The Early Bloomer - March 2014

The Early Bloomer seven acres of inspiration

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2014

It isn’t easy being green in this issue It Isn’t Easy Being Green It’s all About The Green Cover Your Ground, Creatively Upcoming Events Humor in Nature How Does Your Garden Grow?

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gardening

It isn’t easy being green Kermit the Frog may have been wise beyond his years. Being green is not easy! Whether it’s keeping your landscaping lush and green or making every effort to be a good steward of the environment, being “green” requires due diligence.

At Rock City Gardens, we diligently maintain our clients’ plants and flowers while providing valuable gardening and smart environmental information. We even provide that same information in our seminars, which are free of charge and open to the public.

Did you know that In 2012 Indian River County enacted a new ordinance that regulates commercial and residential use of fertilizer? This was a concerted effort to help protect our lndian River Lagoon. The ordinance requires training for commercial applicators, places restrictions on all fertilizer use near the water, and reinforces the city’s prohibition against blowing grass clippings and/or vegetable debris on or in streets, sidewalks, storm drains, ditches, water bodies and wetlands.

Knowing the secret to lush, green landscaping lies, in part, to providing sufficient nutrients and practicing weed control.

The conundrum is knowing how to maintain beautiful green landscaping while avoiding chemicals that adversely effect our environment. On Saturday, March 22nd Rock City will host a special seminar that provides vital details for green and sustainable fertilizer practices, including use of organic materials. The free seminar will be presented by Lange Sykes, Vice President of WISEarth.

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container garden of the month

It’s all about the green The color green is closely associated with Ireland, the Irish, and St. Patrick’s Day — no matter where you celebrate it. It’s also the color of nature. Our March Container Garden of the Month is naturally all about the green, and lots of it!

Container gardens are especially beautiful when grouped together with varying heights of pots and plants. Grouped here is a trio of green containers. Our tall urn contains Hydrangea, Silver Ribbon fern, Algerian Ivy, and Regina Iris. The mid-size urn is full of Calendiva, Rex Begonia, and Button fern. And the small pot is perfectly planted with Aglaonema hybrid “Etta Rose” and Sunpatiens.

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“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” — Ruth Stout

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March 20th marks the first day of spring—the vernal equinox— when day and night are each approximately 12 hours long.

The Sun crosses the celestial equator going northward; it rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west.

Although the start of spring is less evident in our sub-tropical climate, it marks the time of year that we can stop worrying about any threat of frost and continue to enjoy our lush, native flora and fauna.

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hardscapes

Cover your ground, creatively By definition, groundcover refers to anything that lies on top of the soil and protects it from erosion and inhibits weeds. There are three basic types of groundcover you can consider for your landscape: natural or man-made material, low-growing plants, and grass. There are benefits to using all three, so many landscape designs incorporate a mix of each.

Natural or Manmade Groundcover: This category covers a wide spectrum of materials. Walkways, patios, driveways, sidewalks and decks are all a form of groundcover. These are often made of hardscape products such as concrete, brick and stone pavers, and natural or synthetic wood. These covers also contribute nicely to the functionality of your property. In a garden or flower bed, materials such as mulch, crushed stone, and pebbles are commonly used.

Naturally Grown Groundcover: A number of plant varieties can be used effectively. Since most of these types of plants are low growing and grow horizontally, they naturally fill in the space around them. Some of the best applications for this type of cover are in garden beds, around trees, and surrounding pools, patios and decks.

These plants are usually easy to maintain. When choosing a plant as a groundcover, ask: Does the plant you desire prefer sun, or should it be grown in the shade? How fast will it grow? Will it present a problem to other plantings as it begins to spread?

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Grass: While there is nothing quite like a lush lawn, it can be tedious to maintain. Due to the maintenance coupled with recent fertilizer bans, many of our clients are choosing to limit the amount of grass in their yards. As an attractive substitute they are opting to install ground covers that require less maintenance.

In addition to their extensive plant knowledge, our horticultural specialists are knowledgeable about various ground cover options. Stop in for a conversation with them or arrange for a consultation at your home. Call Margaret at 589-5835 and she will be pleased to arrange it.

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special events

Upcoming events Herb Seminar Saturday, March 1st - 10:00 am Back by popular demand is our medicinal herbs seminar.

Presented by Jody and Randy Old of In Tune, this class features medicinal and culinary uses of various herbs.

The seminar fills up quickly, so arrive early!

Conservation Seminar Saturday, March 22nd - 10:00 am Maintaining green landscaping while being smart environmental stewards doesn’t have to be complicated. This inaugural seminar will introduce you to safe, organic fertilizer alternatives that meet Indian River County’s new ordinance standards. Presented by Lange Sykes of WISEarth, you’ll also learn the benefits of compost tea, how to apply fewer chemicals but get better results, and how to be more efficient with water and fertilizer use.

Reservations are not required for our seminars, but we kindly request that you contact Margaret at 772.589.5841 so we are properly prepared. Seminars are hosted in our covered shelter by the pond.

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garden boutique

Humor in Nature Returning from their recent buying trip, Rhonda and Diane have wonderful boutique collections that they are excited to share. Rock City is a retail garden center, but we’re also a charming home décor boutique.

This month, discover the whimsical artwork by Don McMahon. His imagery of wild birds alighting on everyday objects such as golf clubs, sandals, garden statues, and even wine glasses are eyecatching and conversation starters.

The intricately detailed artwork creates a refreshing and intelligently humorous perspective on a multitude of our feathered friends.

From a squirrel swooping down to a flock of cardinals enjoying feed (“Cardinal Sin”) to a peep of baby chicks on a pair of sandals (“Chicks in Thongs”), these museum-quality prints are worth at least one trip to the garden boutique this month. And they make perfect gifts for sports enthusiasts, professional leisure activists, and all bird lovers.

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

The shamrock refers to the young sprigs of clover or trefoil. It is known as a symbol of Ireland and, according to legend, Saint Patrick used it as a metaphor for the Christian trinity. The name “shamrock” is derived from Irish seamróg, which is the diminutive version of the Irish word for clover (seamair), meaning simply, “little clover” or “young clover.” Don’t forget to sport your green this St Patrick’s Day and pick up a shamrock from Rock City Gardens!

seven acres of inspiration

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

Hours Monday through Friday Saturday and Sunday

8:00am – 6:00pm 9:00am – 5:00pm

The Early Bloomer © Rock City Gardens