2006 Updates to the Web Site
12/25/2006 - I can be really naive sometimes.
One of my dreams/aspirations is to take the UF Master Gardener Program to receive formal training in gardening. I'm tired of always experimenting or learning everything from a book. I want to sit in a classroom and listen to experts, people who can save me some time and pain.
I knew that Master Gardeners were supposed to provide assistance to the local extension offices by volunteering their time. I guess I didn't connect the dots - the primary reason the country extension offices provide Master Gardener training is to create a pool of volunteers they can call on to man the phones and support education programs. It wasn't until I read an excellent description of the program at Dave's Garden that I saw the relationship.
"So what's the big deal?", you're likely asking. The problem is that if the county extension has enough volunteers, it doesn't hold any courses. For example, here in Hillsborough County there was no Master Gardener course held in 2006 and no plans to hold one in 2007. So much for dreams.
12/19/2006 - I always love when I pick a flower and two pop up to take its place. I was similarly rewarded after I published a copy of Clare Corré's Plumeria links and the next day she forwarded two excellent articles she has written (Creating a Plumeria Collection and Clare's Garden) for inclusion on this Web site. I recommend them both, not only for the great advice on Plumeria, but for the way she shares her joy and satisfaction in gardening.
12/18/2006 - If you are a subscriber to davesgarden.com (something I highly recommend), a lover of Plumeria and addicted to surfing the Web, check out the links on Plumeria prepared by Clare Corré (a copy is also available on this site). It's a fascinating list that includes every conceivable aspect on growing Plumeria.
10/31/2006 - If you need further confirmation of global warming, check out the graphic comparison of the USDA 1990 Hardiness Zone Map and an update conducted in 2004 by the Arbor Day Foundation. Chilling.
10/30/2006 - I'm not a fan of Home Depot. Aside from almost single handedly driving the corner hardware store out of business, they have also managed to dominate the retail nursery market with low prices and equally low quality. Therefore, it's a pleasure to find a local nursery that offers good prices, great selection and good service. On a whim I stopped by Kerby's Nursery in Seffner and was pleased to find plants like true Cleyera and Tabebuia. They even carry River Birch. It's an excellent nursery.
10/27/2006 - Proof that gardeners are not known for their wild sense of humor.
10/21/2006 - If you look at the reviews on Dave's Garden, there is a marked division of opinion as to the level of service at Exotic Plumeria in Seffner. I first stopped by the nursery last Winter and found no one around to help me. So I left frustrated, disappointed and eager to cast my vote with the other negative reviews. Thankfully, I tend to become forgetful over time. I was in the neighborhood today and thought I would try again. This time my experience was completely different. Alan, the owner, was extremely helpful, provided extensive advice on growing Plumeria and took me on a tour of the nursery. I bought two Plumeria, a Celadine and a Singapore. I will likely be back again. As Alan says, "Plumeria are addictive" and I'm willing to forgive occasionally poor service to develop a passion for Plumeria.
10/15/2006 - Everything you would ever want to know about Lovebugs.
9/29/2006 - I stumbled across a marvelous and eclectic site on the Internet for Florida gardeners and lovers of the outdoors - Your Florida Backyard. Also, you should visit Shirley Denton's Nature Photography site - this is the most extensive collection of photographs on Florida plants I've found. Where did she find the time?
9/4/2006 - While the Florida-Friendly Plant List 2006 (see below) is an excellent resource, I did not realize that its publication came with a price. The water management districts in Florida, which produced the excellent free publication "Waterwise Florida Landscapes", have decided to replace the publication with A Guide to Florida-Friendly Landscapes. One of the Appendices in the Guide is the Florida-Friendly Plant List 2006. I suppose I should not complain about the demise of "WaterWise Florida Landscapes", except that I will miss the excellent photography. You can still find copies of WaterWise Florida Landscapes for download, but my guess is that the print editions will soon be collectors' items.
8/22/2006 - This week while Web surfing I stumbled across across a reference to floridayards.org or the Florida-Friendly Landscaping site - a joint project sponsored by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection along with the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program (part of the University of Florida IFAS Extension) and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The site goes a long way towards filling the need for a simple, comprehensive database of Florida friendly plants. It contains extensive links and resources along with an excellent search tool to find plants that are adapted to your particular growing conditions. If there was an award for the best Internet site on gardening in Florida, it would have my vote.
8/16/2006 - I've long raved about the excellent "WaterWise Florida Landscapes" available on the Southwest Florida Water Management District web site - simple, easy to understand, great pictures and it's free. Now the University of Florida IFAS Extension through a joint project has published the Florida-Friendly Plant List 2006. While it lacks the beautiful color photographs of "WaterWise Florida Landscapes", it contains 80 pages of detailed information on Florida friendly plants. In effect, it is a paper based version of the electronic database on the floridayards.org site.