Capturing the Beauty of Birds in the Garden

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Submitted by: Kim Bettencourt

It has been a cool winter here in northeast Florida. While we may not see them as frequently, the birds are still here and depend on our supplemental food more than ever during these cooler months. In addition to using feeders in the winter, I have adopted the practice of planting flowers and shrubs that attract all pollinators for the remainder of the year. Though this month my focus will be on some of the beautiful birds here in northeast Florida and those that migrate through.

There is something magical about watching birds in the garden—they create a peaceful connection with nature. Over time, I have learned that with a little patience and planning, photographing these winged visitors can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

One of my favorite captures is a brilliant male cardinal perched on a stone "Bird Girl" feeder. The way he looks at her! This photograph holds special meaning for me, as cardinals have a deeper significance in my life. I have even used this image to make greeting cards, a simple process through many online businesses as well as some local printing services. Perhaps you have a favorite photo you would like to turn into a greeting card.

Birdbaths are another great feature for both attracting and photographing birds. A fluffed-up robin enjoying a refreshing bath made for an especially endearing moment. The key to capturing such shots is observing from a distance and allowing the birds to grow comfortable with your presence. A zoom lens helps achieve detailed close-ups without disturbing their natural behavior. I took this particular photo from a window where I had removed the screen so that I could capture more special moments such as this.

Capturing photographs in motion is a bit more tedious. Swallows, with their tuxedo coloring are a particular favorite of mine. I managed to photograph this tree swallow just after it had fledged from its nest box, its gaze fixed on an approaching insect. This type of shot requires quick reflexes and a fast shutter speed to freeze the action, but the result is well worth the effort.

Hummingbirds, with their iridescent feathers and darting movements, are among the most challenging yet rewarding birds to photograph. They love zinnia, coneflowers, cosmos, wildflowers and so many beautiful flowers we grow here in Florida. Planting these in your garden will ensure a steady stream of hummingbird visitors. This whimsical photograph was taken in my Tennessee garden.

Photographing birds in the garden is not just about capturing the perfect shot—it is about appreciating the small wonders of nature that unfold every day. Planting nectar-rich flowers creates an inviting environment for birds and reduces their dependence on feeders. With a little planning and an observant eye, anyone can transform their backyard into a haven for both birds and beautiful photography.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

How to Keep Them Fresh

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Submitted by Beverly Williams

Plant materials used in a design should always be fresh, clean and crisp!
Proper conditioning of plant material is crucial.
Conditioning: the treatment given to plant material before it is placed in a design.

Means: soaking in deep water for several hours or overnight in a cool, dark place away from drafts or heat.
• Take clean pail of tepid or room temperature water to garden when cutting.
• Use clean, sharp shears or a knife. Never use scissors or anything dull.
• Cut stems on a slant.
• Best cut in late afternoon or early evening but early morning is suitable.
• Avoid cutting new growth.
• Immediately recut stems indoors on a slant; return to deep, cool water. Remove all foliage below the water.
• Clean foliage material by swishing in barely warm water with mild detergent; rinse and drain. Do not submerge delicate or fuzzy foliage.
• Store for several hours or overnight in a cool, dark place away from drafts or heat.
• Spray flower blooms and foliage with fine mist of cool water before and after they are placed in design.

Woody stems: scrape, crush or split one to two inches at base. Milky or watery stems: Sear cut end over flame until they glow (protect bloom from heat), then immediately plunge into cool water OR immerse ends in boiling water for 30 seconds, then plunge into cool water. SEAR THE STEMS THE LENGTH NEEDED IN THE DESIGN, or treatment will have to be repeated.

Reviving wilted flowers:
Recut stems and place in two inches of boiling water for five seconds, and then immediately in cold water, leaving overnight if possible.

HOMEMADE FLOWER PRESERVATIVE:
One-gallon warm water, 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice, 1 TBSP sugar, and 1 Tsp chlorine bleach.

Do Daylilies Have Nectar for Hummingbirds?

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Submitted by:
Connie Gladding, President North Florida Daylily Society

  • Brightly-colored flowers that are tubular hold the most nectar, and are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. These include perennials such as bee balms, columbines, daylilies, and lupines; biennials such as foxgloves and hollyhocks; and many annuals, including cleomes, impatiens, and petunias.

  • The nectar in daylily flowers is found in the base of the petals, in glands called nectaries.

  • Nectaries are glands that produce nectar as a reward for pollinators. 

  • Nectaries can be found on any part of a plant, but are most commonly found in flowers. 

  • The nectar in daylily flowers is a sticky, transparent fluid that gives the petals a sweet taste.

  • Daylilies are a good source of nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. 

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.