Have you ever visited a community garden?
I had the opportunity to help create a community garden with some very special friends in Miami, Florida.
Me (Noelle Johnson), Matt Mattus, Helen Yoest, Amy Andrychowicz, Steve Asbell and Dave Townsend – the ‘Saturday6’
So, who are these special friends?
They are garden bloggers, like me and we’ve been brought together through our partnership with the folks at Troy-Bilt. We came from all over the United States and came together to work with the folks at a service project in Miami.
As part of our partnership, we share our gardening knowledge via Troybilt’s gardening newsletter – ‘The Dirt’, Facebook and Twitter. We also create how-to videos and test Troybilt equipment and offer our honest opinions.
This year, we were invited by Troybilt to help create a community garden as part of their continuing efforts to give back to the community.
The day we all arrived in Miami, we had the opportunity to tour the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, which you can read about here.
The next morning, we all gathered on a vacant lot in the Perrine Neighborhood in Miami.
The local dry cleaner allowed the property adjacent to their store to be used for this inner-city community garden.
We were excited to be creating an edible garden for the surrounding neighborhood.
Imagine six gardeners together, trying to plan out a community garden. Believe it or not, it all went smoothly and we all agreed on a plan as to where to put the raised beds and what size they should be.
We measured out the placement for the beds with assistance from the folks at Troybilt and the Miami chapter of “Keep America Beautiful“.
The surrounding community was very excited about the garden. We were happy to meet the Perrine neighborhood community activist, Ms. Townsend who would help to distribute the produce from the garden.
Steve Asbell (The Rainforest Gardener), took time to talk with her about the different vegetables and flowers that we would be planting in the garden.
Ms. Townsend, was very interested in learning about the plants and seeds we would be planting. She listened carefully when Matt Mattus (Growing With Plants) explained to her how the seeds would grow.
*This special lady takes care of those in her neighborhood, including picking up day-old bread from the local supermarket, putting it in her car trunk and then delivers it to those in need.
Once the outlines were painted, we used cement block to create the sides of the of the beds.
You may wonder why we put cardboard on the bottom of the garden beds. Well, the cardboard will form a nice barrier to keep the grass from growing through and will also serve to ‘smother’ the grass.
Initially, we had discussed planting some fruit trees alongside the raised vegetable beds, but we ran into a little problem with that plan…
Limestone rock lay right underneath the grass, making digging all but impossible.
We filled the beds with topsoil and aged steer manure in alternating layers.
Troybilt supplied us with the necessary garden equipment including a cultivator, which we used to help mix the layers of topsoil and manure together.
I have a smaller cultivator that attaches to my Troybilt string trimmer that I like to use in my vegetable gardens.
You can read more about my gardening adventures with my Troybilt cultivator, here.
Amy Andrychowicz (Get Busy Gardening) and Dave Townsend (Growing the Home Garden) raked the soil smooth while Helen Yoest (Gardening With Confidence) filled the holes of the cement block with soil for planting.
Community members posing for a picture with a Troybilt representative.
Members of the community came out to watch our progress, including the neighborhood police officer.
We took a quick break for lunch then took a picture with people from the neighborhood, Troybilt, Keep America Beautiful and officials from the Human Services Department who were on hand.
Local Master Gardener, Sheila Martinez, assists Dave Townsend with planting.
After lunch it was time for my favorite part – planting!
Sheila Martinez, a local Master Gardener, assisted us throughout the day and will be in charge of caring for the garden.
I had fun planting the first bed with tomatoes and herbs including flat-leaf parsley, purple basil and rosemary.
Other beds included strawberries, peppers, leaf lettuce, collard greens and onions. Beans were planted from seed.
The holes in the cement block was filled with soil so that we could add companion plants, which help to attract pollinators as well as repel bad bugs from damaging the vegetables.
To that end, we planted sage, basil, green onions and marigolds in the holes, which will not only help to protect the edible plants but also add beauty to each garden.
After a productive day in the garden, we were tired but happy with all we had accomplished.
This is the second year that we have all been part of the Saturday6. Imagine how much fun six garden bloggers have when they get together!
