Caladiums are at their peak season of beauty now. A typical hot, wet summer is ideal for these shade-lovers. Classic Caladiums has done a excellent job at planning, planting, and maintaining these plants to showcase their unique features.
Author: Bob Cook
Member of the Florida Nursery Grower, Landscape Association.
Certified Horticulture Professional.
Spider Mites
Most insects are visible. But these plant-feeding mites are nearly microscopic. Their feeding on leaves can be evident before you see them. Mites damage individual leaf cells causing an off-color. Leaves can also pucker. By the time you see webbing, it is an infestation.
Immersed in Color
The Florida Flower Trials were a beautiful learning experience. On Wednesday, May 15th, we started at the Orange County Cooperative Extension office in Orlando. Surrounding the bedding plant trials were many other gardens; Guest speakers continued to inspire and educate landscapers, growers and retailers;
Fairy House from Fire Wood
How about a log house to inspire the imagination of a little boy? All of my other sculptures are works of art, not toys. But this one is designed for a friend’s child. I wanted it to be rustic and durable and not have any choking hazards. Thanks to my friend Jeff for letting me…
Naples Botanical Garden Flower Show
Once a year the Naples Garden Club joins the garden in a flower-packed festival for two days. As a gardener I always appreciate living color, arranged tastefully. Here are some creations…
Trials Pass with Flying Colors
American Farms in Naples runs new plant trials from numerous breeders around the world. They commit valuable production space and efforts to discover: How will they grow here, are they really improved, and lastly, do consumers like them? Here are a few outstanding plants from those trials that concluded in January, 2019. My compliments to…
Tropical Plant Industry Exhibit 2019
Once a year, for three days in January, people from around the nation visit Fort Lauderdale, Florida to see the natural beauty produced by local greenhouse and nursery growers. Over 200 vendors display their best under one roof for a tropical extravaganza.
Fairy House on the Rock
I made this miniature house as a gift for a friend who is retiring from sales and moving to Tennessee to build cabins in the woods. So I made a cabin out of woods. He is a Christian and I was inspired by Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 7 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of…
Trees on the Go
November 29, 2018 Fish Branch Tree Farms in Zolfo Springs hosted the Trees on the Go educational seminar in partnership with FNGLA, Roots Plus Growers and ASLA Florida. Their nursery is a model tree farm emphasizing quality and consistency. Speakers: Dr. Ed Gilman (U.F. Professor Emeritus) on the state of the urban forest and early…
Moon over Copper Roof
Here is my latest project: A “fairy house” with a copper roof surrounded with lots of wood. We mounted it outdoors as a welcome by our front door.
The Landscape Show, Orlando
I am a sucker for variegated plants. Long ago, when a gardener or plant breeder found a plant with white streaks or spots in it’s leaves, it was discarded as weak and inferior to it’s green-leafed parent. But, color sells and anything-but-green leaves turn heads. Also, a plant with less chlorophyll in it’s leaves tends…
Log Gnome Home
I found this log at a place selling firewood in Plant City, Florida. The rotted knot makes a perfect entrance to a “fairy house” leading into a hollow cavity. It took about three weeks to construct this little work of art. It’s heavier than most that I’ve built because of the solid wood and piles…
