Basic Floral Design Lesson

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American Traditional Designs

Submitted by Beverly Williams

Characteristics
1. Based on a single “set pattern” of geometric form (sphere, triangle, cylinder, pyramid, etc.)
2. Plant material used in naturalistic manner, radiating from one point. Little or no abstraction.
3. Plant material, forms, and colors are integrated rather than grouped.
4. Space within the design is of little importance.
5. Depth is achieved by:
a. Overlapping of forms
b. Placing some forms in profile
c. Completing the back of the design
d. Using transitional materials and gradation of colors and sizes.
6. Creativity is achieved through beauty, unity, harmony and selection of plant material.

American Traditional Line - Mass
1. Conforms to American Traditional characteristics above.
2. Linear pattern established, which can be vertical, horizontal, crescent, S-curve or zigzag; however, additional plant material enhances and strengthens the line.
3. Center of interest or focal area may be included.
4. Massed plant material emphasizes the center of interest but never obscures the linear pattern.

Traditional mass design, by Kathleen Lunman

Line-mass design, by Beverly Willliams

Photographic Techniques - February 2025

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Photographic Techniques - Macro Photography 

Submitted by Kim Brewer-Bettencourt

Macro photography is a type of photography that captures extreme close-up shots of small objects, such as flowers, insects, or textures, showing incredible detail. It allows us to see the intricate features of tiny subjects that are usually invisible to the naked eye.

How to Achieve Macro Photography:
1. Use a Macro Lens: A macro lens is designed to focus on subjects at very close distances, allowing for a 1:1 magnification ratio (the subject appears life-sized in the photo).
2. Get Close to the Subject: Position your camera as close as possible to the subject while maintaining focus. This reveals details that aren’t picked up from a distance - like the texture of a butterfly's wings or the veins in a leaf.
3. Set a Wide Aperture: Use a low f-stop (e.g., f/2.8) to create a shallow depth of field. This blurs the background (known as the bokeh effect) and makes the subject stand out.
4. Stabilize Your Camera: Use a tripod to avoid camera shake, as even tiny movements can blur the image when shooting close-ups.
5. Focus Manually: Autofocus may struggle at close distances, so switch to manual focus for precise control.
6. Good Lighting: Use natural light or add soft artificial lighting, like a ring light or reflector, to highlight details without harsh shadows.
7. Use a Macro Mode (Optional): Some cameras and smartphones have a built-in macro mode that helps focus on small subjects.

What to Photograph in Macro:
• Flowers and plants
• Insects or tiny animals
• Textures (e.g., wood grain, fabrics)
• Water droplets or frost patterns

Bartram Garden Club member, Sherri Cappabianca has submitted some beautiful examples of macro photography below.

Here are some of the photographic techniques used in the photos below.

First Photograph (Orange Flower Bud):
1. Macro Photography: The extreme close-up captures the intricate details of the flower’s petals, textures, and center.
2. Use of Light and Shadow: The beautiful lighting emphasizes the folds and curves of the petals, adding depth.
3. Selective Focus: The background is blurred (known as the bokeh effect), ensuring the viewer’s attention is entirely on the flower.

 

Photography: Sherri Cappabianca
Dahlia - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina

 

Second Photograph (Purple Flower with Stamen):
1. Macro Photography: Close-up focus highlights the stamen and the vibrant color gradient of the petals.
2. Color Contrast: The vivid purple and green tones complement each other, making the image visually striking. 
3. Depth of Field: The sharp focus on the stamen with a soft blur around the edges of the petals creates a sense of dimension.

 

Photography: Sherri Cappabianca
Daylily - Blue Ridge Daylily Farm - Alexander, North Carolina

 

Third Photograph (Monarch Butterfly):
1. Nature Photography: Captures the butterfly in its natural habitat, perched on a leaf.
2. Symmetry: The female monarch's wings are displayed in full spread, emphasizing their perfect symmetrical patterns. 
3. Vivid Color Capture: Bright orange, black, and white patterns on the wings are a nice contrast to the green and red of the background.
4. Sharpness and Detail: The butterfly’s texture and tiny hairs are clear and detailed.

 

Photography: Sherri Cappabianca
Newly eclosed female monarch butterfly drying her wings - Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina

 

Each photograph demonstrates attention to composition, focus, and lighting to highlight the beauty of nature.

