September Gardening Calendar 2024

 

September Gardening Calendar 2024

Let’s get ready for September in preparation to cooler temperatures by fertilizing annuals, perennials, and roses one last time for winter preparation. Check flowerbeds for pooped-out perennials such as Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, and Shasta Daisy. Trim dead flower heads and brown leaves for fall. Apply a new layer of mulch. Mulch helps keep the plants warm in winter and cool during summer months.

Fertilize Chrysanthemums and Salvia with a liquid plant food. You will be rewarded with blooms later in the fall.

Chrysanthemums, Pansy, Viola, alyssum, and Snapdragons provide winter color through the spring and should be available by mid-September at garden centers. For a complete list of Fall Color Annuals Click Here For More Information. For spring blooms plant Bluebonnet and Poppy seeds now.

September is a good time to divide and cut back perennials. Check your daylilies, irises, and monkey grass while the weather is still warm.

Are you planning to bring your Tropical Hibiscus in this winter? Place in a sunny window. Before bringing indoors as a precaution spray plants with Safer Soap and follow package directions.

Preserve excess Basil leaves by pureeing in a blender with ¼ cup of olive oil or water. Pour the mixture in ice trays and use the cubes in your wintertime Italian dishes.

Spring-flowering bulbs should be on sale. Plan to plant in mid-October or when the weather cools to the 60’s or below.

Start planning where you will place your Tropical Plants that spent the sfall annualsummer outdoors. Trim back, if necessary and inspect for insects. Spray with appropriate insecticide, if needed. I prefer to use horticulture oil on my houseplants. Horticulture oils are environmentally friendly and will give your Houseplants a nice shine along with killing any insects. For more information on Houseplants and tropical plants click here.

Are you planning a fall vegetable garden? Cool weather vegetable starts such as Arugula, Beets, beans, carrots, radishes, spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, Broccoli, Collards, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Peppers, green onions, celery, cutting celery, Chinese cabbage, turnips, swiss chard, lettuce, cauliflower, bok chop, and Snow Peas are good choices. Don’t have room to plant a fall vegetable garden, but would like to grow your own vegetables? You can grow vegetables in a container. The container should be 16 inches or larger and for excellent success use a potting soil. For more information on Fall Vegetable Gardening Click Here.

The last week in September is the time to replace your mulch under your Roses and Red Tip Photinia to prevent diseases on next year’s leaves. Rake up any fallen leaves before replacing the mulch.

As the weather cools, this is a good time to plant shrubs and trees. When planting in the fall, it provides less stress on the plant and the roots start to get established in the ground. SuperThrive is the recommended concentrated solution of plant vitamins and hormones used to encourage plant and root growth and to revitalize stressed or dying plants. SuperThrive is not a fertilizer and can be mixed with your favorite liquid fertilizer. Dosage recommendation for transplanting or weekly use: ¼ of a teaspoon per gallon of water, or for larger projects 3 ounces to 100 gallons of water. To revitalize stressed or dying plants use: 1 ounce to five gallons of water and water the root zone or drip line. Then water every 3 – 5 days ¼ teaspoon to 1 gallon of water at the root zone or drip line. For bare root roses use: 1 ½ teaspoons per 5 gallons of water and soak for at least 30 minutes. Depending on your plant’s condition you may use weekly or monthly.

During drought or stressful conditions, it is wise to water established shrubs and trees. The recommended rate for trees is 15 gallons of water per each trunk diameter a week. Break up the amount of water to twice a week and use SuperThrive as recommended above.

I found another good additive to mix with water that will help get your new transplanted plants established. It is called Recharge from Real Growers. It’s a professional strength microbial superpack. Recharge helps and promotes stronger plants within 48 hours. I was skeptical, but I tried it and it really does work. That’s why I would recommend it when adding new plants to your landscape. You can mix Superthrive and Recharge together in water for excellent results.

Bermuda grass seed should be planted no later than September 15^th to ensure that the seeds germinate and become established before winter frost.

Brown Patch fungus is more apparent in the fall months. Prevention is the best cure by watering your lawn early in the morning before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.

