collection contains different shades red, yellow, peach and orange hibiscus. Last I counted, they had 18 varieties. We have the Sunny Wind hibiscus. How we got it was a matter of […]
I must admit that none of our re-purposing or recycling projects for our outdoor decorating spaces have turned out as nice as the two examples shown below. However, when I was reading about these spaces, I realized that the ideas behind their design offer some good tips and ideas for creating an outdoor space that […]
A few years ago we started growing bamboo, both clumping and running. One of the byproducts from trimming and thinning out the clumps is bamboo poles. We’re starting to build a collection that range from six to twenty feet tall. Next year we should be getting even larger and taller poles. I’ve had several ideas for […]
We have a deck that sits anywhere from four to five feet above ground. Sitting on the swing, looking across the deck and out over the back yard is a common way to pass time around here. For privacy and some shade, a couple of years ago we planted two clumps of Bambusa chungii ‘Barbellata’. […]
You can find a variety of ceramic containers at most thrift stores, garage sales and outlet stores. Many of them can be used as decorative planters. And they will work fine indoors, as long as you do not over water them. Try using them as planters outdoors on your deck or patio and there is a good chance that rain will drown your plants. […]
He who plants a garden plants happiness.” — Chinese Proverb — Can spending time in a garden give you a feeling of happiness? I saw this quote shortly after we visited with some friends. Friends who are also gardeners. Gardeners who are state fair winning gardeners. Best of show, best of division sort of folks. Sitting for […]
You say that you want to invite some friends over to sit a spell in you garden? And it’s the heat of summer? Before you do, take a look around you garden. Looking kind of sad and worn out? Maybe it is time to freshen up your outdoor space with watering, weeding, and mulching. Our gardens […]
Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the most common orchids. You find them in larger grocery stores, big discount stores and the big box home improvement stores. Fully blooming plants can bring fairly steep price tags of twenty to thirty dollars or more. Five or six months ago, I accidentally found a way to get some […]
A mother’s love is like a garden. Her children are the seeds.And as they grow, she tends to them. Fulfilling all their needs.Her kindness is like sunshine that warms them as they flower.Her nurturing, like springtime rain, a soft and gentle shower.A mother’s love is like a garden, reflecting tender care.For wherever there is beauty, […]