Outdoor design ideas

Image Source:  HGTV Website As the heat and humidity calms down a bit here in Florida, my increased desire to get outdoors inspires me to work on some outdoor design ideas For more outdoor design ideas, click here for a  slideshow of over 500 photos . . . very inspirational! Sorry,...

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Gorgeous Bromeliads in bloom

Now is the time to visitBusch Gardens in Tampa, Floridaif you love blooming bromeliads!The clustering of different types of bromeliadsmixed in with caladiums and orchids arrangedin varying heights is breathtaking . . .These type of tightly clustered beds arescattered throughout the grounds atBusch Gardens.Love...

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Growing Basil

One of the benefits of gardening in central Florida (zone 9) is no time is a bad time to start basil from seed . . . and a benefit of growing basil after not doing any serious gardening for several years is the instant gratification. It is one of the most foolproof herbs in this area.Growing basil...

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Aucuba . . . the plant with the look of the tropics

It is one of those plants that thrived in my father's garden, a successful result of his passion for propagating plants collected in his travels. The shrub in the photo from my garden is a result of several years growth from the cuttings I took from his yard. The aucuba plant is one of my favorites. Our...

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Florida Gardening . . . what to do in June

After a very unusually cold winter, summer has crept up on us. The poor bushes have put out new growth amongst the bare sticks that still need to be pruned from the winter damage.After years of neglect, we have the overwhelming task of starting over again with the landscaping. As we rebuild "The Paradise"...

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Shell Pot for Succulents

This is the perfect time of the year to bring the outdoors inas well as summer memories of the beach.I found this awesome shell terracotta pot on Katie Brown's websitewhich is perfect for those succulents you want to bring inside orput out on your patio.Materials Terra cotta potsAssorted seashellsTacky...

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Saving money on garden supplies

It has been quite some time since I have posted to my blogs . . . this blog was started somewhere else and I am still in the process of moving blogs and getting on with my life at the same time. I've still not gotten out in the garden yet and my intentions have been good regarding my carport jungle, however, real life has taken precedence over plants. Even Martha Stewart would say that it is a "good thing" . . .The following...

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What's blooming in Paradise

They started in my dad's garden. As a child I remember the bright orange and red blooms against the colorful tropical crotons, thinking how beautiful the color combinations were.He taught me how to multiply plants, baby them and have them give back with their beauty. There was a lady on one of the...

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Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a durableflowering succulent that requires littlemaintenance and can be grown eitherindoors or outdoors.Their fleshy, dark shiny green leaves will reach 3 inches (7.7 cm) long by up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide with lobed edges.Floral colors range from the traditional red to...

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Winter in Florida

The photo depicts a normal winter in my area of Central Florida, where red blooms can be seen all over my property from the hibiscus bushes. These are my beautiful fluffy doubles from a previous year. No blooming hibiscus this year because of too many nights of freezing temps. However,...

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