Robert's Tropical Paradise Garden

Pining For the Holidays: Learn How to Bring Amazing Health Benefits to You and Your Family This Winter Season.

2011-12-22T00:20:00.000-05:00

Pine oil has so many health benefits it’s like having a doctor in a bottle! Dermatologists have used it to treat many skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, athlete’s foot, cuts and more. Its antiseptic properties lend itself for household cleanser (Pinesol) and natural deodorizer. Massage therapists use it to relieve aching muscles and arthritis due to its pain relieving properties. Years ago when TB was rampant and there was not cure, doctors prescribed fresh air camps in the mountains. There were cabins with no windows, and the pine was the only relief. Doctors world wide would prescribe spending time in the forest to heal respiratory infections, asthma and bronchitis before the discovery of modern medicine. Fleas would be controlled with pine tar soap. Clothes would be moth free with pine tar paper lining the drawers.

The holiday season can cause our emotions to roller coaster. Pine oil can ease the anxiety and stress over the holidays. Its called aromatherapy and the benefits are plentiful. It refreshes, relaxes and rejuvenates the mind body and spirit. The essential oil comes from the Pinus sylvestris tree.

Have a pine needle sachet party. Get fresh pine needle branches from Christmas trees. The fraiser fir works quite well. Buy precut netting and ribbon at a crafts store. Pluck the needles from the stems until you have a nice amount. Enjoy the aroma on your fingers. Notice how your fingers get black! That is the pine tar. Place the needles in the center of the netting, gather the ends, tie a ribbon around it and your sachets are ready to enjoy. Place a few in your drawers to make your cloths smell nice, and keep pests away. Keep some sachets in your car for tension free errand runs. Place some around the house. The needles keep their scent for yeas. Tourist areas in the country sell pine needle pillows. Let me know how your family and friends enjoyed this event!

Flamingo Gardens

2011-11-20T15:07:00.015-05:00

Going to Flamingo Gardens is like revisiting old Florida. There were many citrus groves and farms in Broward county sixty years ago. Most of the farmland has given way to strip centers, shopping malls and housing developments and our food is brought in from other areas. Flamingo Gardens provides a link to the past.

Flamingo Gardens was created in 1927 as a citrus grove of 320 acres. Back then there was very little development in Davie. The main owners Floyd L. and Jane Wray lived in Hollywood and did not move onto the property until 1933, when they built a house there. The charming home is now a museum and is opened to the public. Step back in time as you enter the house and revisit the 1930’s with furniture, knick knacks and a fully stocked kitchen with gadgets from yesteryear.
A favorite place to visit for locals and visitors alike, Flamingo Gardens has a multitude of attractions. The gardens were created about eighty years ago and now contain some of the state’s largest specimen trees. Known as champion trees, there are signs marking which ones have attained this prestigious status. Lush gardens are easy to walk, with paved paths and sitting areas. The gardens are grouped in the front of the property just after the gift shop.
As decades come and go, changes to the garden have occurred. There used to be a barn with antique cars on display years ago. This has given way to a large meeting room where educational lectures, special functions and events are held. A nice sized well stocked garden center with garden whimsy has come and gone. The old quaint animal area remains intact and has been updated, with a wonderful wild bird outpost as well.

There are tram tours daily that take visitors around the garden. Tour guides explain the garden history and provide names of the botanical plants. Flamingo Gardens is a special place in Broward County. Every time you go you learn something different about plants, birds and more.

The aviary is like a nursing home for injured and sick birds. This bird sanctuary provides a wonderful opportunity to visit Florida birds close up. There is a large shade cloth area where several Florida ecosystems have been successfully recreated. Each area blends into the next, providing the birds a place to feel at home. The area has many, many birds and it is a photographer’s paradise.

Annie Haven and her Teas

2011-11-17T00:47:00.000-05:00

A wonderful perk of being on the net and having a blog, and being connected with social media is the great people you meet. I have some great contacts now and enjoy their work and contributions in the garden world.

Another perk is learning what is happening in the gardens of different regions of the USA and around the world. My biggest fans outside the USA on my Facebook page are Indonesia, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and France.
Another great perk are the product samples you get in the mail. You never know what goodies await in the mailbox when you get home from work.

I met Annie Haven on Facebook. We chatted up her and there and she sent me some of her special garden teas. These teas are not the kind you sip on fine china and eat a cucumber sandwich. These teas you brew and feed to your garden plants.
The first one I tried was for my roses. It is considered a soil conditioner and it is called an Alfalfa Tea. Following the instructions on the bag, I placed the bag in a 5 gallon bucket of water, covered the pail and let it seep for a few days. When I opened the bucket, what an aroma! It brought me back to my youth. Memories of visits to the zoo, horse riding, and petting zoos replayed in my head. Flies came out of nowhere and hovered around me. It was quite a surprise indeed.

I poured a nice amount around each rose bush. The aroma was very strong all over the garden. Luckily by the next morning, it was all gone. That was two weeks ago and now it is time to water the roses with ¼ a cup of Epsom salts. Years ago I was told about the benefits of applying Epson salts, but neglected to do it. Haven Brand has given me the motivation to apply the Epsom salts. I will be reporting the progress of my roses in future posts. Visit www.ahavenbrand.com for more information.

Butterfly Gardening

2011-10-11T23:24:00.007-04:00

The butterflies this autumn are outstanding in the garden. They are fluttering about from early morning till early evening. Every spot of the garden has butterflies. Sometimes they fly in groups of two, chasing each other about the flowers. Other times they are busy laying eggs on the milkweed. Sometimes I can catch a photo when they bask in the sun, gathering energy. Trying to photograph the butterflies is a challenge since they often flutter about so quickly all you get is a blurry image. The other day I was able to capture many photos so I wanted to share these with you.

What to do when the garden grows beyond your reach?

2011-08-04T20:17:00.002-04:00

Every so often I have to call in landscapers with huge equipment to top my fruit trees. What good is having a huge fruit tree without having access to the fruit? By keeping it low the fruit is accessible. My neighbor is happy also because his satellite dish TV may lose reception if the trees get too large. I rather have the professionals prune around the power lines as well.
The trees in the groves get trimmed regularly after the fruit is harvested, so I like to follow suit. However this year right after the mango finished the star fruit started to produce a nice crop. Cost wise I wanted to do both at once, so I lost some fruit. There is still plenty more for my personal use and for my tropical fruit tasting classes at work.
It’s fun to go out in the morning and pick and eat fresh fruit from the garden. My mangos are so sweet and the star fruit are a sweet tart combo. Very healthy too!

