Adding Southern Charm to Your Home
Florida is filled with many inviting homes, but none combine classic Southern architecture with a modern twist better than this residence on the outskirts of Gainesville.
A splash of color is injected into a covered breezeway and suddenly a garden of hanging baskets becomes the new centerpiece for the transformation of this classic Gainesville estate. Stately pillars give way to a butterfly garden lined with boxwood edging and the bright greens of Creeping Jenny groundcover.
Romantic Hanging Container Gardens — Try mixing various types of blooming plants with trailing foliage plants and you’ll achieve a romantic feel. A good potting soil mix with moisture control additives and the largest containers you can find will keep your hanging baskets from drying out.
Bird Baths — Create an intimate setting with a bird bath as a focal point, surrounded by native irises and boxwood edging.
Dragon Wing Begonias are vigorous growers that make dependable patio container plants in the shade. More tolerant of humid heat than most any other begonia, this tropical beauty should be treated like an annual, though sometimes cutting them back will rejuvenate them for a second year of growth and bloom.
Caladiums are colorful trouble-free plants that provide summer long beauty. With over a hundred varieties to choose from, these plants offer a bold splash of color to any shady spot in your garden or back yard, and can be planted from bulbs or plants
Jon George is the owner of Cottage Gardens, Inc., a Gainesville-based landscape design and installation firm. Jon has been gardening in North Central Florida for more than 30 years. You may contact his staff at www.TheCottageGardener.com or at [email protected].
