If your potted plants are drying out too quickly, consider a strategy that will help retain soil moisture and keep plant roots cooler: Move pots where they get some afternoon shade. Mass containers together so that they shade one another’s roots, making sure to allow for sufficient air circulation and light penetration. Use lighter-colored pots for lower heat gain. Use larger containers with a higher mass-to-surface-area ratio so that the relative root area exposed to the solar-heated pot is reduced. Use porous containers (for example, terra-cotta vs. glazed ceramic); evaporation cools the surface of the pot. Use trailing to shade the pot’s surface

Day one in Barcelona. Can’t get over how much vegetation in Barcelona Spain is just like Indiatlantic Florida! Having a wonderful time wish you were here!

Our beloved Lily Park created a perfect evening as we celebrated the success we have had in providing much-appreciated scholarships for those that hold our horticulture and environmental futures. Through successful fundraising like the engraved pavers at Lily Park provide the resources for these scholarships for local Brevard kids. Support local horticultural efforts and students by getting your brick here.

Beautiful, long-lasting, and easy; I love them. As long as the soil stays evenly moist they flourish. Every year there are more cultivars, some for sun, others for shade or mixed conditions. I just discovered a beauty called Kiwi Fern. In looking for information about it I came across that website, which shows some of the beautiful cole

Saturday April 28th 8a.m.-4p.m. by the Melbourne Municipal Auditorium This is your only chance each year to buy many different kinds of exotic tropical and sub-tropical fruit trees, many varieties have been cultivated for our local climates and are cold hearty. Choose from avocados, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, coconuts, grapes, lychees, mangos, mulberries, miracle fruit, passion fruit and many, many more. Demonstrations and classes will be held inside the auditorium as well.

One of the best parts of my garden is how it brings my family together. We spend our evenings and weekends outside together. The kids love to watch the plants grow, especially the ones we eat, Proud to collect our food before dinner or as a snack. ​​We watch the butterfly's flit from place to place. Together we plant and plant and plant. Our yard was almost bare when we moved in and now have many little gardens that have their good days and bad days. My daughter always corrects me "No Mommy is Our garden." Sadly the ​​majority of our butterfly gardens were replanted by Erma, but we keep planting, and soon all the lovely butterfly will be back. That is my favorite part of the garden​​. Today

Wondering who made that hole in your landscape? http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/who-made-that-hole.html and http://www.walterreeves.com/insects-and-animals/diagnosing-holes-in-the-yard/

Spring is a good time to repot your orchids. The weather is still mild, new growth is starting and the days are getting longer they’ll have favorable conditions for establishing themselves. Repotting orchids –American Orchid Society General Orchid Repotting info from Florida Gardener Tip- Dip plant stems and cuttings in cinnamon before planting to prevent fungal Infection. Cinnamon makes a good substitute for store-bought rooting hormone powders. Most orchid growers use cinnamon every time they repot. Sprinkle on divided roots, cuts in stems, etc.

Planting Lightly amend sandy soil with organic matter Gently remove plants from containers, keeping the root ball intact Loosen potting soil and roots around bottom and edges of root ball Plant level with surrounding soil, spreading roots outward Fill around roots with lightly amended native soil Water to settle soil around roots Cover area with 1-3 inches of mulch Don’t mound mulch onto the plant's stem/trunk Water deeply to establish and check daily until established Watering Fast-growing herbaceous plants require water than woody plants When possible, water in the morning to avoid promoting diseases Water slowly and deeply when plants begin to wilt Watering twice, a few minutes apart, hel

Gertrude Jekyll (1843 –1932) Jekyll was a British horticulturist, garden designer, artist, and writer. She created over 400 gardens in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, and wrote over 1,000 magazine articles.

fragole con aceto balsamico Ingredients 2 cups sweet strawberries, quartered 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons of good quality balsamic vinegar Twist of finely ground fresh black pepper Vanilla ice cream or lemon yogurt Fresh mint leaves for garnish Method Marinate berries, sugar, and vinegar for half an hour. Divide mixture in four dessert dishes or elegant glasses and top with a little ice cream or yogurt. Garnish with black pepper and mint leaves Picture: http://www.terradeltuono.it/panna-cotta-con-fragole.html

Recently Sherril Nabb photographed a beautiful female Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala Poey) on a native coontie (Zamia), its only native larval host plant. They are quite rare and I wonder if you’ve seen any. This iridescent butterfly, also known as the coontie hairstreak once amazingly abundant from Palm Beach southward in Florida and through the Caribbean. However, early settlers, harvested the starchy coontie roots for flour, even exporting it to Europe and the population drastically declined and was thought to be extinct from 1937 to 1959. Recently, the Atala has made an impressive comeback as more landscapes incorporate coonties as well as species of exotic cycads introduced into Florida

My favorite flower/plant is Jasmine plant it always stands out of all plants in my heart. it is hardy and produces sweet perfume from its delicate white flowers. The glossy green leaves stay evergreen year long. if you drink real good jasmine tea it has this sweet perfume smell in it. When put flowers in the house makes the area smell so wonderful. put little white flowers in tea really makes your mood sweeter. They look like trees but actually they are bushes. sometimes they look messy but are easy to prune and need little care. I will like to share with our members if anyone interested.

Celebrate at the largest Earth Day event in Central Florida on Saturday April 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at beautiful Lake Eola Park in Orlando. The event will include healthy living and eco-friendly exhibitors, speakers, and presentations; non-profits; fun and games for kids; dog and cat adoptions; restaurant booths; environmental and humane education; artist and craft corners; and live music and entertainment. Central Florida Earth Day draws both committed environmentalists and those who want to learn more protecting our health, the planet, and its inhabitants. One way to observe Earth Day and save money is by reducing household energy use. Strategically planted trees, shrubs, and

It’s spring, time for blossoms and butterflies. This year’s capricious bounces from hot and humid conditions to crisp, cool air for days at a time has meant later blooms for fruit trees, notably mangoes and for orchids. It has also suppressed the plant pests and diseases that usually flourish at this time of year. Remember we are still in a drought situation so pay close attention to the elements that make up your landscape. Above all revel in the wonderful weather and enjoy gardening! WHAT TO PLANT Flowers – Coleus, Celosia, calliopsis, Crossandra, dusty miller, Exacum, Gaillardia, Gazania, hollyhock, Impatiens, Lobelia, Marguerite daisy, marigold, Nicotiana, ornamental pepper, Pentas, peri