New Houseplant Book - Grow Fresh Air by Your Favorite Blogger

 Hi Everyone,

I just finished my latest book on Houseplants and I am super excited to share the link to the book on Amazon. 

Grow Fresh Air

Tell me what you think in the comments.

Happy Gardening.

June Gardening Calendar

 

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.

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.

Tomatoes

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 you plants or seeds now. The Monarchs need our help. 

Asclepias - Milkweed

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 be the heat of summer and will bloom continuously till first frost.

Hibiscus and More offers fine art prints of her plant photography. Fine Art Prints.

Floral & Foliage Stock Photography. Stock Photography.

Botanical & Seasonal Stock Photography. Stock Photography.

Sunday, June 18^th is Father’s Day send something special from Hibiscus and More.

May Gardening Calendar

 

May Gardening Calendar

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.

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. So 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. 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.

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 lacebugs 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.

Hibiscusandmore.com features fine art prints of tropical plants. Click Here Fine Art Prints.

Hibiscusandmore.com has new products just in time for the spring -summer months. We have live plants. Click here for live plants.

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

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.

Gardening for the Butterflies can be purchased at www.hibicusandmore.com under books. Enjoy.

     

Live Plants are Back to Hibiscus and More

 

Live Plants are Back

Hibiscus and More is pleased to welcome back Live Plants to their website. The website will be growing houseplants, herbs and butterfly attractant and pollinator friendly plants. This month will be featuring Mountain Mint, Red Anthurium, and Jacob Cline Beebalm.

Pycnanthemum muticum - Short-toothed Mountain Mint. Mountain mint is a native perennial, butterfly attractant plant. Hardiness zones: 4-9. Height: 2-3 feet. Full sun to partial shade. Blooms in summer and will spread by runners. Mountain Mint comes in a 3-inch, eco-friendly, biodegradable pot that is ready to be transplanted in your favorite container or in the garden.

Anthurium andraeanum - Flamingo Flower, Red Anthurium. Red Anthurium needs bright light, is easy to care for, and reaches a height of 1' - 2'. Blooms red flowers from spring to fall. Red Anthurium comes in a 3-inch, eco-friendly, biodegradable pot that is ready to be transplanted in your favorite container.

Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’ - Bee Balm. Jacob Cline Bee Balm is a butterfly and hummingbird attractant plant. Hardiness zones: 4-9. Height: 3-4 feet. Full sun to partial shade. Red flowers from late spring – fall. Jacob Cline comes in a 3-inch, eco-friendly, biodegradable pot that is ready to be transplanted in your favorite container or in the garden.

Check out the plants on the link here. Live Plants

Mother’s Day is Sunday May 14, and I like to wish all the mother’s around the world a very Happy Mother’s Day.

 

Jacob Cline Beebalm

 

 

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.

 

April Gardening Calendar 2023

                April Gardening Calendar

Start planning for Spring. April is the perfect month to start planning your garden for the current year. As a refresher for last year’s thoughts, ideas or plants you were thinking about purchasing, dust off your gardening journal to see what changes or additions you wanted to make this year. A garden is always evolving.

Irrigation: In zones where your irrigation was turned off for the winter. Irrigation should be checked each year in spring. Turn on the irrigation to make sure the irrigation heads are working properly. Check for leaks, cracked heads, and spray direction. Some issues you may be able to fix yourself, if not call an irrigation specialist.

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

Vegetable Gardening: Till the soil when you have a designated area for vegetables in your garden. This preventative measure helps to eliminate weeds, insects, and nematodes. Don’t have room for a vegetable garden, but would like to grow your own vegetables? All vegetables can be grown in large planters. The recommended size for vegetables is 16 inches or larger. In fact, that’s how I grow my vegetables each season. 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. Put on your gardening gloves and reap the rewards and benefits of a spring vegetable garden. For more information on Spring Vegetable Gardening Click Here.

Color Annuals: April 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: If you have spring bulbs that are still blooming 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 the nutrients to the bulb for next year’s growth and flowers. As the foliage dies and 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.

Prune Pampas Grass and other ornamental grasses down to about 12 to 24 inches. Prune Lantana and Cannas to about 6 to 10 inches. Shape Crepe Myrtles and Altheas and remove old seed heads. Do not hat rack the Crepe Myrtles. Crepe Myrtles do better without be trim to about 4 – 6 feet above the ground.

Decorate Your Patio With Tropical Color: Now is the time to start thinking about spring-cleaning your patio and your patio furniture. After sprucing up your patio you may want to redecorate the patio for summer fun with tropical plants that really know how to beat summer heat. Tropical plants will bloom repeatedly throughout the summer until first frost. Here are a few of my tropical color favorites: Allamanda, Bougainvillea, Copper Plant, Hibiscus, Mandevilla, Pentas, and Shrimp Plant. Hibiscusandmore.com features fine art prints of tropical plants. Click Here Fine Art Prints.

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

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   

Cheryl Ann Meola photos, images, assets | Adobe Stock

©Cheryl Ann Meola

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.