We wished for cooler weather and we sure got it! This past Sunday, our area experienced record low highs, with many of us not getting out of the 50s for the entire day. And this week, the cooler temperatures have stayed with us, made better by the return of sunshine.
What are you doing to take advantage of it? If you are a gardener, the first thing on your list is to get outside and have some fun in the dirt, because you live in Florida, not up north. Every nationwide weather forecast you see now involves snow somewhere, whether it be Minnesota, New York, or even as far south as Alabama. But not for us. We are enjoying cool mornings and sun-kissed afternoons. I can’t think of a better time to enjoy being outside.
But inevitably, even for native Floridians, some northern training is ingrained deep within us. We just can’t shake the idea that this time of year isn’t for gardening. Kerby’s is here to change that. One of the most common questions asked of us at this time of the year is, “What can I plant?” Our response: “What can’t you plant!” There are so many things that you can plant right now. Roses, Azaleas, and Camellias. Peaches, citrus, and shade trees. Get started on your herb garden, replace some of your pesky lawn with a hardy groundcover, create a privacy hedge to block the neighbors with hardy shrubs or bamboo. And we can’t forget about flowers. Florida literally means the land of flowers, and winter is no exception. Pick a garden bed that needs some color and fill it with Petunias, Pansies, and Snapdragons or butterfly favorites like Pentas and Salvias. Really want to make a statement? Add a gorgeous piece of pottery to accent your front entryway for holiday visitors.
And speaking of the holidays, Christmas plants have arrived as well. So when you are finished refreshing your soul in the soil, come enjoy the magic of Christmas with Poinsettias, Christmas Cacti, and Reindeer Philodendrons. Pick out your forever Christmas tree with a Southern Red Cedar or a Carolina Sapphire Cypress and get ready to enjoy the holidays, Florida-style. We sure are lucky. No snow days for us, instead we get 12 months of gardening. Let’s make the most of it.
