Tag Archives: wildlife

Preparing the Soil and Planting

Posted on by rhondacarrier

Last week the St. Francis Garden and Ecology Club members got out shovels to prepare the soil for the garden. We created the paths to walk on, and heaped up soil to build the rows for the seeds. We placed newspapers, 4-6 pages thick, on the paths and then covered them with cypress mulch. The newspapers help to stop the weeds from growing in the paths between the rows. The mulch does the same and holds the newspapers in place. Both the newspapers and mulch also help to hold moisture.

We cannot buy fertilizer at this time of the year in Hillsborough County Fl. The new limitation is to cut back on the amount of fertilizer flowing into Tampa Bay during the heavy late summer rains. We can buy potting soil, so we mixed a little potting soil with the soil in the rows before planting the seeds. Students read the back of the seed packages to find how deep to plant the seeds and how far apart. They measured carefully to try to get the correct depth and placement for the bush bean, carrot and beet seeds. We also planted some flowering plants that were brought in by Dominic, one of the club members. The upper level of the garden will be planted in vegetable seeds. The lower level will be planted in flowers to develop a wildlife habitat, especially for the butterflies.

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In Meems’ Garden

Posted on by rhondacarrier

Gardeners around the world regularly view Meems’ Hoe & Shovel blog, but few get to walk in her garden. Two weeks ago I walked in the shade of her trees, smelled the flowers, and admired her vegetables. We have only known each other for a few months so this was my first visit to her real garden. To say Meem’s garden is beautiful is an understatement. You can view photos on her award-winning blog to see the evidence. I didn’t even bring my camera. I am seldom without it, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it justice.

Meems and her husband said they used to play games with the children in the backyard but almost all of it is converted into the garden seen on her blog. There are few gardeners that work as hard or have accomplished as much in their personal gardens as she has. Equally impressive is her vision for the rest of the area. I have the feeling that although she has a fabulous garden, that she is just getting warmed up.

She visited my yard a few weeks ago, and sees possibilities for my garden also. Before I arrived at her house to visit and to view her garden, she had several cuttings potted for me. They were her suggestions for what would work in my garden. As you can see from the brief descriptions below, many of them are good for butterflies and hummingbirds. It is typical of her planning to consider the needs of wildlife as well as to plan for the physical beauty of the garden.  As we toured her garden, we selected other cuttings for me to bring home. It is difficult when visiting garden shops to imagine what the mature plant will look like and how much space it will need. By viewing her garden, I saw the mature plants in appropriate environments. I also had her advice on various techniques and plant placements she has tried and which seemed to work best.

In the end, I brought home the following:

  • Salvia madrensis – forsynthia sage: 10 ft tall x 4-5 ft. – spreading clump – yellow flowers, good for hummingbirds
  • Jatropha multiflora – coral plant: tree – up to 20 ft tall – red flowers
  • Begonia coccinea – angel wing begonia: cane type w/ succulent leaves & stems
  • Odontonema strictum – firespike: 2-6 ft tall x 2-3 ft spread – red tubular flowers, good for hummingbirds and butterflies
  • Cuphea ignea – cigar plant: 3 ft. tall shrub – red tubular flowers, good for hummingbirds and butterflies
  • Senna alata (also Cassia alata) – candlestick or candelbrush: small tree – spikes of golden flowers, good for sulfur butterflies
  • Clerodendrum paniculatum – pagoda flower: 3-5 ft tall x 2-3 ft wide shrub – clusters of red flowers

Candlestick

In her typical and totally organized fashion, she labeled each of the plants for me using a clothes pin and marker.

I have the plants in my nursery waiting for them to develop roots. I can’t copy Meems’ garden, even with plants from her garden. Each plant will adapt to the varying soil, moisture, light, and temperature in my garden and will look a little different from those growing in hers.

I look forward to another visit either in her garden or mine or in various garden shops in the area, but I also look forward to ongoing conversations with a friend.

Of Robins and Privets

Posted on by rhondacarrier

Loudly chirping flocks of robins (Turdus migratorius) appear and disappear. When they are in the neighborhood, they prefer some trees to others, especially the small tree with the round purple fruit in my neighbor’s yard. I used the tree identification key on the University of Florida site to identify the tree. It is a Florida privet (Foresteria segregata). The description says it grows well in sandy alkaline soils; it doesn’t need water other than naturally occurring rain; it is recommended as a hedge since it responds well to pruning. Since one of my garden goals is to provide food and shelter for wildlife maybe I should add one to my side of the fence. I’d make the robins happy.

Robin in the privet

Dead Fish and Algal Blooms

Posted on by rhondacarrier

We enjoy watching the carp as well as the ducks and anhinga on the nearby pond. I wonder who maintains the pond? There is a fence around it, so I couldn’t get in to remove the dead fish killed by the freeze last January. A recent article in the St. Petersburg Times expressed concern that an algal bloom could develop in Tampa Bay because of the dead and decaying fish. That could happen in this contained pond also. There is another possible freeze tonight. I hope we don’t lose any more fish.

Fish Kill

Florida Friendly Garden

Posted on by rhondacarrier

9 Principals of a Florida Friendly Yard

  1. Put the right plant in the right place.
  2. Water efficiently.
  3. Reduce storm water runoff.
  4. Use mulch.
  5. Recycle.
  6. User fertilizer appropriately.
  7. Provide for wildlife.
  8. Manage yard pests.
  9. Protect the waterfront.

My goal is to have a Florida friendly garden, but how am I doing?

I’m trying to put the right plants in the right place, but I’m just beginning to learn which plants are right for the soil type, shade/sun in my yard, and the climate of Florida. I have only put in a few plants so far, not enough to have made many mistakes. My front yard is mainly covered in mulch, and I haven’t done anything to the large empty back yard. Small palm sprouts are peeking through the ground, but I don’t want a yard full of volunteer palms, so I need a plan. I observe neighborhood gardens, talk to people, and watch when various plants are on sale at the garden centers to become more knowledgable about Florida friendly plants and environment.

I have an irrigation system, but the control panel was not working when we moved in and it is still not repaired. My goal is to establish plants that only need natural water. I have controlled watering so far using a hose for new plants that I have put in. I will probably install rain barrels to help manage water and runoff more efficiently.

I’m using mulch, but not the recommended organic mulch (pine bark, pine straw/needles, Eucalyptus, Malaleuca, recycled mulch, unfinished compost or Cypress) so I will have to reconsider my current products. (I found out later that the mulch is Eucalyptus and Cypress.) I don’t have a compost center set up yet either. I’m hoping to include worms in a composting system.

I follow directions for fertilizing the few plants that I have. I’m very concerned about excess fertilizer in the ground water, so I am being very careful not to use too much.

I am not providing for wildlife yet, although I have plans for a butterfly garden. I am trying to avoid using chemicals, so I am digging up those pesky weeds that were the only ground cover in the yard, but I haven’t had to manage any pests other than a few ants in the house.

My favorite Japanese gardens are over 800 years old and are still being modified and improved each year. I’ll take time to try to learn what I need to know to plan a successful Florida friendly garden.