Hidden Treasures

When we moved to this new garden I inherited a few jewels hidden here and there in the garden. Gardens that have been around for a while are like that. I didn't pay too much attention to any of them until we made the decision to make this our permanent home. Each treasure has become more highly appreciated as time and perspective reveal its worth. Sometimes the scales of indifference, or maybe resistance is a better word in this case, have to fall off in order to clearly see the true gifts right in front of you. Clear sight is a true gift in itself ... right!

You can see the staghorn in the center of the photo (taken June 1, 2014) prior to me starting to cultivate
this area with my own design.

The ancient (and ginormous) stag horn fern hanging heavy and low on a 40' red maple tree is one of the treasures left here by my former neighbor.  I don't recall the exact history surrounding it, but I think it belonged to her parents or grandparents. I do vividly recall my neighbors painstakingly wrapping it with several quilts close-pinned together at the threat of every frost each winter season.  Although I think this particular variety is probably hardy to around 25°F. This enormously wide specimen has begun to wrap itself around the trunk with its thick basal fronds clinging to the maple tree.

Surprisingly, this staghorn fern receives a good deal more sunshine than is generally recommended for shade-loving staghorns. A side-note tidbit about this new garden: the backyard used to be filled with pine trees, sweet gum trees and citrus trees. The former owner/neighbor had to remove most of them one by one as they got too old or in the case of pine trees were hit by lightning. It appears the fern has adapted to the changing sunlight conditions as those conditions have evolved over time.

Once I started putting my own plants in this garden I designed around the fern (it would take a crane to move it.)  The staghorn became the centerpiece to the main pathway that leads to the back garden. It also serves as a lush tropical, welcoming marker on the left side of one of the entrances to the open fire pit seating area. I moved some holly ferns from my old garden and a cobalt blue container planting to mark the right side of the entrance. 

Upright portion of the basal frond.

Staghorn ferns are among the group of plants called epiphytes. Meaning they thrive on nutrients from the air and rain. Surrounding plant debris and fallen leaves collect in the upright part of the basal fronds. As the collection breaks down it provides additional nourishment. In other words they are mostly self sufficient when placed in the correct environment.

The underside of the big fern at the base of the tree.

You can see the sterile basal fronds overlapping as they attach to the tree and to each other. A beautiful and unique structure creates a bowl shape underneath.

Foliar fronds are the lobed pieces coming out of the base to create the beautiful shape and texture of these amazing wonders.

I brought two other staghorn ferns from my old garden. They are large, but not close in size to this mammoth treasure that wasn't so hidden after all.

Do you grow staghorn ferns in your garden?


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Modern Art and Cheerful Container Caladiums

If you've spent any time with me here or in my garden you already know that I'm a mega-fan of Caladiums. I plant them in the landscape as edging, borders, clumps, and sweeps. Almost every one of my containers has a few of them peeking out between the flowers and plants.

A row of container pots with various Caladiums, begonias, Coleus and ferns along the walkway in my back garden. 

I prefer planting Caladium bulbs over purchasing the potted plants in garden centers. You get more *life* out of your Caladium varieties if you start with bulbs. Plus you get to pick from a vast array of sizes, colors and patterns rather than the few options available in the stores.

A wider view of the walkway and containers pictured above. Photo taken: July 18, 2014

There's nothing wrong with buying Caladium plants for sale in nurseries. But here's something to consider. The beautiful foliage that Caladiums sprout has an annual life span of about 150 days on average, then they return to their dormant state until the following spring. Some quick math will prove the bulbs that were forced in pots and for sale at stores will have less number of days (by a little) to be dancing in your garden. No biggie though. Whether you plant Caladium bulbs or purchase potted plants the important thing to remember is you don't want to be without their glorious cheery faces dancing in your summer garden.

Brand new sprout from Caladium bulbs planted July 12, 2014.
They come up out of the ground very quickly this time of year with summer rain and humidity.

When you plant bulbs versus buying plants, you get the thrill of watching that first sprout rocket out of the ground.

Brand new leaves from bulbs planted July 12, 2014. A package of mixed whites... each leaf a surprise.

Then you look the next day and wonder of wonders... there are more leaves. It's like fireworks. If you blink you might miss the entire explosion.

Red variety in front is 'Bombshell' and to the left is 'Candyland'. Behind 'Candyland' is 'Red Ruffles'.

Each spring/summer I plant a few bulbs into my existing perennial and evergreen pots. Caladiums elevate any plant combination to gorgeous and the additional summer color and texture is a no-brainer. This year I decided to be more deliberate. I planted more Caladium bulbs in containers specifically designed to highlight the splendor of Caladium foliage. Classic Caladiums sent me a number of new and new-er varieties to trial this summer. They produce high quality bulbs at their farm in Avon Park, Florida.

