Florida Chit Chat #7 New Year for Fun!

Roly0217 remind me in a few months and I will dig up and send you a Heritage daff 'Grand Primo'. I would like to know if they will grown down there, have had these bulbs for over 50 years. I have seen them as far south as Gainesville
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73055/

Debijaynes that is great to know !!! Definitely more hopeful now and I also want to try Azaleas. I just haven't seen those at either HD or Lowes. I love the flowers on the Azaleas as well.
wren107 I will definitely remind you around March or so. All of my paperwhites belong to the same group as the 'Grand Primo' They are in the Tazetta group so if mines are growing and starting to bud I would think that once the Grand Primo acclimates it would do just as well. I've got Ziva, Inbal and Chinese Sacred Lily. I think that's what I planted. I've got them in a mixed bed with Amaryllises so that the paperwhites bloom and then the Amaryllises follow. That was the sequence last year.

mine are daffs are already starting to bloom

Thats exciting to hear about the azealas and camellias in Miami. What kind of azealas are they? A plain old formosa...the ones that get big, set their blooms in september and boom in March. If we wee to cut them back now, there would be no bloom. It must be a different kind down south.

gardenglory I don't grow any of the Azaleas but Debijaynes that's in the same zone as my does grow them. Debi if you could tell us which cultivars do you have so that I can start looking for it I would really appreciate it.
Thank you !!!

No Idea what they are--Big white single flowers-- I call it the old fashioned kind. Blooms in December-January. Camellias bloom the same time. They are double and single pink--again, the "dooryard variety". They are very old bushes and were here when we purchased the house five years ago.. The house was built in '77!

Huzzah! Hurray! O, frabjous day! My cancer treatments are finished and were apparently successful in eliminating the cancerous mass. All of your assistance, encouragement, prayers, meditations, and healing thoughts, cards and letters, and huge box of dark chocolate over the past few months are greatly appreciated. Of all the sighs of relief I have released in my life, this huge exhalation is the most exuberant. Please take a moment to join me in rejoicing! Thanks!

Debijaynes -- I am thrilled to hear that Camellias can grow and flower in south Florida! I was expecting that they would need to be placed in cold storage near 32 F for a month or two (like a large restaurant refrigerator). I propagated my 'Pink Perfection' by air layering (my first attempt at air layering and it was thrilling to cut off a limb and actually find roots in the sphagnum moss!). I have some to share, but some are intended for BocaGinger who admired my large 'Pink Perfection' tree when she came up for a visit and informed me that it was her botanist/horticulturist grandfather that had created the cultivar. I hope she can have success with the camellia in Boca Raton.

Jeremy

Great news Jeremy,
My prayers for you have been answered. I'm sure you are VERY relieved.
Bonnie

Oh Jeremy, that is such fantastic news. I am so happy to hear that. Your a trooper, thats for sure!!

WONDERFUL news Jeremy!!

Jeremy, you have been in my prayers since the beginning of this last cancer scare. I am truly rejoicing with you. You know what? I'll keep you in my prayers because cancer is insidious. Keep well, my friend.

Sylvain.

Awesome news Jeremy !!! You've won a great battle. Many great things for you to come !!! And a year full of new gardening adventures with great health.

Happy Birthday Wren. :-) Wishing you lots of good plants to photograph.

Sandy, a very happy birthday to you. Hope you post some of your photographs soon. Hope its a great year for you as well.

pam

Thanks, all, for your communal rejoicing! I'm still trying to get all my innards to settle down and having a lot of trouble getting to sleep at night (went through 2 nights of cold turkey withdrawal from morphine patches/percocet that could have been filmed as a documentary for drug withdrawal -- involuntary thrusts in arm and legs, body contortions, couldn't lay still, pacing the floor, moaning, groaning, yelling, beating the walls and doors with my fists, etc.). Those symptoms have mostly subsided, but I think my body is still craving the morphine/percocet to knock me out at night as it did for the past several months. I look forward to returning to something similar to "normal."