Mid-September is the last feeding for your lawns. Fertilize your lawn with a winterizer weed and feed to prevent spring-time weeds.

My photography is on display on different websites including my own HibiscusAndMore.com. The other sites that have my photography are: www.fineartamerica.com/art/cheryl+meola When you need images as stock check out the links below.

Need floral stock photography? Click here. Need botanical stock photography? Click here.

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola   

https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/cheryl 

Cheryl has written several books on gardening available on Amazon Click on the links to view. Landscape Gardening, Butterfly Gardening, and Houseplants.

Happy Gardening. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2023. Certified Texas Nursery Professional #1282

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated or copied.

 

June Gardening Calendar 2024

June Gardening Calendar

June is the time of year to trim your Big Leaf Hydrangea, Oak Leaf Hydrangea, and Gardenia after blooming. After trimming, use an Azalea and Hydrangea fertilizer and add

a new layer of mulch for the summer and fall months. The flower buds are set in the fall months for summer months blooming.

Your cool season vegetables have already started to bolt (bloom), which alerts the gardener the season is over for cool season vegetables. You can either pull out the vegetables or till them into the soil to enrich and add nutrients to the soil.

We can start thinking about planting winter squash, pumpkins, gourds, okra, and southern peas.

There is still time to plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and watermelons.

It is always a good idea to monitor your garden for insects and diseases. Early detection is the key. When you are uncertain of the insect or disease, take a sample to your local garden center or nursery.

Fertilize tomatoes every two weeks with a calcium enriched fertilizer. The calcium will be listed on the label.

In June, there are numerous perennials in stock at your local garden center. A perennial is defined as a plant lasting more than two years. Asclepias (milkweed) is one great perennial that is gaining popularity. Milkweed is the host and nectar plant of the Monarch Butterfly. Last year the Monarch Butterfly was put on the endangered species list. As gardeners we can start incorporating Milkweed (Asclepias) into our gardens. Asclepias do extremely wonderful in containers for the apartment gardeners. We have to act now and quickly. Buy your plants or seeds now. The Monarchs need our help. For more information on Butterfly Gardening, Cheryl has written Gardening for the Butterflies available on Amazon. Click Here. Click Here.

Deadhead perennials to get a second flush of blooms.

Color annuals and Tropicals are blooming brightly at your local garden center. Start thinking about starting your container gardens and color bowls to place around your deck, patio, or outdoor living area. Tropicals know how to beat the heat of summer and will bloom continuously till first frost.

Hibiscus and More offers fine art prints of Cheryl Meola’s plant photography. Fine Art Prints. Fine Art Prints.

Cheryl Meola’s Plant Photography Merchandise. Click Here.

Floral & Foliage Stock Photography.  Stock Photography.

Botanical & Seasonal Stock Photography. Stock Photography.

Sunday, June 16^th is Father’s Day send something special from Hibiscus and More. Gardening Books are great and make excellent Father’s Day Gifts to give for gardening Dad’s. Cheryl has written books on General Gardening Click Here, and Houseplants Click Here.

May Gardening Calendar 2024

Deadhead spring bulbs after flowering. Let the foliage die back naturally. The nutrients in the foliage gets stored in the bulb for next year’s nutrients and blooms.

Stay ahead of your weeding chores. The month of May is when weeds start showing their ugly heads. I recommend using a Pre-Emergent Weed Control. Just make sure it is recommended safe to use around trees, shrubs, and perennials. Some Pre-Emergent’s are also recommended to use around your vegetable garden. Always read the label to see where you can use a pre-emergent. The way a pre-emergent works is by preventing the weed seeds from germinating. Before applying a pre-emergent pull all existing weeds by the roots because a pre-emergent will not kill existing weeds. Use a weed-N-Feed for your lawns. Check the label to make sure you can use the product on your lawn variety.

Fertilize trees and shrubs. After fertilizing apply a fresh layer of mulch. Applying mulch to your beds helps to keep the roots cool in the spring–summer months and warm in the fall-winter months.

