The Early Bloomer - March 2016 by TAA

The

Early Bloomer MARCH 2016

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Easter in the Gardens Spring Marches On! Heaven Scent Gardenias Special Events How Does Your Garden Grow?

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seven acres of inspiration

garden boutique

Easter in the Gardens “We’ve just been delivered to paradise,” said a recent visitor to Rock City Gardens. That’s exactly how we feel about our little corner of paradise every day. Easter in our gardens is especially glorious — and proof positive that our seven acres of inspiration continues to amaze with each passing season. Easter is one of our favorite holidays at the Garden Boutique. Spring is just beginning to tease, there’s promise of new growth, and beautiful holiday décor brings a smile to everyone who visits. During this special season, you’ll find bunnies of all shapes and sizes, delicate eggs bundled in sweet nests, fun and functional pillows and bags, stunning foliage, and colorful containers perfect for your favorite flowers.

gardening

Spring Marches On! Birds are chirping and buds are sprouting, so throw open those windows and welcome spring! March brings an abundance of flowers and plants that’ll get all your gardening projects off to a fresh start. Gerbera daisies – In every imaginable color, they announce that spring has arrived! Reiger begonias – Fresh, happy blooms in an array of colors to brighten your Easter table. Calandivas – Double-flowering hybrid of popular kalanchoes.

A relative of the garden geranium, this year, we have grown two varieties: Citrosa: a citronella, upright variety that may help to repel mosquitos Apple: a trailing variety with delicate white flowers available in 6" pots or 10" hanging baskets With Rock City’s edible plants and herbs, it’s easier than ever to go from your garden to the table. Visit soon for the best selections of these delicious favorites:

African Violets – A favored houseplant all year long. Hydrangeas – Perfectly gorgeous holiday plants in white, pink and white bicolor. Scented Geraniums – Although not known for their blooms, they exude wonderfully fragrant foliage that is often used in sachets, potpourri and even in cooking.

Herbs and Tomatoes

Gerbera daisies

Herbs (62 varieties) Tomatoes (36 varieties, including heirlooms) Hibiscus French Marigolds Calendula Nasturtium

Hibiscus

Calendula

French Marigolds

Nasturtium

Annuals Just in time for spring, these beautiful annuals are available now at Rock City: Reiger begonias

Calandivas

African Violets

Hydrangeas

Scented Geraniums - Citrosa

Petunias – Supertunias® and double ruffle Salvia – black & blue, mystic spires, vista mix and Victoria blue Gaura Nierembergia Ornamental peppers Cosmos Euphorbia diamond frost Zinnias Lobularia Blue daze Portulaca/ purslane Ageratum Pentas Celosia Scaevola white/ blue Calendula Thunbergia black-eyed susan vine, yellow and orange Snapdragons Crossandra Begonias – wax, baby wing, dragon wing Coleus Fuchsia Torenia Mona lavender New Guinea impatiens Sunpatiens® Lantana Gaillardia Coreopsis Rudbeckia Periwinkle Cleome 5

Scented Geraniums - Apple

plant of the month

Heaven Scent Gardenias Perhaps no other plant portrays the grace of the South like a fragrant gardenia. Perfect for Easter, their creamy white petals and sweet perfume evoke springtime memories. The gardenia has long charmed Florida gardeners because of its versatility and performance. A genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, it can tolerate our shortterm cold temperatures. Most varieties will grow into medium or large shrubs and are stunning in the landscape or in containers. Varieties like the Miami Supreme and August Beauty are grafted on Gardenia thunbergia — a native to South Africa. Gardenias flower in late winter or early spring.

With a little tender loving care, your gardenias will reward you for years to come: • Plant gardenia in sunny, well-drained locations • Feed them every 3–4 weeks during the growing season using acid forming fertilizers as recommended • Avoid planting them too close to other plants — gardenias need their space! • Mulching is a good practice to conserve moisture, reduce weed growth, and improve the overall health of your gardenias.

Ask Doc Rock Everyone knows how enjoyable, therapeutic and rewarding gardening can be. But to reap the full benefits of a beautiful garden, knowledge is key. So, if you’ve got questions, Doc Rock has answers. Here you’ll find valuable advice for successful gardening. Read on! And remember, keep your kness dirty and your shovels clean!

Q: Why are my gardenia leaves turning yellow? A: The bright yellow leaves that appear sporadically when gardenias begin to bud and bloom is natural. This compensates for the amount of energy it takes to produce those big, beautiful blooms.

Yellowing of all the leaves between the darker green veins is termed chlorosis and is a sign that the pH of the soil is too alkaline. To correct this condition, apply Ironite (a product that adds iron and lowers pH) monthly and feed an acid-forming fertilizer such as Nurserymens SureGro with a formulation of 14-14-12.

reader quiz

Hey, Gardener!

Wha•da•ya•know?

Brad's Musings Spring is in the air So please just hop on by Bring your snuggle bunny And for this I’ll tell you why: Plants with lots of color Hydrangeas making a scene So many flowers to choose from All sweeter than a jellybean!

Test your horticultural knowledge and find out just how deep your gardening roots grow. 1. Along Rock City’s garden path is a magnificent plant that is one of the oldest of its kind along the Treasure Coast. Can you name it? 2. Here’s something to ponder over a cup o’ joe. To which plant family does the Gardenia belong? 3. Sometimes found thriving high among the gnarly branches of our beloved oak trees, which gorgeous plants do not necessarily need to be planted in soil, as they get all their nutrients from the air? master - gardener level

Now that you’ve got your gardening groove on, it’s time to take the mastergardener challenge. What main characteristic differentiates a tree from a shrub?

Brad is a Rock City Gardens’ associate. To meet Brad is to love Brad. Look for more of his poems coming up in The Early Bloomer.

Answers: 1. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) 2. Coffee Plant 3. Orchids

about the poet

Jot down the answer and bring it in to Rock City Gardens. The first five winners will collect a prize!

special events

Special Events Thought Out Twinkles Trunk Show Saturday, March 26th 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Welcome back, Katie!

Funky. Colorful. Eclectic. All the fun things our featured artist, Katie Lowe, has been drawn to since childhood. We’re thrilled to welcome back Katie and her Thought Out Twinkles jewelry collection. Her bold and colorful handcrafted jewelry features new and vintage beads, chains and other materials that bring her visions to life. Our trunk show on March 26th is the perfect way to welcome the Easter weekend. Join us at Rock City Gardens’ boutique and meet the artist behind these one-of-a-kind statement pieces.

Name that Room! The new addition to our Garden Boutique provides more space for outdoor garden décor as well as covered protection for your shopping pleasure. We’re turning to you — Rock City’s creative wordsmiths — to give our new room a proper name. Submit your best room name idea to admin@rockcitygardens.com by March 31. The winner will receive a $50 gift card. We’ll announce the winning name on Facebook and in our April issue of The Early Bloomer.

How Does Your Garden Grow? What defines a Master Gardener? A Master Gardener is one who is thoroughly trained in the science and art of gardening. The first Master Gardener program was established by Washington State University in 1973 and, since then, these valuable volunteers have been educating and advising brown-thumbers on gardening and horticulture. Many thanks to Master Gardeners everywhere. Our gratitude forever blooms!

CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY New Year, New Hours

seven acres of inspiration

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