The Early Bloomer :: November 2019

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Early Bloomer

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NOVEMBER 2019

Glorious Geraniums

growing at Rock City Gardens

seven acres of inspiration

Where Flowers Grow TH ERE’S H O PE A N D TH A N KSG IVIN G

“ Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.”

– ELIZABETH MURRAY

Grand geraniums are an iconic reminder that our favorite season of the year is blooming in full color – and one more reason to give thanks. American growers first fell in love with the geranium flower over 200 years ago, and it’s easy to see why. Geraniums fill hanging baskets, containers and flower beds with bright color and dark green foliage throughout the season and are extremely easy to grow and maintain. Few plants offer such a wide variety of colors and leaf patterns.

Discovered in South Africa, the first geranium plants quickly gained fame in England in the 17th century. But it wasn’t until Thomas Jefferson shipped the plant from France to America in 1786 that it gained popularity in American gardens.

Although Jefferson never recorded growing geraniums at Monticello, he proudly grew them at the White House while serving as President from 1801 to 1809.

Rock City’s geraniums are famous for their robust foliage and show-stopping flowers. Growing two basic types (Zonal and Ivy) in 40 different varieties and colors, you’ll be sure to find the perfect ones for your gardens or containers.

ZONAL GERANIUMS (PELARGONIUM HORTORUM) are the more common and recognizable types with their classic large leaves and upright, ball-shaped blooms. We offer colors, including white and numerous shades of pink, red, salmon, orange and violet. Zonals are prolific growers (see Doc Rock’s tips), are quite drought tolerant, and long for our cooler winter weather. Plant them in full sun and they’ll reward you for months to come!

IVY GERANIUMS (PELARGONIUM PELTATUM) create mounds of cascading flowers. They have smaller leaves, sometimes resembling ivy, and their blooms have a more open, lacey look than the zonals. They will bloom abundantly through the winter months and spring. Perfect for hanging baskets and a dramatic “spiller” in your container gardens! Our Calliente series can handle full sun but the traditional ivy geraniums prefer a bit more shade.

LADY SLIPPER ORCHID ARRANGEMENT Designed

by Rock City Gardens 4

Fall Color The garden is a great place to start for Thanksgiving dĂŠcor. Everyone loves a holiday centerpiece. Create colorful arrangements by snipping fresh flowers or foliage from your garden in traditional fall colors. Consider

yellow gerbera daisies, orange geraniums, lime green coleus, bronze cordyline leaves and crotons with many shades of yellow, orange, red and salmon.

SUCCULENT ARRANGEMENT Designed by Rock City Gardens

Tropical Goodness Orchids and bromeliads (what could create a more tropical display?) make for showstopping centerpieces and arrangements.

A succulent arrangement in a long oval or rectangular container would be a perfect 6

low-profile centerpiece for your dining table.

If time is short, or creating your own feels too daunting, our designers can create a gorgeous piece that will definitely garner the highest of praises.

CUSTOM ORCHID DISPLAY Designed by Rock City Gardens 7

Container Garden Art While plants and flowers impress guests all on their own, unique containers take displays to the next level. Find colors that accent your dĂŠcor and theme. Bright, colorful ceramic pots provide a tropical coastal feel.

If a more traditional look pleases you, terra cotta or cast stone containers are classics.

Regardless of your style, the beauty of container pots is that they’re reusable and versatile. Rock City has one of the largest selections of pots in the area, and our wide assortment includes all shapes, colors and sizes. Visit soon for the best selections!

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Meet Juan Our Rock City family has deep roots and it continues to grow! Take Juan Valenzuela for example.

Juan Valenzuela LANDSCAPE FOREMAN Juan joined our landscape crew in 1994 at the young age of 17. Now 25 years later, and with a family of his own, he is our talented Head Landscape Foreman responsible for managing our hardworking teams every single day. His eye for detail is responsible for meticulously installing many beautiful landscape designs throughout our community. He always brings a positive “can-do” attitude to work and is beyond compare at juggling several crews at once.

We’re very grateful to have such a loyal, dedicated and hard-working individual on our staff – an inspiration to all of us.

Juan and his wife, and their three-yearold son, love spending time together. And we love the fact that we’re keeping it all in the family: Juan’s brother, Lupe, and his brother-in-law, Jose, also work for Rock City Gardens!

SPECIAL EVENT

14TH ANNUAL BENEFIT

Sustaining Our Lagoon Thursday, November 7th 6:00 PM Rock City Gardens Friends and members of the Indian River Land Trust will gather again at Rock City Gardens for this annual benefit, Land Water Wildlife: Sustaining the Lagoon. Enjoy cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, a delicious buffet dinner, and dancing under the stars.

To secure tickets call 772.794.0701 or

CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS!

ROCK CITY GARDENS'

Christmas Open House Thursday, November 21st

5PM – 8PM

JOIN US FOR AN EVENING OF HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES!

It’s the perfect time to shop for special holiday gifts and unique, stunning Christmas décor. Experience the beauty of this season with an evening stroll in the serenity of our gardens while enjoying delicious treats and festive music.

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!

ASK

What’s the secret to growing geraniums with beautiful blooms?

A: Fortunately, there’s no big secret to these prolific bloomers!

Follow a few simple tips for growing and maintaining them, and you’ll soon be reaping the rewards of these seasonal beauties.

At Rock City, we’ve grown two main types: Zonal and Ivy. Zonal geraniums love the sun and will flourish in your garden beds or containers. Ivy geraniums prefer partial shade with bright indirect light and are especially suited for hanging baskets and container gardens.

For both types, avoid using overhead irrigation so as to keep water off the foliage and help prevent unattractive spotting.

A soaker hose is all you need to thoroughly water your plants.

Allow soil to dry between each watering. Finally, removing spent flowers will encourage more profuse blooming. An occasional feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer will keep your geraniums beautiful long into spring. Happy gardening!

CLICK TO WATCH Farrah’s advice for growing geraniums.

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Big & Bold

GARDEN BOUTIQUE

MAKE A

Statement Funky yet elegant, our line of Thought Out Twinkles custom jewelry offers something for just about every personality. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind creation by artist, Katie Lowe. Wildly colorful or muted in shades of the natural world, her eclectic stylings are a result of her continual search for unusual beads, unique chains and a wide range of other materials that help bring her visions to reality. Each necklace and bracelet has a name and a story of its own.

Visit our Garden Boutique soon and discover which wonderful creation is calling your name!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Fun holiday favors and accents ideas for Thanksgiving!

Carve a pie pumpkin or gourd and fill it with fresh flowers to add flair to your Thanksgiving table.

Celebrate your guests by using succulents or houseplants that double as table décor and favors. Attach tiny tags

to the plants with a special message so friends and family are reminded of good memories every time they water it.

Drop in a potted plant for an

instant focal point.

Snip small palm fronds or colored foliage to arrange down the center of your table. Dishes, candles and other décor will look even more festive surrounded by the tropics.

CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY 9080 U.S. Hwy 1 Sebastian, Florida 772.589.5835

acres of inspiration

RockCityGardens.com

Monday through Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm © 2013-2019 Rock City Gardens