Botanical Garden of the Month – McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach
Many of you will remember the old McKee Jungle Gardens, which closed in 1976 and most of you have visited the delightfully resurrected and enhanced (if smaller) McKee Botanical Garden that opened twenty years later. It was established on 80 acres in 1929, when Waldo Sexton (who founded the Driftwood Inn, the Ocean Grill, and the Patio Restaurant among other enterprises) and Arthur G. McKee purchased an 80-acre (32 ha) tropical hammock a
Whiteflies
Many gardeners are fighting a losing battle with whiteflies, which not only suck sap from plants but also transmit viruses. My peppers and tomatoes are under constant attack. The unseasonably warm weather has encouraged these pests, which are resistant to most eradication efforts. Soap & oil spray only kills the flies it directly hits. Insecticides kill the natural predators of whitefly. The best thing to do is to check your plants frequently and remove infested leav
January in the Garden
What to Plant
Bedding Plants: Plants to add to the garden during the coolest months include dianthus, begonia, pansy, petunia, viola, lobelia, dusty miller, and snapdragon. See Gardening With Annuals in Florida. Bulbs: Crinum, agapanthus, clivia, and gloriosa lily bulbs can be planted now. Provide a layer of mulch for protection from cold temperatures. See: Bulbs for Florida Vegetables: Continue planting cool season crops including beet, cabbage, turnip, lettuce, potato, and
President’s Message
Dear fellow gardeners, I hope everyone enjoyed your holidays with loved ones. I was very blessed to have my parents with us this Christmas! I really appreciate that special time with them! By now we have either put away our holiday decorations or we’re dreading that task. It’s always more enjoyable embellishing our homes with our holiday decor, than putting it all away! When I first take down my decorations, I feel like my house looks empty, but then I think it feel
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