The Early Bloomer - November 2014

The Early Bloomer seven acres of inspiration

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 2014

The Dog Days of Summer

We Grow For You: A Beautiful Budding Transformation Beautifully in this issue A Beautiful Transformation Outdoor Living Never Looked So Good Flower Power Our Favorite Time of Year A November to Remember Mark Your Calendar Join Us for a Garden Luncheon

2

gardening

A Beautiful Transformation After 34 years in business, Rock City Gardens decided it was time for a facelift. While many of you were away this past summer, we were undergoing a major renovation. And the results are stunning!

You will notice the transformation the minute you enter our retail garden center, starting in our Garden Boutique. A new check-out counter built by our hardscape team, new merchandising displays and an open floor plan create a beautiful shopping experience. We appreciate the positive feedback we’ve received from from our visitors.

Of course, our fall flowers are looking especially robust in their new home and eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Exit the Flower & Shade House and take a stroll down the old Pony Tail Path.

You’ll barely recognize it! Cross the new stone bridge that, we admit, is absolutely picture-perfect. The stream with a new water feature and glorious plants and flowers form a peaceful oasis.

Our famous Flower House was rebuilt from top to bottom, and it’s now called the Flower & Shade House. The new 10-foot-tall structure has more square footage, new flower tables and improved traffic flow. We also made it easier to access our seven-acre garden nursery – with the open floor plan you can access our pond and event areas directly from the Flower & Shade House. The new lighting system makes it perfect for shopping in the early evening or attending special nighttime events.

3

gardening

Meander down any one of our garden paths toward the pond, and you’ll discover new decorative lighting in the event area and a beautiful deck along the water’s edge. The deck adds the perfect touch to special events like cocktail parties, garden luncheons, weddings, family gatherings and more.

Even our greenhouse, where our gorgeous geraniums come to life every year, underwent impressive renovations.

In fact, the renovations have allowed us to offer a greater variety of geraniums ready for your fall planting. The upgraded greenhouse now has a controlled

thermostat system for cooling and heating, new fans and timed misting systems. We can now propagate and root our own cuttings, giving us more control over the entire growing process right here on site.

Over the years, Rock City Gardens has grown into far more than a retail garden center. It is a destination worthy of a peaceful stroll through the gardens, a fun event by day or night and, of course, the perfect place for picking out your favorite plants, flowers and garden décor. If you haven’t visited us recently, the time is now. Inspiration guaranteed.

“We live in Winter Garden and had planned to take our daughter to Cocoa Beach when she comes to visit us. But, without question, we are going to come to Rock City Gardens instead. This place could be the Cypress Gardens of the east coast!”

—R ecent, first-time visitor to Rock City Gardens

4

5

hardscapes

Outdoor Living Never Looked So Good Those who think outdoor living is only for the birds should take another look!

Over the years, Rock City Gardens has designed and installed beautiful outdoor living spaces, each one unique to each client’s lifestyle. Regardless of the size of the space, establishing a look and feel as an extension of your home is central to our success.

From surface materials, outdoor lighting, pool tiles, and furniture selections – right down to the landscaping – it is all very

6

intentional. In order for you to truly feel at home with your new outdoor room, each design element should correlate with the overall look and feel. And while the options may appear daunting, we understand how to establish a design that not only complements your lifestyle, but makes a bold statement, too.

Once your new outdoor room is built, the next stage is decorating your space, including furniture, fabrics, and outdoor décor that are sturdy enough to withstand our subtropical climate. We would be remiss not to remind you that no outdoor living space is complete without the finishing touch of colorful container gardens, and gorgeous flowers and plants. We recently asked Page Franzel, owner of Page 2 Design, for her advice about decorating outdoor living spaces.

“Think about new flowers and foliage as you would fabrics in your interior rooms,” she advised. “Your colors should all work together and coordinate. The big difference is that it’s all a living space that is truly ‘living’!”

