February / March 2009 | Home Magazine Article

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February / March Article

Spring fever comes early for us in North Central Florida. In February, the weather warms up in spurts and suddenly it’s nice to be outdoors again, but don’t be fooled by a few warm days. Early heat waves will signal trees and shrubs to flower, but it’s better to hold off on planting frost sensitive plants such as tomatoes and basil until the very last possible frost date which is traditionally in mid-March.

Most trees, shrubs and perennials will enjoy getting a jump start on spring and can be planted early. Redbud trees and native plums are the first to bloom followed by the big, tulip shaped blooms of oriental magnolias. Consider planting spring blooming selections already in flower to ensure you are getting the color advertised on the tag. This will also help color coordinate new plants with existing varieties.

Kitchen Gardens, long popular in England and Europe, are enjoying an upsurge of popularity here of late. Whether formal or informal, the idea of having a garden set aside for cut flowers, herbs and vegetables whets the appetite and the senses. Starting in the Middle Ages, peasants started with cottage gardens full of fruit trees and edible herbs positioned right outside the kitchen door. Larger estates followed a more formal approach with carefully planned geometrical beds, often edged with lavender or boxwood.

Today we can take the best of both worlds starting with a good structural design and adding a mixture of edible and ornamental plants destined for culinary use. Pictured is a beautiful kitchen garden featuring a breakfast nook that overlooks a patio centered with a wrought iron gate and a low fence to divide the space from the rest of the yard. A gravel path lined with ledge stone leads the visitor along the outside of beds that edge the patio. Rosemary, shallots, and peppers jostle with hollyhocks, foxgloves, and delphiniums. Self watering containers of cucumbers and tomatoes share the patio with citrus and heirloom begonias. A bench completes the picture as a place to rest and contemplate in this private sanctuary.

The Rose variety ‘Julia Child’ is the perfect selection for the kitchen garden. The rich buttery yellow blooms were chosen by Julia herself to bear her namesake right before her death. This floribunda rose sports clusters of three to four inch blooms all summer long. Plant several in a group about two feet apart for maximum impact.

Nasturtiums come up quickly from seeds and provide edible blooms that can be picked and thrown into salads. Kids love to push the large seeds into the soil and then see the lily pad like leaves emerge two weeks later. Gazanias tolerate frost and drought and prefer well drained soil and a sunny location. These multi-petaled daisies form a low carpet of evergreen foliage that will last well into June. Plant these now for instant color.

A well designed landscape with layers of height and texture will add value to your home. With the right selection and placement of plant material, you can have color and interest in your garden all year.

Jon George is the owner of Cottage Gardens Inc., a Gainesvillebased landscape design and installation firm. He has been gardening in North Central Florida for more than 30 years. You may contact his staff for questions at cottagegardensinc@yahoo.com.