GREAT JOB NELLIE, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
HERE IN COASTAL & TROPICAL SOUTH (CLEARWATER, FL.) IT IS SO HOT IN
THE LATE SPRING AND SUMMER THAT I PLANT MY VEGETABLE GARDEN JUST
AFTER LABOR DAY AND HARVEST UNTIL APRIL OR MAY UNLESS WE GET A HARD
FREEZE (1 YEAR IN 4). IT'S NICE HAVING FRESH TOMATOES FOR
THANKSGIVING.
PLEASE ADDRESS A WINTER/FALL VEGGIE GARDEN ONE MONTH.
In My Garden Blog
Coastal and Tropical South
June 22, 2006
By
Nellie Neal,
Baton Rouge, LA
Individual perennial hibiscus flowers may last only a day or two, but they are plentiful for months.
Annuals and Perennials; Indoors and Out
A few years ago, in an unfortunate development, gardeners began taking sides. Those who like annual flowers, who wait each year for the newest colors and plants introduced from around the world, began to feel snubbed. Perennial enthusiasts bragged that their plants just came up and bloomed every year, giving the distinct impression that annuals (and we who grow them) are somehow unworthy.
Truth is, you can decide to grow any kind of plant you want, and in our region, the lines separating annuals and perennials are quite blurry. In our gardens, annuals often adapt and become "perennialized," reseeding abundantly. Perennials often spread faster than advertised, but few will bloom for years unless we dig and divide them every two or three years.
I say, "Who cares what category our plants are in." Read about the plants you like and grow them, no matter what the neighbors say. Make smart choices, avoid seriously invasive species, and brag when they bloom!
Opting Indoors or Out
If you have a porch, balcony, or lanai, you are on the cutting edge of garden design. Publications are full of "indoor-outdoor relationships," which is really our way of life. Articles suggest that plants can soften the edges of architecture, bring the outdoors in, and smooth the transition between indoors and outside.
Put a pot of bromeliads on the deck, and another on the dining room table to move the eye easily between the two and reinforce the design strengths of both. Growing the same plant in a windowsill indoors and a window box outside has the same effect, as does a pair of hanging pots mirroring each other on either side of a window.
When you place plants, pots, and accessories outside and in, the message is clear: life flows easily between the two parts of your home, sometimes more readily than the breeze.
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Comments on Annuals and Perennials; Indoors and Out
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We welcome your questions and comments about this column. If you have gardening questions unrelated to the column, please ask them on our message boards.
TOM MILLER
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Nellie Neal
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You are among the wise! If I could get gardeners in our part of the
world to start the garden year in late summer and end it in June, I
know I could change the world in even more profound ways. I'll get
busy on more 'fall' planting information and if I don't cover what
you want to know about, please let me know. Many thanks for your
input!
Barbara Greene
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This year I planted flats of perrenials and bulbs in Feb. The
excitement increased as the plants increased in size...I got brave
and planted seeds...the thrill of seeing them come up and eventually
bloom has been an everyday wonder!
What a gift of color and shades of green. It has been the best
time...By the middle of March I had a lovely garden...beginning to
bloom and the bulbs were coming up.
They bloomed too.
This has been so exciting. Everything came up...the little
plants grew big and bloomed. I am in my 60's and have been planting
"stuff" here most of my life...This was the best!
Nellie Neal
Wow - You caught the gardening bug big time this year!
Congratulations on a wonderful season!