People talk about the weather all the time. Perhaps no group of people talk more about the weather than gardeners. We lament the cold that kills, the heat that wilts, the lack of rain and the over abundance of rain.
But oh, how a gardener can celebrate those glorious days of just the right amount of sunshine and rain. The weather that brings out the green in our gardens, brings out the smiles on our faces.
Each season delivers its own weather patterns that we gardeners learn to utilize to best advantage for our plants. A transition from Summer's heat and humidity has been noticed here in Florida gardens. The stalwart, heat loving plants have hit their peak and now many cooler season plants are beginning to shine.
Some flowers only bloom in Fall, others bloom bigger and more prolifically with the cooler temperatures. Here in Florida we can garden year-round. Having a year-round garden, however, takes some thought. Florida gardeners need to know which plants thrive in Spring, which can take the brutal heat of a Florida Summer,which love to bloom in Fall, and which will provide consistency in a Winter garden.
Having a happy, healthy garden that provides interest year-round requires the gardener to plan. Planning to plant with the goal of having something thriving at all times of the year is a new venture for this Florida gardener. Truthfully, planning does not come naturally at My Garden Path.
As the weather is changing with the advent of Fall, so will the gardens change. Having only been gardening in earnest for the last four years, this gardener is learning and growing in her garden.
What a nice post Nana ~ The change in weather has been great, and I'm looking at my gardens to see what I can do differently and that will be easier on this gardener.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your lovely gardens ~ FlowerLady
It looks like you've learned your lessons well... your garden is full of color! Well done!
ReplyDeleteMy current garden is now in its sixth year, and I'm still trying to figure out that year-round thing. I really can't wait to get a few more years under my belt to look back with a clearer perspective. Right now, the thought of fall and encroaching winter is stirring feelings of panic in my soul. What I once thought were evergreens (e.g., allamandas, jatrophas, birds of paradise) have proven to not be completely cold-hardy the last couple of years, leaving my garden in a state of devastation in spring. They really did sell these in the "landscape" section of nurseries, not the "houseplant" section. One thing I do know for sure...the caladiums and daylilies and amaryllis that grace my garden only a few months of the year are here to stay. They will always be welcome, even though they don't perform all year.
ReplyDeleteVery good post! I have been thinking about this "planning" thing recently since I almost can see those bare areas after caladiums fade away. I am certainly just at the beginning of the learning. Almost each season, I can see some bare spots in my garden. For example, my rose corner turns out not to be a good idea since in the summer, they all look sad and leave that corner really unpresentable. I still can not resist to bring the annuals into the garden, which made the planning even more important because those annuals needed to be replaced with the season changes.
ReplyDeleteSo well said, Kay. There are many lessons we must learn and they don't always come easy. But in time they DO teach. We do like to talk about the changes in weather because they have such a profound affect on our gardens. Winter too cold, summer too hot, but now a brief break from the worst of it... such a nice relief.
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling you are a better planner than you suspect. It's just that gardening is never finished. Which is a GOOD thing. Your garden is looking fabulous and your talent behind the camera is too. Love those first two photos.
Meems
FlowerLady - This weather is wonderful for gardening. Changing things to make maintenance easier is a never ending quest isn't it?
ReplyDeleteGrower Jim - Thank you. I'm still waiting to see how winter will be in the garden.
Floridagirl - I know I'm a little bit fearful of winter too. Last year was just so hard. I'm trying to psych myself up for it by remembering that almost everything was coming back within 3 months. If my yard is barren once again this Jan.-Mar. I'm using the time for hardscaping and bed enlarging and less whining and crying. Maybe.
Ami - It's all a learning experience isn't it? You need Belinda's Dream in that rose corner. She has looked great all summer here. I know you are another zone warmer though. I'm sure your roses will shine now that the heat and humidity is waning.
Meems - I'm so excited to get outside this long weekend and work on some things I've PLANNED. Thanks for the comment on the pictures. I am getting used to Av a little bit. Thanks too for your tutoring!
Hi Kay...Gardening is truly a learning experience...and one that's not only fun but creative. Planning for all 4 seasons and putting pretty color combos together is a continuing process...and then there's the satisfaction of a plan that clicks...oh, how sweet that is. Great post!
ReplyDeleteNanaK, We do learn a lot from our gardens and I always hope what I planted will thrive for that season.My roses are always the happiest in spring.
ReplyDeleteYou have a plant I do not know of, stalwart. Is it rare or new? Very pretty. Janis
Susan - Reading other gardening blogs has really helped in the learning process. Your Central Florida Gardener blog listing all the other Florida bloggers has really opened up the information to all of us.
ReplyDeleteJanis - I am so loving my roses. You have been an invaluable resource of rose info. Thanks! I can't wait for spring to see if my newest babies will take off. I think the plant you are referring to is the Monarda punctata or Dotted Horsemint. It is a native and grows kinda' sprawly but it is a bee magnet. It reseeds readily so I will save some seedlings for you if you would like to try it.
You are a much better planner than I when it comes to gardening...I must think more before I plop plants here and there. Your gardens look great!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kay! Your garden certainly looks as though you're a wonderful planner. I'm still learning, too...that's the fun of it, though, isn't it? If it were the same stuff over and over, we'd be very bored.
ReplyDelete