Tony and I went to Winter Park to Christmas shop. It’s a lovely little downtown area all decorated with Christmas lights and seasonal decorations. I was expecting that. But the traditional complementary colors of red and green were not part of the container display. Instead there were planted pots of bright yellow and pale yellow poinsettias, bright yellow zinnia-like annuals, and white poinsettias. It was quite refreshing and unique take on holiday plants. I liked it but I noticed two individuals who weren’t quite sure of the new Christmas colors. It wasn’t what they were expecting.

This seems to be a year for thinking outside of our comfort zone. Doing something that maybe a few years (decades?) ago would never happen. The combinations of yellow and white still seemed like Christmas because they used holiday plants. It evoked a spirit of gold which is a traditional gift for a baby in a creche.

Winter came early this month. Hopefully, it’s still supposed to be a La Nina winter, wet and warm. I’ve outlined what to do in your landscape and it’s just enough to keep the garden neat and thriving. You’ll have plenty of time to visit with family and friends, or travel.

If you can’t decide what to get someone for Christmas, check out my Plant of the Month. It was an easy experience with Costa Farms and our family was thrilled with their gift.

Did you hear how Gerald the Turkey did over Thanksgiving? Lizzie shows off her vegetable garden and updates everyone on the #SaveGerald petition.

Thinking about wildlife… if you would like to select plants for your landscape that deer really don´t appreciate, check out my ¨Suggested Central Florida Plants Least Preferred by Deer.¨

My Landscape Malpractice Tip #32 happened a long time ago. It still makes an impression on me to warn against lazy contractors.

I love my design tip this month. You will see it next year in many different plants, clothing, furniture, and on walls. I’m interested in what you think of the choice.

Thank you for all the congratulations and warm wishes for continued success on our recent purchase of Art in Bloom Garden Tours. We will be registering for our newest trips to the Newport Flower Show in June in January. Tony and I are also scheduling trips in 2025 to the Garden Walk Buffalo, Scotland in August, Fall in Love with the Berkshires, Vermont Foliage Tour in October to be available soon. Let us know if you´re interested. Our trips fill up very quickly.

This month is going quickly and it will be a new year before we know it. It could be a year of trying new things in the garden. New techniques, new plants, new color combinations, and new learning. That’s what I am hoping for in 2025, a year of new experiences, new friendships, new optimism for the future. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As a landscape designer, whether it’s foliage or flowers, one of my major color decisions is Pantone’s Color of the Year. How can I work into my landscape plan? This year, Pantone has selected a very earthy, subdued, calming color called Mocha Mousse. Mocha is espresso coffee that is combined with chocolate and cream. It’s not a dark brown, but brown that has been mixed with white.

Mocha mousse is satiny. Think of mousse hair foam, a satin pillowcase, or the dessert that melts in your mouth. Nothing chunky about it. Just mmmmm smooth.

In the garden, brown is associated with Autumn and death. Leaves turning brown and falling to the ground. Leaf tips that are parched or diseased. Not even dirt is thought of as brown, but shades of black, greys, orange, and white tones, but not brown. Mocha Mousse is subtle in the background or underneath the main colors.

My number one selection for incorporating Mocha Mousse in the garden is the Nun’s orchid, Phaius tankerville. One of the few plants with truly brown flowers. Nun’s orchids are perfect for an elegant statement in a shade or woodland garden. Other plants that are perfect for use in a Mocha Mousse garden are various coleus, Copperleaf, Cleyera, and Heucheras. Pantone’s color palette includes softer tones of brown, mauve, and warm silver.

Roses that fit the category are floribunda ‘Distant Drums’, hybrid ‘Toffee’, floribunda ‘Koko Loco’, and grandifolia’s ‘Lagerfeld’. ‘Toffee’ and ‘Koko Loco’ roses are available at Lukas Nursery. Heirloom Roses, and High Country roses.

Consider blending the Mocha Mousse with jewel tones, soft pinks, whites, and light blue flowers and accents. It’s an elegant, rich hue and shouldn’t be used with primary or bright, “in your face” colors. Check out Piktochart’s webpage for wonderful color combinations for creating an elegant landscape.

