Post a reply

Image
Mar 24, 2014 6:59 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Early pictures on this March 25, 2014.

I love watching progressions in my gardens through a year! I'm showing it through the beginnings now until January 2015. The beauty is starting for us all! Yeah!

Share your Garden Longshots with us here! Show us your developments from this early Spring 2014!

This is where to see mine! Join in? I tip my hat to you.
Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/701dea Gotta' love our Native Blue Eyed Grass. These tiny Iris' are a delight as a sign of Central Florida Spring!


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/2f66b3 This is how they look in that bed. Great foreground plants...


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/e07a6dbeds are being redeveloped...

Side yards and such from today. The back is another story next week....


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/72beb9


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/737150


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/1aa099


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/27be17


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/5df0f2


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/802b40


Thumb of 2014-03-25/DavidofDeLand/cf0c6d The weedy things in the lower front are the wildflower seedlings I am redistributing throughout front and back as they develop...

Thats enough for today. So much to share! Check in and see whats up tommorrow!
Image
Mar 25, 2014 8:20 AM CST
Name: pam
gainesville fl (Zone 8b)
Bee Lover The WITWIT Badge Region: Ukraine Enjoys or suffers hot summers Pollen collector Native Plants and Wildflowers
Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dragonflies Daylilies Butterflies Birds
I cant get a popcorn cassia to be anything more than an annual for me. Yours is very yummy!
Im going to look for my camera, I do have a fiesta hibiscus blooming that is looking really cool. Nothing else much happening, the azeals have been awesome, as the camelias. They are almost done tho. Looks like the greenbriars are taking off tho Sad
Image
Mar 25, 2014 5:06 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Its good hearing from you Pam.

I'm assuming all is going well after your past health issues and am glad you are back to thinking gardening.

Greenbriar is a bad thing indeed and I had to dig caves under the Azaleas that came with my property here now 6 years ago to try and eradicate their huge tubers. Every year since I still find a new one that tries to redevelop from a small piece that must have been left by the digs. The good thing is tracing the vines down to the leftovers that created them seem to be winning the battle slowly.

Popcorn Cassia is becoming a favorite Cassia for me indeed. Folk are flatly amazed when they run their fingers through the leaves and find their hands smelling exactly like fresh buttered popcorn.
*******************
My intent with this new thread is simply to try and keep what I am sharing with other Florida gardeners in one easily accessible box for me. Its a busy time of the year here and for many of us. I want this thread to show our gardens as they develop. We all have many of the same flowers every year, and I am bored with sharing pictures of my beautiful Brugmansias up close, because we all know what they look like.
*********************
I love @dyzzypyxxy (Elaines thread) as it states, "Whats in your Florida Garden?". I think this thread is genious for showcasing individual plants growing in our Florida garden Forum.
********************

This is where I will be sharing the developments in my gardens through 2014 here on ATP. From the weed patch to the hopeful perfections that may never be achieved,.......share your longshots and what you are trying to achieve here. While I have been told in the past, that some are gardeners, and some are landscapers;..........I adhere to both worlds and embrace them.

Thank you! Smiling ;.........welcome to this "Florida gardening 2014" forum any newcomers;.....ask me anything and I will give you an honest answer to any question if I do have one regarding growing (especially in Central Florida) and with sensible answers.

P.S.
If you do have any questions it would be better to see pictures of the area you are speaking of. It is also important that you truly love gardening. Thank you. Its all about the growing longshot garden pictures, of what we are aiming for as this 2014 years gardening efforts develop here in this thread. Share flower pictures on the appropriate threads or send them to the wonderful plant database!
Smiling Thumbs up I tip my hat to you.
Last edited by DavidofDeLand Mar 25, 2014 5:16 PM Icon for preview
Image
Mar 25, 2014 6:11 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Oh David, nice idea for a thread, and your long shots are simply lovely.

My messy jungle really doesn't show up well in long shots. I am most definitely a 'collector' not a 'landscaper' and am having difficulty hiring another garden helper that wants to do more than 'mow, blow and go' since I have almost no lawn.

Lot of bafflegab to tell you that I'm going to stick with close-ups until things are a bit tidier around here. But will enjoy watching your garden's progression.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Image
Mar 25, 2014 6:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Thank you Elaine. Smiling My stay power here will be dependent on involvement here. It is a busy time of year and I have time for where the interest is. I am bored with my own closeups.
Image
Mar 26, 2014 9:07 AM CST
Name: Jean
Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9a)
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers
I'll get some long shots posted later. Got the mulch down in front & it looks so bare. Some things aren't coming back so need to start thinking about replacing them with plants that will survive the winter. Think I'll also move some of my bromilliads up there since they seem to bloom year round.
Blessed are the Quilters for they are the Piecemakers.
Image
Mar 27, 2014 4:31 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Comparison pictures are always fun of our gardens. From dismal to living beauty in 6 weeks once things kick in!

The same thing happened to me when first moving here, and 4 years ago started putting the shrubs or "Bone Structure" plants in. Smiling

Good Morning!

Thumb of 2014-03-27/DavidofDeLand/6ef43fThis new Palm Garden design is a whole garden in the Palm of your hand that never looks dismal! Thumbs up
Image
Mar 27, 2014 6:03 AM CST
Name: Jean
Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9a)
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers
I so enjoyed when David did htis last Spring but, at that time, all I had was a weedy mess, so I just looked. At least the weeds seem to be under control this year so I'll share some of my "before it fills in" pics.