July 4th Garden Party

2011-07-02T22:08:00.014-04:00

Every holiday has its important foods from the garden. What would Independence Day be without the traditional BBQ with fresh corn on the cob, watermelon and apple pie? In the Northern USA it is time to harvest early crops of radishes, beans and those first tomatoes. Blueberries are ripening, plumb juicy cherries, early plums and fresh peaches are right around the corner. This is my favorite time of the year when the fresh fruits are at their peak.

In the blistery heat of South Florida, our main growing season ended months ago. Now we can still grow some peppers, everglades cherry tomato, collard greens and okra. After weeks and weeks of dry hot weather, our rainy season finally began this week. South Florida is considered sub tropical. We have six months of dry weather in the late fall through early spring and then the wet season begins. During the wet season is the hurricane season.

Although it is too hot to enjoy the food outdoors this time of year in Florida, I hope you all have a great feast right in your garden, backyard, park or anywhere else you choose. Here we will be in the comfortable air conditioning. Have a great July 4th weekend and enjoy the wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables of the season.
Best wishes from Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Plant volunteers in the garden

2011-06-19T21:35:00.010-04:00

“Birds do it, bees do it Even educated fleas do it Lets do it”, let's fall in Robert’s Tropical Paradise Garden. Cole Porter was referring to something else entirely. I am referring to the multitude of seedlings growing in my garden that I did not plant. I have groundcovers, flowers, wildflowers, weeds, shrubs and even trees popping up all over the place. The reason is due to the fertile soil I have built up, the large amount of mulched areas and wild life that is attracted to my garden.
Birds feast on the stalks of berries from the Schefflera trees in other neighbor’s gardens. Then they come to my garden, take a leisurely cleansing in one of the bird baths, have some lunch at the bird feeders and drop some seeds as they fly off from my bird day spa. The Scheffleras pop up at various locations. Some I transplant and grow as bonsai from time to time. The Schefflera arboricola lend themselves much better than the large ones, but the large ones are what the birds like to drop in my garden.

Squirrels feast from the feeders as well, climb up and down the trees and bury oak seedlings. One by the fence grew and grew. I wanted to pot it up and replant in at one of the nursing homes I do Horticulture Therapy at but never got around to it. Hence chain saw surgery was in order.
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Sometimes the plant volunteer is quite welcome. I do not mind the milkweeds popping up since they attract the monarch butterflies. An occasional Crossandra gives a burst of orange color. Small Everglades tomatoes tend to start growing among shrubs and under the ground cover of small trees. If I catch them soon enough, I can transplant them to a more beneficial location and reap the harvest for a few months.
White birds of paradise also are germinating around the garden as well. They get huge, so will have to repot those as well.

First Visit to Naples Botanical Garden

2011-05-29T23:08:00.008-04:00

A birthday gift was a trip across alligator alley through the Everglades to reach a new gem of a botanical garden. This garden took many, many years of planning before they even broke ground. Each garden within the garden has a theme. The wetlands garden and bird watching area replicates the Everglades and is designed to attract birds and wildlife. The children’s garden is designed for the children to really enjoy playing while learning. The Roberto Berle Marx garden is a loving dedication by Raymond Jungles, who was his mentor. The Caribbean garden takes you away to the steel drums and sweet fruits of the tropical islands. The enabling garden had some raised beds with overgrown plants and needed some work. The intention was excellent; the execution needs some fine tuning.
It was amazing to view the gardens in their infancy. The newly planted gardens are already a delight to view. I look forward to going back to enjoy it while it matures.

Newspaper and mulch trick reappears in the garden

2011-05-19T08:42:00.013-04:00

My baby sitter was way ahead of her time. She was an organic gardener when the term was not even invented yet. Her entire backyard was a vegetable garden loaded with healthy vegetables, some of which I had never eaten or heard of as a little boy.
One of her tricks she taught us was to save time and work by not digging up the lawn to expand the garden.

She liked laying down five to six layers of newspaper and planting threw it later on after the grass had died. She was already elderly and it was an easy method for her.
There are a multitude of other benefits to the newspaper and mulch method of planting. The grass breaks down and adds organic matter to the soil. The weeds stay out. The ground stays moist longer so watering time is cut down.
With the invasion on chinch bugs and grubs into my lawn, combined with our lack of rain, I decided to reduce my lawn even further this spring.

My bromeliads were in need of dividing, so they provided the low ground cover needed to fill in the bare spots in the landscape. By low, I mean two feet and under, some of my bromeliads are rather large. Sometimes I like to group the same bromeliads together for uniformity, while other times I like to vary them in a landscape bed.

Flowers In the Florida Garden

2011-04-25T19:28:00.007-04:00

I once had a tour of seniors visit my garden from a senior residence. They all loved the garden but some of them commented they thought there would be more flowers. Since then I have added garden hooks for flowering hanging baskets throughout the backyard jungle. I added more flowering perennials, flowering shrubs to the front garden, and more roses.

Sometimes it’s nice to have constructive criticism, both inside and outside the garden. It helps us grow.

Lately there was a battle of chinch bugs in the front yard, and they won. This provided the opportunity for more area to plant. Over the weekend after touring a friend’s garden, I came home with a bag full of cuttings. I will nurture the in small pots in the shade until they root. Now that the humidity is up and the days are warmer, cuttings root easier.

I will be posting soon about some garden teas Annie sent me in the mail, quite an interesting story to tell…

Spring in South Florida

2011-04-12T22:37:00.014-04:00

Growing up as a little boy in New Jersey, our spring arrived with the brilliant yellow forsythia bushes. Before the leaves started to bud, these showy bushes would burst with yellow flowers up and down the slim branches.

My pining for the northern springs is fulfilled in South Florida with the blooming Yellow Trumpet trees. Tabebula argentea or Tavebuia caraiba . This ubiquitous tree can be seen throughout South Florida as a specimen in front of private homes and hugging the sides of commercial buildings. Notice them while sitting in traffic planted in street medians plantings.