Last year we all met in Arizona and enjoyed a great time, which you can read about here.
I am so grateful to be a part of this group of great people and the opportunity to work with Troybilt again. I will be reviewing another piece of Troybilt equipment this year and giving one away, so stay tuned!
New Plants Worth a Second Look…
desert gardening, UncategorizedDo you ever get tired of seeing the same plants showing up in landscapes time after time?
It doesn’t matter whether you live in the desert or in more temperate climates – there are always 5 – 10 varieties of plants that are used over and over.
Even though these plants may be attractive, the fact that they are seen everywhere makes the landscapes they are in somewhat unremarkable and therefore ‘forgettable’.
As a horticulturist, I am always on the lookout for different plants to use in landscapes. Last week, I visited the Desert Botanical Garden’s Plant Sale, which is a great place to go to see the newest plant introductions along with lesser-known plants that grow in our desert climate.
In an earlier post, I shared about new plant colors available for well-known plants. Today, I thought that I would share with you some lesser-known plants that you may want to try out in your garden.
I love the name of this small, flowering shrub – ‘Lipstick’. While the flowers closely resemble those of Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii), they are from a different plant (Salvia microphylla ‘Lipstick’).
Both plants are closely related and their requirements are the same. So you would use the same way as you would Autumn Sage. Hardy to zone 8 – 11, ‘Lipstick’ does best with afternoon or filtered shade in desert gardens. I like to plant them around the base of Palo Verde trees. Flowers will appear fall, winter and spring.
This is ground cover with large Australian-shaped plant tags is a new introduction that is very exciting.
Called ‘Outback Sunrise Emu’ (Eremophila glabra mingenew gold ‘Outback Sunrise’) is a great addition to the desert garden palette.
My first opportunity to see this plant was during a visit to the master-planned community of Verrado, where it is planted throughout the medians.
In spring, yellow flowers appear covering this evergreen ground cover. A single plant grows 1 foot high and 6 – 10 feet wide.
‘Outback Sunrise Emu’ thrives in full sun or filtered shade, is hardy to zone 8 – 11 and is drought-tolerant. It may be a little hard to find in nurseries right now, but it is well worth the effort.
For those of us who love agaves, then I have a new one for you to try. Agave ‘Blue Glow’ is a hybrid of two different agaves (A. attenuata and A. ocahui).
Like its name suggests, the leaves seem to ‘glow’. My mother has one that she purchased years ago at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in Pasadena, CA. It moved with her from California to Arizona where it does very well.
‘Blue Glow’ is a smaller agave that grows 1 – 2 feet high and 2 – 3 feet wide. It does require filtered or afternoon shade in desert gardens.
This gray shrub was definitely the most unique plant that I encountered at the plant sale.
Pearl Bluebush (Maireana sedifolia) is another great import from Australia. The leaves are succulent and I couldn’t help but keep touching them.
This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in full sun, is hardy to zone 9 – 11 and will grow 3 – 5 feet tall and wide.
I would plant it near dark-green ground covers where the gray color will provide great contrast.
Blue Bells (Eremophila hygrophana) is rapidly on its way to becoming one of my top 5 shrubs.
It closely resembles the gray-colored sages of (Leucophyllum). While they do share many similar characteristics – blue/purple flowers, drought-tolerance and the ability to thrive in full, desert sun – there are some differences.
Blue Bells are hardy to zone 8 – 11 and stay rather compact at 3 ft. tall and wide and rarely need pruning. In addition, it flowers all year long.
I recently included these shrubs in a re-design of a church landscape and am very happy with how they look.
I am always attracted to salvias of all kinds, so I found myself paying particular attention to all of the different species available.
The dark pink flowers of Chiapis Sage (Salvia chiapensis) caught my eye and I was sorely tempted to buy one.
This salvia grows to 2 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide. Hardy to zone 8, the flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Chiapis Sage does best in filtered shade and fertile soil. Because I don’t have any room in my areas with filtered shade, I didn’t buy this salvia.