As the last remnants of Thanksgiving festivities fade away, one lucky turkey breathes a sigh of relief, Gerald having narrowly escaped the dinner table. However, there is always next year.  #SpareGerald 

 Meanwhile, the garden beds are being prepped and soil turned for the next cycle, ready to nurture January's seeds.   

I am looking back on 2024 as a learning curb and a lot of fun experiences with my “Grandbrats” in the garden, yard and raising turkeys. 2025 will be STUPENDOUS! 

Updates through “Lizzie Said What” socials.  Remember, life can be a joyful journey. Enjoying all moments is up to YOU! 

a. Rosemary – woody ornamental that you can harvest year round.

b. Parsley - Garden parsley is a bright green, biennial plant in temperate climates, or an annual herb in subtropical and tropical areas, but if harvested frequently, can be grown year round.

c. Lemongrass - Its fragrant leaves are traditionally used in cooking, particularly for lechon (a pork dish) and roasted chicken. The dried leaves can also be brewed into a tea, either alone or as a flavoring in other teas, imparting a flavor reminiscent of lemon juice but with a mild sweetness without significant sourness or tartness

d. .Oregano - Oregano is a woody perennial plant, in the mint family. It is sometimes called wild marjoram, while its close relative O. majorana is known as sweet marjoram. It has an earthy, warm, and slightly bitter taste, which can vary in intensity and is a staple of Mediterranean dishes.

e. Mint - Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial herbs. Due to their tendency to spread unchecked, some mints are considered invasive, this has been proven in Lizzie’s yard. Different types of mint include spearmint, peppermint, apple and pineapple mint, orange mint, strawberry mint, and my favorite Chocolate mint. Girl Scout cookie.

There once was a new home being built in a wealthy, very celebrated community. It was time for the sidewalk to be poured. The hardscape contractor noticed that the irrigation spray head was in the sidewalk and asked the landscape irrigation contractor to move it. He asked nicely three times. The landscape irrigation contractor didn’t move it. So the hardscape contractor couldn’t wait and because he was a professional, he went ahead and poured the cement but made sure the head wasn’t covered. Now landscape irrigation contractor and the hardscape contractor and the builder all got paid and lived happily ever after.

This home was built ten years ago, and my client wanted to renovate their front yard. I noticed the irrigation head and couldn’t believe that it was allowed to happen. Coincidentally, the hardscape contractor was working on a patio next door and he was the one who actually told me the story. Not a lick of shame as he told me that he just went and poured the cement anyway. I don’t know if the spray ever worked but it was never going to work now.

Just a blatant reminder of the lack of initiative and poor workmanship to move the irrigation pipe out of the way or demand from the builder that the problem needed fixed.

If you see something, say something.

What a wonderful way to show your love at Christmas time with a holiday plant. Instead of the everyday-expensive. floral display that will fade and die when the New Year arrives, send a flowering plant that explodes with holiday spirit! We wanted to send flowers for Memere’s birthday but I didn’t want to spend money on flowers that would only live a week.

So, I checked out Costa Farms Shop Plants page. I am so glad I did. Costa Farms has a beautiful assortment of the traditional Christmas colors, red flowers and green leaves, but also a whole assortment of flowering and lush indoor plants that will warm anyone’s heart. I decided on the elegant Amaryllis waxed bulb and a Christmas cactus clad in tartan. So Christmasy! The flowers arrived promptly and in perfect condition. My Massachusetts in-laws were thrilled. “It brightens up the room”, Memere told us. They just had snow and the flowers were appreciated. She will enjoy them all winter long.

If you need to send flowers, bring a hostess gift, or don’t know what to give for Christmas, check out Costa Farms questionnaire that will help you select just the right plant.

This is my own review and recommendation. I received no compensation for this post. I’m just so thrilled with the beautiful plants. I’m at the top of “Best In-Law” list. Great way to end the year!