Rock City Gardens provides full-service hardscape design and installation services. Keeping your home’s outdoor rooms filled with natural color and vivid

blooms is our professional obsession.

To schedule a consultation, please contact Wade Baxley, General Manager, at 772.589.5841.

7

gardening

Flower Power

Winter Annuals Geraniums Ivy Geraniums Supertunias Potunias Million Bells Wax Begonias Dragon Wing Begonias Baby Wing Begonias Sunpatiens

Although Rock City Gardens is growing in all the right directions and as a destination of choice, we never forget what brought us to the dance more than three decades ago. Our glorious flowers and robust plants remain our hallmark and our first love. We take great pride in seeing homes and businesses throughout the Treasure Coast filled with beautiful blooms that were cultivated and grown at Rock City.

This time of year is especially fun as we unveil what Mother Nature (and lots of hard work from our dedicated staff) is producing for the fall and winter seasons. Our winter annuals are ready for your review and just waiting to shine in your garden or container of choice.

New Guinea Impatiens Diascia Nemesia Diamond Frost Snapdragons

8

For your shopping convenience, our Retail Garden Center now has extended shopping hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

9

garden boutique

Our Favorite Time of Year Plenty of retail garden nurseries will tell you that springtime is their favorite time of year. At Rock City’s Garden Boutique, we happen to love late fall and winter.

Perhaps it’s because the weather finally turns cooler and reminds us why we truly enjoy living in the magnificent, seaside community of Vero Beach. But we also love this time of year because the holidays bring so much beauty and joy to our Garden Boutique, and to all those that visit us. Thanksgiving and Christmas are especially amazing when you’re

looking for that special gift or home accent.

Rhonda and Diane spent much of their summer searching for unique home and garden décor, including holiday treasures that they knew you would find intriguing and irresistible. They have succeeded!

The Garden Boutique is radiant with new décor, both big and small. We invite you to come take a stroll through our newly renovated boutique and fall in love all over again.

A November to Remember With autumn in the air and Thanksgiving just around the corner, our November container of the month creates the perfect focal point for an impressive entryway or outdoor living area. This month’s tall fall beauty is full of hearty Bromeliad blanchettiana (sun bromeliad) and Asparagus meyerii (foxtail fern).

For information about our container garden design and maintenance services, please contact Rhonda Lowe at 772.589.5841.

10

11

Special Events

Mark Your Calendar!

Rock City Gardens has become a destination of choice for exquisite outdoor events. With seven acres of gorgeous gardens, a pond and entertainment deck as well as an outdoor living area, it is ideal for year-round events. Weddings, family reunions, cocktail parties, company gatherings and fundraisers are just a few of the special functions that have transpired at Rock City. Please plan to join us for our November seminar and special event.

Thursday, November 6th 6:00 pm Indian River Land Trust fundraiser This year marks the 11th consecutive year that Rock City Gardens has hosted the annual Indian River Land Trust fundraiser. It’s a beautiful evening under the stars with dining, dancing and a celebration of our beautiful environment. $175 per person. To purchase tickets, please call 772.794.0701.

Saturday, November 15th 10:00 am Seminar: Holiday Wreath Making Rock City Gardens’ talented merchandiser, Joan Woolridge, and local designer and artist, Ruth Ann Holt, will demonstrate how to create beautiful wreaths for the holidays. Please join us in our seminar pavilion by the pond. Attendance is free, and one lucky attendee will win a Rock City Gardens holiday wreath! RSVP by November 14th at 772.473.0535 or admin@rockcitygardens.com.

12

13

Join us for a Garden Luncheon Thursday, January 29th 12:00 pm $50 per person Spend a pleasant afternoon at Rock City during our upcoming garden luncheon. Staged around our beautiful pond, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch from Patisserie and a special horticulture presentation. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Ladies of the Lagoon.

RSVP by January 25th. Susan@TheAlexisAgency.net or 772.231.5999.

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

© 2013-2014 Rock City Gardens