Diary of a Gardener It’s getting Warm

I meander around my garden surveying the flowers, watching bees buzz in and out of the petals. Lately, the butterflies have been swooping in to take a drink of nectar. Last week I witnessed my favorite butterfly, the Giant Swallowtail, eating but also hopefully laying eggs on a native Wild Lime tree. It does not produce fruit, I am not sure why it is even called a lime tree, but it is a native host plant for the Giant Swallowtail. To see one is a treat, especially in my garden. The caterpillars look like giant bird poo.

The garden produced so many flowers this year from seed. I was amazed, shocked and a little overwhelmed. There is a lone giant sunflower, taller than me, growing right in the middle of my roses. I was not aware I had put one that large in that specific spot, but it is there, and we are going to let it shine until it goes to seed. Needless to say, I will not be allowing the seeds to fall in that spot.

I am trying to stay present in the moment, which gardening is so good at teaching us. To be present. In just a few short weeks our Florida temperatures will start to climb, we may or may not get rain and the flowers that normally do not live in our growing zones will decline, wilt, and die back. On one hand I get sad knowing the fruit cocktail of colors will fade, but on the other hand I am excited to have a new project. I am also excited to let my Florida native wildflowers do their job this summer and I am ready to plant more Zinnias, one of the only non-native flowers that withstand our heat. The roses will be happy for hopefully another 8 weeks and keep blooming for me. Without the rest of the flowers, the roses will steal the show. I love flowers. I never met a flower I did not like, except Mexican Petunias, which are terribly invasive here. I am always baffled at people who love them. To each their own, right?

Summertime in Florida is like winter to our northern friends. It is where we stay inside more often. It is hot and the plants suffer, especially if we do not get ample rain. I am already planning an extension of my irrigation lines. Staying hydrated while working is to be taken seriously. I cease all in home plant sales and tours because the plants suffer along with myself. It is a miserable day for all.

But I am excited about a break. I have worked non-stop for months. Spring is the prime planting season so for those needing new landscaping and plants it is best to get it installed before it gets too hot. By mid-June we will stop installing out of safety for us who do it, the plants and the client’s investment. I tend to keep planting for my own garden, but I also take care of it and know the risk. Water, water, water is the trick. It is a do as I say, not as I do scenario.

So, as I meander through my last bits of flowers, I will start to bid farewell to the best spring garden my little garden on Grove has ever seen. Till next spring…