Tag Archives: gardening

Using White as a Landscape Color

johnspalms@verizon.net • May 7, 2015

Florida landscape plants offer such a stunning array of vivid flower colors, it can be difficult to decide which one is your favorite. From the deep reds of Hibiscus, Ixora, and Passion Vine to the brilliant purples of Bougainvillea, Crape Myrtle, and Azaleas, one can fall in love with all of the color ranges! As, well, when one visits a well-stocked nursery in the spring, when everything is in bloom, it can be overwhelming.

While it is natural to gravitate towards the more striking flower colors that stand out amongst a sea of green foliage, one should never overlook the simple grace and elegance of the white flower, or even more so, the white foliage of a plant. Traditionally, using white as a landscape color has not been promoted as a viable or desirable landscape concept, and I suspect it is because it is simply misunderstood. With that said, let's explore the ways that using white as a landscape color can be best utilized:

1. Not all flowering plants can tolerate shady or part-shade light conditions, and continue to bloom. However, some can, such as this white Angel's Trumpet, pictured above. Using white as a landscape color is unique, in that white flowers and white-striped foliage will stand out in dark and shady light conditions. Whether it is planted under an Oak tree, or even against a fence, these white flowers will stand out in the day time, and almost cast a ghostly hue at night, in places where other dark colored flowers will hardly be noticeable. Some other white flowered or white-striped foliage plants to consider for similar site conditions are:

White Azalea
White-striped foliage Bromeliads
Variegated Minima Jasmine
Gardenia
Pinwheel Jasmine
Aztec Grass
African Iris
Peace Lily
White Bleeding Heart vine

2. White flowers and foliage can be used as a "buffer plant" separating other bold colors. As you can see in the photo of the Bromeliads above, the white plant in the upper left corner, as well as the white trim on the center plant help all of the plants in the grouping stand out, highlighting their particular features to an advantage. When you are considering using white as a landscape color with other colors, position the white plants in such a manner as to bring out the colors of the surrounding plants. For example, if you are considering planting an annual bed with dark purple Petunias, or deep red Begonias, make 20% of the plants white, and randomly intersperse them throughout the bed to help the darker colors pop. Some options for lower growing plants that make great white color buffers are:

Aztec Grass
Variegated Flax Lily (Dianella)
Variegated Minima Jasmine
White Dwarf Penta
Sun Hosta

3. Using white as a landscape color is particularly effective when creating a design for a dark-colored house paint. Some plant features can seem to be lost when used as a foundation plant against a dark paint, to the point that they almost blend it. If you select a white colored flower or foliage plant as a foundation plant, not only will that plant stand out, but it will set the stage for the other plants in front of it. Consider the example above, of a Pinwheel Jasmine, that blooms almost all year. It not only will stand out against a dark brown paint, but all other plants in front of it will shine in their own right, as well. Keep in mind, though, that the opposite is true for a light colored house, such as white or yellow paint. Some plants to consider as a foundation plant for dark-painted houses are:

Variegated Pittosporum
Sinesis
Jasmine, many varieties to choose from
Silver Queen Hibiscus
Snowbush, or Snow on the Mountain
White Oleander
Chinese Silver Grass
White Fountain Grass

4. Lastly. using white as a landscape color can be a complete landscape design concept whereupon the ONLY flower color being used is white. In cases such as this, the design concept usually incorporates plants with dark foliage, with white used to highlight the dark foliage of other plants, with the primary focus being about texture and foliage contrasts.

Now that you have a better understanding of how white can be used as a landscape color, you will never see white flowers in the same light, again! As always, half of the fun of gardening is to experiment, and see what works for you, as there is no wrong way, just a better way, when it comes to design.

So, let's get designing, folks, with white!

Donell

Favorite Landscape Plants-My Top 10

johnspalms@verizon.net • April 29, 2015

Every landscaper and gardener has their favorite go-to landscape plants, that they prefer to include in a landscape design for their unique color or foliage, ease in maintenance, and versatility under many planting conditions. Here are my favorite landscape plants, my top 10 (although I will admit, it was hard to winnow the list to only 10!)

Ti Plants, but only certain varieties. I like to use the varieties that can be planted in full sun or shade, and stay full throughout the plant, naturally or with a little trimming. My two favorites are Black Magic (on the left) for areas that could use a larger and wider growing plant, or varieties such as Auntie Lou or Xerox (on the right), that are more slender, upright growers. And, I never, never use Red Sister! In fact, Red Sister usually looks horrible after the first year, and, sadly, just gives the rest of the family a bad reputation.

