Garden Club of St. Petersburg

Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus: Silver Buttonwood

Silver buttonwood is a small Florida native tree ideal for coastal and urban areas. It grows to 20’ with a nice rounded canopy. The silver leaves stay on all year. This bulletproof native tree is salt-tolerant and drought tolerant and thrives in a sunny location. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST180

In the Sunshine State, lovegrass grows wild in flatwoods, sandhills, and prairies. As native species these are excellent choices for a wildlife-friendly landscape. They need not be confined to wild spaces, however. Both species make excellent borders and accent plants and are very attractive in massed plantings.

Florida native lovegrass could be used more in landscapes. This would be a great alternative to liriope as it is a small bunching grass that can be used as a border plant. The fiberous roots hold the soil and prevent erosion and the seeds support wildlife. Choose between purple or Elliott’s lovegrass when shopping at native plant nurseries. https://www.fnps.org/plant/eragrostis-spectabilis

According to UF/IFAS Extension, soil pH is a key factor in the growth and survival of plants, and it can affect the quality of landscape plants more than fertilizer. Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the soil is, with 7 being neutral, values below 7 being acidic, and values above 7 being alkaline.

The Sometimes Confusing pH Scale

Acidity and/or alkalinity in the soil is measured by the pH scale.

Knowing the pH level of your soil is important for your plants because different plants require different pH levels. PH levels impact plant health, growth, nutrient availability, and microbial life.

The scale goes from -1 to 14
⦁ Between -1 and 0 you find BATTERY ACID
⦁ Between 0 and 7 you have LOW pH (ACIDIC)
⦁ 7 is NEUTRAL pH
⦁ Between 7 and 14 you have HIGH pH (ALKALINE)

Most plants enjoy pH levels between 4 and 6.5 and you will rarely see plants that do well in pH levels above 7. Here are some examples of plants and their preferred pH levels:

Azaleas (4.5 - 6.0); Blueberry (4.0 - 5.5); Camelias (5.0 - 6.5); Citrus (6.0 - 6.5); Vegetables/Flowers (5.8 - 6.5); Roses (5.5. - 6.5); St. Augustinegrass (6.0 - 6.5)

For more information on understanding the pH level scales click on the following link:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SS480

Today and tomorrow (Aug. 23-34) you can become a part of Citizen Science at Work and participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. The website below provides a downloadable count sheet, and instructions as to what to look for.

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census Citizen Science at Work

Mulch is effective at controlling or suppressing weeds, and helps to retain soil moisture, which reduces irrigation demand. Mulch also moderates soil temperature, improves soil fertility, prevents erosion, and decomposes to add organic matter to soil, thereby reducing fertilizer needs. ~ UF/IFAS

The Power of Mulch

If you have healthy soil, you will have beautiful plants! Appropriate mulching will help you achieve this.

There are two kinds of mulch:

ORGANIC MULCHES: These breakdown over time and help promote healthy soils by encouraging a diversity of beneficial microbes and insects. They help soils to biologically control many plant pathogens and diseases. These mulches are considered Florida friendly and include:

⦁ Pine straw and pine bark nuggets
⦁ Malalueca chips (an invasive tree that is cured at high temperature to kill seeds)
⦁ Eucalyptus (an invasive and must be treated)
⦁ Mixed hardwoods
⦁ Leaves and grass clippings mixed with twigs (recreate what happens in nature)
⦁ Utility mulch (can contain seeds and quality varies)

Keep in mind there are some organic mulches that are NOT Florida Friendly such as:

⦁ Cypress (this is an important wetland plant that needs to be conserved)

INORGANIC MULCHES: Although these can be made from natural materials, they do not decompose, do not contribute to wildlife habitat or soil health, and will make your plant's roots too hot. They are NOT considered Florida Friendly, therefore NOT recommended. These include:

⦁ rocks/pebbles/shells
⦁ rubber tires

Remember, mulch two to three inches thick, and NO volcano mulching.

Keep mulching and your plants will thank you!

Check out these links for further information on mulch.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP626

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/lakeco/2022/10/27/what-is-the-best-mulch-to-use-in-the-florida-landscape/ #:~:text=To%20answer%20this%20question%2C%20we%20typically%20recommend%20an,important%20wetland%20plant%20that%20needs%20to%20be%20conserved

https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/about-ffl/9-principles/

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pascoco/2018/10/26/mulch-101

Future Home?

I would never go outside.

Flowers to Plant in August

It’s not too late to add some sun-loving flowers to your garden. Plants like Amaranthus, wax begonias and zinnia are heat tolerant, making them a perfect addition to your yard this August.

Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/flowers-to-plant-in-august/

Beautiful Garden

This kind of gardens 🐦

*Monday, August 12 (rescheduled from August 5) 10:00 a.m. - Noon
Creative Crafts: Plant Bling - Decorative Stakes for Flower Pots
Instructor: Pat Doyle - Members - $5.00 Non Members - $6.00

*Tuesday, August 13: - 6:30 p.m. - Night Bloomers Meeting
Program: Creative Use of Garden Clippings - Discover a new, creative way to transform your garden clippings into beautiful indoor decorations. With her creativity and wit, Carol Lucia will guide and inspire us on how to make the most of our yard overgrowth.

*Wednesday, August 14: - 12:30 p.m. - GAME DAY - Social & BYO lunch @ 12:30 p.m. - Games begin @ 1:00 p.m. - $5 charge for non-members. Asian MahJong lessons upon request. Minimum 3 players & one time $5 materials fee. In addition to MahJong, there are other games available: Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, The Game of Life, Monopoly, Parcheesi, Pictionary, Poker for Dummies, Scrabble, Sorry, St. Pete Opoly, & Uno. Also, we have a new deck of cards to play other card games. You are also welcome to bring any other game you may have.

