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Early Bloomer
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APRIL 2017
flight of the bumblebee seven acres of inspiration
gardening
Flight of the Bumblebee Almost as rapidly changing as Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral interlude is the condition of today’s bumblebee population. Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the rusty patched bumblebee an endangered species — the first such designation for a bumblebee and for a bee species in the continental U.S. Large parts of the Eastern and Midwestern United States were once swarming with these bees, but they have suffered a dramatic 90 percent decline in the last 20 years due to degradation and loss of habitat. Why does it matter? Because nearly 75 percent of our global food supply depends upon invertebrate pollinators. The good news is that we can all help control the situation and the plight of the bumblebee. In order to repopulate and meet its nutritional needs from early spring until winter, bumblebees need a constant and diverse supply of blooming flowers.
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gardening
HERE’S HOW WE CAN HELP take the sting out of the bees’ decline GO NATIVE Plant native flowers in a variety of shapes and colors to encourage diversity.
KEEP IT BLOOMING Choose native plants that bloom throughout the year. Bumblebees need blooming flowers, shrubs and trees to survive.
PLANT MILKWEED Honeybees and a variety of native bees love the sweet nectar of milkweed.
MANAGE THE MULCH Leave a little of your plant beds bare so bees can dig a nest in the ground to raise their young.
CONTROL THE BORDERS By bordering your fruit and vegetable (especially tomatoes) beds with native flowers, you’ll improve pollination and support bees when your crops stop blooming.
GO EASY ON THE CHEMICALS If fertilizers are necessary, use safe solutions like Osmocote and Dynamite.
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reader quiz
Hey, Gardener!
Wha•da•ya•know? 1. What is the primary insect pollinator of tomatoes? 2. What is the common name for the Gaura flower? 3. How many U.S. commercial crops depend upon bee pollination?
Brad´s Musings Get off your keister and celebrate Easter with the Florida weather Who could ask for anything more We have bunnies and eggs and cute little gifts to suit every single décor
master - gardener level
Now that you’re all abuzz, root out your genius with this master gardener question.
Where and when did Earth Day originate? Check our Facebook page this month for the answer.
about the poet
Brad is a long-time Rock City Gardens’ associate.
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Hey, Gardener! Wha•da•ya•know? Answers: 1) the bumblebee 2) beeblossoms 3) more than 90, including nuts, fruits and vegetables
ASK DOC ROCK
Q: How do I create an artful container garden? A: As with most works of art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But creating
a beautiful container garden isn’t as simple as plopping a few plants into a pot. There are some basic tips to help ensure success.
Keep your pots simple. Limit container colors to one or two for each area. Next, set the tone for the style of your garden. Is it traditional or modern? Choose containers that reflect your theme. Think of your pottery as sculpture that adds an artistic element to your garden or living area. When choosing pot colors, consider the setting. Bright colors enhance a shady area while red and yellow tones complement a sunny space. When choosing plant groupings, a good rule of thumb is to select a thriller (center of attention), filler (adds texture) and spiller (cascading plant or flower). If high-impact flower color is your goal, use opposites on the color wheel — such as blue with orange — or keep it monochromatic with varying shades of the same color. Finally, plant your containers with scale in mind. Don’t shy away from large pots. It creates a bold statement of color and design. Rock City Gardens is famous for their beautiful and creative container gardening skills. We are happy to help you select all the right elements for your own, artful container garden.
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gardening
Spring for Flowers April showers bring May flowers, but our talented growers have already cultivated a mix of bloomers worthy of any springtime garden or Easter celebration. These stunning flowers will reward you with beautiful color throughout the summer months. VERBENA Choose from upright or cascading varieties in
colorful shades of rose, lime green, violet, twister pink, purple and red. They thrive in full sun and are beautiful butterfly attractors. PENTAS Born to take the hot weather, the StarclusterTM
series grows 12” to 18” and features starry blooms in rich hues of lavender, rose, red and white. It’s also a continuous bloomer and perfect for cultivating a garden worthy of butterflies, birds and bees. GAURA This upright, sun-loving flower is available in two
varieties: stratosphere and picotee. And Rock City has grown gorgeous shades of white and pink. Also known as beeblossoms, Gaura typically grows 12” to 24” in height. PORTULACA Our new ColorBlast series grows in delicious
colors like lemon twist, mango mojito, watermelon punch, and double scarlett. This drought-tolerant flower will set new performance standards for providing color throughout the summer. Cascading and spreading, it’s ideal for garden beds, baskets and container gardens. For help planting and maintaining your beautiful blooms, call 772.589.5835 6
DON'T FORGET! Our “We Grow for You� custom growing program Orders for fall and winter flowers must be placed this month to guarantee availability and best selection.
To schedule your consultation, call Shirley or Rhonda at 772-589-5835.
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special events
Starlight & Sneakers April 20th 6:00pm – 9:30pm Rock City Gardens is proud to host the 3rd annual Starlight & Sneakers to benefit the Arc of Indian River County — all to raise awareness and support for individuals with special needs. It’s a magical evening of dinner, cocktails and dancing beneath the stars to the incredible Gypsy Lane Band. This premiere showband, including two of the original Village People band members, is not to be missed! Sport your chic garden attire and festive sneakers, and join us. For ticket and event information, please contact Noreen at 772.584.9511 or visit www.arcir.org.
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garden boutique
Garden setting at Rock City Gardens
PRETTY IN PINK Springtime Décor for Garden and Home We love this corner of our gardens for its picture-perfect setting. It heralds spring and the arrival of Easter. And it practically sings: “Come and sit a spell.” From the handsome bench to the indoor/ outdoor pillow, straw hat, beautiful container garden and stunning flowers, all are available in our Garden Boutique. For assistance selecting your unique home and garden décor, stop by Rock City soon and our knowledgeable associates will gladly lend a hand. Easter is coming Sunday, April 16th and our boutique has all of the ingredients for a fun holiday celebration. Come fill your basket while supplies last.
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Every day is Earth Day at Rock City Gardens
How Does Your Garden Grow? April 22nd marks the 47th annual Earth Day. The first Earth Day celebrations took place in 2,000 colleges and universities and in approximately 10,000 primary and secondary schools. More importantly, it continues to draw people together in unison in more than 192 countries to help preserve our earth’s natural resources. Celebrate with us by strolling through our seven acres of inspiration, and discover why every day is Earth Day at Rock City Gardens.
HAPPY EASTER!
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 CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY © 2013-2017 Rock City Gardens