by Keri Byrum | Feb 23, 2015 | Around Our Yard |
Healthy plants start with a healthy root system. This is easy to appreciate when you are first purchasing plants and are able to examine the roots, but what about when it is growing in the ground? Read on to learn more about these very important structures. Surprising to many people is the fact that most Florida trees do not have tap roots. Our very shallow water table and compacted soils in urban areas mean that most tree roots are in the top 3-6” of soil. Picture the flat pancake of soil that is commonly seen when a tree falls. Keep this in mind when you consider digging under or near a tree because the fine roots will make this job very difficult.… Read Full Post
by Keri Byrum | Feb 18, 2015 | Backyard Chickens |
Our new chicks are here! I am happy to announce that we brought home our four new chicks and all are doing well and are getting their start in our bathtub– much to our pug’s delight! We were lucky enough to find a breeder that has many different breeds hatching at the same time so that we can have a variety. Yes, this is not the method a true farmer would follow, but I want to be able to tell them apart and call them by name. Bringing home new chicks is SUPER exciting. The peeping from the box in my lap on our drive home was almost more than I could take! We were able to get four chicks: one Black Copper Maran, one Ameraucana, one Buff Orpington, and one Barred Rock.… Read Full Post
by Keri Byrum | Feb 14, 2015 | Plant Spotlight |
Mousetail Plant, Phyllanthus myrtifolius, may be my favorite plant that you’ve never heard of. Or at least it is right now. You can see the weeping form and soft texture of the Mousetail Plant. When I think about texture in the garden this is the plant that comes to mind (and foxtail fern, Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’). Its flowers are really without mention, and now that I am writing this, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the flowers. The photo at left was taken at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, Florida. This plant has been here for several years and is well over three feet wide and 18-24″ tall. It is evergreen throughout the winter and is being grown in fairly deep shade.… Read Full Post
by Keri Byrum | Feb 4, 2015 | Plant Spotlight |
Choosing plants for shady areas of your landscape can be a daunting task, but taking the time to find the right plants will reward you with a beautiful, thriving garden. Selecting the right plants for the right place will help your garden to need less maintenance and be more successful. One of my favorite plants for shady areas, and particularly dry shade, is Stromanthe. Stromanthe sanguinea ‘Triostar’ has beautiful foliage that looks great throughout the entire year. In fact, ‘Triostar’ is so impressive that is was named a 2008 Florida Plant of the Year by FNGLA (Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association). This plant is a relative new comer to the mainstream landscaping industry, but is quickly becoming a staple in most garden centers and nurseries.… Read Full Post
by Keri Byrum | Feb 1, 2015 | Plant Spotlight |
Oh no. It is starting to happen again. Its that time of year when “Crape Murder” happens all around Central Florida. One person starts and the practice spreads down the block like the flu. And the, before you know what happened, your neighborhood is littered with nubby-looking branches where nice plants once grew. Pruning crape myrtles has become quite the discussion and its time we set the record straight. The controversy surrounding proper crape myrtle pruning is one of the most argued aspects of landscape maintenance. While the late winter months are the best time to prune dormant trees, very little work is necessary to prune your crape myrtles. The University of Florida has published their recommendations for proper maintenance of these popular landscape plants to help homeowners understand the basics.… Read Full Post
