Living Color Home Page

Post Date: October 27, 2009

Be Patient for Impatients

Kelley @ 12:29 PM
Filed under: Additional Home Improvement Resources, Annuals, Home Gardening Tips, Landscape Design, Theme Gardens —Tags: , , , , , , , —

Here at LCGC we believe that until a plant is ready to be planted we won’t sell it! That has been the case with impatients and veggies this year.

Since our weather has changed over the years it seems to stay hotter longer in the fall than previous years. It’s because of that reason we should wait until a more permanent weather change is imminent before selling cooler weathered flowers, plants, and veggies.

Almost 20 years ago Black Olive East and Living Color Garden Center began the price wars on 4.5″ impatients at .59 cents each. Before you knew it we started a campaign that even the big box boys (home depot) jumped on it!

Currently in the big box operations you can find almost anything on the shelves and ready for your home…..but before you go buying crazy you should know that even though some items are for sell it doesn’t necessarily mean they will thrive right now.

If you have doubt about the survival of your seasonal flowers, herbs or veggies just buy a few of them and test them first before making a big investment in plants that may fail the fall.

Again I stress the design of potted gardens for many of your herbs and seasonal flowers. It gives you patio garden a homey look and cozy welcome to your guest.

When planting your impatients this years here’s a DiG iT TiP to give you great success!

DiG iT TiP: when planting your impatients only plant ¾ of the root ball in the ground. This will ensure the plant does not rot and dissolve as you may have seen happen before.
I always add a ½ scoop of Osmocote time release to each plant at the root ball. It makes all the difference in the size, the flowering, and the longevity of the plant.

Good Luck and Get Dirty Gardening,

KC_

Post Date: September 18, 2009

It’s Thyme to Spice Up Your Life

Kelley @ 9:18 AM
Filed under: Home Gardening Tips, Landscape Design, Plants, Theme Gardens —

That right folks!! Herb and Veggie gardening season is quickly arriving! I would say that my best experience was to wait until about the 3rd week of October to get the best performance and the most productive crop from my edible garden!

Yes there are some garden centers that are  currently selling and promoting herbs and veggies and that’s ok. It’s just that the cooler it gets the better performance and less care your crop will need.

DiG iT TiP # 1. Potted gardens are definitely the way to go! Refer back to my potted garden post that povides  DIY step by step instructions.

DiG iT TiP #2. Plant Marigolds in pots near it to add color as well helps control insects naturally. STAY ORGANIC!

DiG iT TiP #3. Place your containers in the East facing sun for the warmer/longer days and the West facing sun in the cooler/shorter days.    

  DiG iT TiP #4 . Stay away from terracotta and any porous pottery, this will help keep moisture in at the root system longer and not heat up so hot while sitting in the sun.

Get the kids and the whole family involved on home grown herbs and veggies. Do you research, invest in books, and enjoy your crop!

Herb and Veggie gardening is a hobby that gives back physically and emotionally. It provides me with a sense self confidence and pride to know that something I’ve planted and nurtured can nourish me. The more care I give my crop, the more my crop gives me back!  Everything should be so easy!

DiG iT TiP #5. Shop at Living Color Garden Center for the BEST selection in herb and veggies this year! We promise to search the market for your unique needs! If you have any suggestions of items you would like to see us carry this year hit me back on this blog!    

GeT DiRtY GaRdeNinG !!!!

KC-

Post Date: July 17, 2009

Butterflies!

Kelley @ 4:15 PM
Filed under: Butterfly Gardening, Butterfly Plants, Events, Flowering Shrubs, Home Gardening Tips, Native Plants, Trees —Tags: , , , , , , —

butterflly_milkweedYou know since I’ve been here at LCGC many customers are really into this butterfly gardening thing.

I thought they were just going through a phase.

However, my perspective began to change when a woman came to me in panic mode saying “We’re out of Milk Weed and our larvae are going to die if we don’t get more to replace it!”

Huh.. you’re larvae is going to die?

Well, since then, I’ve learned a bit more about butterfly gardening. For example, I learned in March that many breast cancer survivors find that butterfly gardening is an important part of their healing process. I’ve also met many customers who feel that attracting butterflies to their garden adds a whole new dimension of joy.

I also began to notice butterflies a lot more wherever I went. There’s something magical and “other-worldly” about them — a delicate, grace that is oblivious to the pressure-filled daily grind that we live in.

Well it was at this defining moment that I decided to increase my commitment and service to our customers who are devoted to butterfly plants and gardens. As a first step, I’ve decided to schedule our first ever butterfly gardening class for this July!

ladyingardenI’ve wanted to do this since april of 2008, but now the timing is perfect and I think we have the perfect venue for it.

It seems that the Butterfly Gods agree!

Just the other day, I was fortunate enough to meet one of our loyal customers at our sister nursery, Black Olive East. I was on the golf cart with my Assistant Paula and I asked her “who is that man and what is he doing?” she replied “oh that’s one of our customers Steve who comes in periodically because he knows we spray certain plants that are host to butterfly larvae and he rescues the larvae and takes them home to his yard and attaches them to his plants to survive.

larvaeonfinger_cropped1Wow! This guy is really devoted to his butterflies!

I found this touching and turned the cart around and introduced myself to him. (Before my “Butterfly Conversion” I would have probably asked him to leave.:-) In 15 minutes of talking to Steve, I was impressed by his knowledge and passion and love for the many butterflies’ lives he saved. It was hard not to be touched by his sincerity.

I then found out that he drove from Coral Gables on the w/e to do this. I asked him would he be interested in leading a group of kids and share his knowledge of butterfly gardening with the masses. He laughed and said he would get back with me.

A few days later he called me and asked me to visit this website :

www.butterflyrick.com

He said this was a friend of his named Rick Mikula who would be more than happy to teach the butterfly class for us. I agreed, and was prepared to give Steve a $200.00 gift certificate for his help, but was surprised when Steve said “Since you guys let me pick larvae, I will cover all the expenses for Rick to fly in and pay for his accommodations”. Can you believe it???!!!!!

istock_000007506895xsmall_girlsNeedless to say, I was blown away at a strangers generosity to the masses of kids and adults that will benefit from this (including me). I will admit my knowledge of butterfly gardening is intermediate and I am looking forward to learning so much more from Rick Mikula.

I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful customers (and now friends) like Steve .

I hope you all will stay posted to your emails for the invitation to this class it will be a fun day of learning and growing!
Get Dirty Gardening,

PS:  DOES ANYONE DO FACE PAINTING FOR KIDS?

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