January 2025 Club Meeting Inspiration

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Submitted by Linda Martin

The January 2025 club meeting featured an interesting and informative talk on the history of tea given by member Kathleen Lunman. The meeting opened with a reading by Linda Martin from “Over the Teacups”, a collection of essays by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. In celebration of Florida Arbor Day, January 17, the essay is included below:

Over the Teacups by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.; 1891

What a strange underground life is that which is led by the organisms we call trees! These great fluttering masses of leaves, stems, boughs, trunks, are not the real trees. They live underground, and what we see are nothing more nor less than their tails.

Yes, a tree is an underground creature, with its tail in the air. All its intelligence is in its roots. All the senses it has are in its roots. Think what sagacity it shows in its search after food and drink! Somehow or other, the rootlets, which are its tentacles, find out that there is a brook at a moderate distance from the trunk of the tree, and they make for it with all their might. They find every crack in the rocks where there are a few grains of the nourishing substance they care for, and insinuate themselves into its deepest recesses. When spring and summer come, they let their tails grow, and delight in whisking them about in the wind, or letting them be whisked about by it ; for these tails are poor passive things, with very little will of their own, and bend in whatever direction the wind chooses to make them. The leaves make a deal of noise whispering. I have sometimes thought I could understand them, as they talk with each other, and that they seemed to think they made the wind as they wagged forward and back. Remember what I say. The next time you see a tree waving in the wind, recollect that it is the tail of a great underground, many-armed, polypus-like creature, which is as proud of its caudal appendage, especially in summer-time, as a peacock of his gorgeous expanse of plumage.

2024 Library Butterfly Garden Extension Project

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Submitted by Karen Reily

The Fernandina Beach Library approached the Bartram Garden Club to design and install an extension of the existing Butterfly Garden.

Karen Reily met with the Friends of the Library representative, Margaret Bellucci to discuss the project. It was decided that the BCG would be responsible for the design and installation while the FOL would pay for all materials and maintain the garden once established.

A schematic drawing was created by Karen and submitted for approval to FOL. It included a large trellis and planting plan. It was approved and we got to work.

> The area was cleared and prepped for planting by laying down cardboard for keeping the bed weed free with the help of Bob Reily.
> The trellis was installed with the help of Rich Reily and Dan Beekman.
> Plants were installed with the help of Bob Busler.
> A drip irrigation was installed for all areas of the Butterfly garden.
> Bamboo poles for pollinator perches, large rocks for sunning and a water station were added.
> Margaret Bellucci created signs for each plant with the common names so that the community could incorporate them into their own gardens.

The Library included the Butterfly Garden extension in their “Common Area” dedication ceremony in December. The FOL placed a plaque in the newly created butterfly garden to thank BGC for our continued partnership.

The project took place over the course of 2024 and was dedicated on December 24, 2024.

Photographic Techniques - January 2025

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Capturing Nature Through Photography

By Kim Brewer-Bettencourt

Photography allows us to connect with the beauty of the world, capturing moments that might otherwise be fleeting. This month, I wanted to share three photos that highlight how simple photographic techniques can enhance how we see and appreciate nature.

In the first photo of a dock by the lake, the lines of the dock naturally lead the eye into the water and out toward the horizon. The placement of the tree and dock off-center is an example of the “rule of thirds,” which helps create a balanced and visually appealing image. The contrast between the texture of the tree, the grass, and the smooth surface of the water adds depth, drawing us into the serene landscape. Personally, my favorite photographs, and the ones I connect with most are those that draw me in and instill in me the desire to be in the place where the photograph was taken.

The second photo, of a lone tree with (love bird) vultures perched on its branches, has a very different feel. Its simplicity stands out, with the bare branches silhouetted against the bright, open sky. The empty space around the tree, often called negative space, emphasizes its stark beauty and gives the photo a sense of calm and solitude. Taken during the golden hour of the morning, the soft lighting adds warmth and a quiet serenity to the scene.

The final photo zooms in on the soulful eye of a horse. This close-up focuses on the fine details—the reflection in the eye and the texture of the horse’s coat. The blurred background, created by a shallow depth of field, makes the eye stand out even more, bringing an intimate connection to the image. This is also an example of how partial images can be effective in creating a unique perspective of an object.

Each of these photos reminds us that photography is not just about taking a picture—it’s about telling a story, whether it’s of a peaceful lake, a quiet moment under a vast sky, or the quiet connection between us and an animal. As gardeners and nature enthusiasts, we’re lucky to have so much beauty around us to capture and share.

