The Early Bloomer - January 2014

The Early Bloomer seven acres of inspiration

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2014

Ring in the New Year with

Healthy Benefits of Gardening in this issue Ring in the New Year with Healthy Benefits of Gardening Rock Your Garden Sweet Winter Blooms How Does Your Garden Grow?

gardening

Ring in the New Year with Healthy Benefits of Gardening Get ready because 2014 is going to be

healthy, sustainable and beautiful

an amazing year for outstanding and

benefits for everyone. And we’re thrilled

one-of-a-kind landscaping, garden art

that we’re seeing more people than ever

and horticulture design ideas. Rock

discover these benefits as well.

City Gardens has known for more than 33 years how gardening can provide

There are plenty of reasons that gardening always tops the lists of favorite American pastimes: the beauty of the result, the joy of connecting to nature, being able to grow your own plants and herbs and perhaps the most important, relaxation. Research shows that gardeners have an increased zest for life, sleep better, and have a lowered risk for osteoporosis and diabetes.* These benefits could also be the result of the exercise one gets from working in their garden and the reduction in stress levels—but looking at it more holistically, we believe that creating beauty and communing with nature can heal your body, mind and soul. What better way *Source: The National Institute of Health

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to start the new year than by helping

may be as simple as taking advantage

yourself and your community create

of sitting walls, fences, or the side of a

beauty and wellness all around.

garage or one of your home’s exterior

Whether you enjoy the fruits of your own labor or prefer to enjoy your garden and landscaping cared for by horticulture professionals, you’ll reap the benefits by

walls. In addition, pots and containers can be filled with herbs, flowers, and sub-tropical foliage and placed just about anywhere around your home.

expanding your garden. No space is too

Take a leisurely stroll through Rock City

small for a garden. In fact, the easiest

Gardens this month, and you’ll begin to

way to start or expand your garden is

see the inspirational and healing effects

to grow vertically. The air above the

of beautiful gardens. Here’s to a happy

soil is wide open for planting creatively

and healthy 2014!

and experimenting with new varieties. It 3

Take a leisurely stroll through Rock City Gardens and you’ll begin to see the inspirational and healing effects of beautiful gardens.

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hardscapes

Rock Your Garden When people think of creating a garden

aesthetic and functional and is intrinsic

the first thing that typically comes to

to a successful wildlife garden. Elements

mind is plant and flower material. Images

like paths, mounds, rocks, and even

of specific varieties come to mind along

mulch, all play a critical role in a

with characteristic flower color, aroma,

functional, healthy, and aesthetically

foliage texture and ability to attract your

pleasing, natural landscape.

favorite garden-friendly wildlife. The next mental image that pops up is how these

Consider paths. They serve both an

plants will put the final touch on your

artistic and utilitarian purpose. Paths

dream garden.

created with permeable surface materials lend more to a casual, natural

These are exciting aspects that all of us

feel when compared to traditional

who enjoy gardening look forward to. Yet

concrete. Pavers or decorative gravel

there is a critical step that precedes this

can add more of a formal style to the

vision, one that requires careful attention

natural garden. Consider which style

that is often overlooked – hardscape.

you prefer prior to choosing paving materials.

Hardscape is the physical foundation on which your natural landscape is built. For

Mounded soil in the landscape creates

the garden, hardscape is as important

vertical interest and catches attention.

as the plant material. It is equal parts

Creating a slight rolling foundation emulates the natural topography of our landscape. There are functional aspects to consider as well. For example, if you have poorly draining soil, by mounding existing soil you can now include plants that require better drainage. In addition, justifying the environmental impact of (continued)

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the project by reusing excavated soil

foundation that will all but ensure a long-

and retaining existing materials on-site

lived natural landscape.

is important and follows right in line with an eco-friendly landscape design.

For more information on how to create an eco-friendly landscape with

Simulating the relationship between

hardscape materials, please contact

natural landscape and its hardscape

Wade Baxley, General Manager at

counterparts will give your garden

772.589.5841.

authenticity. It will provide a solid

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container garden

Sweet Winter Blooms

We are oh-so-lucky to enjoy flowers all year long here in Florida. To celebrate the beginning of another year in paradise, we prepared these sweet winter blooms for our January container garden of the month.

Planted within a rustic ceramic pot are Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthus), Dusty Miller (Silver Dust), Geranium (Rocky Mountain Pink), Oxalis (Charmed Wine), Ivy Geranium (Contessa White), and English Ivy Variegated.

For assistance with custom container gardens for your home or office, please contact Rhonda Lowe at 772.589.5841.

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels gardening “moderate cardiovascular exercise.” Former National Gardening Magazine editor Dan Hickey says that according to studies he has participated in, 45 minutes of gardening can burn as many calories as 30 minutes of heart-healthy aerobics. Grab those garden gloves and start digging!

seven acres of inspiration

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

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