Open Gardens, August 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Neem Tree Farms, 602 Ronele Drive, Brandon, 33511
It’s hot and rainy here so our gardens and greenhouses look like jungles! The firebush is exceptional this year and it’s covered in butterflies. We planted some behind the greenhouse because it’s a favorite of hummingbirds too — hopefully they’ll stay in nest in the trees that hang over the creek next summer. It roots easily and most of it needs trimming.
Sweet almond , golden dewdrop and old-fashioned perennial pentas also are in dire need of trimming — and super easy to root this time of year. We chopped back the coral porterweed but there’s still plenty to share, along with hummingbird favorite fire spike.
Two new plants for regulars — you-dig chenille plant and monkey grass. They aren’t holding their own as groundcovers and on a property this size, we can’t continue to pull weeds around them. (This is super-tough monkey grass, we didn’t plant it and it comes back even when it gets mowed by mistake!)
Don’t forget we have tons of bamboo stakes, I’m always amazed at how expensive it is to buy when it grows so fast. Just make sure the stakes don’t sprout in a place you don’t want them!
Plants in pots (limited quantities, swaps expected!)
Yellow plumeria (just one)
Blooming aloe (also one)
Ginko trees
You dig:
Elderberry (must be planted ASAP, has very shallow roots, limited quantities)
Tons and tons of bright yellow cosmos that have naturalized here.
Surinam cherry
Sansevieria
Yesterday-today-and tomorrow (also limited)
Candlestick senna
False roselle, thousands and thousands ready to transplant!
Mexican cilantro – not really cilantro but tastes similar and handles the heat without flinching!
Cleradendron (pagoda or bleeding heart)
Native palmettos
Naturalized periwinkles (aka vinca)
Chenille plants
Monkey Grass
Wild pineapple (very prickly, bring protective clothing!
Seeds:
Passion flower — fresh seeds from the most prolific vine I’ve ever seen
Daikon Radish (mooli)
Lemongrass
Moringa
Tropical milkweed
Gallardia (blanketflower)
Cosmos
Fresh moringa seeds
Cuttings:
Firebush
Orchid cactus
Coral porterweed
Rangoon creeper
Cuban oregano (already rooted)
Bush morning glory
Cuban buttercup (tunera)
Firespike
Vitex
Bolivian sunflower
Ever-bearing mulberry