Why not take a camera (or even your phone) on your next walk and see what stories nature has to tell you? Sometimes, it’s the small details or a new perspective that makes the most impact.

Kim Brewer - Bettencourt

 

Arcadian Moon Winery and Brewery - Higginsville, MO
Photo credit: Kim Brewer-Bettencourt

 
 

Morro Bay, California
Photo credit: Kim Brewer-Bettencourt

 
 

Ranch in Bell, Florida
Photo credit: Kim Brewer-Bettencourt

 

Artful Gardening

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By: Kim Brewer- Bettencourt

I’m thrilled to write this month’s article on a topic cherished by many gardeners and one that personally inspires me—using art and architecture in the garden.

Recently, Bartram Garden Club members gathered to visit two gardens during a season when gardens aren’t always at their peak. What made these gardens memorable wasn’t just the clear care and nurturing they’d received; it was the artistic elements that truly brought them to life, adding a personal touch that set them apart.

There are many ways to incorporate art into a garden, often using treasures found while thrifting or scavenging. I’ve discovered unique, artful pieces along roadsides, in thrift stores, and even made some myself. Adding these elements can transform a garden into a space that reflects your unique style and creativity. Creating a theme for your garden is also an expression of your own uniqueness and creativity.

Some of the artistic elements featured in the photographs below include custom-made pavers, hand-built arbors, stained glass creations, and unexpected items like an old canoe, a wheelbarrow, rusty iron furniture, architectural plants with striking shapes, and cement garden structures and fountains. I even learned that old mailboxes make fantastic planters!

Please enjoy some of the photographs from last month’s Bartram Garden Club tour, along with some of the artistic inspirations I’ve included in my own gardens over the years.

  • Garden Pathways: Highlight inviting stone pathways by creating an image of a serene garden path surrounded by greenery. This particular pathway surrounds a beautiful butterfly garden.

  • “Just Restin”: An old canoe was repurposed to inspire fun and relaxation. This could also be an area with comfortable seating, like a hammock or bench, surrounded by lush plants. Adding garden props like the canoe or an old wheel barrow create a welcoming vibe.

  • Decorative Planters: Create a whimsical and fun space by using unique planters, water features and similar elements. This could show off the creative, playful side of your garden, with colorful flowers or unique arrangements in decorative pots.

  • Gravel Bed with Sculptures: Capture a minimalist, well-maintained gravel garden with accents like small statues or pottery planters. A stylized scene that balances simplicity with carefully chosen decorative elements works well.

  • Overall Garden Layout: Consider an aerial or layout-style illustration that showcases multiple zones, pathways, decorative areas, plant beds, and resting/sitting areas. 

  • Mosaic Stepping Stones: Beautifully crafted mosaic stones create an artistic pathway, adding color and texture to the garden walkways.

  • Colorful Glass and Tile Art: Brightly colored tiles and glass accents integrated into the ground and vertical elements bring a playful, artistic vibe.

  • Decorative Posts with Glass Insulators: Uniquely adorned posts featuring vintage glass insulators and embedded gems create focal points and add a whimsical touch.

  • Pergola Entryway: A wooden pergola provides a charming entrance, framing the garden and giving it a sense of structure and elegance.

  • Lush Plant Variety: A diverse mix of plants and vibrant foliage surrounds the decorative elements, enhancing the garden’s natural beauty.

  • Thoughtful Color Coordination: The colors in the plants and decorative elements are carefully coordinated, creating a harmonious, cohesive look throughout the garden.

  • Inviting Pathways: Well-designed pathways guide visitors through the garden, making it accessible and inviting for exploration.

  • Birdhouse on a Tall Post: A classic birdhouse perched on a tall post provides a focal point, a backdrop and brings life to a garden.

  • Vintage-Style Garden Decor: The use of statues, pedestals, vintage-style plant stands, and an old rusty iron chair, add a rustic, vintage feel to the garden.

  • Lush Ferns and Spillover Plants: Strategically placed ferns and spillover plants, add lush greenery and visual interest.

  • Large Flowering Shrubs: In this case, a large Lime-Light Hydrangea bush creates a soft, romantic touch, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding greenery. Such shrubs are nice ‘statement’ additions to any garden.

  • Metal Wall Art: Bright, flower-shaped wall art in vibrant colors adds pop to an old garden fence.

  • Decorative Bird Bath: A turquoise bird bath adds a pop of color and serves as both a functional and decorative feature.