Spray paint your own pots to save some dollars!

For starters I spray painted some plain clay pots with 'Brilliant Blue' to mimic the more expensive blue-glazed pots I already have throughout my garden. I placed them on the open deck at our new home.

Containers were planted 4.15.14 and this photo was taken 5.17.14. Only two Caladiums leaves have started to unfurl.

Silver lace, maidenhair and bird's nest ferns along with various begonias are included in the mixture. The spilling vine is Hemigraphis 'Red Ivy' (amazing part-shade plant) and the sweet green and yellow foliage in left pot is Asystasia. Blue spray-painted Crepe Myrtle branches were *planted* in the center pot.

June 2, 2014 a few more leaves keep me encouraged as we wait.

Then I remembered (for a change) to take photos of the development as the Caladiums evolved into their best cheerful faces.

Just a few days later June 8, 2014 even more progress.

'Modern Art' is the stunning variety I used in this combination. I de-eyed them a few days before planting them. You can read more about the procedure of de-eyeing and see comparison photos of Caladiums de-eyed vs. not de-eyed here.

Also June 8, 2014

Caladiums that are de-eyed take a little bit longer to press out of the soil. But the form and habit of the plant is usually worth the wait!

June 30, 2014 time to trim the Red Ivy and where did the begonias ad ferns go?

'Modern Art' starts out with smaller lace shaped leaves and then push out some nicely large shaped ones to top off the bouquet.

June 30, 2014

The corner spot where these three pots reside is mostly shady with a spot of direct sun for about an hour midday as it shifts through the tree limbs above.

July 11, 2014 Almost 3 months since the bulbs were originally planted.

You gotta love foliage plants with a variety of color, shape and texture. These containers only need water once a week. If it rains I don't give them any extra irrigation.

Stunning close up! July 11, 2014

In each pot I popped in about 3 or 4 #1 size bulbs. I've been using Fafard Professional Formula 4P mix with superb results for my edibles and all my container plants this year. It is light and airy and yet retains moisture better than any other potting soil I've ever used.

July 22, 2014

And there you have it. The full progression through today.  Purposeful pots in the no-flower zone and who can deny the cheerful color they supply all summer long! I'm sold on 'Modern Art'. Cheers!

Have you planted your Caladium bulbs this year? If the answer is no, it's not too late. 

Happy gardening,
Meems

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Native Leather Fern

This native fern is larger in habit than most we are familiar with in Florida. It is erect but slightly arching with an open formation and beautifully divided fronds that can grow up to 6-8 feet tall and 2 feet wide.

My leather fern (Acrostichum daneifolium)was placed in a container in filtered shade last winter. Two of these herbaceous perennials were planted in the ground at the same time as an additional textural layer. I often site a plant I'm not familiar with in a couple of different locations to measure its adaptability and to observe it for its most preferred environment. In this case the fern did equally as well in the ground and in a container. {It is the sprawling greenery in the blue pot between the black chairs.}

I bought three of these ferns at Florida Native Plants in Sarasota. I've not ever seen them in the Tampa Bay area for sale.

If you have a partially shady wet area or pond edge it would be very happy in those provisions. I don't happen to have those conditions and yet they didn't seem to require any more water than normal.

I LOVE mixing up natives with appropriate Florida-Friendly choices. We have so many options in this region!

Happy gardening, Meems

Good Fern, Bad Fern

Yanking out green leafy ferns from the roots to get rid of them is not a task a gardener relishes. So why would we do it? There are good ferns and bad ferns. In Florida there is ONE BAD variety in particular that is readily seen in so many gardens and even sold in garden centers.

But let's have a look at the GOOD ferns growing at Hoe and Shovel first. Some are native and others are just fabulous Florida-Friendly varieties.

A treaured tree fern growing in the back gardens just off the central pathway is the Australian tree fern. Yes, TREE fern. In the best conditions these wondrous beauties can grow 12-15' tall. My single specimen above is only 4-5' tall.

So lovely and stately they become; usually noticed thriving underneath the protective canopy of mature, taller trees as is the case in my back gardens.

Artillery fern, Pilea microphyllia (non-native) is a great one for Florida. The yellow-green hue lights up the shady garden and is useful as a trailing container plant. In this one (above) it contrasts perfectly in texture, form, and color; emphasizing the deep shades of red and forest green of the Philodendron 'Rojo Congo'. I've seen artillery fern utilized as a hardy ground cover as well.

This is a sterile version of artillery. This is not the same as the invasive one that hitch hikes along with so many pots from garden centers.