I especially like the rough texture of the bark and the crooked way the branches grow as the tree matures. We found out during the last set of hurricanes how soft the wood of the tree really is. The trees came tumbling down like dominoes.
The previous owner of my house got five of the trees for free from the city for planting in the swales of the house. They grew into the power lines and have been butchered by the FPL crews. The garbage trucks come barreling through the neighborhood, crashing into the branches, causing them to cascade into the street.
Welcome sweet springtime!

Monarch Resurrection in Fort Lauderdale

2011-03-29T11:18:00.006-04:00

I want to share this amazing butterfly on a cool morning last week. Enjoy the photos. This monarch was resting outside my door. I brought over some flowers for nourishment and little by little she became active.
I lifted her up with a piece of paper and placed her on a collard green leaf and brought her into the sun. She then had enough energy to fly away.

Shamrocks and Irish Expressions - Miami Gardening | Examiner.com

2011-03-17T10:45:00.000-04:00

Shamrocks and Irish Expressions - Miami Gardening | Examiner.com

Best Irish Blessings

2011-03-17T08:37:00.017-04:00

The plant of the day is the shamrock (oxalis.) This one shown is a hanging basket that was originally planted with an impatiens plant. The shamrock was a volunteer that started growing in the pot on its own. I never got around to pulling it out. It eventually overpowered the impatiens and came in handy when I was doing my St. Patty’s Day class and nature crafts at the nursing homes. I am a horticulture therapist.

Here are some great Irish expressions
• As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.
• May you be in Heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you are dead!
• May the lord take a liking to you but not too soon.
• Do not resent growing old, many are denied the privilege.
• A blessing does not fill the belly.
• He who has water and peat on his farm has the world.
• Often a person’s mouth has broken his nose.
• A shut mouth catches no flies.
• It’s no use boiling your cabbage twice.
• May your kilt be short enough to dance theIrish jig but long enough to cover
your lucky charms.
Drink enough green beer and it comes out green as well.
• May you live to be one hundred years, with one extra to repent.
• May the lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight on you.
• May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again,
May G-d hold you in the palm of his hand.

Old Fashioned Roses Are New Again

2011-03-14T23:39:00.010-04:00

There is a new phenomenon in the south Florida gardening world. What is old is new again. Heirloom roses are becoming available at local garden centers and nurseries. There are wonderful benefits to growing the old fashioned roses.

Old fashioned roses are easier to grow than the new hybrid roses. They require little to no spraying of insecticides or fungicides. Heirloom roses flower more profusely than the newer hybrids. They often have a wonderful aroma. They grow on fuller bushes so they look less straggly than traditional hybrid roses. They require less pruning than modern roses.

The drawback of heirloom roses is that they do not have long stems, so they are not used in large vases. The stems are also very thin and are best suited for a bud vase. The flowers usually have fewer petals and fall off the stem in a shorter time than new hybrids. The color selection is limited.

There are a bountiful amount of old roses, such as the Gallica, Damask, Centifolia, Portland, Bourbon, Ramblers and more. Some of these early hybrids originated from the old china roses. European in origin, they came here with early settlers to the United States. Southern plantation owners covered their entry fences with many of these roses. They became own as Dixie roses.

Best in show : Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society

2011-02-23T22:22:00.014-05:00

Consider this: The Fort Lauderdale orchid show is the second largest show of its kind in the country. There is an expression, the number two guy tries harder. The volunteers bent over backwards to make this a great experience. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. There were lots o warm smiles and helpful hints.
Orchid prices were fair. Remember, you will not be buying the mundane common big box orchids here.

These are orchids that are much harder to come by. Sold here are genus and species not available in mass merchandisers. Also, here you can purchase large mature specimens not available elsewhere. Orchid prices began at about fifteen dollars, heading up to three hundred for some rare huge price winners.

In these tough economic times, they made it easy to spend money on the orchids by making it less expensive elsewhere. Parking was free. If you purchased your ticket early online by a deadline, it was only five dollars to get in. Even a day before the show, there were two dollar discounts for the regularly priced ten dollar tickets.
It is so much fun seeing such wonderful beauty in one room. They even provide you with a wrist band so you can come back and visit another day of the show. Next year do not miss this great show !

Chocolate does grow on trees: Great Valentine's Day Gifts

2011-02-07T22:55:00.009-05:00

Modern chocolate still originates from the fruit of the cocoa tree. Cocoa trees thrive in tropical rainforests throughout the world. Ancient South American civilizations enjoyed the natural cocoa and benefited from its natural antioxidants. Spaniards introduced the cocoa to Europeans where they heat processed the beans, added sugar, milk, fillers and more, degrading the health benefits.
The flowers of the fruit are pollinated by an insect that lives in the rainforests. When modern growers removed the trees from the forest and planted them in opened fields, the results were terrible. In South Florida, it is not recommended to plant the trees due to the lack of rainforest, cooler weather and overall poor results of past attempts. The only way to get a fruit is to hand pollinate each flower.
Life is good, especially if you eat and share an amazing patented cold pressed dark Belgium free trade chocolate.Chocolate, backed by thousands of research papers is considered a super food. XOCAI has the added benefit of being cold pressed, caffeine free, low in sugar, and is infused with healthy flax seed known to be good for the heart, pro biotic which aids in digestion and is found in yogurt, acai and blue berries great antioxidants, and more. The product line even has a meal replacement chocolate protein shake that is producing amazing results.
Sell it or buy it, here is the link www.robertstropicalgardenhealthychocolate.com

Worlds largest floating garden at night, Allure of the Seas

2011-01-22T23:03:00.012-05:00

The Allure of the Seas Central Park garden takes on a different feel in the evening. Lights can be attached to the base of the tree, with the light facing up to illuminate the trunk. Lights can also be mounted on the tops of the trunk, facing down to illuminate the trunk. Spotlights can be nestled at the base of the tree among the groundcovers to illuminate the tree canopy.
Foundation lights illuminate the walkways, as well as show of the low growing plants. The Central Park garden on Allure of the Seas gets foot traffic day and night due to the safe environment. Most cruise passengers would not dare enter their city garden at night back home..
The skyway pedestrian bridge across the garden is illuminated in a spectacular illusion of clouds in the sky.Foundation lights illuminate the walkways, as well as show of the low growing plants. Pedestrian walkways can also be lit with street poles as well.
This garden was designed to be a cityscape garden. However the plants are marked with identification like a botanical garden. Plant lovers will appreciate that.
I loved the living wall gardens on either side of the atrium, the great design details in the hardscape, as well as the art in the garden. I would have liked to have seen more Florida natives utilized and less generic interiorscape plants.