  • “Firefly Cottage” Flower Box: An old mailbox doubled as a flower box gives the garden a cozy, cottage-style charm, adding character and a welcoming touch.

BGC Joins Nassau Habitat and Community at Home Dedications

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Submitted by Mary Butler

The Bartram Garden Club participated in the dedications of four recently completed Nassau Habitat homes on Monday, November 18th. The two-story row houses at 811, 813, 815 and 817 South 11th Street, known as the Betty Berkman Project, are located on land Mrs. Berkman purchased and donated to Habitat in her late husband’s name.

BGC joined city commissioners, police and fire department representatives and several community organizations to welcome the new homeowners in this heartwarming and well attended celebration. BGC brought basic gardening tools donated by Ace Hardware, information and guides from the Nassau County Extension Master Gardeners and a BGC gift certificate to Liberty Landscape Supply. Other gifts included a quilt from the Amelia Island Quilt Guild, a prayer shawl and Bible from two local churches, an American flag from the local DAR and a bag of books from Story and Song Bookstore.

BGC will continue to be available to the new homeowners to answer their gardening questions and help them plan their landcapes.

Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication 10/30/2024

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Submitted by Karen Reily, Co-President

Karen Reily and Linda Martin were in attendance representing The Bartram Garden Club.

There was a large community turnout for the event.

Karen presented both new owners with an Ace Hardware bucket filled with horticultural information supplied by Linda through the Nassau County Extension Master Gardeners, basic gardening tools generously donated by Turner Ace Hardware, a gift card from The Bartram Garden Club for shopping at Ace Hardware and an Aloe plant for their new home.

Members Garden Tour October 2024

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Submitted by Karen Reily, Co-President and Horticulture Chairman

We had the first Member’s Gardens Tour and what success it was!!
All my goals/expectations for the event were exceeded!

Goals:
Share ideas and information on gardening in Florida
Social event for members to get to know each other

Thanks to Bob Busler and Karen Reily for opening their gardens to us.
We had a total of 13 members, both old and new, participate.

Thanks to: Gail Banwell, Barbara Booker, Kim Brewer-Bettencourt, Linda Broadrick, Bob Busler, Pam Cartwright, Lorraine Conover, Pam Dawson, Mary Dean, Marcia DeFalco, Sue Dwyer, Sue Regan, and Karen Reily.

I did a survey after the tours and here are some of the comments:

“Inspirational”

“Learned so much about gardening in Florida and felt so welcomed”

“ I have a list of new plants to try in my garden”

Everyone came away with something, just ask any of the attendees.

We will DEFINITELY have a repeat event in the spring.
Hope to see you there!

Monarch Migration Community Service Project

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Submitted by Linda Martin, Civic Beautification Chairman

Saturday, October 12th marked the midpoint of the peak monarch butterfly migration in NE Florida according to the monarchwatch.org researchers. That was the perfect day to celebrate the restoration of the Butterfly Garden at the Train Depot Welcome Center on Centre Street and invite the community to come out and learn about gardening for butterflies and other pollinators. Club members wearing colorful butterfly wings were on hand to share information about migration pathways and monarch tagging projects.

We also celebrated the 200th anniversary of the City of Fernandina Beach. At the Bicentennial Passport stamping station visitors could add butterfly stamps and stickers to their passports. During the event we gave away 200 packets of pollinator-friendly plant seeds. Thanks to Lindsey Pickard of Amelia’s Native Wildflowers, LLC for sourcing Florida native and Florida Friendly ecotype seeds for this project. Visitors were able to see different varieties of milkweed, including Florida native Swamp and Aquatic species.

There was an exciting moment when a lone monarch flitted in to check out the pentas. He was soon on his way south (yes, we verified he was a he). Throughout the day the youngsters loved getting an up close look at the caterpillars munching away on the milkweed plants in the garden. The pentas and lantana attracted lots of Gulf Fritillaries and Skippers.

Thanks to all the club members who helped make the day a success with their time, donations, and enthusiastic support.

Gail Banwell, Elisabeth Beekman, Kim Brewer, Mary Butler, Pam Cartwright, Pam Dawson (and her granddaughter), Sue Dwyer, Jill Gunther, Karen Pavey, Betty Raker, Elizabeth Rawson, Sue Regan, Bob Reily, Karen Reily, Rich Reily, Jerry Walthall, Beverly Williams, and Marc Williams.