I was intrigued by this shrub, which is a relative of Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica), which I do like to use in landscapes.
This is Red Powder Puff (Calliandra haematocephala).
I had not heard of this shrub before, so I was immediately curious. It looks like the flowers resemble those of its cousins Baja & Pink Fairy Duster. But, its leaves are much larger.
Hardy to zones 8 – 11, it will grow large – 4 – 10 feet tall and wide. Filtered shade would probably be best if growing this shrub in a desert garden.
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I hope you have enjoyed some of these new plants that are definitely worth a second look.
Next time, I’ll share with a few helpful tips when shopping for plants along with the 3 plants that I bought from the plant sale.
One Tough Little Daisy for the Desert Garden
desert gardening, UncategorizedDo you like daisies?
I do.
Especially one that can handle the tough conditions often present in the desert garden.
Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) thrives in full sun – even areas that receive hot, afternoon sun. All while being drought-tolerant.
To find out more about this desert perennial and ideas on how to add it to your garden, check out my latest plant profile for Houzz.com.
From kitchens to the living room, window treatments add a finishing touch to any room in the house.
For small bathroom ideas, browse photos of space-saving bathroom cabinetry and clever hidden mirrored medicine cabinets.
Plant Shopping: New Varieties and Tough Decisions
AZ Plant LadyLast weekend, my husband and I loaded up our two youngest kids into our truck and headed out to the Desert Botanical Garden’s spring plant sale.
Desert Botanical Garden, My husband and kids wait patiently at the end of the agave aisle for me.
Now, it is always a dangerous situation whenever I find myself at a plant sale. I am much like a small kid in a candy store as I am sorely tempted to buy more then my garden can fit.
The sale at the Desert Botanical Garden is huge. There is so much to look at and see. There are informative signs next to each grouping of plants with a photo and important details such as how much water they need, recommended exposure and how large they will become.
The main reason that I wanted to come to the sale was in order to keep up with the newest plant introductions and varieties so I could share them with you.
First, here are some familiar plants with unfamiliar colors that stood out to me:
Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis ‘Aurea’)
Cape Honeysuckle is a popular landscape plant that has beautiful orange, tubular flowers. The variety ‘Aurea’ has yellow flowers.
*Which color would you prefer in your garden – yellow or orange?
‘Brake Light’ Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Brake Light’)
Red Yucca is a very popular succulent with its succulent, grass-like foliage and coral-colored flowers that appear in spring and summer. The variety ‘Brake Light’ has a deeper red flower, which I really like.
Polka Dot Prickly Pear (Opuntia microdasys ‘Albispina’)
The most common variety of this prickly pear has yellow ‘dots’ (glochids) and is often referred to as ‘Bunny Ears’. The variety ‘Albispina’ had white ‘dots’.
Variegated Pink Bower Vine (Pandorea jasminoides ‘Variegata’)
I have a Pink Bower Vines growing on either side of my front entry. I love their dark green leaves and pale pink flowers. This variety that I saw at the plant sale and variegated foliage.
Agave guiengola ‘Creme Brulee’
I must admit that I was sorely tempted to purchase this agave. The original was called ‘Whale’s Tongue’ and has a nice blue/gray color. But, I really like the color of ‘Creme Brûlée’ better – it seems to ‘glow’.
Purple Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii ‘Purple’)
Autumn Sage are some of my favorite plants to use in areas with filtered sunlight. I never get tired of seeing hummingbirds visit their tubular flowers. Most commonly found with red and pink flower colors, there are other varieties that produce white, salmon and of course, purple.
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So, what do you think about these different-colored varieties? Are you a ‘traditionalist’ or are you a ‘trend-setter’?
I did end up purchasing one of the plants that I’ve shown you. Next time, I will let you know what one I picked.
I have much more to show you from the plant sale including some plants that you have never heard of, but that would be beautiful in your landscape – including my new favorite flowering shrub.
So, come back for a visit, but be warned – you may end up being tempted into running out and buying one of the new plants I will be showing you.
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Television Appearance, Pots, Herbs, Vegetables and Flowers
azplantlady, vegetablesHave you ever been on live television?