Largest Floating Garden at Sea: Allure of the Seas

2011-01-08T22:03:00.011-05:00

As you walk into the mature garden, it’s hard to believe it was just put in. It took seventy people seventy two hours to install the garden, according to Eva Matos of Ambius, the interiorscape firm that is contracted to work with the crew to keep the landscape maintained for the first month. According to Laszlo, the head manager of the garden, two nurseries supplied the plants for the entire garden, Michael’s Nursery and Southeast Growers, both well established south Florida wholesale nurseries.
There are twelve thousand plants in the garden, including fifty seven trees. There are seventy five species of plants. All of the plants were pre planted in two thousand modular planters at Michaels before being loaded onto the ship. Calibri (Body)Calibri (Body)

Edible Gardens made easy: 11th Street Annex Restaurant

2010-10-21T22:14:00.008-04:00

Just a tad south of the hustle and bustle of downtown Fort Lauderdale off Andrews Avenue there is a gem of a restaurant with a fantastic edible garden. This hidden gem is called Church Side 11th Street Annex, located next to Trinity Church and Trinity Churchside Garden.
When Jonny Altobell and Penny Sanfilppo created their restaurant 11th street annex, one requirement of their front entryway garden was that they wanted something special. “Everything to be medicinal, edible or smell good.” According to Penny. Luckily, her boyfriend happens to be the noted BCC plant guru, and nursery owner David McLean.

There are many very interesting unusual trees in the garden. There is large tree called the strawberry tree, which hails from SE Asia. There is a cinnamon tree. The cinnamon comes from the bark. There is a mulberry tree, a line berry tree and a mango tree. A large bay rum tree and lime berry tree rise up within the garden.

Naturally there are plenty of fresh grown herbs. There are some unusual plants also, notably the Chinese Fisheye Jasmine. There is a tree called lolate, in the piper family. The leaves are similar to grape leaves and they can be stuffed and eaten.

Amazing Secret Gardens of south Florida # 7

2010-10-12T00:24:00.005-04:00

Located off Fort Lauderdale beach, Richard’s secret garden has a unique tropical charm. The entryway offers visitors the opportunity to sit on a swing and watch the world go by. The front yard has just enough grass to keep the dogs happy, and it’s the only grassy area on the property.
The side yard has a lush tropical atmosphere with flowering hibiscus, gardenias, night blooming jasmine and more lining the edge of the property line. Hanging potted plants are decorating the slide walls of the house. This is a nice area for entertaining since the hot tub and BBQ grill are here as well. Turn the corner and here is an amazing surprise.The back garden’s main feature is a beautiful pool, with a water fall. A palm curves out and over the pool and the lush tropical garden wraps its way around the back yard giving privacy. There are palms, flowering bromeliads and a multitude of orchids hanging from the house.
There are unusual art works throughout the property as well as some garden whimsy here and there. An alligator rests at the edge of the pool. A set of lions frames the front of the property. A large wood sculptured table holds a bonsai collection.

Fabulous tropical palms

2010-08-30T23:33:00.004-04:00

What makes south Florida unique in the United States is the amazing assortment of palms we are able to grow here due to our unique climate. At Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens in Miami, they have collected over 700 species from all over the tropics that grow here as well.

There are about 10 or so native palms from Florida. Our state palm tree is the Sable palmetto, or cabbage palm. In order for officials to pick a state tree, it had to be able to grow throughout the various temperature growing zones. North Florida is practical Georgia, so the climate is much cooler. Here in the south we can grow cold sensitive palms that would freeze there.

In certain cultures, palms are dominant as a food source, housing, fiber, oil and many other uses. Here we see the fronds utilized for the roofs of tiki huts. Street vendors sell ice cold coconuts on street corners with sipping straws for cool summer refreshment.

Collectable caladiums, superstar plants for your garden

2010-08-23T13:16:00.005-04:00

Caladiums are grown for their colorful elephant shaped leaves. The plants are started from bulbs. Now is the time to add them to your garden. Caladiums thrive during sweltering South Florida heat and provide a great colorful tropical look to your patio or garden.

Wholesale growers plant the bulbs in the winter. The caladiums are ready for sale by early summer. Landscapers often switch out the heat sensitive impatiens, petunias and pansies for the heat tolerant caladiums. Visit your garden center for a bountiful selection.
Caladiums are easy to grow and can be placed in partial shade to full sun. They can be transplanted to the ground or into larger size pots. Do not keep them in the containers they came in. The roots will soon become pot bound. The pot will not hold water well and the plant will decline.
When repotting the caladiums make sure you untangle the root ball. Do not tear off the roots; just loosen them so they can grow out into the larger container or ground. If you leave the roots all cramped the plant will not grow as well.

Going bananas!

2010-08-08T14:41:00.005-04:00

Going bananas
South Floridians love bananas and there are many to grow here. There are ice cream bananas, red banana, finger bananas finger banansas and more. In fact, there even is a nursery called Going Bananas located in Homestead, Florida. Homestead is in southwest Miami.
Katie Chafin is co owner of Going bananas. When asked which her favorite banana was, she replied “Whatever is ripe!” With over ninety two different varieties to choose from, it is understandable why one would never tire of them.
Here in South Florida, many people without gardens get their bananas mostly in the supermarket like everyone else does elsewhere in the country. We buy the same ones imported by the big name producers located in Central American and the Caribbean Islands.
Many back yard gardeners also grow their own bananas. They are best started by shoots from the mother plant, divided up by digging the new shoots. If you have a friend with a banana you can get suckers from them, or buy plants from a local nursery. Backyard growers like to try varieties not found in stores.
The top sellers according to Katie:
• Gold finger- is a disease resistant large variety. This hybrid was created in Honduras.
• Nam wa- originated in Southeast Asia and has a delicious pineapple banana flavor.
• Raja puri – has a superb flavor but warns Katie, “You need to feed it like a teenage boy, you can’t feed it enough.” This Indian variety requires heavy feeding for the plant to thrive.
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Fairchild gardens mango festival a great success

2010-07-31T00:19:00.004-04:00

The record breaking heat would not keep hundreds of cars lined up before opening early Saturday morning. By mid day, thousands of people were piled into the normally serene Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The quiet as a library environment instead was alive with sitars and tablas playing, babies and mothers giggling with delight tasting the mango ice cream.

