Flower of April: Soap Aloe is in Exotic Bloom

This month we have aloes flowering in Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties' landscape designs, especially the Florida friendly aloe maculata that many mistakenly identify as aloe vera.  These red/orange flowers we are enjoying in North Florida are also called zebra aloe, aloe saponaria, or most commonly soap aloe because the plant is used to make soap in its native Africa.

At current count there are over 500 species of aloe and soap aloe is one beautiful species uniquely set apart because of its fat, thick leaves and exotic looking spikes of orange or red flowers in the spring.  This plant is waterwise and tolerant of just about any soil, making it a home run for landscape designs in Palm Coast, Ormond Beach, and the surrounding areas.

Warm desert regions enjoy the beauty of soap aloe and it will also be seen in Arizona and California landscaping.  Along with being drought tolerant and therefore xeriscape friendly, soap aloe is a rock star in beach landscape design because it is so salt tolerant.  You just can't go wrong with this stunning plant if you enjoy the look of an exotic species, but with low maintenance needs.

We can assist you with all aspects of beach-beautiful landscaping: design, installation, and maintenance are the services we offer, with specialties like water features and outdoor lighting also in our realm of expertise.  Oceanside landscape designs are a challenge that very few professional companies are prepared to meet, and we do it with years of experience and a trusted reputation behind every beachfront property.

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚

Flower of March: Azalea is a Sea of Color

Azalea is a welcome sign of spring in so many parts of the world, and based on the beautiful colors this shrub has brought to North Florida, we can confirm that spring has sprung!  Azalea, with varieties both technically deciduous and evergreen, is the star of the show in the month of March.  Seas of color are visible in shades of red, pink, purple, white, and more.

The blooms of azalea, a shrub that is considered part of the rhododendron family, last for weeks at a time.  These flowers are shade tolerant and they especially love being planted near or under trees.  Popular as a garden plant for hundreds of years, azalea has at this point approximately 10,000 different cultivars!

It is possible to propagate azalea by both cutting and seeds. Native to Europe, North America, and Asia, the fertilizer needs of azalea are low and most respond very well to pruning.

The plant is slow growing and likes acidic soil, and all parts of it are highly poisonous.  There are many spring festivals and events that celebrate the azalea.

Would you like a landscape design full of brightly blossoming azaleas? 

Enjoying the Flower of Month series?  Check out our other blog posts for standout flowers:

Flower of November: Chrysanthemum

Flower of December: Christmas Cactus

Flower of January: Camellia

Flower of February: Bougainvillea


🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚

Flower of February: The Eye Catching Bougainvillea

Even in the Sunshine State, there are minimal flowers blooming in the winter month of February.  But one eye catcher can remain evergreen and colorful: the bougainvillea, a vine like shrub that adds a taste of the tropics to any landscape design in Flagler, St. Johns, or Volusia Counties.

Establishing a bougainvillea in the proper soil with the proper light and drainage is the difficult part, and many who love the plant depend upon the expertise of a professional landscaper to install and maintain it to its ultimate beauty.  Colors include whites, purples, reds, yellows, oranges, and pinks.

The flower of the bougainvillea is actually a tiny white one in the center, but the surrounding three leaves of color are the real show stoppers.  This plant, which can grow in tree, vine, or bush form, is native to South America.  Beware of one thing about this beauty: it has thorns!

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚

Flower of January: The Beautiful Camellia

Have you noticed the camellias in bloom around northeast Florida this month?  If you would like to enjoy the camellia during its season of stunning flower, visit Washington Oaks State Park in Palm Coast, Florida, where there are several cultivars blooming right now.

Camellia originated in eastern and southern Asia, and its beautiful image is frequently featured in Asian art. In Chinese the name translates to "tea flower".  On the Indian subcontinent and in Asia, leaves of Camellia sinensis are in fact the basis for tea.

There are 100–250 known species of camellia and the ornamental varieties are generally Camellia japonica, Camellia oleifera, and Camellia sasanqua, with over 3,000 hybrids and cultivars. Camellias are evergreen shrubs or small trees that can grow over 60 feet tall.

Their leaves are glossy and the flowers range from white through pink colors to red and blends of these shades.  Rare yellow camellias are found in South China and Vietnam. Camellias prefer rich, acidic soils and a large amount of water, usually not tolerating drought at all.

Camellia plants have a rapid growth rate and are food plants for many butterfly species.  Along with tea, camellia is also used to make a cooking oil that is widely used in Asia.  Camellias were not found in gardens outside of Asia until 1739 in England, then America in 1797.