As the weather gets warmer your cool-season vegetables will start to bolt-flower. Start harvesting your last crop and compost. Get the planting bed ready for the spring -summer veggies and herbs.

It is recommended to check your irrigation each year. It boggles the mind when you turn on your irrigation in the spring and an irrigation head is pointing in the wrong direction. When that head was working perfectly last year and pointing in the right direction.

Prune ornamental grasses and clean perennial flowers before new growth starts in the spring.

Prune Azaleas, forsythias, hydrangeas, and gardenias after blooming. You can fertilize Azaleas monthly until the end of August. Be on the lookout for lace bugs on your Azaleas. The bugs are hard to see, but the damage is not. The damage looks like very small white dots on the leaves where the bugs sucked out the chlorophyll. Spray with appropriate insecticide.

It is warm enough to bring the houseplants out that you over wintered outdoors. Place the plants in shade to begin with and slowly move the plants to a sunnier location, if required by the plant. Some tropicals will grow in full sun.

Mother's Day is Sunday May 12th this year. Hibiscusandmore.com features fine art prints of tropical plants for Mother's Day. Click Here Fine Art Prints.

Hibiscusandmore.com has new products just in time for the spring -summer months. We offer personized greeting cards. Click Here to view. Greeting Cards.

Need more gardening advice? Follow our BlogSpot for current sales, daily specials, and sound gardening advice. Simply click on Join This Site Link under Followers. Sign Up Is Free.

Need floral stock photography? Click here. Need botanical stock photography? Click here

For more information on Landscape gardening   

Information on Butterfly Gardening and Design

Purify your home by Growing Houseplants in your home or office

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated or copied.

 

 

 

 

Cheryl Ann Meola Tropical Botanicals and Nature Stock Photography

          Cheryl Ann Meola Tropical Botanicals and Nature Stock Photography 

An avid horticulturist and gardener, Cheryl Ann Meola gained invaluable experience in the eighteen years she worked within the plant nursery industry. Her career began with Cornelius nursery in Houston, Texas where she took classes to become a Texas Certified Nursery Professional. Upon completion of the courses, she was promoted to bedding plant supervisor.

In 1989, she received her Associate in Arts degree in Landscape Architecture from Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC). During this time, she worked for five years at MDCC in their Landscape Technology Nursery, a teaching nursery.

While at the nursery, she photographed the plants, and her plant photography was later used as an instructional tool for Plant Identification students. The photo guide of native and tropical flora inspired the idea to write Southeast Style Gardening. While writing Southeast Style Gardening she became an estate gardener at Deeridge Farms, and was responsible for growing organic vegetables, herbs, tropical fruits, ornamentals, tropicals, and orchids. The ornamentals, tropicals, and orchids were utilized in the landscape, and the fresh edibles were enjoyed by the owners. She enjoyed all the praise!

Cheryl realized while writing Southeast Style Gardening that she could use the same writing format to author other gardening books. After her first book was finished, she began writing a book about Butterfly Gardening as she had already done extensive research into butterfly gardening to design a butterfly garden for a friend. Thus, Gardening for the Butterflies: Designing and Creating a Butterfly-Friendly Landscape was written. The book will allow the reader to plan and plant a butterfly garden. Basic butterfly gardening topics include: the life cycle of the butterfly, an introduction to butterfly gardening, planning and planting your garden, gardening tips and guidelines, and planning and planting butterfly container gardens, watering, and fertilizers to have a beautiful garden. To help in the design process the book includes a butterfly design plan and key to where the plants go, suggested plants for each zone 3-11, and a master list of nectar and larval food plants for zones 3-11 for the design key to help in the design process.

After Gardening for the Butterflies, Cheryl began writing about houseplants and the wonderful health and air purifying benefits houseplants give their owners. Thus, Grow Fresh Air was written. All books can be purchased on Amazon on the links provided in each section the book is mentioned. All Photography in her books is by Cheryl Ann Meola. All images Cheryl needed for the three books became an intensive data base, which got her to have another idea about using her images, Stock Photography.