India was the theme of this year’s mango festival and the air was filled with the aroma of mango curry. Bollywood dancers performed. Yoga classes were taught for children and adult. Vendors were aplenty, featuring mango this, mango that. Rare spices were featured as well as rare teas.

Free samples of Mango salsa, mango cake, and mango creampuffs were offered. Local bakers such as Joanna's Marketplace local chefs like Chef Allen were there signing books and handing out salsa. Local soap maker had mango soap, along with plenty of others. Macy’s handed out mango cannolis while promoting their catering service. A pie maker from Georgia offered samples of delicious mango pie.

Secret gardens revealed # 1

2010-07-14T21:40:00.002-04:00

Nestled among charming homes in the Bell Mead neighborhood, Steve Hagen’s garden is unique. There is not a blade of grass. “Why grow and mow grass, when you can smell the roses! Not that I have roses, but most plants, bushes and trees store much more carbon than any blade of grass.”

When walking down the sidewalk, most of the other neighbors have grass and neatly boxed high maintenance cut shrubs. Steve has a wonderful tropical English style garden. Shrubs, trees and grownd covers converge and produce an amazing symphony of color texture and depth.

There are plenty of native trees and shrubs, mixed in with colorful flowering shrubs and palms. The meandering pathway to the front door leads us to a covered sitting area with inviting chairs
.
The backyard is a tropical paradise. There is a large fruiting mango tree, vines flowing up the palms and a wide assortment of shrubs and groundcovers as well. A stepping stone pathway meanders through the garden with a small wading pool off center acting as the focal point.

There is no sprinkler system in this lush paradise; the plants have to make it on their own. Steve hand waters when he has to on occasion. Many of the plants came as cuttings and samples from friends' gardens. Steve is the past chair of the Parks and Public Space Committee of Miami Neighborhoods United.

He is living proof of the magic that can be accomplished with a small amount of space without spending a king’s ransom. (Politicians take note.)

Best summer flowers to plant in the garden or patio

2010-06-22T22:04:00.001-04:00

The summer heat is frying the delicate winter annual flowers such as impatiens, petunias and pansies. With much tender loving care, you may be able to cut back your impatiens, relocate them to deep shade, and keep them alive over the summer.

Several summer favorite flowers to plant now are colorful and can live up to the challenges of the heat. Perslane and portulaca both do well this time of year. Often confused, the perslane has the larger, flatter leaves. The portulaca has the rounder, cylindrical leaves. Both flowers close up at night and open mid morning.

Pentas do well year round and are always a welcome addition to any garden. The red and pink varieties attract the most butterflies, followed by the white and purple. The red and light pink grow the tallest. The purple stays the shortest. They can last for a few years and are considered perennials.

Caladiums are grown in the summer for their showy colorful leaves. There are a multitude of variations in color. However, the nurseries only stock a few of them. They proudly show off their leaves until the autumn, when they start to decline. Do not throw them out, the bulbs revive again in late winter.

Ultimate Green Father’s Day gifts

2010-06-19T21:42:00.006-04:00

Father’s day should be different this year. We really feel helpless with the oil spill in the gulf. Fathers traditionally are the providers, the head of the household and all that goes with it. Dads are Mr. Fix it. We want to do something to fix the gulf but feel it’s too far away and too deep down in the ocean to help.

Fathers can control their kingdom, their garden. They can mow, prune, fertilize and water. A great father’s day gift this year is to go green. Plants that is. Give Dad a tree to plant. Give Dad plants to start a butterfly, vegetable or herb garden. This gift for Dad will be appreciated by the whole family and everyone will benefit.

Dad can proudly say to his neighbor, “Look at this wonderful oak tree (fill in the tree name) my family bought me this 20 years ago and looks how big it has grown.” Can Dad say to a neighbor, look at my wonderful underwear my family bought me! Not in this lifetime. Forget about those old tired gifts of underwear, slippers and ties.

We are lucky to have some wonderful choices locally to buy Dad a special plant or empower Dad with a gift certificate to one of the following nurseries in the tri county area:

Meadow Beauty Nursery: Specializes in Florida native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Note, the nursery is opened to the public on Saturday’s only. An amazing place to see loads of butterflies and see how the potted plants will look years from now: the nursery is nestled alongside their personal garden. Owners: Donna Leone and Carl Terwilliger
5782 Ranches Road.
Lake Worth, FL 33463
(561) 969-9250

Living Color Nursery: A wonderful nursery that also has a vast selection of pottery, garden statuary, wind chimes, stepping stones and so much more. Owner Mark Herndon
3691 Griffin Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
(954) 985-8787

Casey’s Corner Nursery: A wide variety of unusual plants including palms, trees, shrubs and natives along with Susan, a wonderful woman who knows her plants! Owner: Susan Casey
31877 S.W. 197th Avenue
Homestead, FL 33030
(305) 248-7284

Royal Poinciana Blooms Amazing This Year

2010-06-13T11:07:00.012-04:00

A special treat greets those visiting South Florida this time of year, the Royal Poinciana tree. Due to the coldest winter in years, scientists say that is the best bloom in decades. The brilliant red blooms of this tree are so spectacular, it’s also known in some Latin American countries as the Flamboyant tree.
Originally from Madagascar, how it got to south Florida remains a mystery. David Fairchild, the famous plant explorer who has a garden named after him in Miami planted one in 1917. Early settlers of the areas used to plant the trees to cool their homes in the summer months with their shade. Since they are deciduous, by winter time the tree canopy is bare, so the house gets warm from the sun. The trees look like they are straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. They have a large stout trunk and an enormous canopy that is often shaped like an umbrella. The leaves are fine and compound. The tree is in the Leguminosae family and has relatives such as the Tamarind and Mimosa trees. The seed pods are mature to a dark long 12-18 inches and when shaken sound like a maraca.

So important is the tree to Miami that in 1937 the mayor declared a special day to be Royal Poinciana Day. In 1938 they started a Fiesta and had concerts and our poet laureate of Florida Larimore Raider wrote a special poem dedicated to the tree called Peacock Proud. Every year a Royal Poinciana Queen is appointed. There are special events and tours of the most beautify trees.
The popularity of the Royal Poinciana is exemplified by the numerous local landmarks named after it, notably schools, streets, shopping centers and developments. On the FIGI Islands, the trees bloom in the winter. They call it their Christmas tree. It also grows in central and South American as well as Hawaii.

