Gardening

Remember on Monty Python when they used to say: “And now for something completely different...”

Vero Beach is unique for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it straddles the Carolina temperate zone and the Caribbean subtropical zone.

It’s not a pleasant subject but hey, somebody has to do the dirty work.

Don’t hedge me in.

At this time of year, as the temperatures begin to rise, we start thinking about spending more time in our air-conditioned digs.

When Jill and Paul Kaneb purchased a pristine property on the east side of the Indian River Lagoon, siting the residence and guest house was of paramount importance.

When the garden writers gather for their annual symposium, the ambient joy is almost palpable.

We’ve all heard about “Man of the Year” and “Woman of the Year.” Why not plant of the year? Or, as it is more correctly known, “Florida Plants of the Year” (FPOY).

In the not-too-distant past, and certainly in a more pastoral time, Farmer Brown relied on the Extension Service for information and Ma Brown could use the same for questions about canning or baking or other home economics-related activities.

After a nearly 30-year absence, the world’s largest one-piece mahogany table is back home at the Hall of Giants at McKee Botanical Garden.

When Bonnie Veron moved to Vero Beach eight years ago, gardening was the furthest thing from her mind.

When it comes to planting flowers in Florida, there appears to be some confusion, especially among transplanted northerners.

What more propitious a place for a land trust meeting than Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia?

Ferns are cool in both the vernacular sense and the thermal. Whether it be an indoor planter or a shady, outdoor bed, ferns impart a soothing and tranquil aura.

The Florida Audubon Society estimates that the populations of our birds have declined by more than 80 percent in the last 50 years.

Plants, especially evergreens, have long played a role in celebrating pagan and religious events and holidays.

I love tulips. When I lived in Maryland, I’d plant tulip bulbs each fall knowing that, in the spring, my tulips would arrive in all their colorful glory.

Recently I experienced the sights and scents of plants from around the world.

Grasses and grass-like plants abound in Florida and many are important as crops, habitat, lawns, and garden plants. The majority of these plants have wind-pollinated flowers, which means that they don’t need colorful petals, nectar or scents to attract insects. Even without these showy flower features, many grasses and grass-like plants can still make a significant and lush statement in your landscape.

As many of us move to reduce our expansive lawns, the trees and shrubs we plant in large groupings to produce an easier-to-maintain landscape also create more shade.