Edit update: Since the original writing of this article I've come to realize the fern I've profiled here is actually Southern Shield Fern (Thelypteris kunthii). I love that I'm always learning. The more I saw this lovely Florida native pop up on its own around my garden, I dug a little deeper into its attributes. Autumn Fern is often mistaken for Southern Shield. It is also a lovely option, but I don't have any in my garden. 

Autumn fern, Dryopteris erythrosora (non-native) is one of those under-utilized ferns suitable for shady gardens in the coastal states. Although it is well-behaved and non-aggressive I've never had to purchase one. Because over the years it has shown up in many places throughout my garden. In almost every instance it finds an appropriate condition to get its start all on its own so I just let them flourish where they land. In some cases I uproot and relocate them to consolidate for design purposes.

Giant Leather Fern, Acrostichum danaeifolium (Florida native), is a new one to me this past spring. Placing it in a cobalt blue glazed container between the two black adirondacks in the circle garden it has grown quite well in its partially sunny (shade in the morning/filtered sun in afternoon) home. Just for fun there are some more planted in the ground (that can't be seen in this photo)
behind the chairs.

They'll freeze back in extreme frost but come back quickly with the earth warms up.

These giants are often used along the edges of waterways even in brackish waters. My hope is for them to thrive as a perennial in the unsoggy but moist conditions I've offered. I'm in love with their giant status that makes them a stand out.

In a make believe world where I might be forced to choose JUST ONE fern for the shady and partially shady parts of my garden it would unquestionably be the quintessential evergreen Holly fern, Cyrtomium falcatum. This one works like a horse in every season. Blend several of them at a time with gingers, perennials, native oakleaf hydrangea, grasses, bromeliads, even coleus and caladiums. You name it.

Holly fern is a champion of the winter garden charging through the cold unscathed and in the summer heat and drought it shows no signs of despair. A slow grower with its final destination arriving at a healthy 2-3 feet high and at least that wide. I dig up an entire plant in spring, cut it in half with a sharp shovel, put one back where I dug it up and plant the other half in a choice spot to spread the love gradually around the garden.

It is not at all fragile or dainty in appearance. Instead it is robust with its dark, glossy, holly-like leaves these foundational plants add lushness to the understory of the shade garden. Did I mention they are my favorite fern specimen for ground cover providing low maintenance, long lasting, reliable foliage in my garden! Just thought I'd mention that Holly fern is my all-time recommendable Florida-Friendly fern of choice. :=)

And oh, the lovely and mystical Resurrection Fern, Polypodium polypodioides. This is the native epiphyte that attaches itself to trunks of trees and only springs to life after a good rain shower.

Finally this week the tiny fronds have unfurled from their dry, curled-up, lifeless appearance with much needed rain adequately falling. Zero care is required for this Florida native. And I do adore the woodsy, naturalistic feel they lend to the garden.

Giant Sword Fern (Nephrolepsis biserrata) also commonly called Macho Fern IS a Florida native. Macho fern makes a striking contribution to container plants and is also recommended for use as a ground cover. It will spread fairly rapidly but is not considered invasive. I've no need for a fern to cover ground so I'm reining in the spread of it in containers. But if you want an easy care understory that fills in quickly with an exotic feel Macho fern is a good choice.

Macho fern is not to be confused with the non-native imposter of the smaller variety, Tuberous sword fern(Nephrolepis cordifolia) or Asian sword fern (Nephrolepis multiflora). Both are on the Florida Exotic Pest Council's (FLEPPC) Category 1 List of Florida's Most Invasive Species.

BAD FERN! I don't fully remember how this problem began. But I do know it is one that has been neglected for a couple of years and by the end of spring I had procrastinated long enough. The "island" bed on the north side of the driveway was being overrun with Tuberous sword fern(Nephrolepis cordifolia). [BEFORE photo above].

It only took me about 2 hours to pull it out by the roots for removal before it spread around to other parts of the garden. [AFTER photo above].

Do you want to know how to discern whether the sword fern you are growing is the invasive variety?

Here's a document with reliable information: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AG/AG12000.pdf

Which fern growing in your garden is the one you wouldn't want to be without?

Emphasis on Structure

Gardening in Florida means, among other things, that our garden centers are open all year long. Not only are they open but they offer brightly colored, potted up annuals for easy transplant and instant pizzazz any time your little heart gets a hankering for a pick-me-up.

As my garden has expanded, over the years, I can look back and see the trend away from this temptation for instant gratification. In recent years especially it has been more toward a concentration on leaf color, textural significance, size and form, and variations of shapes and structure.

I find my interests and my specifications for plants changing as time goes by as well. For example the past few seasons an emphasis on native plants and Florida-friendly combinations has been foremost. The attraction to them seems obvious. They adjust well to the natural environment when placed correctly. They require less fuss and attention once established. They attract and feed local wildlife. They continue to give year after year.

