The Early Bloomer :: March 2020

The

Early Bloomer MARCH 2020

We’re growing!

NEW LOCATION IN THE VILLAGE SHOPS

Oceanside

NOW OPEN!

Rock City Gardens is growing!

Our long established, full-service garden center in Wabasso is

THE NEW LOCATION OFFERS

opening Rock City Oceanside, a garden boutique in the Village

• Exquisite home and garden décor

Shops on Monday, March 9th.

• Fresh orchids

Centrally located on Vero’s barrier island along Hwy A1A, our new boutique offers even more garden inspirations! Come discover the natural talent that Tom, Rhonda and their team have for creating beautiful garden and home arragements and enjoy our peaceful courtyard setting amongst the Village Shops. Visit today!

• Live and silk pre-made arrangements • Container gardens • Katie Lowe’s custom jewelry • Cachepots and more!

MON-SAT 10AM TO 5PM

GARDEN SPOTLIGHT

Tom and Rhonda Lowe Co-Owners of Rock City Gardens with daughter, Katie A shared love of gardening and a desire to escape the harsh Chicago winters is where the story began more than 40 years ago for the Lowes. Rhonda grew up in rural Illinois and graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Home Economics. After fulfilling her internship in the city of Peoria and meeting her husband-to-be, Tom, she moved to Chicago where she worked at Marshall-Fields and then as a high school teacher in LaGrange.

Tom was busy teaching human anatomy at the Podiatry College and Northwestern University.

Though they both loved teaching, every day after work Tom and Rhonda would throw on grubby clothes and spend the rest of the daylight hours gardening around their first home. After their daughter Katie was born in August 1979, and admitting that teaching wasn’t really in their blood, they decided to do what they really loved — gardening!

After due diligence and researching the best place to live within a reasonable radius of Melbourne, where Tom’s parents lived, they discovered the hidden gem of Wabasso. Following three years of working with the Chapins, then owners of Rock City Gardens and second-generation owners of the Tennessee tourist attraction, “Rock City,” the Lowes bought the retail garden center in 1983.

Under Tom and Rhonda’s ownership and a new vision for growth, the retail shop was expanded, greenhouses were built for their ever-growing flower production, and the grounds were continuously upgraded and embellished. For the last 40 years, Rhonda and Tom have hired talented staff to join the team. Their passion for the business and horticulture knowledge coupled with their stunning homegrown flowers has created a destination of choice. Folks drive from miles around to experience the beauty of Rock City Gardens.

“We are thrilled to open Rock City Oceanside in the beautiful Village Shops of Vero Beach. So many of our clients who have trusted and enjoyed our gardening talents over the years will benefit from our new garden boutique location,” Tom said.

March Blooms

MARCH USHERS IN A BE AUTIFUL MIX OF SPRINGTIME BEAUTIES!

CHRYSOCEPHALUM New to Rock City, this petite yellow flower is a big performer for landscape borders, containers, and rock gardens!

Its low-spreading nature makes a wonderful ground cover with minimal water needed. Its silver-grey foliage and golden-yellow button head flowers create a stunning border if mass planted. When planted along the edge of a retaining wall the blooms will spill over the edge, creating an eye-catching blaze of color. Our Desert Flame variety is also a nice addition to container gardens that are planted poolside.

You’ll love how it attracts bees, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators.

MAINTENANCE Once established,

they require minimal maintenance.

LIGHT Full Sun

HELIOTROPE If you’re looking for a container garden or landscape “thriller,” look no further than this violet – and fragrant – upright beauty! Large clusters of vanilla-scented, deep purple blooms set against dark green foliage are a fabulous addition to springtime gardens. Even the birds and butterflies will show their appreciation. When planting your new heliotrope in garden beds, give them about 10” – 12” of space between each planting.

MAINTENANCE Pinch off spent

blooms to ensure robust blooming.

LIGHT Partial Sun (4-6 hours of sun

per day)

BUDDLEIA “Pugster Blue” is a smaller variety of butterfly bush but its large, full flowers are indicative of much larger plants. The true, blue color with its yellow center is particularly eye-catching. The ‘Pugster’ is a fragrant flower that doesn’t require deadheading, and its mounding growth habit will be the center of attention!

Our deep magenta “Miss Molly” and intense blue “Pugster” series will be the hit of your garden beds and containers.

Unlike older varieties of butterfly bush, Miss Molly’s growth habit is more refined so it’s easy to work into any sunny landscape. And it adds a sweet fragrance to your gardens. Butterflies and hummingbirds will find it as irresistible as you do!