What to Do In Your Backyard in December

Amaryllis at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum

North Florida: Average temperature: High 65 Low 43

Average rainfall: 2.76 inches

Central Florida: Average temperature: High 72 Low 51

Average rainfall: 2.44 inches

South Florida: Average temperature: High 78 Low 62

Average rainfall: 2.56 inches

Winter arrives on December 21st .

Average first frost date: December 18th .

What to Plant

Vegetables: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collard, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion, pea, radicchio, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Flowers: Ageratum, alyssum, baby's breath, black-eyed Susan, bush daisy, calendula, California poppy, camellia. candytuft, carnation, cat's whiskers, Christmas cactus, chrysanthemum, cleome, cornflower, cyclamen, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, firespike, foxglove, gaillardia, geranium, gloxinia. goldenrod, heliotrope, hollyhocks, Iceland poppy, impatiens, Johnny-jump ups, larkspur, lobelia, ornamental cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, phlox, salvia, shasta daisy, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, verbena, viola and wax begonias.

Herbs: anise, arugula, basil, borage, chive, cardamon, chervil, cilantro, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, Mexican tarragon, mint, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, thyme and watercress.

Bulbs: African iris, amaryllis, anemone, bulbine, crinum, day lily, rain lily, ranunculus, society garlic, spider lily and narcissus; refrigerated Dutch iris, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and similar bulbs needing a cold treatment before flowering.

Lawn care

• Walk yards on a weekly basis. Look for disease and insect damage.

• Water restrictions for most counties throughout Florida are in place.

• Cooler temperatures mean that irrigation 1x a week is all turfgrass and landscapes need.

• If temperatures average 70 degrees, turf will only need 1 inch of water every ten to fourteen days.

• Feeding time is over but iron or minor nutrients can be applied to keep the lawn green.

• If Brown or Large Patch fungus is affecting St. Augustine & zoysia lawns, allow area to dry out and control future outbreaks with a fungicide.

• If lawn has large weedy areas; remove and add new sod or plugs.

• Use spot weed control techniques for small patches of weeds.

• Mowing can be reduced to every other week in most landscapes.

• Mow the lawn at the normal height to continue a uniform look and control weeds.

• Lawn insects are less active at this time and insecticides may not be needed.

• Zoysia lawns often turn brown with cooler temperatures. This is normal.

• Keep lawn mower blades sharp and at their year-round height, mow as needed.

• Ryegrass seed can be sown now.

• Clean and sharpen power and garden equipment before winter storage.

• Rake fallen leaves from lawns and add to the compost pile.

• Fruit and vegetable gardening

• Helene and Milton above average rainfall totals caused early decline of many crops; remove and replant.

• Be ready to have frost blankets on hand before a freeze is announced.

• Warm season planting time is over, replant with cool season vegetables.

• Small but successive plantings guarantee continual harvests.

• It is too late for new tomatoes, peppers & eggplants, replant in March.

• Continue herb plantings in ground or in containers; they love the cool weather.

• Harvest herbs frequently to encourage fresh growth; preserve or share extras.

• If caterpillars and mites have been heavy feeders; control with natural sprays.

• Start seeds of the cool season crops as needed to have transplants available.

• Select vining crops to trellis and obtain the most from garden plots.

• Gardeners with limited space can grow their favorite vegetables in large containers.

• Add more garden soil to containers and raised beds, no need to remove older soil.

• Feed vegetable gardens every 3 to 4 weeks with composted manure or a general fertilizer.

• Feed container plantings every other week or use a slow release fertilizer as labeled.

• Feeding time is over for all fruiting trees, shrubs and vines, feed again in March.

• December is good time to taste-test citrus varieties to find out what you would like to grow. X

• Observe watering rules. 1 inch of water a week is all that your lawns and landscapes need.

• Plantings need less water during the cool weather; water when the surface soil begins to dry.

• Add new cold tolerant fruits to the landscape; delay tropical fruit plantings until spring.

• Delay deciduous fruit tree prunings until next month, citrus pruning until mid-February.

• Peach trees may start flowering but don’t worry there are plenty of buds for normal fruit set.

• Keep frost blankets handy to protect cold sensitive crops from frosts and freezes.