If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said “no”. I had done some filming for “how-to” gardening videos for SheKnows.com – but they weren’t live and took place in my back garden. Somehow, live TV is quite different.
Last time, I told you about my upcoming appearance on our local ABC station to talk about creative container gardening tips.
Posing next to my newly-planted container filled with purple basil, thyme, rosemary and parsley. White petunias add beauty to the pot.
This was the second time that I had been asked to appear on Sonoran Living, which is a local morning program.
Last time I was on the show, I spoke about ‘Fuss Free’ Plants. This time, I would be talking about creative tips for container gardening.
So, I went shopping for my ‘props’. I decided to plant an herb container as well as a pot filled with vegetables and flowers. I bought several medium-sized pots, a variety of potting mixes and of course, plants.
My sister came along with me to help with the props and setting up. I had planted the pots ahead of time, so setting up wasn’t too difficult.
The main focus of the demonstration would be the three pots, the potting mixes and the recyclable grocery bag.
They tell you to bring a lot of props, which look good on television. So, I brought gardening gloves, some hand tools and extra plants to help ‘set the stage’. My microphone was there for me to put on and I was almost ready.
Finishing up planting my vegetable/flower container.
Last time I was on the show, mine was the first segment. It went very fast and we were back on the road before the show was over.
This time, I was to go last. So after everything was set up, my sister and I were invited to wait in the staff break room.
To say that I wasn’t nervous would be an exaggeration. But, I was not as nervous as my first time. It’s actually not as hard as doing a “how-to” video where you have to talk to the camera. On the show, I am talking to a person who asks me questions so I don’t speak directly to the camera at all. If you lose your train of thought, they are there to get you back on track.
Of the tips I shared on air – using recycled, plastic containers to fill the bottom of large pots as well as using a recycled grocery bag as a container were the most popular with the hosts.
I had a great time and hope to be invited back again.
Below, is the link for my container gardening segment and at the end you see where I accidentally got involved in a conversation at the end about “Dancing With the Stars”.
“CREATIVE CONTAINER GARDENING TIPS”
I hope you enjoy it and come away with some helpful tips that you can use when creating your own container garden.
**You can view my first appearance on Sonoran Living where I talk about “Fuss-Free Plants” here.
Pruning and Blooms in the Spring Garden
Vegetable GardeningYesterday, I asked you on my Facebook page, what was blooming in your garden right now?
March is a glorious time in the desert garden and also time for some needed garden maintenance.
We don’t have a landscaper, so we gather our kids together for a day of yard work each spring.
My son helping me prune several years ago.
I can’t honestly say that working out in the garden is my kids favorite activity. But, if you promise them their favorite dinner and dessert afterward, they usually don’t complain.
I started teaching them at a young age how to prune shrubs, using hand pruners. My son is a lot taller then when this photo was taken.
Normally, I do the pruning using loppers and hand pruners. The kids then carry the branches into a large pile on the driveway to be picked up later.
Branches and clippings from the late summer’s pruning.
Once the danger of frost is passed, it is time to prune away all frost-damaged growth and see what else may need pruning.
Pruning Spring Garden
Every few years, I prune my Texas Sage shrubs back severely. This rejuvenates them and stimulates the formation of new branches and gets rid of old, woody unproductive branches.
I allow them to grow out naturally after pruning. Of course, you can lightly shape them using hand pruners, if desired.
For more information on pruning flowering shrubs, click here.
Pruning Spring Garden
A few years ago, my Yellow Bells shrub died back to the ground during a severe frost. I pruned back all of the frost-damaged growth and it soon grew back.
While most of the day was spent pruning, I did take some time to walk around and take pictures of what is currently blooming.
I love my Hollyhocks. This old-fashioned flower can grow in most climates and mine self-seed each year, giving me new plants!
Normally this time of year, I am pruning away the frost damage from my Pink Trumpet Vines. But, this year we had very little frost, so they are already flowering.
I have several colors of Globe Mallow growing in my garden. I will soon be pruning them back severely once it has finished flowering. Pruning keeps them from looking straggly and also helps keep too many seeds from coming up later.
