Growing Green Festival 2010

Fortunately, my friend at Central Florida Gardener informed us of the 1st annual Growing Green Festival this weekend in Stuart, FL.  I looked forward to it all week, and excitedly attended and participated with my family.  They actually enjoyed themselves...I'd call that a success!

There was a plethora of information presented in numerous forms including printed material, movies, seminars such as this one by the FAU extension office about rain barrels

and demonstrations.  This demonstration/discussion focused on green smoothies.  Taste testing was part of the demonstration, which was admittedly a highlight!! 

There were plants for sale incuding my favorites which were this HUGE kalanchoe,

Thai variety of Crown of Thorns, 

peppers, 

and ornamental peppers;

locally grown veggies (they were so pretty and fresh!);

organic fertilizer;

YUMMY food, and other products including rain barrels.

There was something for everyone including chalk art for the little ones.

Finally, I couldn't resist snapping some photos of the gorgeous blooms on display!

I learned a lot, collected an abundance of reading and resource material, and even ordered a rain barrel! I'm one step closer to reducing my carbon footprint, saving money, and supporting Florida's native environment!!

Photo Friday - Fabulous Florals!

My son's beautiful air plant in bloom!

Fort Meyers Hibiscus

Agave

Crown of Thorns

Gazania

Plumbago

Rose

Canna Lily

Orange Bird of Paradise

Just another day in paradise!!

Crazy 'Bout Crotons!

Want a brilliant splash of color without the effort?  Need to brighten a dull corner or add some interest to an otherwise boring space?  Interested in adding some drama and unusual texture to your landscape?  The brilliant, colorful croton could be your answer!  Croton, or Codiaeum variegatum, comes in a myriad of colors and shapes providing virtually limitless possibilities with relatively little effort.

Originally a solid green-leafed plant, both nature and man's hybridization efforts have created amazingly interesting shapes and a kaleidoscope of colors including red, yellow, orange, purple, and green.  An individual plant may offer many different colors making it appear flamboyant and pyschedelic! 

In addition to the multitude of colors, Crotons also possess numerous intriguing, unique leaf forms including oak, corkscrew, broad and narrow leafs.  There's also an odd, "interrupted" leaf where the leaf seems to be sprouting a smaller leaf on its end.

The Croton is truly a tropical shrub, tolerating mild winters with no freezing temperature, thus confining its ideal zone(s) to 10-11. When a freeze threatens, care and protection must be offered to the Crotons.  Most zone 9 gardeners enjoy Crotons in the landscape, but take the risk of loosing them.  For this reason, many gardeners prefer to keep them in containers that can be easily relocated during a cold snap.  However, these tropical beauties require humidity and moisture...two conditions not typically maintained indoors, so Crotons do not usually make good long term houseplants.

Another great attribute is the Crotons ease of care.  They let you know when they're unhappy by shedding their leaves or if they're thirsty by drooping their leaves.  If the soil isn't dry and the leaves aren't a bit droopy, watering isn't necessary as over watering will encourage root rot and fungi. They also propogate easily with simple cuttings or air layering, and require little fertilization as they tend to be slow growing.

Some interesting Crotons include Dayspring...

Mrs. Collett...

Arrowhead...

Picasso's Paintbrush...

Stoplight...

and Excellent.

There are MANY more varieties.  Be sure to check your local nurseries for more varieties and the Croton Society at http://www.crotons.org/ .   

"My" Garden!

I love "my" garden.  I live for it...ask anyone!  When I'm not near it, I'm thinking of it, or blogging about it.  "My" garden.  Yes, "my" garden! I smile as I think of all the various plants, blooms, fruits, and foliage! But it's not just "mine".  I share my garden.  Yes, in fact, it's not a "garden" to some, but rather a "home".  Look who lives in "my" garden...

Here's a tiny baby tree frog on a hibiscus leaf...

This Preying Mantis enjoys hanging around (literally) waiting for bugs, preferrably butterflies!

The black racer snakes live here but are typically shy.  They help keep the field mice and rabbits away.

This adult basking in the sun on the stucco band measured about 4' long.

And this baby black racer wasn't too fond of being found in the pool...he slithered into his hole as soon as we "rescued" him!

Then there's the bugs...this leaf bug...

...the stick bug...

...the poisonous but exotic oleander caterpillar...

...and this spiky spider dressed in punk hanging around the citrus.

And we can't forget the endearing lizards.  The anoles are everywhere and do their part in pest control!

Brown Anole

Green Anole

Here's a sneaky blue tailed skink

And finally, the strange, clear gecko that appears at night clinging by suction cups.

And we can't forget the sweet, protected Gopher tortoise.  My kids call every tortoise "Bob"!

Some are not garden residents, but welcome visitors...

Yes, this is a bobcat. He's across the street in this photo, but they frequent our garden often on their jaunt to their water source.

Hawks are often visitors, sitting in wait on my 6' privacy feence searching for the resident black racer, and checking out my lovely umbrella cockatoo, Lola (she stays safely under cover).

 

Woody Woodpecker actually lives in a tree next door, but enjoys this power line (pole, actually) and often wakes me up early in the morning jumping on my roof...he knows I look out my window because he often looks for me.  He's funny!

The Great Horned Owl lives across the street in a vacant lot.

This gator, and it's extended family, live only 3 blocks from my house.  I like that they keep their distance!

Finally, the gorgeous, endangered Sandhill Cranes visit several yards in the neighborhood but haven't made their way to my yard yet.  I'm praying for the day they come to my house!!!

So there are a few of the "residents" that call "my" garden home!