• Irrigate a day or two before a freeze, but not during a freeze.

Landscape

• If temperatures average 80 degrees or more, hand water containers 2x a week.

• Do not commit ‘crape murder.’ Crapemyrtles do not need to be hacked back.

• Crapemyrtles need to only have spent blooms trimmed, limbs growing skewed near other limbs, or if smaller than your pinkie. Trim or rub off suckers.

• Incorporate organic matter with older annual beds and sandy soils to encourage plant vigor.

• Add holiday poinsettias to the landscape in their pots to easily remove during extreme cold.

• Fertilize annual flowers monthly or use a slow release fertilizer as labeled.

• Apply a slow-release fertilizer to container plantings for winter feeding.

• Winter is a stress free time to add hardy trees, shrubs and ground covers to the landscape.

• Do not prune azaleas, camellias, or hydrangeas until after Spring blooms decline.

• Camellias bloom throughout winter; select and plant your favorite colors

• Pruning time is over for most plants; out of bounds shoots and suckers can be removed as needed.

• Feeding time is over for all trees, shrubs and vines.

• Established trees and shrubs can often go several weeks without irrigation.

• Add mulch to keep 3” to 4” levels. Keep mulch away from the base of plants and trees.

• Hurry to plant wildflower gardens to have blooms for spring.

• Control winter seasonal weeds by hand-pulling or correct herbicide.

• Use the cooler weather to transplant trees and shrubs, delay transplanting palms until Spring.

• Check and adjust supports holding trees and palms in an upright position as needed.

• Old soil from containers can be tilled into established gardens

• Add wood chips from tree removal to compost piles or use them as a light mulch.

• Turn compost piles at least monthly to speed the process.

• Divide and replant perennials.

• Encourage wildlife by adding a bird feeder and water feature to landscape.

• Repair and repaint bird houses, landscape furniture and fences.

• Frosts or freezes could arrive at any time; be ready to protect your cold sensitive plants with frost blankets and/or incandescent light bulbs, old-fashioned Christmas lights, not LED lights.

Foliage & house plant care

• Obtain your poinsettias early to enjoy a full season of color.

• Give holiday plants a cool bright location away from air vents.

• Don’t be surprised if new Christmas cactus drop their buds; they will bloom better next year.

• Over-watering Christmas & holiday cactus can cause them to rot; wait until the surface dries.

• Start paper white narcissus and amaryllis bulbs for gifts and winter blooms.

• Replace declining foliage plants with new greenery.

• Move cold sensitive plants from pool enclosures and patios to a warmer location.

• Remove yellow leaves from plants affected by cold but do not cut back till Spring.

• Check for water needs frequently; thoroughly moisten when the surface soil begins to dry.

• Wash foliage with a mild soap solution to remove dust and control pests.

• Subscribe to my free newsletter In Your Backyard on www.she-consulting.com

Suggested Central Florida Plants Least Preferred By Deer

Wildlife use vegetation for a number of reasons: food, water, protection, physical and territorial behavior. A deer’s diet includes foliage, fruit (acorns), flowers and flower buds, but not necessarily all on the same plant, while young stags use the bark of small trees to “rub the velvet from their antlers and mark their area.” (Appleton, 2008) Deer like to eat plants that are young, easily accessible, over-fertilized, overwatered, pruned often, and have new growth. Deer do not like to eat plants that are odoriferous, have either grayish, leathery, or thorny foliage, or have foliage that has milky or sticky sap.

Reducing landscape damage by deer needs to be a community-wide effort. Feeding deer will only lessen their natural fear of humans and encourages them to encroach on residential areas. There are several options to keeping deer off your property. Installing seven-foot fencing will reduce chances that deer will jump onto property. Using chemical repellents are not always effective and can be expensive, foul-smelling, and need to be applied before plants are eaten and on a continuous basis.

To read the rest of my article and download my least preferred plants for deer in Central Florida, click this link.

Suggested Central Florida Plants Least Preferred By Deer.

“Autumn is the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.” ~ unknown.

