By Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandale
mail@floridanewsline.com
In early June, the nightly news brought pictures of the frightening air pollution affecting the northeast of the country. The seasonal wildfires in Canada were far worse than usual and there was little sign of them being extinguished. Here in Florida, we are also subject to dry season fires, but as the summer progresses, storms and hurricanes are more likely to be in our forecasts.
Some flowers blooming around town include sunflowers (Helianthus sp.), wandflower (Gaura sp.), Stoke’s aster (Stokesia laevis), blanket flower (Gaillardia sp.), wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis), tall red starflowers (Pentas sp.), coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea and cultivars), society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus sp.), coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis), and shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana). Most provide food for a wide variety of pollinators as well as hummingbirds, which are regular visitors to my shrimp plants. After seasonal rain, the lovely pink trumpets of rain lilies (Habranthus sp.) pop up to surprise and delight.
A trip to the nursery can be a real sensory treat at this time of year; all those colors, shapes, and perfumes are wonderful! Plan on buying what you really need, though. I’ve found that shopping for plants on a whim can be a bit like food shopping while hungry. If you need further inspiration, check out this expansive list of recommended plants: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/. Know the conditions in your yard, in relation to soil type, and sun and shade, and narrow down your options before you go to the nursery. The only other recommendation I would make is to try to purchase pesticide-free perennials and annuals, to protect our bees and other pollinators. Even milkweeds, which many people buy to feed monarch caterpillars, may be treated with systemic pesticides, which can remain in plant tissues, including pollen, for a considerable time. Thankfully some companies are beginning to grow plants without the use of pesticides and will usually state that on their labels, but asking knowledgeable staff at a nursery is always an option. They might also take action on sourcing pesticide-free flowering plants if enough people ask for them.
For the vegetable growers, the University of Florida has a wealth of information to draw upon, and this link will take you there: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/. And a phone call to a Master Gardener Volunteer can be really helpful if you’re struggling with a problem (904-255-7450, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.).
With rainier weather, pests and diseases become more prevalent. Checking plants regularly — scouting — will alert a gardener to problems before they become difficult to control. Combined with an early morning stroll around the garden with a cup of coffee in hand is a good way to start the day. Above all, enjoy your garden and feel proud of your handiwork!
Photo courtesy Lesley Arrandale
Stoke’s aster