Linda Martin

Click on an image to see the full resolution

Photographic Techniques - October 2024

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Benefits of Post Processing in Photography

By Kim -Brewer - Bettencourt

When photographing wildlife, particularly birds, butterflies and insects, the challenge lies in capturing a moving object. When using a cellphone camera, that challenge is compounded since most photographs taken with a cellphone are handheld. Movement of our hands or the subject will affect the sharpness and overall quality of the image. The use of a tripod, whether with a cellphone or a digital camera, will always give a sharper outcome, though sighting a tripod camera on a moving object can also be challenging.

Post editing, is most common in photography to achieve the best outcome for clarity, light, sharpness, and overall personal satisfaction of your image, after the image has been captured on camera.

Cell phones have built in editing software, and there are also apps available that can enhance your photographs substantially. Snapseed is a personal favorite of mine as well as many cell phone photographers and there are numerous support groups on Facebook that are helpful in learning how to use it to your best advantage.

Digital cameras come with their own software for editing, and there are many software options available for editing digital photography, with Lightroom and Photoshop among the favorites.

Below are some simple photographs taken of wildflowers and insects that have been enhanced through post editing processes.

Kim Brewer - Bettencourt

A beautiful monarch butterfly drying her wings. Taken with an iPhone 13 camera and enhanced with iPhone camera software.

The intricacies of a dandelion enhanced with Snapseed software for iPhone

polkadot wasp on a Biden’s alba bloom

The polkadot wasp moth, aka the oleander moth. Photograph taken wide open with a telephoto, lens and drawn in post processing with iPhone software. Some clarity was lost in the tightly cropped photo although the eyes and proboscis are evident.

A simple red clover got its own photo shoot with some post editing techniques using the Snapseed app for iPhone.

Photographic Techniques - September, 2024

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The Rule of Thirds

By Kim Brewer-Bettencourt

Implementing different techniques using the rule of thirds in a photograph creates visual interest.

The composition guideline using this rule is achieved by using two imaginary grid lines both horizontally and vertically and placing your subject on one side of the photograph creating a negative space on the opposing side.

In these exmples, the image is moved off center to create an interesting asymmetrical balance with the weighted part of the image on the left.

 

Image 1 - Without using rule of thirds

 

Image 2 - Using rule of thirds

 

Image 1 - Without using rule of thirds

 

Image 2 - Using rule of thirds

Horticulture Report, April 2024

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By Rosie Davidson

April weather is starting to get warmer and is usually a pretty nice temperature. There will be more insects, bees and butterflies in the garden. The last frost has hopefully been and gone.

Tomatoes are heat-loving plants and should be planted now. They need a long, warm period to promote good growth. Beans, peppers, okra, and sweet potatoes are a few other suggestions. Cilantro, basil, parsley and a multitude of beautiful herbs may be planted now. Summer bulbs, such as elephants’ ears, lilies, cannas, and curcuma may be planted as well. The amaryllis in the ground should be in bloom.
Mulch and amend garden beds, refresh soil in pots, and test soil, if needed.
Birds are nest-building now. Fill up bird feeders and clean hummingbird feeders.
Fertilize new beds, tidy around returning perennials, remove dead parts, and again fertilize.
Clean garden tools and sharpen pruners.

New plants will be in nurseries. Here are some suggested interesting nurseries to visit in Jacksonville: Plant Ranch, Earth Works, and Eat your Yard. Island Nursery in St Simmons is a real treat.

Happy gardening everyone.

Horticulture Report, March 2024

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By Rosie Davidson

March signals the start of spring, the clocks will be changing soon and the temperature is warming up. You can begin planting warm season vegetables now. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, peas, shallots and several others. Annuals can also be added to the garden like coreopsis; black eyed Susans which are native to florida and petunias.

Prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Hydrangeas can be cleaned up and pruned carefully, there should be new growth at this time of year. Prune your roses, remove the winter mulch and refresh with new mulch. Cut back the ornamental grasses. Clean out your pots and replant. This is a great time of year for cleaning out your garden, refreshing and planting anew. Fertilize your plants, Espoma is an organic fertilizer which can be used for all your needs. Clean your garden tools and sharpen those pruners. Amend your soil where needed. UF extension online is an excellent source for planting guides in this zone. Have fun in your garden and enjoy all the new growth now spring is here.

