It is so gorgeous outside that it is hard to remember that we did have, and may have again, below freezing weather!  The Chickasaw plum on Hwy. 48 is blooming beautifully and there are buds everywhere.  Gardening is on everyone's mind but care needs to be taken to prevent loss if/when the cold weather returns.

Many of our number have plants/trees that are either native to the area or are winter hardy even up to Zones 5 or 6.  That certainly makes for less hassle when frost comes.  Some of us do fall in love with subtropicals or tropicals and have to do the work necessary to keep them alive under cold conditions.  Usually by March the frost danger is past, but March can be so windy that drying out can be a problem, so watchfulness is necessary for different problems each month.

That is why it is good to be able to get outside and check your vegetation as often as you can. Learning if your plants bloom on old wood or new wood or both can help if you've had cold damage on plants that now need some pruning.  Learning where to prune will also help since if a branch is cut at one place healing will take place very quickly, but if cut at another place the healing takes longer so the buds don't come out to bloom as quickly.  There are pruning books in the Garden Club library and in the Citrus County Library system that you can study.  The extension office has some handouts available also.

January can be the time when you put on paper the plans that you have for your yard this year. Some questions you can ask yourself are:

Do I want more color in the flower beds?  Less color?
Do I want less lawn and more beds? Vice versa?
Do I want easy care plants or do I have a special specific plant(s) that I want to put in?
Do I want to create an "outdoor" room?  
Do I want a vegetable garden AND a flower garden?  Can I combine them?
Do I want mostly container gardening?

There are also books/articles about how to analyze your yard for the optimal plantings or useage that you desire. Planning a garden doesn't mean that it will be formal unless you want a formal garden.  Planning just helps insure that there is cohesion both in the flower beds and in your total lawn/yard look.  There are some people who just have the knack to plop down plants wherever they choose and the result looks great.  There are some people who really need to plan in order to have the plants live.  Whatever kind we are it is fun to look at the seed and plant catalogs that are available now.  I saw an article about how Internet garden supplies will equal or exceed those from printed catalogs in 2008.  People really enjoy looking at them to help visualize the plants that they'd like to see in their garden.  Hope there are many of you who are starting plants for both your vegetable garden and your garden and for the Plant Sale!

I received a lovely book on Hibiscus for Christmas.  Hibiscus flowers are seen on porcelain plates made in China as far back as the 1300's.  Jamaica is the Spanish word for "hibiscus."  The Rose of Sharon is one of the hibiscus family members (Hibiscus syriacus).  It is the national flower of Korea.  The Confederate rose(Hibiscus mutabilis) originated in southern China.  It went into English gardens in the 1600's and then to America---primarily into Southern gardens.  After the War Between the States it was often used as a planting in Confederate cemeteries and thus it received its common name (or so says one story).

Each plant has all sorts of fascinating information concerning it so if any of you would like to take a plant and research it, the information can be included in this monthly message or can be presented to the club.  I have lots more on the hibiscus, but will reserve some for another time.

Don't forget about the Short Course and the Environmental Workshop to be held at the Plantation Inn, March 4,5, and 6, 2008.  Some of us will be driving daily and there is still time to send for the scholarship to pay your way.  The applications are due to the judge by January 15, so they need to be in the mail asap!  Brochures are on the Information Table.

Spanish moss will be the topic of the program of the Floral City Heritage Council's meeting, January 22, at the Community Center (potluck at 7PM and meeting at 7:30).  Florida gardeners have a lot of dealings with it so come and learn what it is useful for and how it has been utilized in the past.

Check the Information Table for other Information regarding happenings at Chinsegut, Leu Gardens, or USF Botanical Gardens or check for them online. The older Gardening Guides which are on the table  aren't as talky as this one.  Specific plants are mentioned for planting this month as well as a general guide for fertilizing. 

The Whooping Cranes are on their way down to Citrus County from Georgia and may even get here this weekend.  Information about them can also be found online.

Keep ever vigilant regarding low temperatures and enjoy whatever temperatures we have.  There is always something beautiful out there!   llb