Cheryl Ann Meola’s stock portfolio specializes in tropical botanicals and Nature photography. Each image has the current botanical, scientific, and common names. Cheryl just added new images to her stock photography portfolio. The new images are Cocos nucifera - Coconut Palm, Cyrtomium falcatum - Holly Fern, Magnolia grandiflora - Southern Magnolia, Platycodon grandiflorus - Balloon Flower, Coreopsis lanceolata - Lance-leaved Coreopsis. This is just an example of what has been uploaded this week. Check back weekly because images are being uploaded daily. You can search Cheryl’s portfolio by common or botanical name. The images are royalty-free images.

Need floral stock photography? Click here. Need botanical stock photography? Click here

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated or copied.

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola   

https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/cheryl 

Coconut Tree

 

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day Sale & April Newsletter

Mother’s Day Sale & April Newsletter

Hibiscus and More would like to honor all the gardening mother’s that have visited the web site throughout the years. We would like to thank each and every visitor with my Mother’s Day sale. This year’s Mother’s Day Sale is dedicated to my mother, June Meola, who taught me the passion and love of gardening. My mother is one of the reasons we started the web site: Hibiscus and More because I wanted to share my passion in gardening and growing plants to a larger audience, the World Wide Web. The goal of Hibiscus and More is to provide honest and up to date gardening advice, and to provide high quality plants and gardening merchandise at a reasonable price.

Spring Chores For April and May:

We have had an unusual hard, cold winter this year, and spring is a little late. We have had a few reports that numerous plants are about a month behind in their usual bloom date. Gardening friends in GA informs us that as of 3-21-2010 the Daffodils and Forsythias are just starting out, and only the Bradford Pears with flowers. I lived in GA for 10 years and my mother’s Daffodils always bloomed in early February.

Plant: Spring is one of the best times to look for trees, shrubs, and roses. Numerous flowering shrubs and trees are in bud or full bloom in your area, and certain species of plants are only offered during spring.

Roses: Your roses should be trimmed between February 12 – 20; if you have not pruned your hybrid tea roses it is not too late to trim them now. For more information on trimming, caring, and fertilizing your roses click on my blog.

Vegetable Gardening: Garden center retailers are still reporting skyrocketing sales for vegetable starts and seeds this year versus last year’s sales. Start planning and planting your vegetable garden now to reap the rewards of homegrown vegetables, if you are thinking about having a vegetable garden this year, today is the time to start. Vegetables can also, be planted in large containers or raised planter beds. Put on your gardening gloves and reap the rewards and benefits of a spring vegetable garden. According to gardening experts, the second week in April is the time to start planting: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Beans, Corn, Squash, and Cucumbers. For more information on vegetable gardening click on my blog.

Color Annuals: April or May is the month to start thinking about replacing your cool weather color annuals with spring and summer annuals. Here are a few of my favorites: Caladiums, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, Dahlberg Daisy, Dusty Miller, Gazania, Geranium, Gerbera Daisy, Ivy Geranium, Lantana, Marigolds, Mexican Sunflower, Moss Rose, Periwinkle, Petunia, Primrose, Purslane, Salvia, Snapdragons, Verbena, Wax Begonia, and Zinnia. All of the annuals mentioned can be planted in soil or in containers.

Bulbs: This year our spring bulbs maybe a little late because of our unusual cold winter, but if you have spring bulbs that are still blooming or starting to bloom you may want to enjoy a few of the flowers as fresh cuts indoors. On all perennial bulbs, let the foliage die back naturally, as the foliage dies the bulb transports the nutrients from the foliage to the bulb and will use the nutrients from the foliage and stores these nutrients to the bulb for next year’s growth and flowers. As the foliage dies, it may look untidy and displeasing. To alleviate this annoyance, you can pull up the foliage in a bunch and then roll the foliage down as you would a paper bag, and then tie the rolled-up foliage with a rubber band.

Shrubs: Trim your spring flowering shrubs after they finish blooming and fertilize with the appropriate plant food.