Off the back sun porch. The plan is for this to be a herb/butterfly area keeping the plants below the level of the windows.
Thumb of 2014-03-27/qwilter/877fd1

Leading up to the front door. Everything froze back in Jan. I put in the 2 small Loripedulums just a couple weeks ago.
Thumb of 2014-03-27/qwilter/628433

The front bed (and the Zoysa I had installed in the fall). Again, except for the Sagos, everything died back over the winter. Added the lillies & Amarynth this spring. I see no indication that my Dwarf Poincienna will come back. Did get 6 seeds to sprout but they do not seem to be doing well.
Thumb of 2014-03-27/qwilter/a7565b

I mentioned on a earlier post that our Azaleas are just lovely this year. This is in the medium just up the road from my house.
Thumb of 2014-03-27/qwilter/8a36f3
Blessed are the Quilters for they are the Piecemakers.
Image
Mar 27, 2014 9:36 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Jean,

That sign saying;..."Nothing inside worth dying for."...................................................... Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious! !

You past Military background is showing and you are so funny sometimes;.....with a tad of truth behind the fun? Whistling Smiling
***************

Thank you for sending the pictures of your early gardens. I love your space. I think its a good thing to share these longshots as it is the best way to feel as though we are truly sharing our gardens with each other as the year develops. Yours look very well organized for early Spring, and I absolutely still love your wonderful wave-like pavered walkway. It creates the feel of a dry creek bed;... a natural shape that is compelling and interesting.

Poincianas from seeds will grow and bloom this year. Sometimes they are treated as Annuals anyway and used so. I would not give up completely on the in ground ones you have yet. Start trimming the tips from the top down until you see live wood possibly. Mine did survive but still look like sticky deciduous things and have only started the beginnings of regrowth here in DeLand. They are firm believers in only starting their growth in our areas until they are confident the cold crap,... and 40 degree temperatures are history! They are only a dash slower then Okra and many other Hibiscus' which demand SOLID committedly Spring and Summer heat. Your Texas Stars will return always. The white ones are always a few weeks behind the red ones and they will return! Water them well now, including your in ground Poinciannas. Smiling

David
Image
Mar 27, 2014 1:11 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Looks great, Jean! The azaleas truly are fabulous, and what an amazing pruning job. You're brave to hold your phone/camera out the car window like that - I'd drop mine for sure Whistling then run over it.

I love the sign, too. Hilarious! Agree with David on the poincianas, mine are barely leafing out now and we stayed a lot warmer than you did.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Image
Mar 28, 2014 3:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Hey Jean,

I've been working with Pat who has the amazing Strawberry bed you visited. Isn't She an inspiration?!!! Her gardens are looking really good this year, and She still has those forever ongoing incredible snapdragons.

A new homebuyer next door just gave me a beautiful 3 foot tall Lychee Nut tree that moved up from the Miami area! I think I have a location out back that will make it work up here.

Happy Gardening all Florida Gardeners. Its our time of the year to grow!

David
Image
Mar 28, 2014 5:12 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Give that little lychee your most protected spot, David. They are somewhat tender! This area used to be a commercial lychee farm, and there are some beautiful large trees around here, but they reliably bear only every second year, and if there is a late frost while the flowers are on the tree, the crop is toast for that year, too. No wonder they gave up and sold the property for . . . well, houses!!

Mine is on the south side of the house, warmest area of the yard all year. I'd post a picture, but my camera just now gave me the "out of electrons" beep after shooting this shot of the birdfeeder.

Thumb of 2014-03-28/dyzzypyxxy/6437f8
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Image
Mar 29, 2014 3:34 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
What a great pic' Elaine! The Cardinal Family enjoying breakfast with Aunt Large Marge! Hilarious!
Image
Mar 29, 2014 9:07 AM CST
Name: pam
gainesville fl (Zone 8b)
Bee Lover The WITWIT Badge Region: Ukraine Enjoys or suffers hot summers Pollen collector Native Plants and Wildflowers
Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dragonflies Daylilies Butterflies Birds
Holy son of a gun.....is it storming for some of us or what?????
I guess the long shots of my azealas will have to wait till next year
Image
Mar 29, 2014 9:53 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Yes Pam!

I am so glad this isn't a drought year though entering Spring! Smiling
Image
Mar 29, 2014 10:00 AM CST
Name: pam
gainesville fl (Zone 8b)
Bee Lover The WITWIT Badge Region: Ukraine Enjoys or suffers hot summers Pollen collector Native Plants and Wildflowers
Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dragonflies Daylilies Butterflies Birds
I could not agree more. This is the first spring in a long time I have ben able to plant in the ground, and not just pots, because of the water situation. Im a little upset I did not get any rain barrels set while I could lift more than 5 lbs. I will aim for the fall.
Image
Mar 29, 2014 10:41 AM CST
Name: Jean
Fleming Island, FL (Zone 9a)
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers
POURing over here. They said 1/2" and we already have over 3".
Blessed are the Quilters for they are the Piecemakers.
Image
Mar 29, 2014 10:44 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
I've been threatening to do rain barrels on my back porch for 3 years Pam and never have gotten to it yet Pam. Maybe this year. I keep sawing the barrels I get with plans to create two and turn them into planters.
***********
I will follow your advice with the Lychee tree Elaine, and have found a sunny spot in the back gardens that will hopefully be enough protected behind my little greenhouse and in front of the Oaks. Smiling
Image
Mar 29, 2014 10:45 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: David Paul
(Zone 9b)
Cat Lover Hibiscus Seed Starter Native Plants and Wildflowers Vegetable Grower Region: Florida
Miniature Gardening Keeper of Poultry Herbs Foliage Fan Farmer Dragonflies
Thank God Jean! Our gardens will gleam this year! Thumbs up
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 29, 2014 11:00 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
We're happy for NO rain today since we have a big Flower Show and Sale and otherwise people would have stayed away in droves.

You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.