Diary of a Gardener Enough with The Hurricanes
My body is exhausted, and my back aches. Living through a Category 3 hurricane just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated my hometown and the West Coast of Florida has been overwhelming. Thankfully, our home suffered only minor damage—debris, a fallen tree limb, and a carport issue. We feel lucky. While the power outage lasted over three days, I barely noticed, forgetting even to carry a lantern from room to room.
The landscaping, nursery, and agriculture industries have been severely impacted. The loss of plant inventory, greenhouse structures, and equipment leaves these businesses vulnerable, making it harder to maintain Florida's beautiful lawns and landscapes year-round. Many nurseries are struggling to stay afloat, and without them, I have fewer plants to offer my clients. It’s heartbreaking to see the hard work of these nurseries—people's savings, blood, sweat, and tears—gone in just one night.
If you’re in need of plants, please support your local garden centers. Your purchases help keep them in business. Here are a few of my favorites:
If you want to help, consider supporting relief efforts for nurseries like:
For plant damage, don’t rush to remove or cut them. Reach out for advice, and for trees, consult an arborist. Plants may show distress later, but they are resilient—just like us.
Remember to get your plants watered well, back up right and staked if necessary.
We will get through this!
Always keep growing.
