Cool Tools and Earth Day Celebration!

I spent the day at the Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce, FL for their

Bloomin' Plant and Art sale,

Heathcote Botanical Gardens

and the Oxbow Eco Center

10th annual Earth Day Living Green Festival.

What fun my two children and I had! While Dad was fishing (fun, too), we enjoyed the day at these two festivals, with  all they had to offer, which was a lot!!

First on the list is the "cool tools" showcased throughout the Heathcote Botanical Gardens. Tools are recrafted into whimsical creatures and displayed throughout the garden grounds. So fun!

This is my favorite and I may need to attempt to copy this fine specimen!

Although not a traditional tool, the children's membership crafted this "pot man"...

My children enjoyed making his acquantance.

Sophia and I were even given the priviledge of the "green thumb award"...my son respectfully declined.

I DID mention that this event featured a plant sale, right?  I had to heal my sadness from my recent bottle palm loss by purchasing a new, larger version for only $15...yes, that's right!  BARGAIN!

More bargains...a foxtail seedling for $1...

Loquat for $.50...

and Papaya for $1.00...

Giddy Up!!  Now, for another COOL find...this awesome Tillandsia  Ionantha Peach variety that literally grows in a ball shape.  I purchased a small size for $10...larger ones were $20. 

My friend, Marisela, who is from Venezuela, thought I was NUTS.  Apparently, this little prize is everywhere, like a weed, in her country and is played with like a soccer ball by the children.  I could only envision them kicking around my $10!!  : )  How different things are in various parts of the world, right?!?!

I also purchased 3 Amaryllis bulbs for $1...did I mention how giddy and silly I get with a bargain?!?!?!

On to the Oxbow 10th annual Living Green Festival to celebrate Earth Day.  This event was a lot of fun!! While my kids enjoyed the games and events, I got caught up in the animal exhibits.  Native and exotic reptile species were showcased as were wild birds such as the Great Horned Owl...
(all animals are residents of the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center...all animals have been injured in the wild and can no longer fly properly)

Peregrine Falcon...

Bald Eagle with a broken wing

Burrowing Owl...

and shy Barn Owl.

The theme was really about decreasing our footprint on our great green earth...

I don't want to disappoint by keeping the gardens all to myself so I'll leave you with a few of the fantastic gardens on display at the Heathcote Botanical Garden..

This gorgeous, peaceful Japanese garden was one of our favorites!

This GIGANTIC Hibiscus adorns the middle of the garden grounds.

The orchid room was exotic and tropical!

My son took a moment to ponder in the reflection garden.

A great time was had by all!!

Micro Climates and the Bugs are Buggin' Me!!!

I had a GREAT Easter weekend!!! Family, friends, great food, religious celebrations, the hope of spring and warm weather, etc.  What's more, some of the plants hardest hit from the cold spell showed themselves this weekend!  It was a wonderful start to a wonderful weekend.

This Heliconia is the LONE survivor!!

Unfortunately, I lost two trees that I'd been speaking and singing to since they got smacked by Jack Frost. 

 OK...an educational moment presents itself.  This is an excellent example of micro climates within a small corner lot...I had two healthy coconut palms and two healthy bottle palms.  One bottle and one coconut receive sunlight earlier in the day than the others, and lasts through the majority of the day.  The other two gain sunlight later in the day, but enjoy late afternoon sunlight.  All trees are out in the open without cover from the weather.  This weekend I officially lost my bottle palm out by my mailbox (the base was actually rotting on one side)

and my coconut palm on the front side yard (shaded part of the day by the boat in the driveway). 

I actually cried.  My friends laughed at me.  Not that they are mean, but they don't understand a gardener's hope and passion for their plants.  I was soooo invested in that little bottle palm!!!  Sniff!!!  OK...I'll move on before it gets ugly!!!

Any, as I was saying at the beginning, this was a wonderful weekend.  And some plants really showed up!  Lola and I spotted the first blooms from one of my yellow Fort Meyer Hibiscus.  I didn't take a photo, but it looks like this (taken last year)...

Again, another picture perfect example of micro climates.  Last year, I created "Phase 1" of my front patio garden.  I planted a number of varieties of plants literally in the middle of my front yard, in a horse shoe configuration, that will mature and provide semi-privacy for a new flat stone / mondo grass front patio space.  I planted several hibiscus bushes to grow large and provide some of that privacy.  The yellow "Fort Meyer" variety was planted on both sides of the horse shoe.  The one on the south side is the one that bloomed and is growing back quickly as it has the better/warmer exposure.  The one on the North side is still looking ragged with small leaf buds, let alone flower buds!!! 

I was also surprised by a new bloom on one of my fabulous Queen Emma Crinums (this is my favorite flower) on Easter morning...what a wonderful offering from nature to God on such a day!!!  The sweet perfume matches the glorious colors and contrasts.  I have two of these gorgeous purple specimens and both were hit hard by the cold, thus pruned to a poor representation of their "Queen" title.  However, you can't take royalty away from the true being!!!  Both Queens will prevail in all of their splendor!!!  How lucky I am to have them front and center in my pool scape!

