Patsy's Garden Transformation

In mid-2008, Patsy Murray relocated to Gainesville from Boston. Her goal was to transform her yard into a sustainable landscape that would conserve water and energy, as well as produce food for her family. One year later, Patsy is happy with the huge changes in her yard.

This is her original front yard with a wide expanse of turf and some shrubbery around the home.

The first task was to remove the grass and existing shrubs so the transformation could begin.

In March 2009 the planting was complete. She told me, "Some neighbors "get it" and some don't. The ones who get it probably have a philosophy similar to ours of preserving as much water and labor as possible by planting low maintenance, Florida-friendly plants and minimizing the grass." Her house quickly became known as "the mulch house" in the neighborhood.
Two months later (May) the plantings were growing nicely and beginning to cover the mulch. One of Patsy's favorite plants is the Beach Dune Sunflowers located to the right of the front walkway. She said, "They are a wonderful, colorful and fast-growing groundcover which provides me with cheerful flowers for cutting." Other flowering perennials include purple and red salvias, Indian hawthorne, butterfly bushes, Texas sage, passion flower vine, honeysuckle vine and plumbagos.
Now, for the backyard. A clean slate and a manageable size. A view to the left.
And a view to the right.

The plantings are in, and I'll bet her husband isn't missing mowing the lawn in the heat and humidity of summer.

A view from the back corner.

And, in May they were enjoying Okinawa spinach, cranberry hibiscus (for salads), rosemary, as well as other vegetables and herbs that she grows in raised beds. Other edible plants include blueberries, figs, peaches, avocado and pineapple guava.

And, sweet potatoes spread in this section of the yard between the fence and the curb. This is just the beginning as Patsy experiments with more drought-tolerant flowering plants and edible herbs, vegetables and fruit.

Being new to Florida, Patsy solicited the help of two local landscapers in the selection of plants. Denise Weber of Green Harmony Landscape Design suggested the plants and perennials that add color to her yard while conserving water. And, she worked with Joe Floyd of Abundant Edible Landscapes in choosing the best varieties of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees.

As Patsy continues to learn more about sustainable gardening, through trial and error she has started a blog to share what she learns with other Floridians. You can keep up with Patsy's garden by visiting her Grow Food Not Grass blog.

As water restrictions continue it will be necessary for Floridians to find new and innovative ways to garden. Patsy you've done a great job with your transformation, and I'll be dropping by your blog, on a regular basis, to learn more about what works in your Florida yard.

Note to readers: If you have made changes to your Florida yard to eliminate grass and grow more fruit, vegetables and/or drought-tolerant plants, and would like to share your experiences with us, please send me an email (smyers25@tampabay.rr.com). Thanks.

See other "sustainable gardens" in Florida.

University of Florida Trial Garden

No need to recreate the wheel when you can take advantage of all the plant information gleaned by the University of Florida in their trial garden.

They tested the metal of over 850 cultivars, including 284 new introductions during the hottest part of the year - April through August.

You can find a specific plant by searching "trial results" or for the best results in your yard, skip to the "awards" section for the top-rated plants. A "plant suppliers" list is provided in the event you can't find a specific plant at your local nursery.

Native Floridian, Michael shares his love for palms on his blog - Another Yard in Ft. Pierce. Although, I think you will agree that his yard is not "just another yard." Most suburban lots sport a few common palms but Michael's taste runs to the exotic.

He writes about his trials and errors in growing palms from seeds. Since palm trees are slow growers we know that he must be a very patient gardener.

He even grows them from coconuts with very good results. But his love for plants doesn't just stop with palm trees. He also grows a variety of banana plants and beautiful orchids (see photo in right column).

If you love to grow palms like Michael be sure to check out his seed trading list located in the left column of his blog. And don't miss his series of posts (8 all together) on The Secret Palm Tree Garden - A truly delightful discovery for him and other palmaholics.

Time to Plant the Spring Vegetable Garden

The uncertaintly of the economy these days is prompting many people to consider planting a vegetable garden for the first time. In the last few weeks several people have told me about their plans and their hope of becoming a little more self-sufficient. They did express some trepidation in their new adventure due to a lack of experience.

For these folks and for anyone who wants to grow their own vegetables, I highly recommend James M. Stephens' (professor of horticulture sciences at the University of Florida) book entitled Vegetable Gardening in Florida. His vast years of experience and knowledge are packed into the 125 pages of this well written book.


He covers everything from site selection, planning, weather effects, soil preparation, fertilizers, organic and alternative methods, seeds and transplants to insects, diseases, harvesting and storing. There's even a section of growing herbs. And since gardening in Florida is different than anywhere else in the country I guarantee you this book will become your vegetable gardening bible. It's well worth the $11.53 that it costs.

Two other resources for the newbie vegetable gardener is Spring Vegetable Gardening and Herbs for Spring. Both can be found at Solutions for Your Life by the University of Florida Extension Services.

Warm season vegetables to be planted now are: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, green onions, lettuce, English peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, radish, squash, watermelon.

So, if you're getting back to the basics these days why not give it a try. You can't beat the taste of vegetables fresh from the garden, and the satisfaction of having grown them yourself!

More Freezing Temps in the Forecast

The weather forecasters are predicting more freezing temperatures for central Florida in the upcoming nights. To keep abreast of the forecasted temperature for your area visit the Weather Channel and type in your zip code. Scroll down the page for the 36-Hour Forecast.

Most tropical plants have already suffered damage from the previous freeze a couple of weeks ago. There are steps you can take to minimize the damage. Read Cold Protection of Ornamental Plants by the University of Florida for advice on what to do before, during and after a freeze.

If you have a tip you'd like to pass on to others, please click the "comment" button below and share it with us. Comments are always welcome!

Grow Your Own Tomatoes this Spring

Did you know that the number one vegetable (in this case fruit) that people grow is tomatoes? Well it is, and it's not really a surprise. Who doesn't enjoy the hearty taste of a homegrown tomato. And, now is the time to get those tomato seeds started.

Tomato Growers Supply Company, located in Fort Myers, is a great source for a variety of tomato seeds. In fact, they carry over 500 varieties of hybrid and heirloom tomatoes, peppers, hot chiles, sweet peppers, tomatillos and eggplant.

I've ordered seeds from them numerous times and have been very pleased with the outcome. They have an excellent rating on GardenWatchDog.com and are celebrating their 25th year in business. This year they are offering many new varieties - 9 tomato, 4 peppers and a lovely white eggplant.

For help in making your selections or advice on how to grow tomatoes, read the University of Florida's article entitled Tomatoes in the Florida garden.

You can visit their online catalog or request a free catalog which comes along with a FREE bonus offer.

If you have purchased from Tomato Growers Supply Company, please leave a "comment" letting us know your experience and if you recommend them or not. Thanks!

Note: I did not receive any compensation for recommending this nursery from any source.

Controlling Lace Bugs on Azaleas

Lace bugs can have a devastating effect on the leaves of azalea plants and many other ornamentals that grow in Florida. These insects suck the juice out of the leaves. The result is the leaves turn a pale greenish-gray with dry brown spots covering the surface.

Fortunately, they are easily controlled with applications of insecticidal soap, horticulture oil or neem oil. When spraying the plant it is important to spray the underside of the leaf where the lace bug resides. If you don't like sprays, you can apply a systemic such as Bayer Advanced Rose & Flower Insect Granules around the base of the plant for good results. For more information on the control of lace bugs see Lace Bugs on Ornamental Plants by the University of Florida.