The Early Bloomer - September 2014

The Early Bloomer seven acres of inspiration

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 2014

The Dog Days of Summer

We Grow For You: Budding Beautifully in this issue We Grow For You: Budding Beautifully Summer’s Last Hurrah September in The Garden Six Feet of September Bliss Peaceful Garden Music How Does Your Garden Grow?

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gardening

We Grow for You: Budding Beautifully Many of you know about our “We Grow For You� program and its success. Clients love it because they can order the specific variety, color and quantity of flowers they desire. Rock City specialists are also available to plant your flowers and care for them throughout the season.

At Rock City Gardens, we have always grown our own flowers from seedlings or rooted cuttings purchased from growers. In order to offer a greater variety of geraniums and make them more readily available on demand in early winter, we are propagating and rooting our own cuttings.

And it all takes place in one of our newly upgraded greenhouses, complete with fans and electronically controlled cooling, heating and misting systems.

We can now control the entire growing process right on site.

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gardening

By starting the process in August, our customers will enjoy beautiful geraniums throughout the season.

To take advantage of this unique growing service, please contact Rhonda or Shirley at 772.589.5835.

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hardscapes

Summer’s Last Hurrah Don’t let summer slip away without

or other seafood on the grill for dinner

a proper celebration. Hosting an

would be perfect. And while the grill is

outdoor gathering to mark the end of

still hot, grill halved peaches for dessert.

the season is a wonderful opportunity

They are divine topped with ice cream

to slow down and savor the present

or honey.

the most to you, like a harvest party

Swap travel stories and photos

to celebrate local food or a best-

Invite your friends and family over for

of-summer party to look back over

a travel party with a twist — ask each

your travels with family and friends.

person to bring their own photos to

Following are a few ideas to create fun,

share, and take turns showing off

end-of-summer gatherings.

where they’ve been. To make the

Harvest Party

guest to bring a list of his or her top-

Meet up after the farmer’s market. Ask

10-favorite places from a summer

each guest to show up to the party

trip. Each person can go home with a

with a bag of farmer’s market produce

collection of mini travel guides!

of their choice, along with a recipe to of time to ensure you have enough

Plant seedlings for fall veggie gardens

supplies for the cooking projects.

Gardening really takes off in Florida

share and prepare. Coordinate ahead

Host a simple dinner outdoors

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event even more worthwhile, ask each

after the heat and tropical storms end and the rainfall ameliorates. Why

Make dinner easy and fresh by focusing

not host a party and help gardening

on farmer’s market ingredients or fresh-

and non-gardening friends prepare

from-the-shore goodies that can be

for planting? Collect egg cartons for

pulled together quickly — local cheese

planting seeds and ask each guest to

and fruit for an appetizer, lobster rolls

bring packages of seeds to exchange.

photo coutesy: Mike McCune, creative commons

moment. Choose the fete that means

“And while the grill is still hot, grill halved peaches for dessert. They are divine topped with ice cream or local honey.�

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gardening

September in the Garden While visions of jewel-toned leaves,

gardening season to come. Here are

cool nights and pumpkin harvests

a few tips and projects to consider

abound in the media and in the hearts

until you can work in the garden again

of many, here in the middle of Florida,

without dissolving into a pile of sweat.

we are still dealing with stifling heat,

New fertilizer ordinances, as well as

daily afternoon rains and tropical

best management practices, require

storms. September is a tough time

that fertilizer applications be limited

for plants in this region and the best

during the heat and rain of summer.

strategies for smart Florida gardeners are to keep cool and prepare for the

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It is best to apply only secondary and micronutrients at this time in order

gardening

to “green up” listless or nutrient-

Keep an eye on irrigation systems and

deficient lawns and ornamental plants.

afternoon rains. Lawns need water

Micronutrients such as iron, zinc,

every two to three days in the hottest

manganese, magnesium and copper

weather. Check your rain sensor to

among others, are needed by plants in

ensure good operation. The sensor

small amounts. After September 30th,

will terminate the next run if rain has

use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer

recently fallen.

with little or no phosphorus to feed

Be a safe gardener. Wear a hat and

hungry plants for the fall.

sunscreen. Drink lots of water, work

Add to the mulch around trees and

early in the morning or late in the day

shrubs in the cool of the morning. Thin

to avoid the heat. Stop gardening

mulch this time of year is just asking

and go inside if thunder is heard.

for more work. Now, while the weeds

Wear light-colored clothing—it’s

are growing rapidly and the sun is so

not only cooler, but less attractive

hot, mulch is the first line of defense

to mosquitoes.

against many problems. Organic mulch cools the soil and suppresses weed seed germination and growth.

As gardening season approaches, it’s time to get your tools in shape. Since we garden year round in Florida, it is easy to overlook this chore. Inspect all tools; remove any clinging soil and debris. Sharpen edges of shears, shovels, saws and pruners and take a close look at the handles. They should

“The best way to garden is to put on a wide-brimmed straw hat and some old clothes. And with a big hoe in one hand and a cold drink in the other, tell somebody else where to dig.”

— Texas Bix Bender, Don’t Throw in the Trowel

be smooth and free of cracks, fissures or breaks. Replacement handles are easy to find and install. A clean, sharp tool with a sturdy handle will make garden chores easier.

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container garden of the month

Six Feet of September Bliss We recently had the pleasure of planting and preparing gorgeous container gardens for a client’s new contemporary oceanfront home, including these two six-foot beauties! Planted in our September Container Garden of the Month are ficus elastica “Burgundy,” and pseudorhipsalis ramulosus planted within two dark-stone planters.

For help creating your own container gardens, visit Rock City Gardens and ask for Rhonda or Shelly.

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garden boutique

Peaceful Garden Music As fall approaches, we naturally think about redecorating our outdoor living spaces for the new season. Windchimes are an easy and aesthetically pleasing addition for fall. And this year, we have a beautiful selection of Corinthian Bells windchimes available in our Garden Boutique. We think they are not only stunning, but the most beautiful sounding chimes on the market! They are a peaceful visual and aural garden ornament.

Corinthian Bells’ centrally suspended heavy-walled aluminum tubes along with the high-density striker give these chimes their outstanding tones and resonance. The tubes are powder coated to match the dome and wind sail, giving a complete finished look to the chime. Available in multiple sizes and colors, Corinthian Bells come with a lifetime guarantee.

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

We are now on Houzz.com! It’s the perfect place to create inspirational ideabooks for your outdoor living spaces and gardens. Collaborate with professional designers and garden enthusiasts, including Rock City Garden specialists. Open Houzz.com and join the conversation.

CLOSED LABOR DAY

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

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