Like my Pink Trumpet Vine, my Purple and White Trailing Lantana did not get hit with much frost. So, they look beautiful right now. Normally, I prune them back to 6″ in March.
The alyssum and violas are still happily blooming away in their old, rusted watering can. In about a month, they will start to die once the temperatures begin to rise.
I leave my watering can empty in the summer because it gets too hot and other plants won’t survive if planted in it.
My young apple trees are in bloom. It takes a few years after planting for apple trees to produce apples. We planted the trees last winter and I don’t really expect to see the blossoms turn into apples, but secretly I am hopeful!
This is the first year that I have planted ‘Cherry Red’ nasturtiums. I love their vibrant, red color!
My vegetable garden is in transition this month. Cool-season vegetables such as leaf lettuce, carrots and radishes are still growing. I have planted warm-season vegetables such as bush beans, gourds and cucumbers already.
The garlic will soon be ready to harvest.
Some of the leaf lettuce planted last fall has begun to ‘bolt’, but I have younger leaf lettuce still available to eat.
Fall is the best time to add new plants to the garden, but spring is the second-best time.
My husband and son are always so nice about planting things for me.
*You can see our puppy ‘Penny’ sitting in the shade watching them. She is now 8 months old and we just love her! I’ll post an updated picture of her soon.
I will most likely have more for them to plant after I visit the Desert Botanical Garden’s plant sale this weekend (March 13 & 14th)
Well, this has been a small snapshot of what is going on in my garden.
What is happening in yours?
Even Citrus Trees Need Sunscreen to Prevent Sunburn
Citrus, desert gardening, Landscape ProblemsLast week, I was visiting one of my favorite clients when I noticed that one of her citrus trees was showing signs of sunburn, which led to me explaining to her that even citrus trees need sunscreen to prevent sunburn in many cases.
Recognizing Sunburn Symptoms
You can see the lighter-colored bark and some cracks as well along the branch. It turns out that citrus trees are very susceptible to sunburn.
Why Sunburned Citrus Trees Are a Concern
So, why is a sunburned citrus tree something to be worried about?
Well, when a tree becomes sunburned, it often forms cracks in the bark and within these cracks, damaging insects or fungus can find a nice home. Frost damage can also cause cracks in the bark.
In recent years, I have had to deliver bad news to people whose citrus trees became infected with sooty canker, which is a fungal disease that affects the branches and trunks, which takes root underneath the cracked, flaky bark.
Managing and Protecting Your Citrus Trees
Several times, I have had to tell homeowners that their much-loved citrus tree was badly infected with sooty canker and had to be removed. You can read more about the signs and treatment of sooty canker, here. Citrus can have many types of concerns. Sunburn is a concern as well, but you can protect your trees.
Preventing Sunburn; Citrus Trees Need Sunscreen
Thankfully, there are things we can do to reduce or eliminate the chance of sunburn to our citrus trees. Citrus trees need sunscreen.
1. Encourage Lower Branch Growth
Allow citrus trees to grow their lower branches. They will help to shade the trunk. A bonus for citrus trees grown this way is that the most fruit is produced on the lower branches that also tastes sweeter.
2. Use Protective Measures
Protect exposed trunks and branches by using citrus paint (available at your local nursery) or by simply mixing white latex paint water so that the resulting mixture is 1/2 paint and 1/2 water. You can also purchase tree wraps made from burlap, which can also help to protect them. Avoid using oil-based paint.
However, if you allow the lower branches of your citrus tree to grow and the trunk is shaded, than you don’t have to paint them.
3. Prune Wisely
Don’t over-prune your citrus trees. The photo above, is an EXTREME example of what not to do.
Citrus trees should be pruned in March, and concentrated on removing dead, diseased or crossing branches. Avoid pruning more then 20% of its foliage in any given year. Remember, that the leaves make food for the tree, which will in turn, produce delicious fruit. If pruning leaves you with exposed branches, then coat them with citrus paint.