We associate Fall with change. Changing our clocks back one hour with Daylight Savings Time. Changing temperatures from humid heat and necessity of air conditioning to more comfortable, windows open weather. The possibility of changes in local, regional, and national politics. Changes our diets from lighter fare of summer salads to more heartier and savory menu of vegetables, soups, and stews. We also see changes in our landscape.

Joanne asks: “Are blueberries supposed to lose their leaves in autumn?

Fruits, like apples, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, peaches, and raspberries are deciduous and after changing color in the Fall will lose their leaves for winter. Blueberry leaves will turn a beautiful reddish color and lose the majority of their leaves. So, Joanne, it’s not only pretty to see the blueberries leaves turn to red and lose a few leaves, It’s normal.

Landscape companies are changing seasons with new Fall annuals for garden beds and new layers of mulch. Check out What to do in Your Landscape in November and Landscape Malpractice #31 to see what to in your landscape.

Lizzie’s had her hands full with her turkeys during Milton. She has an update. The jury is still out if Gerald is going to be indoors or outdoors during Thanksgiving. I’ve been seeing lots of wild turkeys lately. Good news for the environment. Check out my design tips for plotting lots of new ways to attract turkeys to your backyard.

My choice for November’s Plant of the Month was inspiring for me. I love finding new ways to think outside of the box, or in this case, inside the planter. You’ll see. A new way to display your blooming beauties in Central and South Florida. I couldn’t believe it, but it works for me. I hope you’ll think so, too! The color is breath-taking. Check it out!

Big change for Tony and I this month, we are expanding our horizons. Change is good, especially in this case. Hope you will think about joining us on our new adventure. I call it my bucket list (pronounced bouquet).

Welcome to all our new subscribers! Make sure to check out all our sponsors for their great products. They help keep Better Lawns and Gardens and this newsletter free.

Enjoy the cooler weather! It’s the perfect time to start a garden. Have a Happy Thanksgiving - so much to be grateful for - including you in my world.

Big Announcement!

Teresa Watkins and Tony DeSormier, wife-and-husband team have acquired Art In Bloom Garden Tours and will commence with its operations as of November 1, 2024.

Teresa, garden author, landscape designer, horticulturist, and radio personality, designed the landscape for the first certified "green home" in Florida. She taught Florida-friendly principles for the University of Florida and was instrumental in developing the Florida Water Star certification program. Her landscape company, Sustainable Horticultural Environments designs unique, beautiful, and award-winning sustainable landscapes and has won the 2024 Best of Houzz Service award nine years in a row. Over the last 25 years, more than 42,000 green industry associates, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and residential homeowners have attended Teresa’s landscaping talks and programs. Her educational programs range from the ABCs of environmental conservation to theme-designs of fairy gardens and xeriscaping. A member of Garden Communicators International and a 25-year garden radio show veteran of her award-winning garden show In Your Backyard, Teresa now hosts Better Lawns and Gardens, Florida ́s most popular syndicated garden radio show on WFLA-Orlando, iHeart, iTunes, and on podcast. Teresa has authored numerous articles on gardening as well as three volumes of the ongoing series A Gardener’s Compendium, collections of gardening quotes and anecdotes replete with thoroughly researched sources and contexts. Teresa enjoys traveling and leading gardening tours, checking off national and world gardens on her ‘bucket’ (pronounced ‘bouquet’) list.

Tony has a Master of Liberal Studies degree from Rollins College of Winter Park, Florida. For the last 20 years, he has taught humanities classes for Valencia and Seminole State colleges. A writer by trade and a storyteller by avocation, Tony adds to Teresa’s considerable gardening expertise with contributions of historical and culture contexts. Along with working with Teresa to convert their bungalow property into a collection of unique gardens, Tony is an avid cross stitcher.

Together, Teresa and Tony will build on the well-deserved admired reputation of Art In Bloom Garden Tours by continuing the established schedule of trips and adding new destinations.

For more information, check the website, Art in Bloom Garden Tours, email us at artinbloomgardentours@gmail.com, or call 321.210.3615. Cheers!