By Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandale
mail@floridanewsline.com

When considering garden chores, the first thing I look at is a weather forecast. There are times when I simply start early in order to get some slight relief from the sun and high humidity, but it can be good to be able to sit back, relax, and say “No — another day will do.” When there are cloudy skies it’s usually a good day to get some weeding done and that feels worthwhile; it’s comforting that small achievements in the garden can take our minds off bigger worries.

Check out the September/October issue of A New Leaf for the latest news; it’s an informative and useful read: https://tinyurl.com/yxo8ozsj. See also https://tinyurl.com/y6bps28w. With higher than usual temperatures combined with my immediate microclimate, I am inclined to follow the monthly schedule for central rather than northern Florida, but Jacksonville falls within the north Florida area. 

Support community journalism! Subscribe to the Mandarin Newsline today!

It was a relief when tropical storm Isaias passed us by; unfortunately not everyone was as lucky as the storm cut quite a swath of damage farther north. As the peak of the hurricane season is almost upon us, I hope we — and our yards and gardens — will be spared the worst.

Photo courtesy Lesley Arrandale
Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

  • Support community journalism! Subscribe to the Mandarin Newsline today!
  • Advertise in our May Issue The Creek Line