**See how to protect citrus from the damaging effects of a heat wave – here.
A little note about sun exposure: I always wear sunscreen whenever I venture outdoors. Years spent in California at the beach as a teenager, trying to tan my fair skin did not work. Now, I try very hard to protect my skin from the desert sun. I do however, often forget to wear my hat as it does mess up my hair 😉
Creating a Community Garden In a Tropical Place…
Noelle Johnson, Vegetable GardeningHave you ever visited a community garden?
I had the opportunity to help create a community garden with some very special friends in Miami, Florida.
Me (Noelle Johnson), Matt Mattus, Helen Yoest, Amy Andrychowicz, Steve Asbell and Dave Townsend – the ‘Saturday6’
So, who are these special friends?
They are garden bloggers, like me and we’ve been brought together through our partnership with the folks at Troy-Bilt. We came from all over the United States and came together to work with the folks at a service project in Miami.
As part of our partnership, we share our gardening knowledge via Troybilt’s gardening newsletter – ‘The Dirt’, Facebook and Twitter. We also create how-to videos and test Troybilt equipment and offer our honest opinions.
This year, we were invited by Troybilt to help create a community garden as part of their continuing efforts to give back to the community.
The day we all arrived in Miami, we had the opportunity to tour the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, which you can read about here.
The next morning, we all gathered on a vacant lot in the Perrine Neighborhood in Miami.
The local dry cleaner allowed the property adjacent to their store to be used for this inner-city community garden.
We were excited to be creating an edible garden for the surrounding neighborhood.
Imagine six gardeners together, trying to plan out a community garden. Believe it or not, it all went smoothly and we all agreed on a plan as to where to put the raised beds and what size they should be.
We measured out the placement for the beds with assistance from the folks at Troybilt and the Miami chapter of “Keep America Beautiful“.
The surrounding community was very excited about the garden. We were happy to meet the Perrine neighborhood community activist, Ms. Townsend who would help to distribute the produce from the garden.
Steve Asbell (The Rainforest Gardener), took time to talk with her about the different vegetables and flowers that we would be planting in the garden.
Ms. Townsend, was very interested in learning about the plants and seeds we would be planting. She listened carefully when Matt Mattus (Growing With Plants) explained to her how the seeds would grow.
*This special lady takes care of those in her neighborhood, including picking up day-old bread from the local supermarket, putting it in her car trunk and then delivers it to those in need.
Once the outlines were painted, we used cement block to create the sides of the of the beds.
You may wonder why we put cardboard on the bottom of the garden beds. Well, the cardboard will form a nice barrier to keep the grass from growing through and will also serve to ‘smother’ the grass.
Initially, we had discussed planting some fruit trees alongside the raised vegetable beds, but we ran into a little problem with that plan…
Limestone rock lay right underneath the grass, making digging all but impossible.
We filled the beds with topsoil and aged steer manure in alternating layers.
Troybilt supplied us with the necessary garden equipment including a cultivator, which we used to help mix the layers of topsoil and manure together.
I have a smaller cultivator that attaches to my Troybilt string trimmer that I like to use in my vegetable gardens.
You can read more about my gardening adventures with my Troybilt cultivator, here.
Amy Andrychowicz (Get Busy Gardening) and Dave Townsend (Growing the Home Garden) raked the soil smooth while Helen Yoest (Gardening With Confidence) filled the holes of the cement block with soil for planting.
Community members posing for a picture with a Troybilt representative.
Members of the community came out to watch our progress, including the neighborhood police officer.
We took a quick break for lunch then took a picture with people from the neighborhood, Troybilt, Keep America Beautiful and officials from the Human Services Department who were on hand.
Local Master Gardener, Sheila Martinez, assists Dave Townsend with planting.
After lunch it was time for my favorite part – planting!
Sheila Martinez, a local Master Gardener, assisted us throughout the day and will be in charge of caring for the garden.
I had fun planting the first bed with tomatoes and herbs including flat-leaf parsley, purple basil and rosemary.
Other beds included strawberries, peppers, leaf lettuce, collard greens and onions. Beans were planted from seed.
