Clearly this house will soon be gone and no one visiting will miss its presence but it served as a modest shelter to someone and the buildings that will replace will use many more resources then the former occupants of this one ever used.

This is the Mango tree and the landscape surrounding the sharecropper's home.

This is an old Florida home that may have belonged to farmhands. It is now surrounded by forest and no sign of any husbandry except for a large Mango tree out of the picture. The tree is about 50' tall. The home still has furniture inside.

Letter: It's time for performance accountability - Central Penn Business Journal

Letter: It's time for performance accountability - Central Penn Business Journal

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Old Florida

My impression of what is left of old Florida but still suburbia. Note the modest footprint of the house and driveway. Nothing gaudy or self indulgent. The roofline of the home is completely in line with the lowest branches of this tree. As the home has aged it has become dated but the tree has aged to compliment the building. The driveway undoubtedly impacted the rootzone of the tree but except for some branch die-back, damage is not readily apparent.

Bromeliads

Bromeliads. I don't know exactly what type this one is but it has thick serrated leaves that feel like they can cut you if you aren't cautious when you stick your hands in to free them of excess leaf litter. I planted these under an oak tree. They make a great groundcover for a shady spot where many other plants refuse to grow. Keep the cup wet but don't drown the plant. This particular bromeliad doesn't send up a shoot but has a cup that fills with tiny lavender blooms. I believe it is planted for its colorful red tipped foliage.

Methuselah

With a diameter of 17.5' and a height of 118' at 3500 years old this cypress tree is an incredible sight. It and another large cypress are located in an unremarkable park in Longwood Florida, Big Tree Park. Development and industry have spared this tree the fate of many other trees which used to dominate the Florida landscape. If you live in Florida or are visiting Orlando this tree is worth seeing while it is still standing.

Of the 47 million cubic feet of cypress wood harvested annually in Florida, 47 percent is chipped into inexpensive landscape mulch. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr008

Environmental Art

No fertilizer, no irrigation, low maintenance, pest resistant, u.v. resistant, non-invasive.
Prior to this I have only seen reusable materials employed as yard art in the Third world. What other opportunities could there be for our cast off containers?

Why do we need codes when we have such creative individuals and building supply stores?
Is it possible codes only curb what creativity people would otherwise exercise in their absense?

What is wrong with this picture? Why don't we see this in all parking lots? Does everyone else have P.O. boxes? Is that a landscape island? So sad, if there weren't three keeping each other company I don't think I could look at this and not cry.

Bad bad bad

This is another tree that was improperly installed. Again, it most likely didn't need to be staked. Why is it staked like a palm though?! I have not seen this type of detail for a tree other than a palm. Since trees grow outward this tree was certainly doomed.

Tree Topping

Some arborists refer to this as shearing, rounding or topping. In many counties and cities this practice is prohibited by ordinance yet a quick review of the yellow pages will probably find at least one tree service advertising this as a service it specializes in providing its customers.

It is important that the customers become educated that this practice is not healthy for the trees and that it is creating a hazard and maintainance problem at best. It will not quickly kill the tree but contribute to the mortality spiral and destroy any structure that will allow the tree to become a mature speciman that we recognize as a Live oak.

Tree staking

Many landscapers continue to stake trees that may have survived had they not been staked.

In this photo it is difficult to tell what stability the webbing is giving the tree but it is clear that the tree has become girdled and its fate will be to endure. Note the aluminum splint likely shoved into the rootball.

Podocarpus

Podocarpus macrophylla, this is great example of a vegetative screen. The podocarpus plant takes easily to being sculpted and it is salt tolerant, making it a great coastal plant. Frequently this is the choice of landscape architects trying to screen utility areas in confined spaces.

Heritage Tree Preservation

This Live oak was preserved on the site of this Habitat for Humanity home. A site visit prior to construction identified the conflict of the proposed home site location and the location of the existing heritage tree. Under Charlotte County Code trees that are qualified as heritage trees are required to be preserved regardless of location. Fortunately on this site the owner was committed to saving the tree; the tree was barricaded throughout the construction process to protect its critical root zone from compaction and the house was relocated further back to the property's rear setback. This creates some heterogeneity of the buildings facing the street and reduces phenomena of one house looking into the windows of the next.

Instead of pouring a monolithic slab of concrete over the roots of the tree, the builder also included a series of two inch slots across the width of the driveway every 8', which are filled with coarse aggregate and allow air and water to drain to the root zone of the tree.

As you can see the new residents of this home value the shade of the tree and use to keep there vehicles cool. The County arborist and the new owners discussed creating a deep mulch area, away from the trunk of the tree, on which to park the cars and distribute the weight of the vehicles over a large area so as not to compact the roots of the tree and lose it.

Mangrove Pruning

These Mangroves in the foreground were pruned illegally, without a permit. They used to be the same height as the ones in the background. Someone thought that they could have a much better waterfront view of Charlotte Harbor if they cut the trees to a height of six feet.

If you ever see anyone clearing Mangrove trees like this they are supposed to have a permit displayed at the site, unless they qualify for an exemption (www.dep.state.fl.us./water/wetlands/mangroves/). If you suspect illegal activity, you can report the location of the activity to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and they will initiate an investigation.