The Challenges and Joys of Butterfly Photography

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By Betty Raker

Butterfly photography is an art that requires befriending tiny creatures and finding a way to tell their stories in photos. Butterflies are spectacular. Their beautiful colors and complex designs appeal to every macro and nature photographer. Butterfly photography is about capturing life. Therefore, you should treat your subject matter with respect and care.

Tips for Taking Great Photos of Butterflies

1. Time of Day: Shoot in early morning or late afternoon for the best light. Butterflies tend to warm themselves in the sun once it rises.
2. Butterflies are shy and scare easily. You can’t always get as close as you might want. Experiment using a macro, zoom, and/or telephoto lens. Approach them slowly and quietly. Be aware of your shadow. They do not appreciate shadows.
3. Shoot wide-open, it will help you separate your butterfly subjects from the background. As in other photography, try various perspectives.
4. Follow the basic composition rules. Getting in for a tight shot can show off the fine, delicate detail of the butterfly’s wings. Composing more loosely will show the flowers or branches where the butterfly is resting.
5. Use the Rule of Thirds. Your camera may have that built in. If so, turn on the gridlines as a guide to help you frame your image and don't worry, the lines won’t show up in your final picture. Notice where the lines intersect. These points are usually the best places to position your subject. Doing so will generally result in a pleasantly balanced composition.
6. When photographing wildlife it's best to have them looking into the frame. So, leave more space on the side of the frame where the action is headed. It looks more natural that way and lets the viewer have a feel for where the subject is going.
7. Look for patterns and textures. Subjects with repetitive patterns can make for interesting photographs and most butterflies have repetitive patterns on their wings.
8. Look for non-distracting backgrounds. Greens also always work but colors at the opposite side of the color wheel can also be useful. Blue sky can provide as stunning background. White sky can also be an interesting background, and you can experiment with creating silhouettes.
9. Take lots of shots and be patient!

References:
https://www.adorama.com/alc/how-to-butterfly-photography/

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/top-10-tips-for-taking-great-photos-of-butterflies.html

October is Florida Native Plant Month

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Note: This article comes from the Sun Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society

October is Native Plant Month in Florida!

Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) chose the month of October because, while many states have stunning displays of spring flowers, Florida’s mild climate provides for a spectacular showcase of native flowers and grasses in the fall as well. Additionally, with a slight drop in the temperature, October is the month when many Floridians escape the confines of their air-conditioned home to visit our wonderful parks and preserves, or to work in their gardens.

If you would like to plant a “Fall” native plant garden, here are some simple steps to get started:

1. Pick a small area in your yard that gets full sun and clear out the sod, non-natives, and weeds.

2. Note what type of soil you have: Is the soil dry and sandy? Moist and well-drained? Wet?

3. Go to one of the many Fall Plant Sales sponsored by a Florida Native Plant Society Chapter in your area, or visit a native plant nursery. Experts there will help you pick plants that are right for your landscape.

4. Plant your purchases. Most natives will require watering until well established, but pay attention to the needs of your specific plants; some of them do not tolerate over-saturated soils. Mulch with an eco-friendly pine straw, or leaf litter.

5. When designing your space, traditionally taller plants would be placed in the back of the garden and shorter ones up front, but if you want to create a meadow effect, intermingle the taller grasses and wildflowers in the center of the garden and put shorter specimens along the edges.

Blazing Star, Liatris spp., is an attractive wildflower that produces beautiful purple flower spikes in late summer through the fall. Several native species of liatris grow in west central Florida. Some are very tall, and others are short and stout. It can be grown from seed or mature plans can be purchased from a native nursery. All of them prefer full sun, but have different soil requirements. Blazing star will attract a variety of butterflies and bees to the garden.

Goldenrod, Solidago spp., range from 3-6-foot-high with a fall display of golden yellow flowers in slender spikes or bushy heads. They are easy to grow from seed or mature plant, and will readily reseed or spread. When it is not blooming, it is a somewhat inconspicuous disk of basal leaves on the ground. Pollinators love goldenrod, especially bees.

Goldenrod adds a splash of yellow to your landscape.

Goldenrod adds a splash of yellow to your landscape.

Grasses: There are many native grasses that put on a beautiful fall display: Among the most popular are:

Purple love grass, Eragrostis spectabilis, is another purple to misty pink grass that grows 1-3 feet high. It prefers well-drained, if not dry, sandy soils.

Elliot’s Lovegrass, Eragrostis elliottii, is a wispy grass with profuse tan flowers that bloom all year, but especially in the fall. It likes dry to well-drained soils.

