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Early Bloomer
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OCTOBER 2018
Fall Flourishes
seven acres of inspiration
GARDENING
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GARDENING
Fall – it’s finally here! While most everyone else begins migrating indoors this time of year, we have the distinct pleasure of turning our sight to the great outdoors. Cooler mornings herald joyful times in the garden and cooler evenings mean we can return to enjoying our beautiful outdoor living areas. Fall also signals the return of our seasonal homegrown flowers, including the quintessential chrysanthemum, babywing begonias, and our famous geraniums to name a few. The August issue of The Early Bloomer featured “Let the Growing Begin,” a look inside our geranium-growing process. For the past several months our growers have carefully cultivated a beautiful crop of geraniums that will soon be ready for your enjoyment. Rock City’s geranium greenhouse will once again be filled with a sea of bright colored blooms. As one visitor proclaimed: “You can’t help but feel like a kid in a candy store!” Visit soon – homegrown flowers and outdoor living ideas are at their peak of perfection.
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GARDENING
Fabulous Fall Blooms
VINCA
ALOCASIA ALOCASIA A beautiful landscape plant with sturdy leaves that resist tearing. Its dark green leaves with contrasting light green veining create a bold addition to your garden beds. This beauty can reach heights up to 6 feet. MAINTENANCE LIGHT
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Easy!
VINCA This petite, cascading flower adds stunning color and drama to hanging baskets and container gardens. And just in time for the holiday season, you’ll love our new White Peppermint color! MAINTENANCE LIGHT
Easy!
Partial Shade to Full Sun
Full to Partial Sun
Our friendly garden associates will happily help you select just the right tropical blooms!
GARDENING
Fall springs forward this month with beautiful new blooms, milder gardening weather, and a hint of what the season will bring. Here are just a few of our featured varieties!
HERBS
IMPATIENS
HERBS can be culinary, ornamental and medicinal. With over 60 varieties from which to choose, they are delicious additions to your containers, raised garden beds or as decorative accents in your landscape. Our basil in 6” pots is especially fabulous this season. MAINTENANCE Water LIGHT
only as needed
Full Sun to Partial Shade
IMPATIENS is a popular bedding plant due to its colorful blooms and easy maintenance. The ImaraTM variety is resistant to downy mildew disease. (See Ask Doc Rock on the following page) Available in myriad colors, including red, rose, orange, violet and white – they’re the perfect shades for your fall and holiday plantings. MAINTENANCE
Only occasional watering
required. LIGHT
Partial Sun 5
Brad´s Musings Creepy and scary We have it all Funny and silly It is all about Fall So put on your costume and have a good scare Get lots of Halloween candy I love your 80’s outfit and hair!
Sustaining Our Lagoon ANNUAL BENEFIT 2018
Thursday, November 8th 6:00 PM Rock City Gardens Friends and members of the Indian River Land Trust will gather again at Rock City Gardens for the annual benefit, Land Water Wildlife: Sustaining the Lagoon. Enjoying cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner, dancing under the stars, and making S'mores is now a tradition in its 13th year at Rock City. To secure tickets call 772.794.0701 or
CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS!
about the poet
Brad is a long-time Rock City Gardens’ associate.
G AR D E N BOU TIQU E
Simply SpookTACULAR
October is a fun time at Rock City’s Garden Boutique. Don’t miss these fall favorites! Cool-lit Halloween cauldrons in shapes of skulls and jacko-lanterns produce spooky fog – just fill the cauldron with water and watch it work.
Beautiful seasonal wreaths, cornucopias, and gorgeous pre-made silk arrangements by our talented designers make your holiday entertaining a breeze.
While you’re filling your treat bag, check out our fabulous new blue and white home décor section. It’s getting rave reviews!
All-Holidays
Open House Friday, October 19th 12PM – 9PM
Stroll our magical holiday Garden Boutique and enjoy light refreshments while shopping for fabulous gifts, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, and extraordinary holiday dĂŠcor. A great opportunity to get your holiday shopping done early!
Our gift to you:
20% OFF ALL PURCHASES!*
*Open House discount excludes soil, chemicals, and hardscape materials.
ASK DOC ROCK Q: What is downy mildew and how can I control the spread of it?
A: Downy mildew disease affects many plants and appears as yellow or white patches on the
upper surface of your plants’ leaves. On the underside of the leaves the areas are covered with grayish, cotton-like fungi. These ‘downy’ masses are most often noticed after rain or heavy dew. Fall weather and high humidity are ripe environments for the fungi to grow. The best way to control downy mildew is to limit the environmental conditions that it favors, including: • Choose downy-resistant varieties whenever possible. ImaraTM Impatiens are a perfect example, and a flower that thrives in our coastal climate.
• Water in the early morning hours or use a soaker hose to give plants time to dry out during the day. • Remove or destroy any plants heavily infected to prevent the disease from spreading to healthy plants.
• Treat infected plants with a copper sulfate spray. Treatment should begin with the first signs of downy mildew. • Prune or stake plants and remove weeds to improve air circulation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Our knowledgeable Rock City Gardens associates are ready to assist during your next visit.
Custom hardscape design by Rock City Gardens
How Does Your Garden Grow? Set your sights on cozy evenings by the firepit and alfresco dinners this season. Our hardscape team has designed and installed stunning outdoor living spaces throughout our community. To schedule a personal hardscape consultation, contact Rock City Gardens at 772-589-5835.
ALL-HOLIDAYS OPEN HOUSE: Friday, October 19th :: Noon – 9:00pm
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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