Mangroves are an important component in the Coastal ecosystem. These were Red Mangroves and they do not tolerate being trimmed off the top. A Professional Mangrove Trimmer would trim Red Mangroves from below to provide a view under the canopy of the Mangroves and in a site that has a width of more than 50' from the most leeward trunk to the most waterward trunk a general permit from the FDEP would be required.

Croton 'mamey'

Codiaeum variegatum, Croton 'Mamey'

This is a very colorful plant that is used more for its foliage than its bloom. It may tend to be on the leggy side as it matures so I wouldn't encourage using it as a screen hedge but it makes a great background plant when something can be planted in front of it that will stay low and fill in the bottom of the plant.

It looks especially striking when it catches late afternoon sun and seems to light up. Expect this variety to get to be about 5' tall.

In Southwest Florida tempertures haven't dipped low enough to do any permanent damage to this plant.

For maximum visual effect plant in a mass around 24" o.c.

Orange Bird of Paradise

Strelitzia reginae, Orange Bird of Paradise

Although absent from this photo, this plant is typically chosen for its dramatic orange bloom that gives it an exotic flair. I like it more for its light green foliage which can provide a pleasing contrast when it is surrounded by low growing ground cover. It is a tidy, low maintenance plant that is inexpensive and can be propagated through division of plant clumps.

It does like moist conditions and will thrive when it isn't subject to drought conditions. Potted plants dry out quickly so if watering regularly is difficult put the plant in the ground where it can get by on less water than in the pot.

If attractive foliage is desired plant in filtered sunlight location. If more blooms are your goal and foliage is not as important plant in full sun.

Fertilize monthly for best results.

Don't confuse this Bird with the Giant Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia nicolai, unless you have lots of space and want white blooms instead of orange blooms.

Purple Porterweed

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Purple Porterweed

There is a non-native Category II invasive, Nettleleaf vervain (Stachytarpheta urticifolia) that is commonly misrepresented as native but is native to tropical Asia. They are both butterfly attractants. The non-native plant has narrower flower spikes, more finely toothed leaf margins that point out instead of up, a dark green quilted leaf surface on top and grows up to 5' tall. The native version has plumper flower spikes, coarsely toothed leaf margin that has teeth pointing up and only grows to be a 10" tall mound not including the flower spikes.

This plant will typically bloom year round in South Florida. This winter mine pretty much defoliated but came back strong after I cut back all of the dead wood and the summer rains began. It is a low maintenance plant that does well with little water. It may need to be watered during extended periods of drought. Most plants last 3-4 years but will self sow and produce seedlings. Cuttings are also an easy propogation alternative.

Seagrape

Cocoloba Uvifera, Seagrape

Great coastal plant for a hedge or tree.

• Very salt and drought tolerant
• Nice fall color
• Edible fruit
• Slow growing tree, moderately growing hedge.
• Large leaves decompose slowly

Boston Fern

Neprholepis exaltata, Boston Fern

This fern makes a dense groundcover in partially sunny sites or shade. In this picture it is shown in full sun in Sarasota by city hall.

It is distinguishable from the invasive Nephrolepis cordifolia because exaltata doesn't have the translucent tubers in its roots.

Once established its water needs are not excessive. It can survive long periods drought with little problem. Hardy at zone 9 and lower.

Propagate from dividing a friend's plant.

Lady Palm

Rhapis excelsa, Lady Palm

This is a small colonizing palm that is happiest in a shady location or bright filtered light.

It is very expensive because it is considered to be a slow grower. I have had one for three years and it is hasn't grown more than 2'. Max out at around 10' hgt.

They are best propogated through division.

Hardy at zone 9, Venice Florida coastal location.

Not completely drought tolerant. Need moderate water, esp. through establishment!

Crinum Lily

Crinum asiaticum, Crinum asiaticum

This can be a very large plant, 3' leaves, and it does tend to sucker, sprouting offspring at its base. Frequently planted too close together.

Queen Emma version has dark green/purple leaves with purple and white spray of fragrant lily blooms on a long stalk.

Drought tolerant once established and can withstand zone 9 temperatures.

Can be pricey and hard to find at nursery.

It does best in a sunny location but can take partial shade also.

Poisonous if ingested and some may be irritated by sap produced when plant leaf is cut or broken.

COONTIE

Zamia pumilla, Coontie

Great groundcover plant that can reach heights of 3'+.

Not as susceptible to freezing as the cardboard palms.

This is a great plant for sunny or shady locations. It does need to be treated for Florida red scale once in awhile as it can be fatal to the plant.

It is the only food source for the Atala butterfly larvae.

Seeds are attractive to children, red and squishy, but are poisonous.

Acid or Alkaline soils o.k.

Difficult to transplant because of unusally large tap root, but not impossible.

Can be pricey, it is a slow grower.

Hardy at zone 9.

Introduction

This Blog is being created to inform.

• Those that live in zones 9-10 in Coastal Southwest Florida, and want to know which plants are best in which locations.
• Plans reviewers that need more information for their reviews.
• Landscape contractors that want more information
• Business owners interested in learning more about their choices.

If you disagree with conclusions please comment.