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Gardening

Cool weather makes garden sights, chores a joy

By MARY COLLISTER
Published November 24, 2006

Surprises are usually a good thing in the garden and my recent surprise was the blooming bougainvillea in the front yard. This is a plant that froze to the ground last winter. I thought it was dead, but when I went to pull it up, I noticed a little new growth. I trimmed off the old stem and babied it again. It is now about 6 feet tall and I have been trimming the foliage often and sometimes severely.

This has left a nicely shaped head, but I expected no flowers this season. I was wrong and very pleased about it. It has deep red flowers with 30 or 40 blooms covering the plant.

Just to be clear, the vibrant color of this plant comes not from the small white tubular flowers, but from the three large paperlike bracts that surround each flower.

I have read that bougainvillea will bloom more abundantly if the plant is stressed. This is why it is recommended to cut back on water if the plant isn't flowering much. The drying out of the soil stresses the plant and forces more flowers. Perhaps my constant trimming stressed the plant into blooming. Whatever the reason, it is enjoyable to walk out my front door and see the beautiful blooms.

Recently, I shared with you my purchase and planting of six Knock Out roses in my front yard. They have been another wonderful surprise. They have already begun to grow and flower so I hope to have them in my garden many years. I'm already looking for other places I can plant more of them!

This rose would make a great holiday gift. Pot it up and wrap it with a bow. Remember to include instructions with any plant you give as a gift.

I'm really not ready to start talking about gift plants or any gifts for that matter. I have seen many Christmas decorations displayed already and, of course, it seems like every store has its holiday decorations prominently displayed. I do know that for years stores have put out the holiday decorations before Thanksgiving, but I don't remember them "decking the halls" quite so early.

Not wanting to be labeled a "bah humbug," I will provide a suggestion for the upcoming holiday. If you're in need of a centerpiece for your table, just take a stroll around your yard. Not everything in such an arrangement need be a flower. Look at the foliage on your plants. Also look at those plants that are naturally bronze, red or purple.

Crotons have beautiful, colorful foliage for fall. If you don't have any in your yard, you may want to purchase a small one to use inside. If you want a larger plant, try the spirea - the leaves are also colored very fall-like. A taller spirea would look good at the entrance to your home.

If all else fails, there are still beautiful mums at the garden centers. Keep a large pot of mums on your table for a day or two, and then plant it in your garden. It will do best in an area that receives afternoon shade when summer rolls around again. Any potted, flowering plant would be a welcome addition in the house. Wander around your local garden center and see what's available.

If I remember correctly, about this time last year we were cleaning up after some heavy winds. We have been very lucky this year and escaped storm damage.

Since the weather has been kind, there shouldn't be any extra cleanup necessary in your yard this year. It is still a good idea to walk around your yard and look carefully. If you have empty pots or other containers sitting around, make sure they are not holding water. This little oasis may draw unwanted critters to your yard.

If there are any lumber scraps around, gather them up and throw them away because they may provide the perfect location for many insects to hide out. Pick up all other debris and tidy up the area.

This is the perfect time of year to complete labor-intensive projects that involve heavy lifting, trenching, digging or moving pavers or stepping stones.

The cool weather makes the job a little easier. So get out your plans that have been sitting around for months and get busy!

Mary Collister can be reached via North of Tampa, 14358-B N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33618.

[Last modified November 22, 2006, 09:20:12]