The trees need a lot of room to spread out so keep that in mind when planting. It is suggested to plant thirty feet away from the house. They can be seen along roadsides, in older neighborhoods as well as in parks, schoolyards and botanical gardens.

If April Showers Bring May Flowers, What Do The May Flowers Bring? Pilgrims!

2010-05-13T01:23:00.009-04:00

Let’s check what is blooming now in the garden. The wonderful Tabebuias, both in pink and yellow are making a wonderful show of their trumpet shaped blooms. Up north the forsythia starts off spring like a lion, and here in South Florida the Tabebuias bring us wonderful color as well. The wonderful bougainvilleas are giving us bountiful blooms, see below.

Although bougainvillea blooms off and on most of the year, this time of year their colors blend nicely with the other blooming plants. Vines are also starting to pop with color, including the popular bleeding heart.

The record heat wave of late is causing the potted plants to dry out more quickly. The pansies have already withered away. The petunias and impatiens are struggling while the caladiums are gorgeous as well as the crossandra. The tomatoes are still producing although the greenery is dying off. This is our end of the vegetable season except for the hearty collards, okra, peppers and the like. The heat and humidity are here, the snowbirds (tourists) are gone. When late fall arrives, the cool weather returns along with the snowbirds.

Lets Have a Spring Fling!

2010-03-26T22:39:00.006-04:00

Happy spring! Enjoy those crocus, tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils popping up with vibrant bursts of color. Here in South Florida we only see them in the supermarkets as potted plants for Easter!
Having grown up in New Jersey I really miss the wonders of the changing seasons, especially spring. Luckily I have some wonderful photos, but it’s so much better to see the evolution from winter to spring in person. It’s like a butterfly metamorphosis, in that winter is the chrysalis and spring is the butterfly. Here in South Florida we have a subtle change. Instead of the vibrant yellow forsythia bushes, we have the brilliant yellow tabebuia trees blooming. Although we do not have the gorgeous vast array of flowering bulbs, we have the amaryllis coming up soon and the native agapanthus in the summer. Lilacs do not bloom here either, but we will have the pretty crape myrtles later this summer. We do have the flowering silk floss tree that will be putting out a display soon as well. Enjoy your Easer and Passover, and let’s be thankful for whatever we have.

Shamrocks Going WIld!

2010-03-13T11:40:00.007-05:00

Shamrocks grow wild in the South Florida gardens and there are a couple of varieties popping up in my garden right in time for St. Patrick's Day. In Ireland, fresh shamrocks are worn and sent to loved ones. The formal name or Latin name is Oxalis. The flowers are beautiful. The smaller leaved shamrocks have yellow flowers and the larger leaved shamrocks have purple flowers. The following gardening site is a wonderful resource direct from Ireland! www.Garden.ie.com

St.Patrick's Day: The Ultimate Green Holiday

2010-03-10T22:40:00.012-05:00

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St. Patrick’s Day is a gardener’s dream holiday; they do not call Ireland the emerald Isle for no reason. The country is greener then the usual green we see in the United States. Its rich earth provides an abundance of root crops such as potatoes, turnips, parsnips and carrots. The above ground crop of cabbage is king. Carrageen, edible seaweed is made into a jelly. Irish stew is made with mutton, onions, potatoes, parsley and thyme.

Now the shamrock! St Patty originally was born in Roman Briton. He came to Ireland and brought Christianity with him, creating schools and churches. He used the three leaf clover to demonstrate the holy trinity. Have you ever found a four leaf clover? As children my friends and I would spend hours looking for them. One time I did! It was so exciting. I kept it in-between two pieces of paper. After several years, it disintegrated! Wish I knew about contact paper then.

Now for the nature craft, it’s fun and easy. All you need is some clear contact paper, scissors, ribbon or wool, a whole puncher, and clover. Normally it is good to press a leaf or flower in a book or leaf press first for a week. This takes the moisture out. Due to time constraints, this year it’s not possible. . Laminate the clover in the contact paper. You can use this to create a necklace, luggage tag or book mark.

Sing some Irish songs, dance and have fun!

Secrets to Grow Great Roses

2010-03-02T00:05:00.006-05:00

Last weekend I had the privilege of touring Jeff Chait's amazing garden that included six hundred rose bushes. This was organized through the Tropical Rose Society of Miami. Growing roses anywhere can be a challenge. Growing roses in South Florida for many is even difficult. The poor soils, the wet/dry season, the heat, the lack of a dormancy period all combine to make it very challenging.
Jeff is a consulting Rosarian and a rose show judge. He explained all the fertilizers needed, fungicides, insecticides required to grow roses successfully. For hybrid roses it is good to use Fotuniana or Dr Huey rootstock. Jeff suggested a 7/4/5/ acid fertilizer to be purchased at J & M in Homestead. Neem oil can be used for insects but not in summer. Jeff even gave out cuttings of certain roses that that do not need special rootstock. These roses are sometimes called heirloom or old fashioned roses. Thank you Jeff for a wonderful day.

How to Create Romantic Chocolate Roses: A Special Valentine’s Day Treat That Keeps on Giving

2010-02-11T23:14:00.003-05:00

This is a wonderful creative nature craft. A chocolate rose keep sake is a gift that keeps on giving after the Valentine’s Day holiday is over. Place this eternal beauty in a bud vase for your viewing pleasure.

Supplies Needed:
Chocolate Kisses
Silk wired leaves
Floral tape
Floral wire
Gold pipe cleaners
Red plastic wrap
Clear tape.

Pull out four inches of wrap, cut in half so you have about a four by four square. Place two kisses flat end back to back to make the rosebud. Pull and cover the bud with the wrap. Tape up any loose ends. Cut floral wire into six inch length stems. Push end of wire into chocolate rose bud until it can not go in any further. Make a slight cure in the wire leaves. Place one leaf near rosebud and wrap the thin rose wire down the wire rose stem. Take the second leaf and place it an inch below the first leaf on the opposite side. Wrap the wire around the stem. Cut off about eight inches of floral tape. Starting at the top, cover the wires and stem with floral tape. Starting from the top of the stem, wrap the gold pipe cleaner around the rose stem.
This rose never needs watering, and will never die! Enjoy and happy holiday!

