Blooms From the Garden

I used patchouli leaves, areca palm fronds, heleconia foliage, and three purple heirloom roses for this vase. The roses didn't last that long, but the patchouli and palm greenery lasts for a month!

I've been kind of slacking with this blog because school midterms are in full swing. Also, I've been spending a lot of time updating my other Christmas Blog and my travel blog.

Pruning the Peach Tree

Having grown up in FL, I don't know what to do with a peach tree. Here's my low chill hour variety called UF Sun Peach. I think I'm pruning it correctly...I've read lots of documents online...but I'm still unsure.

I'm trying to form scaffold branches because it's a young tree and it needs a few good branches that will support fruit for the rest of its life.

I'm also trying to shape it into a bowl or vase shape. That's what's recommended for Florida peaches by IFAS. They are like my Mr. Miagi, so I listen.

Now, what do I do about pruning those long branches? They are so droopy because they are so long (see first photo). Should I chop them in half now that we are entering dormant season? I don't know how old the tree is because it's from a nursery. I've had it planted here since April. And it's exploded in size. If I were to chop off half of each branch, would I get fruit this May? I guess fruit grows on one year old wood. Any help would be appreciated.

Queen Palm Seedlings All Over The Ground

This happens every year. The queen palms drop thousands of bright orange fruit. The fruit dries out on the ground, and then all those seeds begin to germinate. I wish it was closer to Christmas...I'd give them away as presents. They really are pretty cute.

Here's the first one from this year's drop. It found its way under the peach tree and germinated because it was on sandy soil, gets regaulr drip irrigation misting, and because it gets lots of filtered light. Now, I have a few buddies in Ft. Pierce that will know what I'm supposed to do next. I'd like to rear these young pups. What do I do now? Can I move it? Do I plant it in sandy soil? How deep?

My brother in New Zealand

So, my brother Joey sent garden photos from New Zealand! He's on his way to Antatrica and is stuck in NZ for a few days.


The well-travelled gnome went with him. This gnome has been to more places around the world than anyone I know......(because I make my friends/family take him wherever they go.)

‘Diamond 'Frost’ Euphorbia in South Florida

I was at a local nursery a few weeks ago looking for something new. I asked for something that could be planted under large bushy oleander and can remain in the ground all year long. They told me to try ‘Diamond 'Frost’ Euphorbia. I guess it's a new dwarf variety. They said it will blooms all year long and will take full or part sun or even shade.


I'm always skeptical of flowering plants that can take full shade, so I asked more about it. It turns out that the little white flowers are not flowers at all. They are bracts and are simply white leaves. Ah hah! So, I did some more reseach and found a good article regarding ‘Diamond 'Frost’ Euphorbia by my buddy at The Universtity of Florida Extension Office. It sounds like growers and retailers alike are going to try to push this plant big-time this holiday season. It's in the poinsetta family, so I guess it's fitting.

How to Propagate Marigolds

This one is a real no-brainer. You snap the old, dead heads off the plants and throw them in a pile where you want new plants to grow.


Not many plants will grow, but some are bound to grow because the seeds are located in the dead flower heads. I did this last year with the front planter. I'd always throw the dead heads into the planter because it was easier than walking all the way to the garbage.

It didn't take long before a little marigold grew from the discarded pile of dead heads.

Here's my pile that should grow a few plants someday. I stuck a plastic knife in the ground just to mark the spot.