I walk out into my yard to a somewhat razed and totally unfamiliar landscape after the city Code Enforcement folks came through in the midst of the months of my cancer treatments with police escort, court orders and work crews to "abate" my violations for "untended weeds and overgrowth" and "trash." As far as my garden plants, all they did was prune about 1 ft off the top of the Japanese Yew (Podocarpus) hedges along the front border by the curb, but massacring some Hardy Passion Vine (P. caerulea) and some old garden roses in the process. One of the roses is my 'Veilchenblau' blue rose that I grew as a cutting from a rose bush my Mom had and that I grew up with -- much sentimental value. I don't think they totally destroyed it, but certainly was not the pruning I would have done. They also cut the azaleas back about 1 ft by the front porch and some more Yew hedges extending out as a natural barrier to separate two sections of the garden. They also did "Crepe Murder" (hat-rack pruning) to a few Crepe Myrtles but left others that were immediately adjacent untouched. Along with running a weed eater over my established garden paths and up into some of the planting beds (without too much damage). And that's it for the alleged violation of "untended growth of weeds, overgrowth, underbrush, etc.). The "trash" that was hauled away included all my building materials (new lumber raised high off the ground on metal supports, about $100 worth of new pvc pipe, new concrete blocks, etc.) and the things I had laboriously salvaged to from Craig's List ads and others sources to recycle, such as concrete Spanish roofing tiles (stacked neatly), bricks (also stacked), marble pieces, and various brass and other metal bed posts to use for garden gates, etc. It has really shaken my belief in all that I held dear as an American. I never imagined that the government could find an excuse through (mis)interpretation of city codes to show up with no warning at private residential property and start hacking at landscaping and carting off personal property. Now that I have the stamina to fight this battle, I will look for an attorney to help me sue the city, but it is such an odd, uncommon area of law that I'm not sure which attorneys to contact. The enforcement was so haphazard and inconsistent that I am still baffled by what interpretation of the code was being used. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out, especially since I claimed exemption from enforcement as per the "Florida-Friendly Landscape Law" that went into effect in Gov. Crist's administration and that apparently has never been tested for legitimacy in court. In any case, I have lost much of my sense of privacy in my home and garden and am concerned the gestapo may return at any time to do yet more damage. A very weird place to be!!

Jeremy

Happy Birthday, dear friend and neighbor, Sandy! And best wishes for many more spins around the sun with dervish energy and delightful flowers and greenery!

I have taken your suggestion about using shallow planting (just a few inches deep) for spring flowering bulbs, and got results from this one Paperwhite (Narcissus tazeta). In my very sandy soil, bulbs tend to eternally sink lower into the ground. I have several dozen Paperwhite bulbs I need to dig up and move back to near the soil surface. The same thing happens with Amaryllis bulbs -- within a season or two the bulb sinks below soil level. The last time I planted Amaryllis, I placed a wire rack beneath the bulbs to try to keep them from taking the elevator down to Hell. The wire rack has helped somewhat, but I still need to pull back the soil a few times a year to keep the Amaryllis at the appropriate depth.

Jeremy

Thanks everyone.
Monday I went up to Waycross, Ga to the Park, right outside of it they have a Camellia garden, not to many flowers blooming there right now but here are a few pictures. I need to edit the rest of them.

I am going to go over to Tallahassee to the State Garden so hoping there are a lot of blooms over there.