Azaleas: Once your azaleas finish blooming trim back to shape. Azaleas bloom on last year’s growth so it is important to trim your Azaleas no later than the middle of June. Azalea’s set their blooms during the fall months, and this is one reason to trim your Azaleas during the time frame that is provided. After pruning your Azaleas, you need to fertilize them with an Azalea plant food and also add a new layer of mulch. Instead of throwing your spent coffee or tea grounds away your Azaleas will benefit from sprinkling the grounds around your Azalea bushes, and any acid loving plant such as Ferns, Tropicals, Junipers, Boxwoods, Camellias, Rhododendrons, and Hollies.

Hibiscus Care: Time to Go Outdoors. Once the weather warms up in your area, to 40 - 50 degrees, you can start acclimatizing your Hibiscus by placing it in the shade outdoors and then slowly move the plant to partial shade and finally to full sun. With the unusual weather we have been experiencing this spring bring your prized Hibiscus plant back indoors if you get freeze warnings. Now would be a good time to fertilize and prune your Hibiscus. Follow the recommended fertilizer rates listed on the label. Pruning encourages a bushier plant. 

Houseplants: April is the time to move your houseplants outdoors and place them in an area that is full shade. The temperatures should be around 45-50 degrees at night before moving them outdoors. After a few weeks you can move them to an area that receives filtered shade, in other words, morning light, afternoon shade. This is also, the time to check for any bugs on your plant. Be sure to check underneath the leaves, and if you see those pesky critters on your prized houseplants spray with an insecticidal soap or horticulture oil.

Hibiscus and More’s Mother Day Sale Is To Honor Mother’s Around The World and we are Offering A Wonderful Sale Of Gardening Themed Products. To insure on time delivery by Mother’s Day all purchases should be ordered no later than April 25.  

Give the gift of flowers that will last forever floral fine art prints. Do you see a print that is sold out? Are you looking for a flower or foliage print not listed? Send an email to Cheryl@hibiscusandmore.com to order.

Happy Mother’s Day From Hibiscus And More. ©Cheryl Meola 2022.

 

New products from Hibiscus and More

 Hello Bloggers,

My website Hibiscus and More just recently received an upgrade. Hibiscus and More is expanding their product line to include more than plants.

The upgrade will include: Fine Art Prints, Photo Note Cards, Gardening Books, Jigsaw Puzzles, Place Mats, Tote Bags, Stock Photography.

Fine Art Prints. Click here. Fine Art Prints

Photo Note Cards. Click here. Photo Greeting Cards

General Gardening Book. Click here. Gardening Book

Butterfly Gardening Book. Click here. Butterfly Gardening

Table Placemats. Click Here. Dinner Place Mats

Canvas Tote Bags. Click here. Tote Bags

Need Stock Photography? Click here. Stock Photography

Alex can be purchased in prints, cards, tote bags, and more.

Spring has arrived. To get ready for spring be sure to read the March Gardening calendar.

Butterfly Gardening

An Introduction to Butterfly Gardening

In recent years, the natural habitat of the butterfly has gradually diminished due to the rapid growth of modern cities and suburbs. In an effort to increase the butterfly population within suburbia, utilization of butterfly gardens by homeowners introduces a small haven for the butterfly within today’s cities. In addition, the garden provides the homeowner with endless entertainment; and the sights, sounds and fragrances of the garden offer the owner peace and contentment as well as a feast for the senses.

Attracting butterflies to your garden is an art. Nutrition for the butterflies, how to attract butterflies year-round, deterrents and preferences all must be taken into consideration. An abundance of nectar rich flowers, plenty of food source plants, rocks for sunning and a water source all need to be provided. The more nectar and food source plants that you plant, the more butterflies your garden will attract.

To bring numerous butterflies to your garden you need to plan for masses and clumps of color perennials and annuals. Both perennials and annuals should be planted, but perennials are more useful since they bloom year-round, thus attracting butterflies throughout the year. The blooming periods of the annuals should be staggered also in order to attract butterflies year-round. To attract numerous and different species of butterflies try to plant a selection of native and non-native plants to your garden.

