Thursday, May 16th 2024

Consider Heat Loving Salvias for Hummingbirds!

These Salvias are hardy perennials that thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They are all very easy to care for and pollinators can’t resist the vibrant flowers. We highly recommend any of these salvias if you’re looking for a low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly addition to your garden. Beautiful and easy to care for, they will bring joy to you and your garden visitors!

Mysty

Ember's Wish

Amistad

Roman Red

Black and Blue

Bodacious Jammin' Jazz

Rockin Blue Suede Shoes

Hot Lips

Mystic Spires

Simpson's Stopper

Myrcianthes fragrans

EVERGREEN SHRUB

If you live near the Gulf coast, or even if you do not, the native shrub Simpson’s Stopper is a unique addition for your yard. As the botanical name suggests, the blossoms produce a strong fragrance. The evergreen leaves contrast beautifully with fresh, incoming leaves which can range in color from bright green to deep red. When crushed, the leaves give off a spicy-citrusy scent like nutmeg. The dainty yet showy white flowers attract bees and butterflies in the spring, while its large orange to red berries ripen in late summer for a bird buffet.

Despite its natural limited occurrence in Florida, from St. John’s County to the Keys, this plant performs well in North Florida landscapes.

If planted in full sun, the plants grow densely and form a great hedge, but it tolerates light shade. Soils can be coastal sand or average inland soil. Once established it will be very drought tolerant. Expect this shrub to grow 10-12 feet tall in Tallahassee.

Deerberry, Vaccinium stamineum, is a native semi-deciduous shrub in the blueberry family that produces valuable wildlife food and attracts a multitude of pollinators. It’s found naturally in Florida’s pine woods, scrub, and sandhills. It can take inundation and occasional droughts once established.

We have deerberry in 1gallon pots for $14.99 and 3g pots for $26.99.

Tithonia aka Mexican Sunflower

An essential butterfly magnet! It gets tall (6-7 feet) so look out– staking will help it hold up in strong winds (remember hurricane season)! Mexican sunflower is multi-branched and covered in bright orange flowers that butterflies and hummingbirds love. There's very few pest problems and it will keep blooming through late fall. You will also find that it will reseed somewhere in the yard year after year. We have 4" pots for $3.99.

Luffa gourds are in! Luffa is an easy and ornamental crop to grow in the South, thriving in our hot subtropical climate. Well known for producing exfoliating luffa "sponges", they are also edible raw or cooked if harvested under 6". Their flavor is akin to zucchini and makes a wonderful stir fry with soy sauce and pepper. High in vitamins, luffa is traditional in Asian cuisines and has well-studied anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties. Luffa vines are extremely productive, and can be grown in containers, but a trellis or arbor is necessary. Luffa is an especially fun vegetable to grow with children, who will be entertained by their fast growth and whimsical hanging fruit. Plus it helps to have an extra hand when peeling the dried gourds for their hard spongy interiors. The natural sponges are biodegradable, and make nice little gifts come the holidays. You will have plenty of luffa to share and oodles of seeds to grow next year! Just give it the space and luffa will grow! Local and organically grown, we have luffa starts in 4" pots for $4.99. 

'Pink Chintz' thyme is back in stock at the nursery for the first time this season. 'Pink Chintz' is an award winning variety of creeping thyme known for its profusion of tiny rose colored flowers during warm weather months. The flowers attract small pollinators and the foliage remains evergreen in mild winters. Like other thyme, 'Pink Chintz' needs full sun and excellent drainage. Perfect for experimenting as a short aromatic ground cover around stepping stones or other sunny spaces in the garden. It's great for sticking in containers too! Thyme benefits from adding garden lime. 

4" pots for $4.99

FERN SALE 5/17-5/18

Take advantage of this annual sale and create a lush fern bed in your shade garden! The only fern not included is maidenhair fern. We currently have a great selection of ferns:

Native:

-Southernwoods Fern

-Leatherwood Fern

-Dixie Wood Fern

-Southern Lady Fern

-Royal Fern

-Cinnamon Fern

-Christmas Fern

Non native: 

-Autumn Fern

-Japanese Painted Fern

-Korean Rock Fern

We’ve got a great selection of books for summer reading. Our library offers a variety of literature, ranging from simple field guides to in-depth identification of birds and plants. We also have some excellent cook books for the chef in your life!

Is your landscape declining due to shade? Why not redesign your shady spots and transform them into lush fern beds and cool garden nooks? We have many native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs that perform well and even bloom in the shade. Jody Walthall will go over these plants as well as designing, planting, and maintaining a shady garden. 

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED via PHONE ORDER or in person

There is a $5.00 fee; your payment holds your spot in the class.

Please call (850) 386-8882 to pre-register. Class size is limited to 25 people.

PARKING: Please use driveway next door to the nursery with 'Workshop Parking' sign seen from Centerville Rd.