Frequently planted in woodland settings (such as Washington Oaks), camellias are highly valued for their winter flowering, setting them apart in cold weather. Flower forms include single, semi-double, double, anemone form, rose form, and formal double.

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚

Flower of December: The Christmas Cactus Lives Up To Its Name

If you live in North Florida, you will notice that the plants called "Christmas Cactus" truly do bloom around Christmastime here, if left to their own devices.  It is sign of the season in Palm Coast, Ormond Beach, or St. Augustine to see the plant Schlumbergera begin to bud and flower in its unique and beautiful way in December.

Christmas Cactus is native to the coastal mountains of Brazil and grows there on trees and rocks as an epiphyte, or air plant.  This flowering succulent plant enjoys humidity and shade, making it a perfect plant for our North Florida homes and patios, and slightly different than its desert relatives who enjoy sun and dry conditions.  

In its native Brazil, Christmas Cactus blooms in May.  All around the world, as a houseplant it has been very popular and it can live for a long time, being passed down through generations.  For many areas of the United States, careful steps are taken to make the plant bloom during the holiday season.  That is not the case here, as it does not demand much care and is perfectly suited to our climate.

Florida landscape design is very customized and our clients have found that the assistance of a professional landscaping company leads to success in planning, installation, and ongoing maintenance of a well landscaped home or commercial property. 

If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to read about other Florida winter plants of interest:

Amaryllis:
http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-truth-about-amaryllis-flowers.html

Poinsettia:
http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2013/12/flower-of-holy-night-all-about.html

Florida Holly:
http://floridalandscapedesign.blogspot.com/2011/12/florida-holly-is-not-so-festive-after.html

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚

Flower of November: The Chrysanthemum for Fall

Chrysanthemum indicum, the autumn flower chrysanthemum, is sometimes called mum or chrysanth and the number of varieties at this point are literally countless. Native to Asia and northeastern Europe, for us the mum symbolizes the fall season, November, and Thanksgiving. Whether you are enjoying the flowers of chrysanthemum in your garden or on your table, it is a plant that is synonymous with this time of year.

Here are some fascinating facts about this lovely flower:

The name of this flower comes from the Greek words chrysos meaning gold, and anthemon meaning flower.

Mums were first cultivated in China as far back as the 15th century BC.

This flower came to America in 1798 when Colonel John Stevens brought in a variety known as 'Dark Purple' from England.

Mums are edible, but it is advised you only use the flower petals and blanch them first for the best flavor.

Yellow or white chrysanthemum flowers are boiled to make a sweet drink in some parts of Asia called chrysanthemum tea.

In Korea, there is a popular rice wine flavored with chrysanthemum flowers. 

Mum leaves are steamed or boiled and used as greens or aromatic flavors in many Asian cuisines.

Chrysanthemum is used as a natural source of insecticide: its pyrethrins attack the nervous systems of all insects, and inhibit female mosquitoes from biting.

The NASA Clean Air Study showed that chrysanthemum plants reduce indoor air pollution.

The term "chrysanthemum" is also used to refer to specific fireworks that produce a pattern of trailing sparks similar to the flower.

The chrysanthemum is the official flower of November in the United States.

King Tut of Egypt was buried with floral necklaces of chrysanthemums!

In Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of its Emperor: for example the Chrysanthemum Crest and Seal, and the Emperor's position on the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Mums are composed of many individual flowers (florets), each one capable of making a seed.

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚 

Managing a Landscape to Look its Absolute Best

What can you expect when a landscaper maintains your commercial or residential landscaping?  Here is a general idea of the elements of good landscape management by a professional, experienced company:

1) Shrubs will be pruned and trimmed approximately six times per year.  We will use proper horticultural techniques so that the integrity of the plant is maintained.

2) Any dead, diseased parts of plants will be removed as well as any plant material obstructing walkways or roadways.  Clippings and cuttings will be removed from the site.

3) Small trees (up to 10 feet in height) will be trimmed and shaped to their optimal condition approximately six times per year and checked for proper growth.

4) Medium trees (10-16 feet in height) will be trimmed to maintain clear trunks from ground to lower branches, giving them a clean look and healthy growing condition.

5) If necessary, chemical treatment will be used on plants with infestations of pests or disease.  This will be done very carefully and paying attention to whether the chemicals are working.

6) Thorough weeding will occur, especially in open areas of plant beds.  The soil in these beds will be tested once per year to evaluate pH and nutrient content.

7) Fertilization of shrubs and ground cover will be done twice a year, typically in Spring and Fall.  The fertilizer used will be based on soil testing evaluations.

8) Trees will be fertilized based on size using a balanced formula, and though usually done once a year the initial application will usually be in the spring.

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