Spring forward with new plants for your garden

Spring in South Florida is just around the corner and it is prime planting time for shrubs, trees, groundcovers and perennials.  Why is this the case?  Planting in the fall and winter is our dry season.  If you get ambitious during the weekend with a major landscape overhaul and then have a super busy work week and forget to give a deep hand water to your plants, you may be in trouble.  A few days of super hot and or windy weather could dry out the root ball of the plants and they may die.  Sprinklers never provide a deep enough soaking to newly planted material.   Ever try to revive a severely wilted plant?  It is hit or miss, especially for young plants that are not established in your garden.  A great resource for plants to utilize for your area is Monrovia Nursery.  Just plug in your zip code and the best plants for your area will pop up plus when you scroll down it will list the closest nurseries to buy the plants!  <img src="http://ooh.li/1c8a4ef" />

That is why spring and summer are best for major plantings.  We get daily afternoon showers that cool us off as well as our gardens.  The showers compliment our hose waterings of newly planted gardens.  Try to choose plants that will provide food for wildlife.  Certain flowers attract butterflies, some plants produce berries for birds, and dense shrubs provide protection and shade for critters.  Pick waterwise plants for an easy to maintain garden.

I enjoy beautiful easy Lantana for a burst of year round color.  Lantana thrives in the brutal hot summer Florida heat, and are great for our bees and butterflies.   I love the color combination of milkweed and Lantana, so will plant these together in my butterfly garden.

Another favorite are the Kalanchoes.  Their deep vibrant colorful flowers last for weeks and if you nurture them they will come back next year.  My Kale is nearing the end of the season, and as I remove the lower leaves for cooking, the plant is looking leggy.  Planting the Kalanchoes underneath provides vibrant color to my potted vegetable garden.  http://ooh.li/1c8a4ef

Thank you Monrovia for providing the plants for this story!  I remember first learning about Monrovia during college horticulture classes.  Their use of cutting edge scientific research, newest technology, and top quality growing conditions exemplifies why their plants grow so well in your garden.  Many garden centers such as Living Color, Perfect Choice and Lowes carry Monrovia Plants.

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Mango harvest time in South Florida

This is a wonderful time of year indeed, mango harvest!  I grew up in New Jersey and did not hear about mangoes until I moved to Florida.  Now I know why some call it the apple of the tropics.  The trees are ubiquitous here, especially in the older neighborhoods.  The trees tower over the homes.  Here is an article and slide show of the beautiful trees and fruit. Mangoes in South Florida

Mango trees and power lines are a deadly combination

Today I picked some from my tree, a Cogshell variety that is simply one of the best tasting mangoes around.  I picked the tree to grow in my garden since it branches low and you can prune it to stay shorter than most mango trees. 

Every year, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens has an amazing Mango weekend, with executive chefs preparing a gourmet brunch that always sells out. There are a multitude of vendors selling mango trees, fruit, jellies and chutneys. Here is an article and slide show. Mango Festival at Fairchild Gardens 

When picking mangoes, one has to be very careful of the power lines.  Every year someone dies from the mango picker touching an electrical wire.  Here is a slide show and article.  Mango trees and power lines are a deadly combination

Although the mango season is from May until October, each variety bears at different times.  There are early season, mid season and late season varieties. They bear for about six weeks.  At the height, you are inundated with them.  My sink is now loaded.  Time for a mango smoothie!

Here are my favorite place to buy a mango tree:
Pepe's Plants Great resource for edibles such as herbs, rare and exotic fruit trees, veggies.  Added benefit - Has a booth at Hollywood's Green Yellow Farmers Market
Swap Shop - has lots of tropical fruit trees for sale.
Living Color Garden Center - Wonderful place to visit due to the huge selection and wonderful display gardens.
Spikes Grove Grand daddy of old time citrus stands, now also has a great selection of tropical fruit trees.
Flamingo Road Nursery Has a beautiful garden center, butterfly garden and farmers market also.

Support your local independent plant growers and buy local.  Have a wonderful day.