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My garden will welcome visitors

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By MONICA BRANDIES

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 11, 2009

It seems that some things are blooming later than usual this year, probably because the heat stayed so long. Also, although most things are well recovered from last winter's freeze, some - such as the snowbushes and the crotons - will take a while to get back to where they were. I have one that was taller than me but is now only 18 inches. But some plants are doing great.

If you come to my open garden from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, you should be sure to see these:

I waited years to get a Blanchetiana bromeliad, the kind that turn yellow to red the more sun they get. (Most bromeliads like shade.) They tend to be expensive and I was afraid I'd kill it. But instead it has multiplied and I now have one on each gatepost and several others throughout the garden.

Talk about confusing, I have yellow elder, Tecoma stans, planted right behind yellow alder, Turnera ulmifolia, behind the orange zinnias in the front yard. With a little luck, both will be blooming but you'll see a great deal of difference in the foliage as well.

My grandsons may get here to show you the red turk's cap, which they love to suck for sweetness, and the pinecone ginger you can squeeze for lotion.

There will also be free cuttings of night blooming jasmine, variegated-leaf hibiscus, Turnera alata, Chinese hat, red shrimp plant, flowering maple and a few others.

For details, go to www.gardensflorida.com or call (813) 654-1969.

Today's pick

I just found this Key West morning glory, Jacquemontia pentanthas, with many small flowers of my favorite shade of sky blue at Accent Tree and Nursery in Palmetto, 6205 16{+t}{+h} Ave. E., about two miles off Interstate 75. They have 7 acres of plants but don't worry about walking; they have golf carts to take you around. They also had some beautiful coreopsis and some yellowtop blooming. The morning glory is a native vine that does well in full sun to light shade and could be susceptible to frost, so I'll keep it in a pot at least until spring.

Now's the time to ...

Tell you about a very informative Web site: It is written by a young person and is "part of our journey to live passion-filled and balanced lives. The destination is to leave the world richer, more beautiful, and better because we walked on it." You can find all the information there for my easy and free system of putting worms to work.

Upcoming event

•A presentation on Easy Ways to Grow and Use Herbs will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the library in Thonotosassa, 10715 Main St. There is no charge.

Monica Brandies can be reached at monicabrandies

@yahoo.com.

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