Corks and Caladiums Celebrate Nehrling Gardens

 

 

Do you love caladiums? Do you love wine? Then May 9th is the special day for a sunset stroll on the historic Nehrling Gardens for Corks and Caladiums.  This special event will feature live music, silent auction, and Mother's Day gifts.

This is just the event to attend if you've never been to the Nehrling Gardens. Henry Nehrling is known as the "patron saint of Florida gardens" having researched and introduced over 3,000 unknown and rare plant and tree species to Florida as well as Florida's native plants to the nation.
The Nehrling Gardens have had such historical celebrities as Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, and famed horticulturists David Fairchild, creator of the Fairchild Botanical Gardens, and Liberty Hyde Bailey visit Dr. Nehrling to see his incredible collection of tropical plants.

Caladiums are one of my favorite plants for Florida shade. I can't wait to see all the different cultivars. Join me on May 9th, 5:30pm to 8:30pm in  Gotha. Tickets are $50 per person. You must be 21 to attend.

 

 

 

What's Blooming at the Polasek Museum

Looking for a wonderful day of sculpture, Russian icons, sunshine, and a beautiful lakefront garden? Visit the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden in Winter Park.

The Risen Christ, Resurrection of our Savior
1963, Albin Polasek

The museum is currently hosting The Holy Art of Imperial Russia, showcasing 17th - 19th century Russian icons and tryptchs. The artwork was impressive and inspiring, considering that nearly all Russian religious art were either voluntarily given up or taken physically and destroyed by the government during the 1917 Russian Revolution.

Despite coming out of winter, the day we visited sunshine and the museum gardens created a wonderful backdrop for Albin Polasek's bronze sculptures.  Here are some of my favorite annuals, flowers, ornamental shrubs, and succulents.

Abutilon

Abutilon 'Orange-Red'

Abutilon

Bromeliads

Agave Angustafolia marginata

                           

Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia reginae

Aechmea 'Burgandy'

Camellia japonica

Chinese Hat Plant,
 Holmskioldia sanguinea

Clerondendrum quadriloculare 'Starburst'

                           

 

Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia milli

Crown of Thorns, Euphorbia milli

Prickly Cycad, Encephalartos ferox

Firecracker, Russelia equisetiformis

Camellia in background, firecracker in front

Fishtail Fern, Nephrolepsis biserrata

Dianella, Geranium, and Lobelia

Gerbera Daisies

Honeysuckle vine, Lonicera spp.

Iochroma cyaneum

Lakefront tuteur

Loropetalum chinense 'Ever Red'

Loropetalum chinense 'Ever Red'

Medinilla

Pentas

Purple Firespikes,
Odontonema callistachyum

Snapdragons, annuals

Stromanthe sanguineas

Princess Flowers, Tibouchina grandiflora

Variegated ginger, Alpina zerumbet

Yellow rose

Polasek Museum landscape bed

Take time to go by and visit the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens.  The Holy Art of Imperial Russia will be available for viewing until April 13th.                                 

Guest Post - Steve Asbell: Why I Planted An Apartment Garden

 

A Mom, a Garden and a Gift for the Neighbors

Kitchen ideas, bathroom ideas, and more ∨

Hire residential landscape architects to help with all aspects of landscape design, from selecting or designing outside patio furniture, to siting a detached garage or pergola.
Find wall shelves, a customizable closet organizer and stylish furniture for home to whip your closet into shape.

Tropical Nursery is Paradise For Gardeners



What a gardner's treasure trove! The Community Garden Center is a must visit and visit often resource. Marvin and Terri Pinder, 2nd generation growers just don't sell perennials, ornamental shrubs, tropical fruit trees, herbs, and vegetables, the Pinder's educate by example, living and growing everything they would love to have in their landscape. Visit Pinder's Nursery at 5500 Sw Martin Hwy, Palm City  (772) 781-8085.

 

Pennisetum purpurea 'Princess Caroline'

Sun-loving bromeliad hanging basket.

Coleus 'Redhead'

Succulent Container Garden

Plant-filled Victorian Terrarium keeps caterpillars happy.

Plants from the ground to the sky.

Thousands of plants, flowers, herbs, fruit trees, and garden accessories.

Floriferous front entry.

I can't believe how wonderful the ambiance was at Pinder's Nursery! Marvin and Terry and their staff are enthusiastic and gardening experts to help anyone who wants to create their own outdoor living room or edible Paradise. If you're in the area, please stop by. I guarantee that you'll leave with a wonderful plant or two.

They even have fairies wandering among the plants.  Will post those photos as soon as I'm sure the fairies don't mind. Click to see all of the Pinder Nursery photographs.

Are You Ready For Some Winter?

In Florida, we can always wear shorts on Christmas Day, but we must not forget that we have a winter season. In the Sunshine State, our winter arrives with a cold front either in the two weeks before Christmas or within the following two weeks after the New Year. With the La Nina weather pattern this year, Central Florida's coldest temperatures so far will occur tonight and Tuesday night. Is your landscape ready for freezing temperatures?

• Make sure your plants are hydrated before a freeze.
• Do not run sprinklers systems during freeze.
• Use frost blankets or large boxes to keep plants insulated.
• If using anything other than frost blankets, ensure that the material is not touching the plants' foliage.
• If boxes, sheets, or other material is used, it must be removed each morning and replaced before sundown.
• Don’t overwater palm trees before or after a freeze.
• If palms are damaged - use a copper fungicide as soon as possible.
• Healthier plants and palms survive winter better.

While meteorologists are predicting a mild winter, this only means that we won't be seeing many freezing nights. Make sure you have frost blankets on hand for those tender tropical plants.  If any plant damage is noticeable, try to resist the urge to prune plant vigorously until until mid-February.