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Do we go through some weather extremes or what?  Rain, no rain, cold, hot etc.  The past few weeks with no rain have reminded me of some really tough drought tolerant plants.

Gaura is a plant that I have seen growing on the roadside at Alligator Point, talk about dry.  Once established this plant will return for many years, sometimes by seed.  A very graceful plant that moves with the slightest breeze.  Plant in full sun, and once established, back off of the water.  I have this plant planted in a clay pot in full sun and the hottest part of my yard.  It has been there for almost three years.  I love it! 

Texas Sage can provide a silver or blue foliage that many gardeners covet.  Plant Texas sage in full blazing sun.  Not only is the foliage a winner the lavender blooms last for about 2 months.  Great plant to install with a few daylilies next to your mailbox. 

Aastache is available in several colors.  This plant has a wonderful clean fragrance and will return year after year.  Agastache must be planted in full sun and well draining soil. Great for humming birds and butterfly.  This plant seems fragile but is very resilient.  

Vitex was one of the first plants I planted in front of the Martin.  Once rooted in this plant can withstand lack of water for weeks.  This is a large shrub or tree, so give it some room.  Perfect for the edge of your lawn. 

These are just a few that require little water.  There are many others.  Remember plants that are drought tolerant do require initial watering so the roots will take hold.  Come check out these and other drought tolerant selections.

Today was maintenance day for the front of the nursery.  The winter annuals are beginning to fade; the pansy and viola.  Those annuals provided a lot of color in front of the nursery for 6 months.   Now in front there are some of my favorite perennials and shrubs beginning to do their thing.  The Limelight hydrangea has completely leafed out and will soon be covered with flower buds.  This has become one of my favorite plants to suggest to people to plant in full sun.  I know that everyone who plants one will be rewarded with blooms all summer and well into fall.  The white blooms are long-lasting.  If deadheaded or pruned it will produce another set of flowers.  The flowers dry beautifully on the plant in late fall.  I cannot say enough about this plant.  Another is the trailing plant Thunbergia battescombei.  I have this plant in my garden at home as well as in front of the nursery.  It is always the first plant to emerge from winter dormancy and the first to bloom.  It is covered with color all summer, fall and until the coldest days of winter.  Deep purple flowers with a contrasting yellow center and a low growing height of less than 2 foot make this plant useable in so many areas of the landscape.    Ok, the last to mention is Rudbeckia herbstone.  This is one reliable plant, unlike my GE appliances.  This clear yellow coneflower blooms 2 to 3 foot above super hardy dark green foliage that is evergreen.  These three plants are ones that will fit into any landscape and will reward you for years to come.

Limelight hydrangea

Thunbergia battescombei

Rudbeckia herbstone

When I was going to college and working at Tallahassee Nurseries I lived in a small duplex in downtown Tallahassee.  I remember springs at the nursery being super busy, exciting and tiring all at the same time.  I also remember thinking all day about what gardening task I was going to do when I got home.  Some things never change.  I do not think there is a plant that I would not take home from the Martin.  However, I know the limits of my gardening space.  My back yard is shaded with the canopy of 5 live oaks.  Today I brought home Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’, Variegated Alpinia Ginger, and ‘Olympia White’ Begonias.  The Ajuga is  the cutest little ground cover.  It flowers in the spring with purple saliva like blooms and hugs the ground with purplish foliage year round.  The ‘Olympia White’ Begonia is an annual begonia that likes to stay on the dry side.  Its white flowers show well in my shady back yard.  The Ginger I planted in a pot that is nestled in an evergreen planting of Creeping Yew.  The gold and green foliage will be a great contrast to the yew.   Need some Ideas.  Bring in a “cell phone”  photo of your space.  We can guide you.

I have just returned from a trip from Fort Lauderdale to escape the cloudy and cold days we have been having .  Many of the other visitors there were escaping terrible weather conditions that we will never see here.  While I was there I of course scoped out all of the landscapes. Some good , others not so good.  The good ones are what so many customers ask for when they come to the garden center, a tropical look.  Unfortunately many of the palms and other foliage plants that create that look will not grow in our climate.   However we are able to grow several cold hardy palms (my version of cold hardy means no covering) and many evergreen and perennial plants that when planned well can create a lush tropical took.   A landscape design with an emphasis on a tropical look is the key.