Open Gardens, August 4, 2081, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 602 Ronele Drive, Brandon, FLÂ 33511
We always have people requesting tours of Neem Tree Farms so we’ve set “Open Yarden” for most first Saturdays (except holiday weekends). Along with our neem and Ayurvedic herbs, we have tons of cuttings, seeds and you-digs PLUS plant swaps so you never know what you’ll find. (And before you ask, everything listed below is free, although the neem and Ayurvedic plants in the greenhouse are for sale.)
Limited quantities in pots
- Baobab trees, the tree of life from Africa (amazingly easy to grow and takes cold better than the literature suggests. These trees came through three nights below 27 and are rebounding nicely!) Learn more: http://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-a-baobab-tree-everything-about-baobab/
- Pink floss tree — just one in a three-gallon pot I traded for last month and decided I only wanted one. They’re totally spectacular in bloom but have thorny trunks and they’re pretty big.
- Apricot Datura, one in a five-gallon pot
- Aloe pups
- Caribbean-red papaya seedlings
- Limited quantity of peanut butter tree, originally given to me by Tanja and a highlight of almost every kid’s trip here!
You dig:
- Rangoon creeper
- Everglade tomato (also limited quantities, but tons and tons of fruit so you can pick a basket and take some home to sprout!)
- Papalo, or summer cilatro which has practically become a weed in my garden.
- Naturalized golden cosmos, which shouldn’t grow in the summer but reseed all year round now
- Yesterday-today-and tomorrow (also limited quantities)
- Surinam cherry seedlings
- Lemongrass (lots and lots, please take some or I’ll have to kill it!)
- Candlestick senna plants
- False roselle, thousands and thousands ready to transplant!
- Native porterweed (ground cover)
- Clerodendrum (pagoda or bleeding heart)
- Naturalized periwinkles (aka vinca)
- Wild pineapple (very prickly, bring protective clothing,
Cuttings:
- One of my personal favorites: fire bush covered in butterflies
- Walking iris
- Coral porterweed
- Bush morning glory
- Native ruella
- Sweet almond
- Golden dewdrop
- Mulberry
- Rangoon creeper
Seeds (some you pick, some in cute little bags and others in bulk)
- Beach morning glory
- Daikon radish (really a winter crop but definitely one of the most attractive vegetables we grow).
- Gaillardia, aka Blanket Flower, is finally naturalizing and we have bulk seeds too.
- Mexican cilantro – not really cilantro but tastes similar and handles the heat without flinching. Some of it is already going to seed so you could have a yard full. Between the Everglade tomatoes and the cilantro, running my lawnmower smells like I’m eating salsa!
- Moringa
- Dwarf yellow poinciana
- Cleome
- Small quantities of other seeds from previous events, including some you’ve heard of, like kale, and some so exotic I’m not sure what they are!
Plus you never know what somebody will bring to swap (but if you don’t have anything, that’s cool too. We all started off where you are!)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
No event in September because it’s Labor Day weekend
October 6
Nov. 3
Dec. 1