Crinum Lily, either green leaf or the red-leafed varieties. This is a great 4'X4' growing plant, your mid-sized mini-specimen, so that not everything is tall or small in the landscape design. It is drought tolerant, generally pest free, and needs two time a year leaf clean up. Occasionally, small pups do need to be removed, but they can either be planted elsewhere in the garden, or given to friends in a seed or cutting exchange.

Blushing Bromeliads, the Neo variety (not the ones that are green all year and bloom once a year for a month). These wonderful plants come in all leaf colors and growth sizes, and if used properly, can add foliage interest to a well-designed landscape. They have little maintenance requirements, and multiply over time to fill in an bed area, and yet are still easy care enough that you can control their growth so that they do not over take your garden.

Angel's Trumpet is not for everyone, but if you have the room and the inclination, this plant can provide endless ghostly salmon or white trumpet flowers during the humid summer months, that have a delicious subtle fragrance that wafts through the stillness of the night air. It is a hallucinogen, though, so care must be taken with pets and children.

Foxtail Fern could not be a more versatile plant, that lives in almost all light and soil conditions. It's bright lime, funky foliage works well against almost any other plant color and texture, and can be used as a border plant, or a mid-sized filler plant. As well, it is unique in that it's foliage generally does not "stretch" or change color in the sun versus shade, so it can easily be used as a plant that matches on both sides of a bed with different light conditions.

Pinwheel Jasmine is a mid-sized shrub that blooms almost year-around, in sun or shade. It makes a great background or foundation plant, and it's blooms stand out nicely in the shade or even at night. White foliaged or white blooming plants are often over-looked in the landscape, but they stand out nicely against dark paint colors or other green-foliage plants, and can help other bold landscape colors pop.

Dwarf Crown of Thorn is a fabulous option to use instead of seasonal flowers. Seasonal flowers must be changed out 2-4 times a year, whereas Dwarf Crown of Thorn is a long living perennial that blooms throughout the year. If trimmed properly (two times a year), it can grow to the size of a soccer ball, and will be dense throughout the plant. While it can be prone to frost and freeze damage, it generally bounces back within one season, making it a viable landscape plant for a Tampa garden.

Dwarf Bamboo varieties such as Alphonse Karr, Golden Goddess, or Fernleaf cannot be matched as far as privacy barriers go. They are not only quick growing, they are cold hardy for Tampa landscapes, drought tolerant, and pest free. They require little maintenance after they are established, and have foliage from top to bottom, making them ideal for privacy. Dwarf Bamboo does require space to grow though, as they can grow almost as wide as they grow tall (8'-15'), so that must be taken into consideration. Despite that, they also offer an easy tropical or lush flair to many styles of landscape design.

Adagio Grass, also called Chinese Silver Grass, is a large growing (4'X4') landscape grass that is a great substitute for the much larger growing Pampas Grass. In the landscape, it can be used as a stand alone feature, as a background plant, or in mass plantings. It provides many soft white plumes throughout most of the warm months, and it's foliage has a white rib, that gives it a silver shimmer. I find that it grows well in most soil conditions, and while it prefers full sun, it will tolerate and still bloom in part shade. While it can hold on to it's old leaves as it grows new ones, one easy method to remove these is to use a leaf rake like a hair comb, used upside down. Other than this 1-2 time a year maintenance task, this plant is generally care-free.

Bottlebrush is a small growing tree that can easily be sheered and trimmed to a desired size, thereby making it a perfect candidate for a small specimen plant or privacy barrier. It can also be allowed to grow to it's full potential of 15-20', allowing it to be a magnificent and glorious centerpiece of your landscape design. It can be purchased in multi-trunk form or in single trunk form (called a standard), and I generally prefer the standard variety, as it allows for plantings underneath to help create a multi-layered landscape design. Bottlebrush trees can bloom for several months of the year, and have the added bonus of being pollinators that attract butterflies, honey bees, and hummingbirds. Preferably, they should be lightly trimmed once a year to help keep them dense.

