Want to grow your own tomatoes?

Although we got a late start, we are enjoying tasty tomatoes our tomato plants are putting out.

In the past, we have been able to grow our tomatoes all year long, which is what we are setting out to do.  There is nothing like picking your own tomatoes off the plant for dinner . . . and you can never have too many tomatoes!

If you need information on how to grow your own tomato plants, Fine Gardening has an awesome video series covering various topics.  Click here to go to their tomato page.

And if you haven't checked it out yet, click here to go to my tomato links page.

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Creative Garden Design

Michelle is "consumed by seeing art and design in everyday life."

It is apparent in her awesome landscape designs that is a mix

of gardening and art with awesome and unusual results.

Her blog, Garden Porn, is an art gallery for the gardener who

loves putting an artistic touch in their garden designs.  It is a

delight for the inspirational senses!

The above photo from her blog features an awesome staghorn fern

planting that is mixed with a variety of succulents displayed in a way

that we will definitely be doing for our carport jungle.  I've already

decided to cover the wire container with staghorn ferns since those

succulents don't do well in our humid climate.

Here is what I have done with staghorn ferns . . . they are featured

in a discarded book rack trash to treasure project that is still thriving

in our garden after a decade and survived some very harsh winters.

I started the staghorns as babies in the book rack that

was lined with chicken wire and gardening moss.  It has

grown in a semi-shady area and basically left alone for

at least the past 8 years.  This photo was taken four

years ago.  It is still thriving and growing in the same 

spot . . .  definitely a survivor!

We may scatter some baby staghorns around the sides of

the rack, which should make a spectacular feature in

 the garden.

More recent photos to come as soon as we refresh

the bald spots!

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Trash to Treasure

What an awesome idea for yard sale treasures!

My grandmother used one of these to make her

 tasty mashed potatoes.  It brings back lots of 

great memories :)  

I'd love to make one of these

for the carport jungle!

Click here for a tutorial on how

 to make one of your own.

I've often used many kitchen items in the

 garden.  My favorite is an old broken 

coffee maker that I painted . . .

One of the things I love creating most is giving

life to  an otherwise useless item.  You'd be

surprised what a difference a little paint makes.

Happy crafting and gardening!

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Driftwood Plant Container

Container gardening is one of my favorite methods of gardening.  

One of the things I love most is being creative with containers.  

I love this container featuring driftwood!

Click here for a tutorial of how to make it . . . awesome idea!

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Grassless Wishes

I already dislike grass in the landscape . . . then the lawn mower decided to quit working with flowering weeds looming in the midst of a sparse lawn.  That was it for me . . . no more grass . . . it is history!


The more landscape design research I do, the more I am loving large winding paths, raised beds and structures in the garden.


We have been thinking about different landscape designs for the front yard and my thinking is that a circular driveway nestled in between a cactus rock garden is the current winner.  It may take a while to get to this project, but the grass is definitely history.  The good news is that we have tons of cactus that the cold winters didn't kill from my days of massive propagation with hopes of a nursery business.


With a huge property as a blank canvas, half the fun is planning the landscape.  Unlike the last landscape design for our paradise, the new design must be as low-maintenance as possible.  My 24/7 gardening days are over . . . I want to enjoy, not work myself to death in the garden.


Click here to go to an article that addresses Low-Maintenance Alternatives to Lawns.


Something that I caught on one of the home and garden cable channels was artificial turf . . . I have not researched pricing, but I'm sure it carries a high price.  It is a consideration for small areas where a little patch of grass would be attractive.  I'll report my findings when I get to it . . .


How about you?  Do you love or hate lawns?

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Landscaped borders

The older I get, the more I like landscaped borders with large paved living areas as opposed to huge planted areas.  This idea works great for large yards with way too much maintenance.  It also accommodates those gardeners like me who are not fond of grass or spending way too much time mowing the lawn.

These photos come from DIY Network's website, where you can get all kinds of inspiration and instructions for your outdoor projects.

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Floors for outdoors

Love these pavers!

Stephen Orr’s Tomorrow’s Garden (Rodale, $25) showcases the
 latest trends in sustainable gardens from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. 

Click here for his ecofriendly picks for outdoor flooring.

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Plants for Butterfly Gardening

My red pentas were the main attraction for butterflies in my old garden . . . and my favorite butterfly gardening plant.  

They profusely flower and look gorgeous in a mass planting.  Pentas will once again play a huge part in our future garden landscape.

Here is some information on the plant from Florida Friendly Plants:

"Pentas lanceolata is the most popular Florida Friendly perennial. It blooms continuously and is one of the best Butterfly attractors. The tall varieties should be pruned several times a year to shorten and strengthen their structure. Soil enriched with 50% organic matter (compost, leaf mold, cow manure, peat) supports beneficial bacteria and microbes that combat microscopic nematodes, a pest that can cause the eventual decline of Pentas. Pentas is adaptable to full sun and partial shade and repeating several groupings across the length of your garden alternating with another tough and colorful plant like Variegated Flax Lily adds harmony, texture and formal appeal to a design."

Interested in learning more about butterfly gardening?

Click here to go to the butterfly gardening page on my website.

Click here to go to Florida Friendly Plants website's page on their

Top 10 butterfly plants.

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April Gardening Notes

    

~ What to do in April ~

a suggested list of notes for Florida gardeners

Remove winter damaged plant portions.

Look for shoots from near the ground line of severely damaged plants.

Leaves are a source of free mulch or compost for the gardens.

Give all poinsettias a spring trimming.

Now is the time to add new plants to the landscape.

Maintain 2- to 3-inch mulch layers around trees and shrubs;

 one inch in flower beds.

Use slow release fertilizers that can feed landscape plants for months.

Feed palms with special fertilizers made for these plantings

 every 3 to 4 months.

Complete pruning of overgrown plants.

Prune spring flowering trees and shrubs after the blossoms fade.

Inspect older trees and trim as needed before the hurricane season begins.

Water new plantings as needed to keep the soil moist.

Divide perennials before the really hot weather arrives.

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More seed starting ideas

Recycle those old ice trays you aren't using anymore! 
Click here for an awesome article with tips and tutorial.

I love using the method of newspaper pots, another seed starting method using recycled items.  Lindy at Cottage Hill gives directions for a very easy method of making these pots.  Click here to go to the blog post.

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