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JULY 2018
Outdoor Livin'
seven acres of inspiration
HARDSCAPING
ALFRESCO DINING Something about enjoying a meal in the great outdoors makes everything taste better. From outdoor kitchens and bars to built-in grills and pizza ovens, the entertaining options are endless. 2
Outdoor Livin' You remember it – those summer days of fun-filled pool time with friends and family, firing up the grill for a delicious end to a hot day or gathering ‘round a campfire in the evening to share stories and make s’mores. It’s those memories, and the desire to keep life simple that many of us want to create with outdoor living spaces. When the great outdoors is literally an extension of the comfort of your own home, it doesn’t get any better. Designing and installing outdoor living spaces is something that our Rock City Gardens’ team is especially talented at creating. Perhaps what makes our hardscape creations extra special is the ability to connect with our clients and understand what they want to accomplish. From outdoor kitchens and living rooms to striking pool decks, we’ve had the joy of designing and installing stunning outdoor living spaces throughout our community. If you’ve been contemplating remodeling your outdoor space, adding new hardscape elements, or building a brand new outdoor living area, summertime is ideal. It allows time to design exactly what you need, select the right hardscape materials to complement your home, and time to install it by the height of season – when the weather is near perfect. What can be designed is limited only by your own imagination. These examples of Rock City’s hardscape creations will get those creative juices flowing! 3
HARDSCAPING
CAMP-STYLE FUN They may have gotten their start in campgrounds, but the humble firepit has come a long way. Easy to maintain, they provide a comfortable, fun way to gather friends and family year-round. 4
HARDSCAPING
AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL Pools are a must for many families, and how one decks it out is limitless. Pool pavers can be as sophisticated or rustic as you can imagine. From elegant travertine pavers to concrete stepping stones set within super-easyto-maintain artificial turf, Rock City Gardens has installed it all!
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HARDSCAPING
OUTDOOR FIREPLACE Perhaps the most dramatic way to bring the indoors outside is with a majestic fireplace. It’s a striking focal point of your outdoor living room and a surefire way to get the conversations started. 6
HARDSCAPING
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GARDENING
hot tropical blooms
BOUGAINVILLEA
HIBISCUS HIBISCUS is one of the most popular tropical plants in our region due to its beauty and wide assortment of colors. Our HollywoodTM series in various shades of red, pink, orange, salmon and white are in glorious form. They perform especially well in container gardens. MAINTENANCE LIGHT
Easy!
Full Sun
BOUGAINVILLEA is versatile and stunning. Whether trained as a climbing vine, a striking bush or elegant tree, you can practically plant it and forget it! It’s drought tolerant and performs equally as well in containers and landscaping. Hurry in while supplies last — we have limited quantities of our 1-gallon varieties in shades of raspberry, vanilla and orange. MAINTENANCE LIGHT
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Watch it thrive!
Full Sun
GARDENING
Finding flowers that pop with color in summer is not as hard as one might think. Rock City’s growers know just what to plant and enjoy. Each of these July flowers of the month create a showstopping display.
PENTAS HANGING BASKETS PENTAS HANGING BASKETS are a perfect accessory for your outdoor living areas! Our new Falling StarTM variety is a cascading flower — a unique feature for pentas. Its trailing blooms create beautiful displays of summertime color. Choose from red, hot pink, pink bicolor and rose, all available in 10” hanging baskets. MAINTENANCE LIGHT
Feed frequently
CROWN OF THORNS CROWN OF THORNS is known for its ability to bloom almost continuously. Clusters of white, pink, yellow or red round petals pop against lush green leaves. It loves hot, dry and sunny conditions – so choose this beauty for those spots where others may wilt. MAINTENANCE LIGHT
Water as needed
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Full Sun
Our friendly garden associates will happily help you select just the right tropical blooms!
Brad´s Musings Flowers for the heat? Flowers that won’t die? Flowers that are red, white, and blue… Just in time for the Fourth of July. Get out in the garden! Don’t be a slacker! Please be careful… lighting that firecracker!
Aedes albopictus
about the poet
Brad is a long-time Rock City Gardens’ associate.
Culex mosquito
G AR D E N BOU TIQU E
QUICK TIPS TO
Accessorize Your Outdoor Areas Brighten your outdoor patios, lanais and pool decks with containers that are as fantastic as their contents. Flowers and foliage can really pack a punch. Whether you’re going for a natural look that marries your space with the natural landscape or you’re looking for instant pops of beautiful colors, pots provide an extra hit of color with little effort. Choose pots of complementing colors to group together Even though the colors may vary, be sure and select the same style and material for your pots so the group hangs together nicely. n
Embrace bright colors Red pots filled with green foliage, for example, are a powerful summertime pairing. (think red blossoms nestled against glossy green leaves)
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Look skyward Planters of harmonious blues and grays that mirror the shades of the sky can create a seamless look between your living area and nature.
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Play with opposites White or light-colored containers against dark stone hardscaping creates an exclamation point in your outdoor spaces.
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GARDENING BOUTIQUE SP E CIAL E VENTS
I Do ! Weddings, cocktail receptions, and non-profit fundraisers are but a few of the events we have proudly hosted over the years. Our gardens are a destination of choice, so scheduling your special event consultation well in advance is recommended. For more details, contact Barb 772.589.9791 or barb@rockcitygardens.com
ASK DOC ROCK Q: H ow much water and fertilizer do plants need during the hottest time of the year? A: Many people think that the hotter it gets, the more water and nourishment their plants and flowers need. The rule of thumb, regardless of the time of year, is to keep the soil moist but well-drained. Overwatering your plants and/or heavy rain can result in water stress. This can cause the roots to rot and die. A poor root system causes the whole plant to weaken, thus becoming more susceptible to fungal diseases and insects. For most plants, it’s better to let the soil dry partially before watering it. When planting in beds versus containers, avoid planting in areas that frequently puddle after a heavy rain. Fertilizing recommendations also remain the same. Fertilize every three months with a granular fertilizer. If using watersoluble fertilizers (e.g. Miracle-Gro), feed your plants every two weeks. Some plants, like hibiscus and palms, require specific types of fertilizers. Ask a knowledgeable Rock City Gardens’ associate which fertilizer is best for your plants and flowers. Happy gardening!
How Does Your Garden Grow? Outdoor living is a hot topic, and with good reason. Getting in tune with nature influences almost everything about our lifestyle, including dining, healthy diets, design materials, and even architectural designs. According to HouseBeautifulTM here are a few of the hottest trends this year: 1) Embrace Alfresco especially when entertaining friends and family 2) Outdoor Structures like kitchens and fireplaces are BIG 3) Muted Tones for outdoor furniture and accessories remain popular but vibrant colors rule 4) Grow Your Own — food, that is — vegetables are all the rage and no longer just for vegans 5) Solar Lights are seeing impressive growth in the garden market, for ornamental and sustainability purposes alike. So go ahead, take it outside as often as possible!
seven acres of inspiration
9080 U.S. Hwy 1 Wabasso, Florida 32970 772.589.5835 RockCityGardens.com
Monday through Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm © 2013-2018 Rock City Gardens
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