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The Neighborhood Gardener – December

Happy Holiday Gardening!

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Creative Container Plants for Gifts

red poinsettia in a basketIt's the time of year when people are thinking about gifts, and what better gift to give than a potted plant? A plant in a lovely container is a thoughtful and creative gift. There's a variety of plants to choose from, allowing you to select one that's perfect for the recipient. Keep in mind their growing experience and the plant's care requirements. If you are purchasing a flowering plant, try to select one that hasn't fully bloomed yet. And it's actually two gifts in one—finding a beautiful container can make it even more personal. More

2015 Master Gardener Wall Calendar

calendarShopping for a Florida gardener or plant lover? Check out our brand new 2015 Florida Master Gardener Wall Calendar! This beautiful and useful calendar features full color photos, Florida-Friendly gardening tips, and a list of blooming plants each month. The calendar is now available for $12.95 in the IFAS Extension Bookstore.

Plant of the Month: Mint

holly fernThe smell of mint is often associated with the holidays. Why not bring the scents of the season into your garden by growing this fragrant and useful herb? The refreshing aromatic leaves and small flowers can be added to many dishes including desserts, beverages, meat, salads, as well as jellies and sauces. Mints are excellent perennial herbs for beginning gardeners to grow. Be careful though—mint is sometimes too easy to grow and when left unchecked, it can take over your whole garden. More

December in Your Garden

This year consider a Christmas tree that will live on after the holidays. Southern red cedar, Arizona cypress, or sand pine can be enjoyed in a container and then planted in the landscape when the holidays are over. Living Christmas trees create memories that last a lifetime. As an added bonus you can decorate the planted tree with suet, bird feed, or popcorn balls to encourage birds to nest and enjoy the tree, too.

For more month-by-month gardening tips, check out the Florida Gardening Calendar. Three different editions of the calendar provide specific tips for each of Florida's gardening regions—North, Central, and South.

Friend or Foe? Foe: Mistletoe

dragonflyMistletoe has been used as a Yuletide decoration for centuries. But this plant can be dangerous, and not just for people. Mistletoe is poisonous if eaten, so be careful if you choose to use it for holiday decorating. It's also damaging to the trees it grows on. Because of its parasitic nature, mistletoe can weaken or even destroy the trees it infests, especially if the tree has been compromised by pests, storms, or old age. More

A Bella Romana camellia

Success Stories

  • We're looking for inspiring, Florida-Friendly success stories from your county. Submit yours today to Wendy Wilber.

Other Resources

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