BUT...another downer.  Lola and I were happily inspecting the recovering grounds when I noticed something quite nasty!!!  Caterpillars....having a fabulous Easter feast on my recovering Pink Mandevilla vine. I was mad!  I thought I rid myself of nasty cats when I ousted the ever-so-deadly wolf-in-lamb's-skin, Oleander!!!!  But NO!!!!!!  There were a lot of them!!! 

As Lola and I rounded the corner to investigate the mango, we noticed some beetles that we had to "take care of".  Then we happened upon the illustrious El Capitolio hibiscus (again, micro clime enhanced warm southern exposure next to a fence) that was blooming like it's mid-summer!!  Gorgeous!!! 

THEN...we noticed the BUGS!!!  Yep...little bugs EVERYWHERE!!!!  A HUGE infestation was taking place right under my watch. 

Unacceptable!!!!

What is a girl to do in a moment like this?!   I experienced a moment of weakness.  I reached for my industrial strength, non-environmental, bug killer. 

Before you condemn me, please understand that I am currently trying to become a certified Florida Friendly yard.  Agreed, this moment of weakness will count against me.  I wonder if there's a rehab facility for such addictions?!?!?!   OK...again, I digress.

Anyway, I sprayed the deadly, unacceptably-unenvironmentally-friendly bug killer.  I'm sad and sorry, but those nasty bugs are dead.  I'm sure the good ones are too, and again, I'm ever so sorry for my poor decision.

So, back to the good news.  It was a wonderful, beautiful weekend!  Hooray for spring!!  (I know some of my friends are autumn-bound, but they fully understand my cheer for this season, I know!)

Blogger's Quandary

Yes, I'm experiencing a blogger's quandary.  I'm certain I'm not the first, nor will I be the last.  I've only been blogging for a relatively short amount of time, so this is my first official experience with such a dilemna.

Thus, I present the situation...to blog or not to blog, that is the question!

The weather is finally turning for the better on a consistant basis.  The garden is coming to life, and my garden specimens hit hardest by the long Florida winter are displaying promising signs of recuperation.  The recent rain showers have not only brought spring flowers but hoards of weeds

as well as muddy patches of unfinished garden spaces for my dogs to trample through.

Again, there's the lovely weather...perfect for a day of boating and fishing.  My patient husband becomes more anxious by the day as the boat beckons him at every turn.  The TV constantly displays fishing shows and the weather radio droans on and on about the perfect conditions.  Even the children are ready to chance the spring water temperatures at the sandbar.  My son is waxing his surfboard, anticipating any hope of a beach day.

 
What is a garden blogger to do?  And what about my poor neglected family who is accustomed to my sermons of living an outdoor, active life?  What are they to think and do?  But if I don't blog, what will my blogging friends think?  Will they miss me?  What about all the fantastic posts I will miss...the beautiful photos; the poetic words and fascinating stories; my funny comrads that keep me in stitches...what about all of that?!?!

Well, considering the fact that my last post was 5 days ago, I suppose it's obvious which side of the argument won this current battle.  And although I'm fearful that I have missed out on the best post of the year, I haven't read any of my favorite blogs.  BOO!!!


However...I can report on a great weekend!  First, there was the Garden Expo at the Martin County Fairgrounds (the one I mistakenly "attended" last weekend, only to find out I had the wrong date).  This show was fantastic!  So many interesting plants, ideas, and people!

Bromelaids were everywhere!  I got some bare root broms at the economical price of 4/$10. I was happy with my purchase... UNTIL I spotted this prize AFTER I was out of money!  If only I'd seen this one first, cash would never be a problem again!!!

Yes, you saw it right...

After I stopped crying, I moved on and enjoyed the abundant orchids.

This one called "Trick or Treat" is apparently new...very cool!!

A creative idea for a bird bath or seed dish...

I stalked a butterfly who was wise to my ways...not easy to capture!

My daughter and her friend had fun with the "Bark in the Park" mascots!

This is the first time I'd seen this fuzzy air plant...Tillandsia Tectorum.

Had to capture this Cassia bloom...pretty!

Yes, you saw it right...

Hmmmmmm!

We also spent a day on the water, enjoying some incredible wildlife.  I wish I had photos to share but they didn't come out that well, and I'd rather focus on the action than getting a great shot. Among the multitude of beautiful animals we spotted (sea turtles, dolphin, crabs, water birds, etc.) we witnessed a pair of osprey feeding their young.  Absolutely beautiful!  Additionally, my daughter and her friend became boat captains for the first time. They were giddy with excitement!

The garden was not 100% neglected during our busy weekend...we added some colorful annuals, blocked portions of the garden from the dogs, and laid stone in the remaining bare areas.  No more muddy paws!

I'm still feeling a bit disappointed as I had a wonderful "Palm Sunday" post planned exhibiting a few of my ailing palms and a handful of my favorites.  Noticably, this didn't happen.  So, to make up for my slacking ways, here's a few of the palms I love best...

Palm Beach's famous Royal Palm entry to the elite island..

The ever tropical Coconut Palm

The graceful Canary Island Date Palm

 

the fun and quirky Bottle Palm

the beautiful blue/silver Bismarck Palm!

and the jurasic Sago Palm

Until next time....