Follow These Easy Steps To Formulate A Garden Club

2010-02-01T23:38:00.013-05:00

There was a need in our community for a garden club. People had many plant questions and needed information and some motivation on how to get their gardens in tip top shape. I posted a message on the facebook page of our association. See the post below. Just pick out a topic, you can teach it or have a guest speaker, someone who is a garden guru. We will meet at a different homeowner's garden each month. Refreshments are served. (Everyone loves a snack!) Give yourself about 20 minutes for a garden tour, 20 minutes for the lecture topic and 15 or so minutes to eat. Then give out cuttings from the garden or small seedlings you started. At some meetings they have plant raffles or everyone brings in plants, they sell tickets (.50 cents a piece) to defray costs of the meeting; (Mailings, handouts and refreshments.) To keep costs down each person can bring refreshment and use the internet instead of mailing. You can get people from your church or synagogue, PTA, gym, or people from work to start a garden club.

Example of Announcement:

Poinsettia Heights Garden Club
Date:
Sunday, January 31, 2010 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Attention all green thumbs we are starting a brand new club called the Poinsettia Heights Garden Club. We will meet on the last Sunday of the month at 10:00 am starting this January 31st. This is for beginners or experienced gardeners. Each month we will meet at one of our neighbor’s gardens. A new and exciting topic will be presented. Be prepared to learn a lot, take home cuttings to grow plants,and make new friendships. Refreshments served.
We will have the first meeting at: Your house, address and telephone number to RSVP

Have fun with it and let me know how it goes!

How to Start Your Own Garden Club

2010-02-01T23:30:00.006-05:00

I have lived in my community for many years and finally decided to start a garden club here. We had never had one and there are about one thousand residents in the area. Most are homeowners and there are also some duplexes and apartment residents as well. I am a tree hugger, I admit it. Tell me about a plant group and I am there. Over the years I have attended the Palm Society, Herb Society of Broward County, The Violet Patch, Bromeliad society, Rare Fruit Council and BUSH. The last one always raised eyebrows; it stands for Better Understanding through Horticulture. They are all fun, meet once a month and were held at the county extension office. Your local county extension office may also host such meetings. Since I was so busy attending these, I did not find it necessary to form a group and take on the responsibility. Then I changed my mind and was happy I did! Its easy and fun.

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Basil Art Show: Inspirations From the Garden

2010-01-17T22:29:00.015-05:00

Extacy Almond Blosom by Mustata Hulugi at gallery Gavlak TR Beyoglum in Istanbul.

Trees have been created in a multitude of ways such as on canvas, carvings, bronze. Here is another representation. Check out these neon leaves. This really takes you by suprise as you approach from afar. Mennour, Paris.

Mobiles are back in a big way at the fair, here is a representation. This garden scene appears to be pouring out of the paint can!

Gardens Inspire Artists At Basil Art Fair

2010-01-17T21:29:00.007-05:00

This mobile was amazing, with these detailed moss balls floating down. Each small "world" had beautiful layers of different kinds of moss.

Artist Ruud Van Enpel Stux Gallery, NYC.
The most important contemporary art fair in the United States was held in Miami Beach. As usual the art was amazing. There was a vast array of galleries representing artists from all over the world.
Artists throughout time have chosen to express their creativity through their experiences with plants, flowers and landscapes. The following art is a very small representation of the dozens of artists to choose from.

How To Protect Your House With Green Security Guards

2010-01-07T08:24:00.004-05:00

Go Green with Homeland Security

2010-01-06T23:30:00.007-05:00

Homeland security begins at your home. How secure is your property from being burglarized? How can you safeguard your house and be green at the same time? Often security professionals tell us to keep visibility high around the house. This may be practical for a security perspective but,ugly to an avid gardener. A great way to keep burglars away from your windows it to plant horrible thorny plants. A drugged out burglar wanting some cash for his next fix is less likely to mess with getting all bloody trying to break a window with a cactus plant blocking easy access. Thorny roses are also effective as well as the bougainvillea vine. With one inch thorns, these cause a lot of unwanted pain Certain palms are notorious for their massive thorns, such as the ubiquitous pygmy date palm, or Phoenix robeillini. A cactus in a large clay pot is an effective deterrent against crime as well. I call these green security guards. Be well and be safe.

Tis the Season For Some Herbal Teas!

2009-12-21T22:16:00.004-05:00

Tis the season to indulge in herbal teas! Now that cold winter is upon us, why not treat yourself to some special teas to improve your mind body and spirit? For those of us in the warm climates, we can still go outside and pick fresh herbs for our teas. For those of you up north who harvested herbs from your garden and dried or froze them, you can utilize them. Head to the local grocery or specialty store and treat yourself to a few boxes of specialty teas. This will surely add to the holiday season, and save you some cash as well. A box of 20 teabags is less money than a prepared cup of coffee at one of the popular storefront chains.
This time of year with all the over eating and indigestion, make some mint tea. It settles the stomach and tastes great. Many restaurants give mints at the check out counter for this very reason. If you get indigestion after eating there, would you come back? The mints prevent this from happening. Feeling a bit anxious or having trouble sleeping ? Grab some chamomile tea. It’s a wonderful way to relax and is a popular calming tea. One brand even touts it's Sleepy Time tea. (The main ingredient is chamomile.) On the shelves are also some holiday teas, with cinnamon, cloves and orange flavor. These teas are a refreshing change and gets one in the spirit of the season. Enjoy your new selections of tea and tickle your taste buds .

Secrets For A Successful Vegetable Garden

2009-11-20T02:44:00.013-05:00

There are many secrets for growing successful vegetables and herbs. A raised bed is one of them. There are some great suppliers and many options. There are many suppliers of raised beds that will not break the bank. Raised beds will save time and also your back! Although they are usually only eight inches high, it keeps the costs down when you fill it with soil. Buy bags of composted manure ir you are not near a farm or horse stable where you can get it for free. You may want to add some professional potting mix, and your own compost that is rich in organic matter. The better the soil, the easier it is for the plants to absorb the nutrients and water necessary for great growth. Look at the picture of me standing behind an amazing huge basil! In Florida most of our soils are way too sandy. The plants get nematodes and they become weak and stunted. Raised beds and great soil is the way to go. Weeds are less of a problem in raised beds. I mulch the raised beds as well to keep the weeds out. Containers also work well. For tomatoes I like a five to seven gallon container. For herbs use at least a gallon size, and when they outgrow that a three gallon size works fine. Good luck and happy planting!

