{"id":7648,"date":"2020-12-02T15:07:02","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T20:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/?p=7648"},"modified":"2020-12-02T15:07:09","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T20:07:09","slug":"gardening-autumnal-reflections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/creekline-st-johns\/gardening-autumnal-reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"Gardening | Autumnal Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandale
mail@floridanewsline.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever we think about our weather, this year has been one which broke records, from the fires in the west to the hurricanes in the south and southeast, and extreme temperatures across the country. As always, we need to be diligent in taking care of our families, and our homes and gardens, and perhaps look to what the future may bring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In mid-November, many autumn blooming wildflowers are powering down and their seeds are ripening, but I still have a beautiful display of cardinal\u2019s guard or firespike (Odontonema strictum<\/em>) at the back of my yard. Although it is not a native, it is a stalwart of the fall garden, attracting plenty of butterflies, and probably hummingbirds bulking up for migration. Firebush (Hamelia patens<\/em>) fruit is ripening, while still producing a few more flower clusters. Both they and beautyberries (Callicarpa americana<\/em>) are attracting catbirds, mockingbirds, and several unidentifiable little ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My latest unexpected visitor was an opossum (https:\/\/edis.ifas.ufl.edu\/uw471). Not having seen one for a couple of decades, my first thought was \u201cthat\u2019s an enormous rat,\u201d but thankfully, looking harder I could see its distinctive tail and face markings. Since then I\u2019ve seen it visiting my open compost heap, and with care I was able to spend some time observing it rummaging there and generally hanging out. I\u2019ve spotted snakes lurking half hidden in sunny spots, one in the front and another in the backyard, both hanging in shrubbery. A few weeks ago I disturbed one basking in the sun on the front porch. As much as I hope they have enough habitat to make their homes here, I do feel a distinct shock \u2014 a purely instinctive reaction \u2014 when they take me by surprise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently discovered a University of Florida publication that neatly describes how to make our landscapes more wildlife friendly: https:\/\/edis.ifas.ufl.edu\/pdffiles\/UW\/UW17500.pdf<\/a>. While I understand the principles, it was a helpful reminder of what to strive for and why. The article summarizes the characteristics of a good variety of plants we can employ in our area to support native bees as well as honey bees, including when each of them flowers. It\u2019s important to aim to supply year-round resources and trees are perhaps overlooked. It won\u2019t be long before we see the denuded branches of our native redbud (Cercis canadensis<\/em>) putting out their rosy pink flower buds. The red maples (Acer rubrum<\/em>) that grace our damp, semi-wild areas will soon be flushing out, beginning with their deep red flowers. Both are really attractive to early-foraging honey bees. For a close up view of maple flowers, which are simply beautiful, see https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/y3nmct7o. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Neighborhood Gardener is a regular publication from the University of Florida aimed at home-owners as well as Master Gardener Volunteers. Coming out once a month, it has useful tips for what to plant and what you might encounter in your yard, according to the season. You can sign up to receive it by email: https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/newsletter\/<\/a>. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer, this publication is a window into what we are able to access to add to our personal knowledge, as well as what we are doing across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Close to home, our local Extension newsletter, A New Leaf \u2013 Lawn and Garden, comes out bi-monthly. The November-December issue can be found here: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/yxuhw2qq. For convenience, you can get the newsletter directly by contacting Sarah Freeman at sfreeman@coj.net<\/a> or by phone at (904) 255-7450. Just ask to be put on the email list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a good starting point for further reading: https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/y4f4wggy. I\u2019m as guilty as the next person for aimless internet surfing; at least with an informative starting point I can hope to learn something worthwhile! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay well \u2014 and Happy Holidays to all! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandalemail@floridanewsline.com Whatever we think about our weather, this year has been one which broke records, from the fires in the west to the hurricanes in the south and southeast, and extreme temperatures across the country. As always, we need to be diligent in taking care of our families, and our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4100,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5],"tags":[12],"class_list":{"0":"post-7648","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-creekline-st-johns","8":"category-mandarin","9":"tag-gardening"},"yoast_head":"\nGardening | Autumnal Reflections - Florida NewsLine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CreekLine, Mandarin NewsLineBy Master Gardener Volunteer Lesley Arrandalemail@floridanewsline.com Whatever we think about our weather, this year has been one which broke records,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/creekline-st-johns\/gardening-autumnal-reflections\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gardening | Autumnal Reflections - 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