Lopsided Indian Grass, Sorghastrum secundum, is only 1-2 feet high for most of the year, but has flower stalks that get up to 6 feet tall in the fall. The showy plumbs resemble an upside down Indian headdress, thus the name, “Lopsided Indian Grass.”

Muhly Grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, a showy grass with silky pink to lavender plumbs in the fall. When view from a distance it looks like a purple cotton candy. It grows 2-5 feet in moist to well drained soils, making it highly adaptable for most landscapes.

Muhly Grass looks like pink cotton candy from a distance.

Muhly Grass looks like pink cotton candy from a distance.

Ikebana: The Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement

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At our April, 2019 meeting our own club member Nancy Ellison shared her knowledge and experience with the Japanese art of flower arrangement known as ikebana. Here is some of what we learned:

Ikebana, meaning to arrange flowers or giving life to flowers, dates back as far as the 7th century. It reached its zenith in the 16th century under the influence of Buddhist tea masters. There are at least 1000 schools in Japan and abroad. Each can differ greatly in technique and complexity.

More than simply putting flowers in a container, ikebana is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Where typical flower arrangements often use multicolored arrangements of blossoms, ikebana often emphasizes other areas of the plant, such as its stems and leaves, and puts emphasis on shape, line, and form. While ikebana is an expression of creation, certain rules govern its form. The artist’s intention behind each arrangement is shown through a piece’s color combination, natural shapes, graceful lines, and the implied meaning of the arrangement.

It is truly a language of flowers. Arrangements are meant to convey emotion and communicate directly with the recipient without needing the use of words. Ikebana masters find there is no occasion which cannot be suggested by the color and manner in which the flowers are arranged.

True practitioners of ikebana find its spiritual aspect to be very important. It is believed that one becomes more patient and tolerant of differences and can inspire one to identify with beauty in all art forms. This is also a time when one feels close to nature, which provides relaxation for the mind, body, and soul.

Gardening in Small Spaces

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The March 2019 program focused on how to maximize the use of space in a small garden, and how to make it visually feel larger by creating “illusions” which trick the eye into feeling a sense of greater space.

The most obvious ways to maximize space is with container plantings and vertical gardening. Combine container plants in odd numbers using the “Thriller, Spiller and Filler” concept when selecting plants for a greater impact. Utilize fences, walls, arbors and trellises; tier planters; and consider green living walls, espaliers, window boxes and hanging baskets.

Plant selection is crucial in a small garden and achieves the most bang for the buck! Think quality over quantity. A good general rule is to use 1 – 3 large specimen plants, a lot of medium-sized plants and a handful of dwarfs. Repeat bloomers, plants with varying bloom times and multi-seasonal interest are work horses. Fine and medium textures move the eye, while coarse textures tend to stop the eye.

Pay close attention to selecting and arranging appropriate softscape and hardscape components in terms of the principles of landscape design: Scale and Proportion, Rhythm, Repetition and Balance, Harmony, Form, and Texture.

Depth is achieved with smaller plants which flow into taller plants and using fine textured plants. Advancing warm colors can be placed toward the center to stop the eye, while cool colors around the perimeter recede and increase a sense of distance.

More Illusions:

· Play “Hide and Seek”. Divide the garden into rooms.

· Use the principle of altered perspective

· Layout diagonal and curving paths

· Add a mirrored water garden which reflects the sky

· Hang mirrors on walls or fences

· Use furniture with open-patterns

· Frame a view with an arbor

· Paint a Trompe l’oeil on a wall.

Have fun with your small space!

Troubleshooting Turf Grass

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At the February 14, 2019 meeting we were enlightened by Rebecca Jordi, Nassau County Extension Director, on the nitty-gritty of managing our turf grass here in North Florida. Rebecca gave us her well-known style of wit, a touch of her classic sarcasm, and straight-forward talk. In less than one hour she hit on soils, watering, mowing, fertilizing, weeds, herbicides, and lawn pests.

I spent my childhood and early adulthood in Louisville, KY. I know you have heard about the fields of beautiful, rolling blue grass. However, the reality for most of us was pretty green grass in the spring, turning yellowish-brown by the heat of mid-July, maybe a little revival of green in the late summer/early fall, only to die for the next five months…and no one cared. ..then I moved to Florida…

So, if you have decided to make your home in North Florida, absorbing some knowledge from Rebecca is my best advice. Click here for more details.