The Early Bloomer - January, 2015

The Early Bloomer MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

seven acres of inspiration

JANUARY 2015

Welcome the New Year by

Giving Back to Nature

in this issue Welcome the New Year by Giving Back to Nature A Look Back at Inspiring Outdoor Spaces January Jewel Winter Paradise Celebrating Coastal Living Seminars You’re Invited to A Garden Tea Party How Does Your Garden Grow?

gardening

Welcome the New Year

by Giving Back to Nature As you ring in 2015 with resolutions and new beginnings, consider creating a bee garden. Besides attracting beautiful butterflies, birds and other insects, you’ll also contribute to our food supply. Honeybees have been on the decline for more than a decade, and the collapse of their colonies directly affects human food sources. Researchers have discovered that native bees not only pollinate crops alongside honeybees, they also improve the efficiency of honeybee pollination. Nature is miraculous, and even the tiniest of wildlife serves a fundamental purpose.

Creating a garden habitat for native bees will give them a place to live and eat. And by cultivating a garden for them, you support the proliferation of the food chain while simultaneously creating a garden with beautiful wildlife for your own enjoyment.

Tips for Designing Your Bee Garden • Plant blocks of colorful flowers versus a few scattered about. Use several plant species that flower at the same time, including annuals and perennials.

• Plant nectar and pollen-generating flowers.

• Provide water for wildlife, like a birdbath or fountain.

• Plant your garden so it benefits from full sun. Insects are cold-blooded, so they need the sun’s warmth for energy.

• Eliminate a few, but not all pesticides. The use of pesticides can disrupt the natural pollination cycle, further contributing to the honeybee decline.

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Host and Nectar Plants

Delphinium Foxglove Hollyhock Pennstemon Geranium Begonia Milkweed Potunia

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hardscapes

A Look Back at Inspiring Outdoor Spaces Design inspiration comes in many forms. For Rock City Gardens’s hardscape division, it comes from understanding our clients’ desire for why they want a new or renovated outdoor space and how it will be utilized. We augment our design ideas with the outdoor space’s location and relationship to the home as well as its surrounding views.

As you ponder your own hardscape projects, whether they are large or small, we think you will find inspiration in these images from last year’s outdoor design projects and installations. To learn more, please join us for our January 24th free seminar at Rock City Gardens or call Wade Baxley, General Manager, at 772-589-5841.

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container garden of the month

January Jewel What better way to greet the new year than with a beautiful bougainvillea container garden. Our January jewel bursts forth with colorful blooms. The beauty of this tropical plant is its versatility as an ornamental vine, bush or tree and its almost yearround blooms. With its regal height and fullness, it creates just the right “wow� effect. For details on how Rock City Gardens can help you create the perfect container garden, please contact Rhonda Lowe at 772.589.5841.

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gardening

January Flowers

Winter Paradise January in south Florida is paradise, especially if you enjoy gardening and being outdoors. We expanded and renovated our Flower House and greenhouses last summer so we could provide you with even more plant and flower varities throughout the year. Rock City Gardens takes great pride in our homegrown flowers, and we only offer them at their peak of perfection.

The holidays are over and the new year promises new growth. Stop by our retail garden center this month and enjoy our beautiful blooms and lush plants. Who knows, a container garden or display of vivid flowers may be calling your name!

Kangaroo Paw Gerber Daisy Alyssum Verbena Argyranthenum Penta SunPatien速 Delphinium Foxglove Hollyhock Pennstemon Geranium Begonia Milkweed Potunia

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garden boutique

Celebrating Coastal Living This month’s Garden Boutique highlight is all about living in coastal Florida. Our sea life decor includes gorgeous (and very popular) shells and corals, carved pelicans and turtles, and beautiful wall art featuring different sea mammals. From elegant to rustic, these unique sea life accessories represent our local area’s ecosystem that is as diverse as the people who enjoy it.

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garden boutique

Decorative Pelican Garden Sculpture is also a Bluetooth speaker!

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seminars

Debunking Garden & Landscape Myths Saturday, January 10th 10:00 am

From Design Inspiration to Reality Saturday, January 24th 10 am

We’re now in prime gardening season, and many of you are enjoying cultivating your landscapes and gardens. We garden like those who taught us when we were young.

Unfortunately, many of these gardening techniques are entrenched myths and practices passed on to generations of amateur horticulturists without rhyme or reason.

This amazing hardscape seminar features three outdoor living experts who will offer advice and design examples for creating your perfect outdoor room, including functional designs, unique materials, and low-voltage lighting. The saying “the design is in the details” rings especially true for residential outdoor living spaces.

We’ll discuss how your outdoor spaces can complement your home and its views, the proper use of outdoor lighting, and the beautiful hardscape materials available on the market today.

Join Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers’ Carol Cloud Bailey, aka The YardDoc, and explore the science and myths associated with gardening, like planting Bougainvillea in pots, watering lawns in the afternoon, putting banana peels in staghorn ferns and other common practices that may or may not be good for your plants. The YardDoc will take the mystery out of these gardening practices and answer all your questions about what really works in our south Florida climate!

Attendance is free. Please reserve your seat at admin@rockcitygardens.com or 772-589-5841.

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Join Rock City, Gold Coast Lighting, and Belgard for an exciting seminar trifecta.

Belgard’s mobile showroom will also roll into Rock City Gardens with fabulous hardscape displays for one day only. It’s a unique, free opportunity you don’t want to miss. RSVP by January 23rd at 772-5895841 or admin@rockcitygardens.com.

Seminar Presenters Wade Baxley, General Manager, Rock City Gardens Steve Hain, Account Manager, Old Castle Vinnie Parentela, Lighting Consultant and Owner of Gold Coast Lighting

special events

Rock City Gardens cordially invites you to

A Garden Tea Party Benefiting The Ladies of the Lagoon Thursday, January 29th, 12:00 pm

Join us for a pleasant afternoon in the gardens. Enjoy lunch from Patisserie and a special presentation alongside our beautiful pond. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Ladies of the Lagoon, a unique giving circle of the Indian River Land Trust. $50 per person Kindly RSVP by January 25th 772.231.5999 or susan@thealexisagency.net

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

Rock City Gardens is active on Houzz.com, the premier online community for home and garden enthusiasts. Visit us at houzz.com/rock-city-gardens to enjoy landscape and hardscape inspirational photos, collaborate with others, and even create a design folder with all your favorites. You’ll also find helpful articles written by design professionals from around the world. From all of us at Rock City Gardens, Happy New Year!

Hours

seven acres of inspiration

9080 U.S.. Hwy 1 Wabasso, Florida 32970 772-589-5835 RockCityGardens.com

Monday through Friday Saturday and Sunday

8:00am – 6:00pm 9:00am – 5:00pm

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