MAINTENANCE Easy!

LIGHT Full Sun

GERBERA PATIO DAISY This bright, colorful flower has tremendous staying power and will really shine in your container gardens and cut-flower arrangements. As cut flowers, they last up to two weeks in a vase! Their dramatic blooms steal the show. This new container series’ colors are big and bold, including Kruger yellow, Karoo pink and white bicolor, Capital dark pink double bloom, Painted Desert, Glacier double white, Great Smokey Mountain double orange, and the Volcanoes with its red and yellow hue. You’ll want to try them all!

MAINTENANCE Best planted in

containers in sunny spots for the best show of color. Plant so the crown of the plant is slightly above soil level.

LIGHT Full Sun

“We Grow For You”

PROGRAM

March is the month to place orders for your custom-grown flowers with the assurance they will be ready for a grand display next season. Simply select and order a minimum of 30 plants of any variety and color and our talented growers will lovingly grow and care for them this summer so they are ready for your enjoyment by fall. Our seasonal customers love taking advantage of our “We Grow for You” program by reserving their homegrown flowers before heading north for the summer. You can order your favorite variety, color and quantity of flowers, including our gorgeous geraniums. Orders for the fall and winter seasons must be placed in early spring so we have time to cultivate and grow your beautiful blooms.

Maintaining flowers and plants is a labor of love, and professional plant care helps preserve your investment and healthy displays of color. Rock City specialists will install your new crop of flowers and care for them throughout the season if you so choose.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROCK CITY’S UNIQUE GROWING AND PLANT CARE PROGRAM, CONTACT RHONDA OR SHIRLEY AT 772.589.5835

ASK

DOC ROCK

Q: WHEN, AND WITH WHAT, SHOULD I FERTILIZE MY LANDSCAPE PLANTS? A: Now that the likelihood of cold temperatures is behind us, growing season has arrived! March is the ideal time to fertilize your landscape. Non-blooming trees and shrubs generally thrive on a balanced fertilizer formula such as 8-8-8 or one with more nitrogen, like an 18-4-10 that encourages green foliage. Flowering trees and shrubs benefit from a fertilizer with a higher percentage of phosphorus, which is represented by the middle number. Certain plants, such as gardenias, camellias, azaleas and hibiscus, need a more acid formulation.

Palms require a fertilizer that contains extra minor elements, particularly magnesium and manganese.

Fertilizers vary greatly in their makeup and are a perfect example of “you get what you pay for.” Many inexpensive brands have only three major elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K.) Those elements represent the three numbers you see on the front of the package. The rest is often filler – typically sand! Because of our porous soil here in Florida, all nutrients easily wash through with rainfall and irrigation, leaving our plants starving. It’s important to choose a fertilizer that contains minor elements and that will release the nutrients slowly. Just as we should read our food labels, be sure to read the ingredients listed on the label so you know exactly what you’re feeding your plants.

Look for iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper and small amounts of calcium, sulphur and boron.

Indian River County has imposed regulations on certain fertilizers to help preserve the health of our lagoon, so check with them for specific details. When you’re ready to get started with your springtime feeding, our sales staff will be happy to help guide you to a beautiful growing season!

SPECIAL EVENTS!

Let’s Get This Party Started!

Rock City Gardens is a destination of choice for exquisite outdoor events.

With seven acres of stunning gardens and flower houses, a pond and entertainment deck plus beautiful outdoor living areas, it’s ideal for year-round events. Weddings, family reunions, cocktail parties, company gatherings and fundraisers are just a few of the special functions happening each month at Rock City.

For more details about reserving Rock City for your special event, contact us at 772.589.5835 or events@rockcitygardens.com

How Does Your Garden Grow?

As we expand Rock City Gardens, customer experiences continue to be of utmost importance, including how we share our latest gardening news, outdoor living ideas, and home and garden décor. Watch for our new website launching soon! You’ll love the bold new look with stunning images, access to a full year of The Early Bloomer issues, live streaming of social media, and convenient transactional services like gift card purchases, special event details and more.

9080 U.S. Hwy 1 Sebastian, Florida PO Box 700808 Wabasso, FL 32970

acres of inspiration

772.589.5835 RockCityGardens.com

Monday through Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm © 2013-2020 Rock City Gardens

VISIT ROCK CITY OCEANSIDE! LOCATED IN THE VILLAGE SHOPS AT 6120 N. A1A IN VERO BEACH