Community Gardens: Going Green in Wilton Manors, FL

2009-11-02T23:12:00.007-05:00

In the heart of a residential neighborhood there is a wonderful community garden with some amazing surprises. Community gardens are very special for a multitude of reasons. They provide small growing plots to people who may not have access to any other planting area. They are popping up all over urban and suburban centers all over the United States . In place of debris, abandoned neglected vacant lots, greenery, flowers and vegetables are sprouting. People are taking pride in their new gardens and neighborhoods improve because of them. New friendships bloom. Going green, producing your own locally grown food and being politically correct: it’s all great!

Autumn Leaves Are Mother Nature's Miracle

2009-10-20T23:28:00.005-04:00

The joys of watching the Autumn leaves change color is Mother Nature’s way of showing us her creativity. A photograph, a painting, a television show all try to capture the beauty of Fall Color. The best way to see Autumn color is to view it in person, up close. I was fortunate to be able to take a vacation to Boston, Maine, St. Jon and Halifax two weeks ago. Having been born in New Jersey and having spent the last thirty years in Florida, I miss the seasons.
Maples are my favorite. There is such vivid diversity of the reds, yellows and orange, with a small spattering of green sometimes mixed in. Sometimes one side of the tree will change color first. Maple trees are native on the east coast of the Americas from Canada to the Florida Keyes. In Florida, if we have a few weeks of cool weather in January and February, we may see some slight color change, but nothing like up north.
I wish you all a wonderful autumn season.

Ornamental Outlook:A Great Source of Information For Both The Novice And Professional

2009-09-26T23:21:00.008-04:00

Ornamental Outlook Magazine has great information on new plant varieties, insects to look out for, profiles on major growers, and so much more. Although the magazine is geared for the Southeast United States, it contains information that is beneficial to all plant enthusiasts. The publisher offers other trade magazines as well. Best of all, if you are in the industry, they are free. I have subscribed to them for many years. The advertisers provide wonderful array of products. There is wonderful photography to back up the articles.

Liz Taylor, Tori Spelling and Kathy Griffith all love Gardens.

2009-09-18T07:29:00.006-04:00

Celebrities are people just like us, and since gardening is America's number one past time, many movie stars, famous athletes and entertainers find joy in getting their hands in the soil. They love the experience of planting seeds, watching them sprout and starting vegetable gardens.

Recent celebrities digging in the garden include Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott planting an organic vegetable garden on their reality TV show Tory and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood on the Oxygen network. Suzanne Somer's large organic garden was featured on the Kathy Griffith reality show My Life on the D List. Liz Taylor created a top selling fragrance out of the gardenias growing in her garden.

As the weekend approaches, take time to smell the roses, enjoy harvesting some vegetables, or take a walk in a park.

Related Links
www.newsday.com/...garden/inside-celebrity-gardens-1.1385826
www.npr.org/programs/morning/gardenseries/index.html
www.itv.com/Lifestyle/ThisMorning/HomeandGarden/Mygarden123/default.html

Star Fruit, Carambola, Five Fingers.

2009-09-15T18:29:00.005-04:00

2009-09-15T11:59:00.002-04:00

Tropical Fruit Tip

Have you tried the Star Fruit? In the Tropical Islands is is also known as five fingers. Cut the fruit sideways and you will find out why. There are five points like a star or a hand spread out wide. This fruit is packed with antioxidants and has loads of vitamin c, the same as an orange. Native the China, the scientific name is Carambola. This tropical fruit tree grows anywhere there is no chance of a freeze. Carambola tastes somewhat like a cross between a pineapple and an apple: its a bit mild and tart. It has loads of fiber. Chop it up and add to salads. It blends nicely with a fruit salad, a lettuce salad, even tuna or chicken salad. The sliced fruit floats, add these stars to your punch bowl for a festive occasion!

Go Visit Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

2009-09-02T18:15:00.002-04:00

Nestled among a native pine land in western Delray Beach, Florida is a gem one must experience first hand. The largest Japanese garden in the Southeast United States has over 200 acres of land. There are two museum buildings, that include a tea house, restaurant with a Delicious reasonably priced menu and wonderful fully stocked gift shop. The grounds are simply spectacular. You get to see the essence of Japan through a selection of native and exotic South Florida landscape trees, bushes and ground covers. There are flowing waters of ponds, waterfalls and fountains. Wonderful reflective sculpture gardens, bridges, pavilions,gates,and paths all blend together to make this place seem a vacation to Japan, only a lot closer. Reiko Nishioka, the Director of Education of Morikami for seventeen years was our tour guide for the day. I have visited the gardens countless times over the years and it always provides the opportunity to heal, rejuvenate and sooth your mind body and spirit. Mr. Hoichi Kurisu designed the gardens with the intention to provide a therapeutic environment. He succeeds in ways that have to be experienced to firsthand.

Weekly Tropical Fruit Tip

2009-08-26T21:41:00.003-04:00

Now is a great time to buy mangos, they are delicious and bountiful in the supermarkets. Pick them up, feel the skin and smell the fruit. If is is sweet smelling and gives a little when you touch it, take it home and in a day or tow on the counter its ready to eat. Mangos are loaded with vitamin A, some vitamin C and K, has lots of fiber and is so healthy! To see a video of mangos, go to this site. Enjoy!

Robert's Tropical Paradise Garden

2009-08-21T12:35:00.002-04:00

From anywhere in the world you can create your own tropical paradise! It can be several acres outside or in a 4 inch container on a table. It can be on your desktop at work, a windowsill in the kitchen, or on a patio. Gardening is America's number one past time.
WHY SPEND TIME WITH PLANTS?

Plants are therapeutic
Indoor plants clean the air of toxins
Its fun watching something grow
It gives a sense of purpose to life
Plants connect us to the environment
Gardens can bring a family closer

My life is plants and they have given me much joy. Hope you feel that way also.

Welcome!

2009-08-21T12:34:00.000-04:00

Hello Everybody! I hope everyone will participate in my Horticulture Blog! I also want everyone to know they can contact me here, through the blog, or on my Website http://www.robbornstein.com