The Spring Equinox is a garden’s New Year

To our northern neighbors, the first day of spring is a big deal.  For those of us living in the sub-tropical 10b zone, is just another day, there is not much of a change in our fall/winter/spring weather. The garden on the other hand knows that is time to start a new year.  We don’t get the explosion of flowers that gardeners in colder climates get during spring time, but you know spring has arrived in South Florida when.  The mango trees are full flowers, the bougainvillea’s drop all their leaves and are full of bright colorful flowers, the yellow tab trees fills the streets with yellow flowers and our Royal Poinciana trees turn the landscape into a sea of orange and red.  

To honor the Spring Equinox I planted New Guinea Impatiens in my courtyard. 

This week at the DragonFly garden.

Here are some of the flowers in the garden this week.

My neighbor’s mango tree.

It has been a good winter for my orchids, I'm getting many blooms and more are on the way.

 Sometimes you win sometimes you lose, this is the mango tree I transplanted a few weeks ago, it did not make it.

My first grandchild Eric was born this week; both mother and child are doing great.  I can’t wait to take him out to play in the garden.

Oxalis, a garden favorite or is it a weed?

This time of the year my South Florida garden gets overrun by these weeds with shamrock shape leaves and cute pink flowers.  The Oxalis plants grow everywhere, pulling them out of the ground is a waste of time.  My attitude is, if you can’t beat them join them.  This was not my intention for this hanging basket, but I have to admit it doesn’t look that bad.

 After a rainy January, our weather turned more traditional, with no rain during February and the first two weeks in March.  Today we got a good shower, first time in weeks; good thing because my rain barrels were already dry.

This week at the DragonFly garden.

The hibiscuses are flowering this winter.

The Mexican flame vine is looking great after a couple of years of little flowers.

Friday I was off from work and I took my wife out to lunch to our favorite place.  The Florida Keys; one hour away from our home, the pace of life there is slower, the scenery is beautiful and the seafood restaurants are out of this world.   

The 103 years old gardener

This is my dad; he turned 103 years old last week.  Yesterday I spent the day working in his beloved garden, one of my birthday presents to him. (What do you give a man on his 103rd birthday?)  My father has always had a garden and loved working the land.  He got this love from his mother and I suppose he passed that love on to me. 

My father retired at age 76 and for the past 27 years he has spent all his days lost in his garden. He believes that plants are a gift from nature so purchasing plants in a nursery is sacrilegious.  He has a magic touch when it comes to growing new plants from cuttings and many of my own garden’s plants come from his.   He used to take morning walks around his neighborhood and that generated many of the plants seen in his garden today.  He has always been generous with his time and knowledge of gardening and plants and to this day neighbors, friends, and family seek his horticultural wisdom.  This past year has been difficult for him as his mobility is reduced and eyesight has grown poor, restricting him considerably but he continues to spend most of his days outside sitting under a tree, contemplating his beloved garden.

My parents have lived in this house for the past 40 years.   My mother is 93 years old and also loves gardening.  Except for a few senior ailments, both are in relatively good health and live at home with help.  Since they love their independence, this arrangement is good for them and I hope to facilitate that independence for as long as I can. 

My dad’s garden has no “theme”, no real “look.”  Every plant is welcomed and the location or placement is not important.  Over the years, he has planted many fruit trees which have given our family and friends many delicious treats.  He has always loved bromeliads and these hardy plants fill many of the spots around the garden.  He gave my mother a small kitchen herb garden, which I have duplicated in my own back yard. These days, his garden is neither as tidy nor plentiful as it used to be but I am trying to keep it up for both of them.  I am always careful and ask for his guidance because, after all, it is his garden!

He built this gazebo years ago

Sapodilla tree, also known as Nispero

 Two orange trees

Sugar cane  to remind him of his native Cuba

My dad is asked all the time, what is the secret of his long life.  He always answers good genes and getting along with everyone.  I would also add that a life in his garden has also added years to his life.

Gardening the job that never ends.

We experienced a wonderful cool and sunny weekend in South Florida, perfect gardening weather.  Time to work on my neglected front yard, I trimmed and pull weeds, so much so that I filled my garbage container.  The ground orchids are my anchor plants in the front of the house, and after a summer of plentiful blooms; these plants take on a brownish color during the winter, needing a major trim. I also did some deadheading, one of my favorite gardening tasks (I find it therapeutic).  Now that the days are getting longer, I will be spending more time after work deadheading most of my flowering plants. (A good way to unwind, with scissors in one hand and a beer or a glass of wine in the other)

This week at The DragonFly Garden

My vegetable garden is beginning to recover after it was destroyed by the rainy days in January.  Soon I will be making my lunch salads from the garden.

We had another new visitor to the garden this week, a Black and White Warbler.

I finally got a picture of the Gray Catbird bathing in the birdbath.

Gardening mistakes are part of a gardener's DNA.

Today I rectified a mistake I made two years ago when I planted this mango tree in the wrong spot. I purchased this plant (my third mango tree) at the Fairchild garden mango festival, at the time my garden was at capacity and this was the only area I could plant it. The soil is poor there and the tree is surrounded by competition from outer plants, as you can see two years later the tree looks pathetic.  

The only solution was to switch location with the Kings Mantle bush.  The king mantle is kind of an invasive plant and it thrives anywhere. Now the mango tree is all by itself with no competition.

  This week at the DragonFly Garden

This Angel’s Trumpet bloomed for the first time this week; a tribute to my Dad who is turning 103 years young next week, this plant came from his garden in the form of a small branch, he cut the branch and told me to stick it in the ground (you will see it will grow) My dad is the reason I love gardening, he worked in his garden until last year, these days he has trouble with his vision and movement but he  loves to sit outside and take in the scenery.  I am planning to do a post soon and take pictures of his beloved garden.

Other flowers blooming this week.

This Grey Catbird is another winter resident, these birds are shy and spend most of their time hiding in trees.  Catbirds are hard to photograph, sometimes when other birds are not around; he comes out to eat and take a bath in the fountain.  Soon this little guy will be heading north with all the other snowbirds. 

Speaking of mangos, one of my trees is flowering.  These mangos should be ready in May. 

Bonsai the yoga of gardening

I always been interested in the art of Bonsai; over the years I tried unsuccessfully to grow a few bonsai plants in my garden, and managed to kill most.  As you can see from the photos below, this bonsai was a gift many years ago and by chance and luck it survived.  Today I put some of the knowledge I acquired from a couple of books to work and here is the final result. Not exactly a perfect bonsai, but it is a start.   

The bonsai phase of my gardening career will have to wait for my retirement years.  To do justice to this ancient art, it will take lots of time and patience, something I’m lacking at this time.  I know that I will need to take a few classes and join a local club to consider myself a novice, but It seems to me that anyone that takes the time and has the patience to create such beautiful trees, is a person that is at peace with the universe. (I want some of that)

This week at the DragonFly Garden

Last week we hosted my daughter’s baby shower.  We had over thirty guests, the weather cooperated and the garden was a success.

The guest of honor

These Monk Parakeets visited the feeder this week.  These guys are not native to the area, but have become quite comfortable in South Florida.