From these photos, and my brief plant descriptions, you may be able to see why I have listed these as my favorite landscape plants, and as my top 10. I have many more favorites, and I will post about them later, perhaps as another round of favorite landscape plants, top 20. Mostly, though, they made the list for their ease in care, fabulous characteristics of form/color/texture interest in a landscape design, and their versatility of site conditions and purposeful use in the landscape.

When you decide as to what you would like in your landscape, I suggest that you start with a favorite list as well, and then learn the nature of that plant to determine if it will fit into your over-all plans. Again, half the joy of gardening is the trial and error.

So, let's get to picking favorites and making new garden friends, folks!

Donell

Slugs and Snails: Organic Pest Control

johnspalms@verizon.net • April 21, 2014

Slugs and snails can be a significant pest problem on many varieties of landscape and vegetable plants in Florida. As they mostly feed at night, they can be difficult to detect, but the damage that they leave behind should be evidence enough. While some other insects, such as caterpillars and grasshoppers, leave similar damage patterns, those critters can usually been seen during the day making the pest diagnosis easier.

So, how can you be sure that the damage to your plants is being caused by slugs and snails? You can set a trap for them! Slugs and snails like to spend their daylight hours in a cool, dank place, so you can make that easier for them by creating a place for them to go to! Position a large flat rock or similar type of object at the base of the plants that are being fed upon, and then check under it daily, in the cool of the morning. You will see them resting under the rock, thereby confirming that you have a slug or snail problem. As well, you can sometimes see their slime trails on concrete or leaf surfaces, which is also clear evidence.

So, once you have identified that you have a slug and snail problem, you will need to find a way to get rid of them. Slugs and snails can be difficult to eradicate, but with determination and persistence, you can control them. One way, or course, is to apply a commercial slug and snail bait product available at garden centers, but it can be costly and may have to be applied often, depending upon the weather. Another way to eliminate the problem is to change out your landscape and garden plants to a variety that is less favorable to them, as they do have their favorite host plants such as Hosta and Peace Lily.

Fortunately, there are some other options to control slugs and snails, that are not only organic, but also fun and clever. Any of these following methods will work, but you may want to incorporate all of them in your pest control program:

Remember the flat rock that we used earlier to help identify the presence of slugs and snails? Add a few more of those to the garden and then check under them daily, preferably in the morning. Physically remove the snails, bag them up, and throw them away!
Beer. That's right, slugs and snails love beer! Dig a shallow hole in the ground near the plants that are being fed upon, and place an empty plastic butter tub or similar in the hole, so that the container is flush with the surrounding soil. Fill the tub half way with beer, and then wait. Slugs and snails love beer, and will fall into the tub at night and drown. Empty the tub every few days as needed, and fill again. Continue repeating this program until the population is eventually reduced, when you aren't trapping any more pests.
Add copper banding to the base of you plants. Slugs and snails hate copper, as it is believed that it gives them an electrical charge. This method is more practical as a physical barrier at the base of a plant, or as a copper strip added to the lip of a potted plant, or similar concept. As well, you may have heard that you can use pennies, but that is not true today, as pennies no longer have copper added to them.

By now, you may have realized that controlling slugs and snails in your garden may not be easy, but with a plan and some persistence, your efforts will pay off. By using these organic pest control methods in a mufti-faceted program, you will eventually be able to enjoy your favorite plants, free of slug and snail damage!

So, let's get slug and snail hunting folks!

Donell

Hibiscus: a Florida Landscape Favorite

johnspalms@verizon.net • April 2, 2014

Did you know that today is Pascua Florida Day, and is a state of Florida day of recognition? April 2nd is the anniversary of the discovery of Florida by Juan Ponce De Leon, in 1513. Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer, and named this newly discovered land after a celebration day in his homeland of Spain called Pascua Florida, meaning a feast of flowers. Other than the state flower Orange Blossom, there is no other plant that says Florida more than the Hibiscus, and, naturally, it is a Florida landscape favorite.

What better way to celebrate our Florida's naming day than to plant some Hibiscus in your landscape, brew some Hibiscus Tea, and bake some Hibiscus candy? Yes, that's right, Hibiscus is not only edible, but it is tasty as well! Beyond Hibiscus being a Florida landscape favorite for it's beautiful year-round flowers, it is renowned for it's natural medicinal properties, and well as unique flavor in teas and food.