The holes in the cement block was filled with soil so that we could add companion plants, which help to attract pollinators as well as repel bad bugs from damaging the vegetables.
To that end, we planted sage, basil, green onions and marigolds in the holes, which will not only help to protect the edible plants but also add beauty to each garden.
After a productive day in the garden, we were tired but happy with all we had accomplished.
This is the second year that we have all been part of the Saturday6. Imagine how much fun six garden bloggers have when they get together!
Last year we all met in Arizona and enjoyed a great time, which you can read about here.
I am so grateful to be a part of this group of great people and the opportunity to work with Troybilt again. I will be reviewing another piece of Troybilt equipment this year and giving one away, so stay tuned!
Exploring a European, Tropical Garden: Part 2
Garden TravelsI have been enjoying sharing with you about my recent trip to the beautiful gardens of Vizcaya, located in Miami, Florida. The trip and garden visit came as a part of my partnership with the folks at Troy-Bilt. These gardens are inspired by Italian gardens and use plants that thrive in tropical climates.
Last time, we explored the secret garden, climbed up the man-made hill and saw a most magnificent, covered patio.
Today, I invite you to journey with me as we explore the gardens further…
The second part of our garden journey begins at the top of the man-made hill, looking toward the house.
On top of the wall, are examples of the stonework present throughout the gardens. Most of it was made from limestone, which had a real ‘aged’ appearance.
This is a photo that I shared on my Instagram account of the mangrove forest.
Mangroves are trees that grow along coastal areas in the tropics in areas where most other plants cannot grow because of the salty water. They are an important of the ecosystem and help to prevent erosion.
*Imagine how spooky this area would look on a foggy day?
A large staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) was mounted from the side of a Royal Palm tree. They are epiphytes, which mean that they get water and nutrients from the air and not from the host plant.
When wet, this large staghorn fern can weigh up to 200 pounds!
If you look carefully, you can Spanish moss hanging from the Southern Live Oak, which also grow in the desert – they just don’t get as big here.
*Did you know that Spanish moss is NOT a moss? It is another example of an epiphyte and gets its water and nutrients from the air. I have some from my trip to Savannah, Georgia last year that I used to make a terrarium.
A brown anole, which is a lizard native to Cuba and the Bahamas. They are considered an invasive species in Florida.
This is a green anole, which is NOT considered invasive.
**A special thanks to my friend and garden companion, Steve Asbell, who explained the difference between these two lizards.
More examples of the statuary throughout the garden with ferns in the background.
Orchids grew naturally outdoors, which made me slightly jealous, although I have been able to grow them indoors.
There were even orchids growing in trees, which is where they are often found growing in the wild. Most cultivated orchids are epiphytes, which means that they get their water and nutrients from the air.
As we neared the end of our journey through the garden, we encountered a fence with vines growing all over it concealing another secret garden. There was a small hole, so I peeked through.
Looking through the hole, I saw another area of the garden that was closed off from the public. I’m not sure if there are any plans to open this section called the Marine Garden, but I definitely wanted to explore it further.
As our time in the garden ended, I was so grateful to have been given the chance to view such a beautiful place.
I hope you enjoyed this ‘virtual’ tour. If you are ever in Miami, I encourage you to take time to explore the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.
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If you want to explore this garden further and learn more about its history, check out my friend Steve’s latest blog post.
Next time, I will share with you our next Floridian adventure, which was to create a community garden. While vegetable gardening is much the same wherever you live (except for the plsnyinh calendar) we did encounter an unusual barrier, which I will share in my next post.
*I traveled to Miami as part of a group called the Saturday6, which is a group of six garden-bloggers from around the country brought together by the folks at Troybilt.
A Visit to the Italian-Inspired Gardens of Vizcaya
Garden TravelsLast week, I visited Miami along with five of my garden-blogger friends, hosted by Troybilt. We had two days together, packed with activities including building a community garden, which I’ll tell you about later.
The first part of our trip took place at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.
I had flown on the red-eye from Phoenix to Miami and was running on 2 hours of sleep when we arrived at Vizcaya.
