Things change quickly in the horticultural sector. Familiar plants kept in the years ago now come in so many different cultivars that it is like a sampler box of candy - such is the Aglaonema or Chinese evergreen. In the “olden ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Two universal truths about lawns – there is no perfect grass, they all have their advantages and disadvantages, and lawns go from order to disorder over a period of time unless you step in and make corrections while they are small. St. ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Lawn
I have written about this ornamental grass several times in the recent past but wanted to alert everyone of the fall show provided by this native plant. Despite the hurricanes, if you have seen a pinkish hue in area landscapes you are ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Another plant that you have seen in so many garden centers that you may have become “plant blind” to them is the Plectranthus – especially one called ‘Mona Lavender’. ‘Mona Lavender’ is a cultivar that is commonly available ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
It is good to frequent your local garden center or nursery as you never know what might be there. New or rarely seen plants may pop up to tickle your fancy or catch your eye. Once such plant that I saw recently is called Abutilon or ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
You may have seen one of these plants before, or maybe even had one of your own. These small terrestrial bromeliads are often used in terrariums, dish gardens or even outside as a groundcover. Know best for their brilliantly colored ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Each hurricane leaves its own signature on the landscape. Milton left us with widespread leaf scorch and saltwater inundation damage marring our once-beautiful landscapes. Things may look bad, but we can look to the future for some recovery ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
As you start your gardening hobby here in Southwest Florida, any new tropical plant is a novelty to the beginning gardener. One such plant that you might receive from a neighbor or purchase from a local garden center or nursery is the ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
In some landscapes in Charlotte County, you may find a shrub-like plant called cassava or yuca which is the source of tapioca and other starch products. Once somewhat common in Florida backyard gardens, this plant produces swollen, edible ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Many gardeners are familiar with the orange bird-of-paradise plant, Strelitzia reginae. This tropical herbaceous perennial is a common landscape plant in our area and is known for its stunning orange and blue complex flower that resembles ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes