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Come before noon to my open garden

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By MONICA BRANDIES

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 4, 2009

On Saturdays, Nov. 7 and 14, my garden will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. (because my free help eats and leaves at 1 p.m. and also because I tend to collapse soon after). A notice in another publication that said 10 p.m. was a typo.

"If people come after 1 p.m. you'll have to explain why I don't live here anymore," says my husband. So please come early. After 51 years, I'd sure miss him.

The open garden is very casual so dress accordingly and wear walking shoes. People just come and wander around and several of my children and sometimes friends are around to answer questions. This year grandsons Mike and David will also be pointing out the high spots of the garden.
Tastings of mint, lemon grass tea and pommelo will be free by the front door and there will be some cuttings free. You don't need to bring snippers, but maybe a bucket.

So come either or both days and bring a carload or a busload. But please come before noon and stay until 1 p.m.

For those coming from south Brandon, go to Lakewood Drive and State Road 60 and turn north on Lakewood to Windhorst Road, the second light. Turn west, or left, and go to the second right-hand turn onto Estatewood Drive. This becomes Burning Tree Lane without any turns at the next block, and we are on the left on the curve at No. 1508. There will be signs. Call (813) 654-1969 if you get lost or need further details.

From elsewhere, go off Interstate 4 at exit 10, go south on 579 to Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard (to the Race Trac just past Walmart) and turn right. Go to Lakewood Drive and turn left. Cross the railroad tracks and go about half a mile. Watch for signs at either Woodhaven Drive or Windhorst Road Turn right and follow the signs. Everyone is invited.

Today's Pick

Today's pick is once again Jewels of Opar, a neat plant with a lovely ferny flower followed by BB-size berries of gold to purple. The great thing about this plant is that eating a leaf of it every day really does reduce the chances of getting colds or flu, and we need all the help we can get this year.

Other upcoming events

I will be giving a talk at 7 p.m., Nov. 4 at the Bloomingdale Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Avenue, Valrico, on easy ways to grow and use herbs.

The Jail Plant Sale will be Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. to noon at 520 Falkenburg Road, just east of the light at Windhorst Road.

Monica Brandies can be reached at monicabrandies @yahoo.com.

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