Welcome to my zone 9 garden. My roots are deeply planted in the sandy soil of sub-tropical central Florida, where the summers are long and hot, but the rest of the year is paradise!

Friday, November 07, 2008

It's a Jungle Out There!

Newcomers to Florida always say how hard it is to grow anything here. But the truth is, we're blessed with warm (and a generous portion of hot) weather year round and sufficient showers - all you have to do is plant it, and it will grow (even in sand)! Throughout the summer months my suburban yard transforms itself into a jungle.
A hodge podge of tropical delights - caladiums, crotons, bromeliads and pothos vines all blending together.
If you like neat and orderly, then you won't like gardening in Florida as plants easily multiply filling in every bit of space in the flowerbed. And, forget about plants that need trimming. You could spend your whole summer clipping away.

Instead, it's easier to sit back and enjoy while the plants have their way with your garden.


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your garden looks so lovely, so lush and almost tropical. I love your brick walkways! And I envy your ability to garden year round. If I have the funds when the time comes, I'm sure to become a Snowbird. :)

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Your garden looks so lush Susan. I love the unkempt look so I could be most happy in your zone.

Meems said...

Susan,
Okay... what's your secret because I haven't figured this one out yet:
Instead, it's easier to sit back and enjoy while the plants have their way with your garden.
Don't you think you almost have to have some shade to grow the best stuff? I find the shade really helps with filtering out the brutal sun in the hottest months.

Your garden looks really great. This is the time of year when I am working hard to divide and root and dig up new beds.It never stops.

Susan said...

Nancy...It's a great time to become a snowbird in Florida because housing prices are low, low, low!

Lisa...unkempt is sooooo much better than perfectly trimmed.

Meems...Shade is an absolute must! I'll take 90% shade and 10% sun for some flowering butterfly plants. It's so much cooler during the summer months and everything needs less water. I, too, am out there digging up grass, creating new beds and freshening up existing ones. It's impossible to stay indoors these days.

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