Shade and wind are deterrents to butterflies and will repel them from the garden. To counteract this, provide a sunny location (they need to be able to warm their wings); and place the taller plants in back to create a windscreen. Butterflies are most active between 11 AM through 3 PM; thus, a location should be selected that will provide sun during this time period.

Flower shape is more important than flower color in regards to attracting butterflies to feed, and old-fashioned flowers that retain scent and nectar are the best for attracting the adults. Butterflies prefer single flowers with tubular shape and upright blooms for feeding, and they also prefer flowers with bright colors and a distinct scent, with red and yellow being their favored colors.

Aspects to consider when selecting your butterfly plants are: The favorite butterfly colors are warm colors: red, orange, yellow; the flowers should have a sweet odor and a platform to land-on. No butterfly garden is complete without these must have butterfly garden nectar (N) and food (F) plants: Achillea millefolium – Yarrow (F), Anethum graveolens – Dill (F), Asclepias curassavica – Scarlet Milkweed (N & F), Buddleia davidii – Butterfly Bush (N), Helianthus annuus – Sunflower (F), Heliotropium spp. – Heliotrope (N), Impatiens spp. (N) (red & orange colors), Lantana spp. – Lantana (N), Menta spp. – Mint (N & F), Monardella odoratissima – Mountain Mint (N & F), Penta spp. – Pentas (N), Petroselinum crispum – Parsley (F), Salvia spp. – Salvia (N), Stachytarpheta jamaicensis – Porterweed (N), Tagetes spp. – Marigolds (N & F), Tagetes lucida – Mexican Marigold Mint (N & F), Verbena spp. – Verbena (N), Zinnia spp. – Zinnias (N). These simple plants are the tried and true to butterfly gardening and will attract butterflies to your garden.

Planning the Garden

Survey the area of where you are planning to place the garden. The area should have full sun from 11 AM to 3 PM. Butterflies are most active during this time frame and you want to entice them to your garden. The plants can be purchased at local garden centers, Home Depot, and Lowe’s in your area, usually Home Depot and Lowe’s has a nice selection of butterfly garden plants. Plant the trees first, the shrubs second, the annuals and perennials last. The annuals and perennials are your main attractors for nectar and larval plants and will also act as filler plants too.

Gardening Tips and Guide Lines

• Position the plants three feet away from the foundation of the house by doing this will give the homeowner room for maintenance.

• Plant shrubs, annuals, and perennials in a zigzag arrangement °◦°◦°◦°◦°.

• Consult the recommendations for spacing requirements on the individual plant information tag.

• Odd numbers mimics nature, thus, always plant in odd numbers.

• Provide a mixture of spring, summer, and fall blooming species that are both annuals and perennials.

• Large-leaf shrubs and trees provide shelter and hiding places for the butterflies during rainstorms.

• Butterflies require rocks for sunning, and a water source. A terra cotta saucer can provide water and small rocks can be placed in the saucer for sunning.

• When planning your butterfly garden, butterflies are attracted to masses of color so group 7-11 plants together of the same color. Then group 7-11 plants that strongly contrast or compliment the color.

• The greater the variety of nectar plants and larval host (food plants) provided, the more variety of butterfly species will be attracted to your garden. After planting your butterfly garden and as the year’s progress you will see more and different varieties of butterflies. I designed my sister’s butterfly garden in Texas, and each year she reported more butterflies and different species of butterflies.

Did You Know Hibiscus Plants are a Nectar Plant for Butterflies? Click Here to Order Your Hibiscus Plants for Your Butterfly Garden.

Let Hibiscus and More Custom Design Your Butterfly Garden for Your USDA Planting Zone. Click Here to Order Your Custom Butterfly Garden Design.

Take Advantage of our 25% Off Coupon on all Orders $50.00 or More. Hurry the Coupon Expires June 30, 2009. Use Redemption Code: Newsletter at CheckOut.

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. Scroll over the picture to view the plant name and all pictures in the newsletter are for butterfly gardening.