Happy Birthday Sandy. Here's wishing you a great and well year.
Jeremy I am so tickled to hear you are healed. You had us scared for sure. I figured the damage to your plants would be heal-able. I am hoping for the strength and stamina to prune my own myrtles this year.
I have returned to Heaven down here at Okee. My Hard drive got fried on Saturday and when I did a reboot I lost 4 years of pictures, Key West and several other Keys. Then New Mexico, the Taos Pueblo, Santa Fe and the mountains and Canyons. I can go back there for sure. I also lost Seattle, the NW Coast and the Chahuly Exhibit next door to the Space Needle....Also across and down the Street from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Many great memories....zapped.
My most wonderful neighbors who watered my plants have returned. All full of hugs and amazement I am even here.
That being said I'm not sure I've told all of you how much I appreciate all of your cards and prayers after my fall last year. You were priceless. Jeremy took the bus over to Brooks rehab a couple of Saturdays to go shopping for me. Mostly comfort things like a fan. AC was too cold, a fan just right.
And so many other things.
I seldom get good long Internet access.
As far as I'm concerned you folks are priceless.
Sidney

I wasnt able to trim my myrtles last year. I was out first thing this morning , gave it my best shot. My arms and hands are shaking and hurting, so I stopped.I got more than half way thru, so after a little rest, I will be able to finish. It will make me feel so much better to have that done. Im so backed up I didnt know where to start, but I thought I best get them done before it gets any warmer or more humid, because then im out of the game for sure. Still enjoying the osmanthus, nothing like a little aroma therapy to keep one going.
So sorry to hear your pictures were lost, thank goodness tho its just them, and your memory is not 'zapped' along with them.
I didnt know of your fall last year, but sure am glad your getting better.

Pam

Sidney Thank you. When you get you computer fixed or a new one get Carbonite, it is always backing up new stuff. If change a picture it backs it up. I do not have to worry about my pictures.

Sandy

Great news on the status of your health Jeremy! Whew! A close call that eh? It sounds as if your garden was not damaged beyond repair so that's a good thing too.

Sidney, how wonderful to hear you are recovered enough to get back to Okeechobee. The warmth & sunshine will surely help to revive you further. Sorry about the computer.

Happy Birthday Sandy!

Thank you

Sandy

Hi.

On the subject of losing pictures: what a shame. Norton Antivirus often insists that I back-up my files onto DVDs. I always give in and the system writes 3 or 4 DVDs. I keep those in a safe place in case I need them. Should a catastrophe happen, I'll lose whatever I created since the last back-up. I figure it's better to encur some loss than lose everything. What is written on there is beyond me because I have never had to use them to recover from a disaster.

Advantage: it's free, save for the cost of the DVDs, which I buy 100 at a time at Costco. Carbonite is not free, but it is purported as being extremely reliable. The less bills I get, the better I feel.

Take care, all.
Sylvain.

Sylvain I have thousands of pictures and more and more of them are in raw and it would take a lot of DVD's and as I am slowly editing the pictures as I learn more about editing-I would spend half my time down loading pictures to DVD's Carbonite does it as soon as I finish editing the pictures.

The eagles are really awesome. Sorry I'm so behind. Hope everybody is doing well this new years.

Sandy I have a new camera and have been studying like I'm in school again on how to use it...so any tips are very welcome.

I know I'm not part of the regulars but hope everyone is enjoying this nice weather...and with some rain too. My garden is lovely...I see some cold weather in the way future forecast...lets hope they're wrong.


So much of what I'm photographing is frozen to the ground by now.

What pretty pictures!!!

Probably going to have cold weather. I had to call the Air conditioner man today. Thats a sure sign cold weather will come ;-)

Lovely pictures.
If and when I get the photo study group going over on another web site I will let everyone know. Our first study will be about exposure, the hold up is I have not been able to get the pictures I want.

Pictures are beautiful. Keep them coming as I'm sure everyone enjoys them.
Happy gardening all in 2013.
Bonnie

Jeremy I'm going to be blunt here and say that what has happened to you just really sucks !!! Excuse my language. I am irritated and it didn't happen to me. I so would sue the city and everyone involved and demand my materials and taken property back !!!

Here is a link to an article I wrote that is in the Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/12/3177782/we-can-help-rebuild-our-ecosystems.html

Get Carbonite for $55 a year!