Not only is Hibiscus a Florida landscape favorite, it is a world-wide favorite, too! It is commonly found in tropical and sub-tropical environments, and thrives best in temperate climates. It is the state flower of countries such as Malaysia and Haiti, and it's flower has unique symbolism that can be found in cultures such as India and Tahiti.

As a landscape plant, Hibiscus can be one of the easiest and most rewarding plants in your garden, providing endless beautiful blooms of vibrant colors. It prefers full sun for best blooming, but will tolerate partial shade, and once established, it is very drought tolerant. The Hibiscus can have some unique pest problems, though, such as aphids, Pink Hibiscus Mealy-bug, and Chilli Trips, that can be controlled with pesticides, if desired. The worst pest problems for Hibiscus, though, in my opinion, are deer and extreme cold. If you live in an area that is populated with deer, Hibiscus is a deer favorite, and will simply be a feeding station for them, and they will never bloom. As well, if your planting area is prone to repeated frost or freezing temperatures, an unprotected Hibiscus will not survive for long.

What the heck! Plant one Hibiscus, and give it plenty of room, as they they can grow rather large on some of the varieties (8' tall or better, and almost just as wide). And, when family and friends come for your annual summer tea party, dazzle them with your scrumptious Hibiscus candies, and delectable Hibiscus tea (I hear that it's even better with rum!).

Pick your favorite Hibiscus variety from these options: http://3seasonsgrowers.com/pb/wp_4a4e7cc3/wp_4a4e7cc3.html

Then, let's get the party started!

http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/08/hibiscus-tea-brewed-at-home-from-dried.html

http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/08/candied-flowers-hibiscus.html

Let's get Hibiscus-ing, Folks!

Donell

Adding Annual Flowers to Your Landscape

johnspalms@verizon.net • March 31, 2014

Adding annual flowers to your landscape is a great way to bring fabulous bursts of color to your garden, even though they are usually temporary. Annuals are seasonal plants, that are sometimes called bedding plants, and they are narrowly defined as plants that grow, and reproduce (which means to flower) and die, with a one year time frame. In the landscape world, then, when they are flowering, they are at the peak of their life when you buy them, and will only live for a few more months, in your garden. Most annual plants are designed to live for 3 or 4 months after purchase, with the expectation that they will be replaced out, seasonally, with another annual of a different type, that prefers the new season. With that in mind, adding annuals to your landscape can bring a wonderful pop of color, seasonally, with an expected rotation of changing them out 3-4 times a year, given their limited lifespan and preferred season.

Adding annuals to your landscape can bring a wonderful and changing variation to the look of your landscape, but it is not for everyone. While some annuals can be low maintenance and seem to free-seed and live on their own, others can require dead-heading of old seed pods and pinching back when they get leggy and spindly. More so, most annuals have a preferred season, and do require a rotational change-out. However, if you are willing to do the work, no matter how large or small the designated area for planting, you will rarely find the colors to add to your landscape, that annuals can bring. They bring vibrant colors in a big way on a small scale, that no other plant can do!

If you do decide to add annuals to your landscape, here are a few tips:

Annuals always will need a bed of fresh potting soil to be planted in. Do not plant them in regular Florida soils and expect success.
If you want to mulch your annual bed, do not mulch the annual. Leave a 1" clearance around the stem of annuals, and only lightly mulch the soil bed, as most annuals are very sensitive to materials around their stems and can die from root rot or too-deeply planting.
Know the preferred season for your annuals. Many nurseries and almost all box stores sell annuals (and vegetables) out of season. A smart man told me recently that he simply watches for what annuals are planted at the subdivision entrances and commercial buildings, and he follows suit. He is absolutely right and this is an awesome way to get it right the first time. The pros are not guessing about the right season/ right annual.
Some annuals are more prone to insect and fungal problems, so if you opt to select those plants that are, stay vigilant with your pest control, for ultimate success.
Lastly, as always, have fun with your landscaping and don't give up! I don't believe in black thumbs, and some plants just have rules or natures that have to be followed. Follow them! and you will be successful.

As a note, and as a landscaper, I do not install many annual beds, but when I do, this is my philosophy:

Keep the bed small, within 1-2 trays of plants, always in a bed of potting soil
I prefer a 3 time a year rotation: Begonias in the spring, as they can handle the heat, but hate the rain; Coleus in the mid-summer as they love the rain and the heat; Petunias in the winter, as they can handle some heat but love the cold.