**All Activities take place at the Garden Center: 500 Sunset Dr S, St. Petersburg, FL 33707

Reminder: There is a Tag Sale on Saturday, August 17 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m at the Manatee River Garden Club, 3120 Ave West, Bradenton, FL 34205. Items to be sold include clothing, design components, furniture, handbags, household items, jewelry, etc. There will also be several vendors and a food truck.

Image Credit: All Around Angler

Looking for the perfect venue for your special event? Look no further! The Garden Club of St. Petersburg offers a beautiful and versatile space for weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings. With stunning gardens and a spacious hall, your event will be surrounded by natural beauty. 🌺🌿
If you have questions about renting the Garden Club, you can email the Rental Manager at [email protected] or call her at (727) 688-0651
https://www.gardenclubstpetersburg.org/rentals

Moths are often overlooked in favor of showier butterflies, but there are species of moths that stand out for their exceptional beauty and intriguing behaviors. For more photos and information follow the link below.

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/fancy-moths/

Photo: Donald Hall, UF/IFAS - Polyphemus moth.

For some of us the Garden Center is our Happy Place!

Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea imperati)

🌿🤍 Beach Morning Glory Alert! 🤍🌿

This beautiful native groundcover is a relative to Railroad Vine and also highly drought & salt-spray tolerant, flourishing in full sun and dry, well-drained sandy soils. Found naturally within coastal beach communities, this glorious plant gets its name from its ephemeral, morning blooms. Blooms are most common in the summer or fall, but may occur year-round in certain areas. Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea imperati) supports pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds! As a low growing, non-climbing vine, this plant can spread quickly and can be used as a ground cover with regular maintenance.

📸 Picture taken from the newest rain garden installation at Gulfport Beach Park.

August – WHAT TO DO

Palms: Check older fronds for yellowing as it may indicate a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer

Vegetables: Solarize the vegetable garden in preparation for fall planting if not done in July.

Poinsettias: Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.

Ornamental plants: Fertilize plants that show signs of deficiencies. Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants. Pinellas County Fertilizer Bans: No nitrogen or phosphorous may be applied to turfgrass or landscape from June 1 to September 30, or at any time of the year if the National Weather Service has issued any of these advisories: Severe thunderstorm warning or watch. Flood warning or watch.

Annuals/Bedding plants: Remove spent blooms, cut back.

Central Florida Gardening Calendar UF/IFAS
Photo Credit (magnesium deficiency): UF/IFAS

AUGUST - WHAT TO PLANT

Annuals/Bedding plants: The hottest days of summer limit planting now to heat-tolerant annuals, such as coleus, kalanchoe, and vinca.

Bulbs: Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.

Herbs: Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.

Vegetables: Tomatoes, beans, carrots and others can be planted for the fall garden.

UF/ IFAS Central Florida Gardening Calendar
Photo Credit: Daily Bulletin

It’s tricky finding plants for your poolside landscape. Here are a few recommendations from UF/IFAS and the Florida Native Plant Society Blog.
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/poolside-plants/

https://fnpsblog.blogspot.com/2020/11/perfect-plants-to-grow-around-your.html
Photo Credit: Florida Native Plant Society Blog

We all know when it's time to rearrange the furniture.

Air potato was first introduced to the Americas from Africa and was introduced into Florida in 1905. Due to its ability to displace native species and disrupt natural processes such as fire and water flow, air potato has been listed as one of Florida’s most invasive plant species since 1993, and was placed on the Florida Noxious W**d List by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 1999. ~UF/IFAS

Due to its ability to displace native species and disrupt natural processes such as fire and water flow, air potato has been listed as one of Florida’s most plant species. Read more about plant characteristics, impacts and control methods, plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/dioscorea-bulbifera/.

Source photos courtesy of UF IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.

Happy Friday!

Love arrangements from the Garden

Pineland heliotrope is an underutilized flowering native ground cover.

Pineland heliotrope is an underutilized native ground cover with flowers that support pollinators, especially butterflies. It's drought-tolerant and low-growing and flowers for most of the year. Available at native plant nurseries in white or yellow flower form. https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-euploca-polyphylla/

It’s National Tequila Day! Agave tequilana var. azul (Weber's Blue Agave) is the plant used as the base ingredient of the distilled spirit tequila. In Mexico this plant has been cultivated since before the Spanish arrived. This plant grows well in USDA zones 9-10, requiring a warm climate to thrive.

Agave tequilana (Blue Agave) Blue Agave is a succulent with large rosettes of sharp, blue-green leaves and is famed as the primary source of agave nectar and tequila.

Join the count on August 23-24, 2024! The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is a citizen science project created by the University of Georgia. This project is designed for everyone to participate and make a difference for pollinator conservation! Visit the link below to learn how you can be a part of this project.

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census Citizen Science at Work

Today only! Sale begins at 9:00 AM.

Turk’s Cap Mallow (Malvaviscus aboreus var. drummondii)

Turk’s Cap Mallow (Malvaviscus aboreus var. drummondii) is a Florida-Friendly shrub that is related to the Hibiscus. She produces red showy flowers that appear as if they’re just about to open fully, but never do. Turk’s cap is drought tolerant and performs best with some shade but can adapt and thrive in full sun. This charming shrub can reach six to ten feet tall and spread just as wide, so you may want to prune her in order to maintain a desirable size. Turk’s Cap attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators throughout her blooming period and also produces fruit for birds and other wildlife.

If you are looking for a vibrant, easy to grow shrub that will provide you with a pop of color and has wildlife benefits, Turk’s Cap Mallow is for you.

Learn more about Turk’s Cap Mallow at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions:
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/turks-cap/

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Housework Hack!