Week of April 5, 2020

After a long drought throughout February and March, the spring rains have returned to the Florida garden.  Most of the pruning and fertilizing is done, so it is time for planting both some replacement shrubs and perennials as well as the annuals that add color to the lush green.  The big project is to replace the Loropetalum bushes in the front yard that have withered with age.  The old bushes were cut out and new ones purchased, but with a variety that only grows four feet tall.  Another addition to the garden is a shrimp plant, which is common to the gardens of Florida.  It is a tender bush which puts out colorful structures on the end of branches from which white flowers emerge.  We read that they attract hummingbirds, and sure enough, before planting, they were already feeding on it.  Our neighbor, Dave, is a plant breeder and gives us a couple of flats of his coleus creations.  These will line the driveway and add color to the palm row.  Finally, a couple dozen Mondo grass will fill in the edges of the front yard beds to ward away weeds I would need to pull.  Many good reasons to be outside to enjoy a Florida spring.