[PaPaLarry]

It would be nice if we had a Thread that only pertained to gardening, and not to all these hoorah's to Landscapers, and who is the best and who isn't!!! There are plenty of Villagers who are their own landscapers, and do a real good job!!!

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by Sprinkler Buddy

You may want to visit this forum, it's one of the best I have found.

TheEasyGarden - Gardening Forum

Easy Garden is a great website. Thats what I was looking for, instead articles about Landscapers. Thanks so much!!!! Too bad we don't have that in Talk of The Villages

[mickey100]

Thanks, it is a good resource.

[shcisamax]

I too am quite excited about that link. Yippee for info.

[KayakerNC]

I would also suggest the Earthbox forum. Lots of info about container gardening (great on the patio), recipes, planting advice, etc.
Earthbox dot com, the forum link is at the bottom of the page.

[graciegirl]

How can I encourage our Plumbago bushes to bloom more? I see some that are just loaded with blooms and ours are doing a half hearted job.

We fertilized them with Rapidgro...didn't help

[juneroses]

The following link is to a Florida gardening forum:

Florida Gardening Forum - GardenWeb

There are several plant hardiness zones within our state so not all plants mentioned in the forum will flourish here in the Villages. We're not even in the same zone within our community - the new 2012 zone map shows Marion County and the northern half of Sumter County in 9a; most of Lake in 9b.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

June

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

How can I encourage our Plumbago bushes to bloom more? I see some that are just loaded with blooms and ours are doing a half hearted job.

We fertilized them with Rapidgro...didn't help

Gracie,
I'm finding that timed release fertilizer seems to be the way to go, as our soil here drains so rapidly. I have been using Osmocote dry granules (spring through summer) for some blooming things and it seems to make a difference.
I have also had good luck top dressing once a year (fall) with Black Kow manure. Just spread it around the drip line about 2" deep, don't cultivate it in. Helps to amend the soil without much trouble. Has worked well for my Gardenia and Camellias.

i do think that some bloomers, like Plumbago and Roses become exhausted in this climate periodically and just take a rest from blooming for a while. That affords a good time to prune. I wait a few weeks before coaxing them back to bloom again.

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

How can I encourage our Plumbago bushes to bloom more? I see some that are just loaded with blooms and ours are doing a half hearted job.

We fertilized them with Rapidgro...didn't help

Plumbago likes some shade too. When I planted them, I also dug deep hole and put bark mulch to hold the moisture. Also feed it with Cock-a-doodle-doo. Its dried chicken poop! (sorry) But cow manure works just as fine also.

[Susan G]

I've seen some gorgeous white mandevillas around the area but can't seem to find them at any of the garden centers/landscape companies.

Can anyone tell me where I might purchase one locally? Address and phone number please if possible so I can Mapquest....Thanks

Oh, and I vote for a gardening category too!!!

[Uptown Girl]

The big box stores will sell them again come mid-spring when they naturally begin their bloom season ( spring to fall). Look for the 'Sun Parasol' varieties, they are bred for bigger blooms and are much improved over older varieties. (they come in white too)

Some mandevilla are evergreen, some are deciduous, but most are considered zone 10 plants, so they may not survive as a perennial here. Central Florida is somewhere from 8b to 9b, but you may have a perfect micro-climate spot and be very successful in overwintering this beautiful plant.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

It would be nice if we had a Thread that only pertained to gardening, and not to all these hoorah's to Landscapers, and who is the best and who isn't!!! There are plenty of Villagers who are their own landscapers, and do a real good job!!!

I have to thank you for starting this thread. I, too, am a gardener and prefer to do my own yard instead of having a professionally landscaped yard. However, this is a miserable climate to garden in the summer. Have to admit I did give up this year and just let nature do her thing, now I am frantically trying to catch up with my neglect.

By the way, for anyone else who is a "real" gardener, don't forget the Mount Dora Plant & Garden Fair, it is spectacular:

18th Annual Mount Dora Plant & Garden Fair
Dates: November 3 & 4, 2012 (First weekend in November)
Admission is free. Central Florida's top growers bring more than 12,000 plants. The event features orchid growers and includes native plants, butterfly-attracting perennials, herbs, roses, camellias, begonias with a complete selection of rare and unusual tropical plants. Garden antiques, festive flags and unusual containers are also a focus.
Location: Simpson's Cove (Downtown Lakefront)

Get there early, things sell out very quickly.

[Susan G]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

By the way, for anyone else who is a "real" gardener, don't forget the Mount Dora Plant & Garden Fair, it is spectacular:

18th Annual Mount Dora Plant & Garden Fair
Dates: November 3 & 4, 2012 (First weekend in November)
Admission is free. Central Florida's top growers bring more than 12,000 plants. The event features orchid growers and includes native plants, butterfly-attracting perennials, herbs, roses, camellias, begonias with a complete selection of rare and unusual tropical plants. Garden antiques, festive flags and unusual containers are also a focus.
Location: Simpson's Cove (Downtown Lakefront)

Get there early, things sell out very quickly.

Thanks Madeline, I'll definitely be at that sale. Picked up a flyer for another sale tomorrow:

SUMTER COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE
SAT., OCT 13TH ~ 9AM TILL 1 PM
100 N. MAIN STREET ~ WILDWOOD FL

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by Susan G

I've seen some gorgeous white mandevillas around the area but can't seem to find them at any of the garden centers/landscape companies.

Can anyone tell me where I might purchase one locally? Address and phone number please if possible so I can Mapquest....Thanks

Oh, and I vote for a gardening category too!!!

Do they withstand the frost????

[graciegirl]

I dug out my hardy impatiens and put in mums. How long will they stay blooming here?