Bromeliads for Groundcover

Have I said it enough times yet? Florida's winter was the mildest we've had in the past 5 years. I can't help it... I'm still in awe over the spring garden without the effects from frost damage. Bromeliads in my garden started putting up their colorful bracts in December and they just keep getting bigger and brighter.
I'm growing them directly in the ground under the oak trees because they make an easy clustering ground cover. Unless they get frost damage. Which they did not this year... wait... I DID already say that.

Planting them under a tree with lots of big roots is easy. They need very little dirt to live in. Some of them can live completely without dirt. I'm experimenting with some of the epiphyte types that don't require any soil. (More on that in a later post).

The maintenance requirements for them are almost zero when placed in the right environment. In my experience they do well with well draining soil. Bromeliads multiply all on their own by making pups or offsets and spreading faster than you realize until you are reminded by a photo occasionally.
The vivid and exotic colors are eye-catching and, in this case, add some spice to the brightly lit edge of the shady areas.

I hope you are getting the most out of spring in your garden. I am in love with the Florida weather this week! Happy weekend... Meems

The Scent of Jasmine

Spring blooming shrubs and perennials one by one are deciding to visit at least a couple of weeks early without exception this year.

Oh how I wish confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) would be this early every year. If all those clusters of snowy-white pinwheel flowers would just hang on for longer than two months of the year it would be an even lovelier wonder in the garden!

Its fragrance is divinely fresh and fills the morning air and again in the evening hours. During the day the lemony fresh scent is evident but not as drifting and arresting. It never fails to make heads and noses search for the source of its sweet fragrance when an unsuspecting visitor is in my garden any time of the day.

There is a fence surrounding my edible garden. Long before the space was used for edibles the confederate jasmine was planted on the length and width of it (approximately 60' by 30'). Above is the gate that opens to the back gardens. Yes, there is a gate under there. Want to go through it with me?

A walk around to the circle garden and take a look just beyond the seating area to another location the jasmine has been growing for about 15 years. It is tucked between a single trunked Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) and the edge of the oak tree canopy.

Can you see the archway just behind the chairs? Jasmine was planted on only one side in anticipation of another vine twining up the opposite side and merging with the jasmine. Queen's wreath (Petrea volubilis) merges with jasmine at the top.

From this view further out into the garden the shape of the arbor and the jasmine is more evident. Confederate jasmine can grow in full sun but will also perform well in partial sun. It does take a little longer to mature with less light but as you can see, once it does, it will bloom just as profusely as one in full sun. It is both drought tolerant and cold hardy.

To add even more fragrance to the circle garden (behind the seating area~ in front and to the right of the arbor) the gardenia bush 'Miami Supreme' is filled with buds and has just begun to bloom this week.

These are the plants that can be counted on year after year to bring the garden consistency and durability with evergreen foliage in winter and summer. The favorite white fragrant blooms make them even better choices for a Florida garden.

What's filling up your senses in the garden right now?

Glorious Spring!

There is SO much happening in the garden daily! Each day brings a new surprise or unexpected wonder as the glories of spring unfold. I hope you are venturing into the beauty of this marvelous season as often as possible. I know I wish I had even more time to be in the garden! This week I'm snatching up bits and pieces of time and looking forward to the next time I can spend a whole day snipping, pulling, planting, potting ...

****Remember to join Hoe and Shovel on Facebook. If you haven't already hit the LIKE button click over there and get in on the up to date conversations.

Glorious spring days to you! Meems

Plant It and It Will Grow!

That's the plan right? Plant it and it will grow. It's a plan that works out better at times than other times in my garden! The climate has been good for steady growth here in Central Florida since January. Mild daytime temps with mercury dropping to a comfortable cool at night. I shared with y'all in a previous post the two new planting beds I created in January/February while the weather was nice and cool each day.

Even I wouldn't have believed how quickly those plants were going to take off if I hadn't chronicled the growth in photos. Take photos People! It will encourage you unexpectedly!

I first posted the progress on my Hoe and Shovel Facebook page (don't forget to click over and hit the LIKE button to join in the conversation). I didn't want to leave those of you who don't have a Facebook account out so here it is again just for you. The top photo was taken February 18 and the bottom photo only a short month later on March 23.

And just to stay up to date... here it is a few days ago with a wider angle. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying these new areas. They were just what the garden needed for spring. The new shape curving further out into the grassy area really eliminated that feel of a too-long stretch of grass. Even though there were curves in the perimeter planting beds it didn't feel just-right. (You know someday I'm going to close it in even tighter don't you? We all know it's going to happen... the grass calls to me, "shrink me, shrink me.")

So, what's going on within that new bed?

Rattlesnake pole beans from Baker Creek Seeds are twining up the obelisk so sweetly... just like I saw it in my minds' eye before I ever started this project.

I wanted this bed to be a mix of flowers and edibles. That's the way my 'designated' edible garden works also. But this bed is smack dab in the back garden. I wanted to smell it and see it while milling about that area. Is there anything more refreshing than the scent of fresh herbs and edibles growing?

Another goal for this space was to create enough new plot that squash plants were sure to get enough air ventilation and sprawl space. I've grown squash successfully in the edible garden but because the fall garden lasted so long this season space was limited when it was time to plant spring seeds. I'm pretty quick to solve those kinds of problems... just make more beds when I want to plant something. In this space the squash plants have some relief from the heat with late afternoon shade.

Almost everything in this new bed was planted from seed or divisions or transplants from other places in my garden.
Here's the rundown:
Bulbine 'Yellow Rocket' as edging; small pieces from mother plant divided and planted directly into soil
Nasturtiums from seed (American Meadows)
Zinnias from seed (Burpee)
Tomatoes from seed
Green beans from seed (Baker Creek bush beans)
Pole beans from seed (Baker Creek Rattlesnake)
Sweet peas (seed from Renee's Garden) that sprouted but it must be too hot because they are not doing great.
Basil, Cilantro, Chives, Lobelia (all 4" plants)
Bronze fennel divided from mother plant
African Blue basil (2" organic plants from Mountain Valley Growers)
Broccoli transplanted from seedlings in edible garden (Baker Creek Waltham)
Morning glory vine (cutting start from a friend)
Caladiums 'Red Flash' Mammoths (courtesy of Classic Caladiums)
... and the dollar weed is free. Ugh.

I hope you are loving up your spring garden! Have a great day! Meems