It's January?

This is the warmest January we've had in several years and the garden is loving it!  There are plenty of growing and blooming plants to enjoy  for the first winter in recent memory.  A few overnight freezes did take down some of the most tender tropicals but they will return as soon as we experience reliably warm weather.

Alternanthera dentata 'Purple Knight'

Now is the perfect time to do all those gardening jobs that require heavy physical labor.  The temperature is cool enough that the gardener won't melt while shoveling amendments into the soil yet warm enough that there will be butterflies and other garden creatures to provide companionship.

Orchard Orb Weaver

Several late winter blooming shrubs are still holding on to their budding flowers.  A few of their branches were nipped by the cold but there is hope in my heart that this will be the year I can see them in full flower.

Eranthemum pulchellum 'Blue Sage'

This January's garden has plenty of foliage left in it unlike the last few years.  This is partly because of the mild weather not killing everything but the hardiest evergreens down to the ground and partly because more cold-hardy plants have been incorporated into the beds to give winter structure.

Odontonema callistachyum 'Purple Firespike'

Having most of the garden spared from the ravages of winter is a wonderful treat to enjoy.  Along with that enjoyment comes responsibility however.  There is more to trim, weed, edge and feed.  Less down time for the plants means less down time for the gardener.

It's wonderful to be back to year-round gardening in central Florida!