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

Recently I gave into my lust for showy foliage and purchased a couple of false banana plants. I've never been a big fan of the gigantic green variety we see (overgrown) everywhere in this region. But the Red Banana has a unique magenta veining and edging on their enormous paddle-shaped leaves that I find irresistible.

Some of the commonly used plants in this zone are easy to take for granted. And yet many of them have served me well for many years. Schefflera arboricola 'Variegata' roots easily from cuttings which means only a few were purchased initially. The rest have been cultivated and planted.

They do well here, pinched back and kept bushy, adding to the lush understory of the oaks mixed with Cyrtomium falcatum holly ferns, Philodendron 'Xanadu' , gingers, Plumbago auriculata, caladiums, coleus... they are just great foundational plants that require almost no attention and yet give us great color and texture. One of my favorites when sited correctly.

My taste in design has evolved as well. I'm doing my best to learn the delicate blend of tropicalesque with Florida-friendly and native plants. I'm also experimenting with a more natural or untamed look in specified areas of the garden. Planning for and allowing plants to flow with their natural growth patterns. Within reason of course. At Hoe and Shovel it just wouldn't ever work to be completely untamed. My goal is to keep plants within their boundaries enough that they don't tangle with their neighbors.

Here the native Callicarpa americana, American beautyberry borders a pathway adjacent to the tropicalesque Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' , Variegated Shell Ginger (below) and Cordyline 'Red Sister' plants known for their intense color. These plants are repeated in places throughout the understory having become foundational to the look and feel of this garden.

Gardening develops the gardener as much as the garden don't you think!

Experimenting with having less flowers and more and more foliage for color has been a gradual thing. But I have to say it brings much delight as the transition from worrying over blooms to the peaceful state of my shady foliage garden evolves.

It's a design element I've even incorporated into most of my container plants. With over 60 of them integrated into the landscaping they have become a lot less demanding with foliage plants in them rather than annuals that need to be replaced frequently. In the container plant above is Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' shell ginger, polka dot plant, creeping ginny, Cordyline australis 'Red Sensation', and okay ... two flowering begonia (angel wing and dragon wing)... which I tend to stick into lots of mixed containers but really ... they are no bother. :-)

While Florida doesn't necessarily have some of the vibrant foliages I've seen in more northerly gardens, we are learning to work with what we can grow here. Mixing them up and blending them for the best visual appeal that stays perky all year long is the constant goal.

The architectural structure of the large oak trees lays the ground work and provides the protective covering for many of the more tender tropicals.

One of my favorite Cordylines that I cannot remember the name of. It has lighter pink streaks and light lemony colors streaked with yummy greens. All Cordylines root quite easily by cutting the tops out and poking into newly potted up soil.

Foliage that flourishes year round is the preference in most cases. Although we rely heavily on varieties of coleus and caladiums for many months out of the year. Even these are intensively planted in between the standards that don't fade away with changing seasons.

Another variety of Cordyline passed along to me by my neighbor. Again, we started with one and now have numerous fast growing clumps of variegated color by cultivating and planting more as we've grown.

It dawned on me this spring to divide and transfer a few of these begonia from the front walkway. A gift from a neighbor over ten years ago they are thriving in more than one place now adding a tropicalesque flair to a vignette in the front garden.
Begonia heracleifolia, Star Begonia was recently added to a nook in a curvy path in the back gardens.
Placing ordinary houseplants right into the ground has become a habit just to see how well they grow. For the most part they seem happier where their roots can spread and their heads enjoy the natural light.

Layers of color where virtually no flowers are present have become common place.

Adding large mosaic-leaved plants of Monstera deliciosa Liebm. (sometimes sold as Philodendron pertusum) with grand stature in the midst of simple greenery works well, too.


Crotons are not my favorites. In Florida they are super-over-used. There are a few mixed in here and when the light shines through their leaves it is hard not to like the stained-glass affect and variations of color this one plant provides all on its own.
Dracaena fragrans 'Lemon Lime'

Certainly we have not forsaken floriculture all together as an attraction to the butterflies and wildlife. But it is becoming more clear that the great majority of this garden's basic structure is not dependent on blooms ... as much as we enjoy their glory and wonder.
Pseuderanthemum 'Black Varnish' offers a very deeply hued and lush leaf among the native Zamia floridana coontie.

Only a smattering of our favorite foliage plants have been highlighted here to give an idea of how they work tirelessly for us around here. By no means could we include all of our preferred flora.

Wow. You all are good listeners!

Tell me, how has your garden or gardening emphasis evolved?