Gardening in South Florida

I'm so excited the weather in South Florida has cooled a few degrees into the lower 80's allowing me to finally get some gardening done. My favorite time to work outside is early mornings when it's pleasant in the shade. It's been in the high 90's all summer long which has pretty much kept me inside with the air conditioner running non stop.

.

Now that my annuals have died off its time to dig them out and plant new things. This season I wanted something different so I searched for easy minimum maintenance perinials that would give the garden some height. This is the first time I have used these plants in my garden.

.

First I chose the Dracaena Marginata, a pretty slender upright plant with leaves that are green with pretty purple edges. (Pink & Purple are my favorite colors for flowers. :) It's a little palm like and in the same family as the Yucca Cane plant. This plant can grow to 12-13 feet but can easily be kept smaller by pruning the stems. Draceana's can be propagated easily by taking a cutting from the stem.

.

.

Another plant I chose for it's height is the Yucca Cane. Since they are in the same family I thought they would look pretty together in a group. I planted two on each side of the front of the house.

.

.

.

.

The Yucca can grow up to 8 feet outside and has pretty spikey green leaves. They like sun and easily tolerate direct light. However, they can grow in partial shade.

.

My roses didn't do very well this summer. I dug them up and placed them in pots to see if I can get them back into shape with some extra tlc. I did not dig up my red rose which is the one you see in the picture since it was green and in okay shape compared to the others.

.

Also in the top picture is a red Zinnia that faithfully blooms every season. The kids have planted wild flower seeds in the small pots.

.

I still have to put down mulch, red is my favorite to keep the weeds away and Hopefully we will see lots of green and colorful blooms very soon.