There is so much to know about gardening and landscaping, and IFAS is the source. For more information about annuals, and seasonal tables, click on this link:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg319

Let's get gardening, Folks!

Donell

Welcome, Spring!

johnspalms@verizon.net • March 20, 2014

Today is the first day of Spring! Please, enjoy this beautiful Ode to Spring, by Elizabeth Bentley:

Elizabeth Bentley
Ode To Spring

WELCOME, sweet season of delight,
What beauties charm the wond'ring sight
In thy enchanting reign!
How fresh descends the morning dew,
Whilst op'ning flow'rs of various hue
Bedeck the sprightly plain.
The artless warblers of the grove
Again unite in songs of love,
To bless thy kind return:
But first the lark, who roaring seems
To hail the orb of day, whose beams
With fresh refulgence burn.

The limpid brook that purls along,
The tuneful blackbird's joyous song,
The softly-whisp'ring breeze;
The mossy hills, which now invite,
These with the verdant meads unite,
Th' elated mind to please.
The mind with thoughts of good possest,
With innocence and virtue blest,
Untaught in vice's ways;
May taste those joys by nature giv'n,
May lift th' enraptur'd eye to heav'n,
And their great Author praise.
Stern Winter's gloomy season past,
We see fair Spring advances fast,
With Summer in the rear;
Soon Autumn's shades will interpose,
And a succeeding Winter close
The swift-revolving year.

Of human life an emblem true,
The early morn of youth we view,
In Spring's delightful face;
Meridian life's a Summer's day,
With Autumn fades; its quick decay,
In winter's blast we trace.
Then let us prize each fleeting hour,
Improve the moments in our pow'r,
E'er time shall cease to be;
Then shall our spirits, taking wing,
Be crown'd with an eternal Spring,
From Wint'ry storms set free.

Spring Cleaning your Landscape: When to Begin

johnspalms@verizon.net • February 28, 2014

Spring can be elusive, especially in Florida where the sun is shining, birds are singing and plants are blooming, while snow is falling in record numbers once again, in the north. So, when and how do we determine if Spring is here? When can we start our spring cleaning of our landscape and gardens? Well, I would say that the time is now, and I will tell you why I think that and what I look for.

Firstly, I look for blooms on Day Lily and Carolina Yellow Jasmine. Day Lily are mostly an "iffy" plant for Tampa, but when planted in their perfect place, they are one of the earliest bloomers, and can provide a welcome display of fabulous colors, for those weary of gray days, typical of Florida winters. Not to be outdone, Carolina Yellow Jasmine is another one of those plants that welcome in the spring, with small yet fragrant flowers that can surprise you with it's deceptively small "rest of the year" presence, both with it's mass of flowers and it's subtle perfume scent that carries through the dense evening nights. It's a true "wallflower", until Spring. While many plants will bloom throughout a mild winter, these two plants are a true harbinger of Spring.

Secondly, I watch the trees, particularly the large hardwood shade trees. While some large trees like Sycamore and Maple drop their leaves early, Oaks take a little longer. With that said, Live Oaks seem to be the most stubborn, waiting to the very last minute to drop the rest of their leaves, even to the point that Maples have already seeded and begun new leaf growth. With the Oak's last leaf drop, they will soon seed (called catkins), and drop them within weeks, which can create as much of a mess as the leaf drop itself.

Lastly, I watch the moon phases and trust my instinct, after 25 years of experience. Old timers say that there will be no frost after the full moon in February, and I would say that prediction has held true 90% of the time. Of course, it's the other 10% of the time that is the concern.

Today, I see Carolina Yellow Jasmine blooming, and Day Lily with buds. The Maples have seeded already, and are putting on new leaves. The Oaks have dropped most of their leaves, and some are even flushing with new leaves. The majority of Live Oaks, though, have not seeded and dropped their catkins, but I do believe that will happen soon, and it will be a small production yield this year, not near as bad as last year.

With that, Spring is very near, and it is time to make your plans. To get the full benefit of what a Spring garden can bring to your home, now is the time to prepare to take action, with regards to Spring cleaning of your landscape, seasonal plantings, new plantings, vegetable and herb gardening, as well as fertilizing and pest control.

In the next few days, I will post a guide as to what to do and how to get started.....Don't let Spring pass you by, with all of it's glorious wonder. Let's get growing, Folks!

Donell