Though I was running on empty by the time I arrived at Vizcaya, once I entered the Italian-inspired gardens, I felt like I had stepped onto an European estate and I was instantly re-energized and ready to explore.
We all enjoyed a personal tour of the house (no picture-taking allowed in the house). While the mansion was beautiful – I am a gardener through and through – not an interior decorator, so I was anxious to get out and see the gardens.
My friend, Steve Asbell (who has a blog called The Rainforest Garden) accompanied me as we explored the gardens. His knowledge of tropical plants would prove invaluable as he showed me many of his favorite plants in the gardens.
The gardens were created to mimic the look and feel of Italian gardens, using plants adapted to Miami’s warm, tropical climate.
I really felt as if I was in Europe as we strolled through the gardens.
I would love to share with you some of the beautiful plants and areas of the gardens in the photos below.
Enjoy!
As we stepped out of the house, we were greeted by the sight of Biscayne Bay and a stone barge that was built as a breakwater to help protect against the rising tide.
Although there are quite a few differences between gardening in the tropics and the desert – there are quite a few plants that grow well in both places.
The first plant that I recognized was Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Firesticks’, which is a huge favorite of many desert dwellers. I have two growing from cuttings in my own garden.
A tea house stood amidst a backdrop of mangroves that was accessed by crossing a Venetian- style bridge.
This beautiful, flowering perennial is Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha). I have seen it grown as an annual during a visit to the White House and as a perennial here in AZ. In Florida, it also grows as a perennial.
I really love the red backdrop, which really makes the fuzzy, purple flowers ‘pop’ visually.
Every garden should have a ‘secret garden’ don’t you think?
A decorative stairway leads down to the secret garden of Vizcaya where colorful plants include yellow Peruvian Candle (Sanchezia speciosa) while the fuchsia plants are a variety of Ti Plant (Cordyline ‘Red Sister’).
Wall pots held a variety of succulents.
I fell in love with the colorful Kalanchoe luciae ‘Fantastic’ growing alongside a ‘Blue Elf’ Aloe (which is often seen in desert gardens).
*I have a Kalanchoe growing in a container, but it is not this colorful variety.
Formally-pruned shrubs form a maze in the center of the gardens.
A row of statues flanked the walkway, which is a design element that I really love to see in large gardens.
Barefoot in the garden.
You could easily think you are in Spain as you view this formal fountain and the palm trees in the background.
Notice the Australian Pine trees in the pots? They are old! These trees were last repotted in 1922.
Water is a vital element in many large gardens.
A hill was installed across the garden from the house to block the sun’s rays. The narrow tracks in the middle were created so that the gardeners could get their wheelbarrows up the steps of the hill.
At the top of the hill stood this stone planter with some very pretty plants – I have no idea what they are, but that didn’t stop me from admiring them just the same.
At the top of the hill stood the ultimate patio, or as it is called in Vizcaya – ‘the Casino’ where guests could sit outdoors in the shade.
Here in the desert, we would add misters, which would make it a great place to hang out in the summer.
I hope you have enjoyed the first part of our garden tour. Next time, we will explore a ‘spooky’ forest, view another secret garden and see an orchid garden.
* My trip to Miami and the gardens of Vizcaya was a result of my being one of the Saturday6 – a group of six garden bloggers brought together by Troybilt.
Problems Caused by Over-Pruning and Ways to Avoid Them
Arizona, azplantlady, desert, Southwest gardenWhich type of shrub would you prefer in your garden?
This one?
Or, this one?
Believe it or not, these are the same type of shrub.
Did you know that over-pruning causes a lot of problems in the landscape that affect the shrub, water usage and your wallet?
I was recently asked to write an article for the folks at Water Use It Wisely, which is a water conservation campaign created by cities in the greater Phoenix metro area.
The article I wrote talks about the specific problems that over-pruning causes along with ways to avoid over-pruning.
You can read the article by clicking, here.
I hope you find it informative. **If you have a friend or neighbor who has an over-pruned landscape, you may want to forward the link to them 🙂