Great article Amy !!! I try to plant mostly natives for the butterflies and the one hummingbird that comes every year. I am seeing an increase on wild birds passing by too.

That was a very nice article, thanks for posting. I too try to plant for the 'winged' ones.

I just heard, as I was typing, something on TV about a story coming up, about a couple in FL who are being made to dig up all their plants in the front yard or pay a big fine.. Needless to say, Im gunna sit right here and see whats that about.

Is that the couple with the vegie garden in their front yard? The neighbor who is complaining needs to get a life. I carried a bucket full of manure to my neighbor with my Kubota cause they wanted to plant a garden.
If you live on a house lot and thats the only place you have to plant so what. Pics I saw on tv garden looked neat as a pin.
Government control often goes too far. If it looked like the city dump thats different as it devaluates others property but what they did wasn't dumpy looking. Thank God I live on 15 acres and zoned ag. I don't think we are allowed to keep pigs but thats about it. We used to raise 3 a year and butcher on New Years up north. We were further in country up there so no problems. We have cows and no neighbors have objected yet and now we have 2 subdivisions no far away. We were here first so cows will stay as long as we are able to care for them.
OK down off soapbox.
Bonnie

Yep, that is the one. In Orlando. Seems the home owner doesnt have a leg to stand on as the regulations are not on their side. Its too bad. Like someone on the newscast said, all you can do is get the law changed. I didnt think it looked bad. Not sure how that lowered property values. If you want a manicured lawn, buy in a place that there is a HOA. Problem with no HOA, is there is always a jerk who lets all of his cars rust in the front yard or something. Common sense would cure it all. Thats why the city has to make the regualtions in the first place. DumbA's.

Another beautiful day to be in FL. Low humidity and no mosquitos, cant ask for much more.

We have had some March freezes in Florida. ( BIG TIME )
This weather is odd even for Florida .
I hate a winter like this as all our spring time bloomers thinks it's time and bud and when the FREEZE comes well ?
The only thing I like about this mild North FL winter is my greenhouse heating bill !

I've got stuff budding out which I'm afraid a freeze will zap. Oh well thats life. Weather is just one of the uncontrollable aspects. Keeps us on our toes at taking care of our plants.
My koi are happy cause they can keep eating with water temps staying up. I stop feeding completely when water goes below 50 degrees. Their digestive systems shut down.
New week tomorrow so all enjoy.
Bonnie

Morning everyone
Went to Tallahassee Friday and it was to warm and Skeeters nearly toted me off.
But I ended up with 280+ pictures, and a car load of plants.
2 of which where camellias pictured below, do not know yet where I will plant them but I love these

Sandy

Hope those skeeters stay in Tally. It was a pleasure working without them.

Beautiful flowers

Hey all I was in Lowe's and they have reduced their landscape blankets down from $30 something to $20. something, if anyone is interested. I guess all this warm weather they just aren't selling. I've never bought any because they're always pretty high priced and I just grab my box of old sheets, towels and those plastic holiday tablecloths you can't wash in the machine anymore with out them falling apart. My garden will look like a patchwork quilt by the time I put them all over the plants. I might get a roll, my nursery guy says they're really great for covering the plants.

Amy great article, I've got quite a few natives in the garden, they do attract the birds and wildlife. I'd love to let my whole front lawn go to natives, but bet I'd be in the same trouble the homeowners in Orlando are in. However I'm still sneaking it in, little by little.

Sandy I'd love to participate in your photo study group if it is online, can't drive up to Jax all the time, but I sure could use some kind of study group when it comes to learning about photography and how to use this new SLR camera. I'm sure used to my point - and - think - for - me - camera. ☺ This one really is a whole new ball game...but I'm making some great progress. My Dummies book and You-tube have been a great source of information.

Some wildlife in my garden, woodpecker that is here everyday, think it lives here, my friendly squirrel, "Peanut", and our family of wrens at my bird-feeder.

This message was edited Jan 13, 2013 11:16 AM