VG Home Gardens
Our staff is often asked, “What do YOU plant in your garden?” We thought it might be nice for you to see how the VerdeGo staff utilizes plants and ideas in their own landscapes at home.
Each month we will spotlight an employee’s garden and let them share their photos, ideas or tips with YOU!
Click on the employee tabs below to view.
Name: Juana Salazar
VerdeGo: Garden Center assistant
Years with VerdeGo: 7 years
If you have visited our garden center in Bunnell most likely you’ve seen Juana Salazar out in the garden center watering, stocking, loading your plants purchases and anything else that needs doing!
Juana has been with us for over 7 years and is one of our most valued employees. Her love of gardening shows in her own cottage style gardens at home where she literally has ‘one of everything!’ And, her husband Salvador works in our Hardscape Division installing everything from paver patios, stack stone walls, paver driveways, and outdoor firepits. Needless to say, Juana and Salvador have created outdoor living spaces that truly define spending quality time with their children, family and friends!
Patricia Bronson – Part II
Hardscapes!
As we all begin to think about what we would like to accomplish in our gardens this spring there’s one aspect to the landscape that is often overlooked, and that is HARDSCAPES!
Whatever your taste may be there’s always a space in your garden to add that ‘finishing’ touch to create interest and contrast. Instead of a straight line concrete sidewalk I chose an inviting winding walkway with an urn that I could fill with welcoming flowers.
As you round one of the curves on my walkway there on the other side of a ligustrum tree are a pair of small garden statues.
Fountains and water features are always a good choice around a sitting area to create a relaxing getaway.
You can also incorporate beautiful, simple elements such as a garden flags, birdhouses and birdbaths. A colorful hanging basket or garden lantern hanging from a sheperd’s hook is an easy, inexpensive hardscape item.
So, take a few minutes this spring before you get started and really look at your gardens to see where you can add that personal touch that makes a garden YOURS!
Patricia Bronson
Garden Center Manager
Patricia Bronson
During the months of January and February OUR gardens really don’t grow too much and, we have freeze damage just like everyone else!
This past weekend I spent most of my time working in my gardens cleaning up some of the damage. I trimmed back all my lantana’s, blue daze and plumbago to 2 inches above the ground. These were well established plants that I know will come back from the roots in spring. I planted a few petunias and pansies in the bed to have color the rest of winter. By the time the cool season annuals die off the lantana and blue daze will be up and blooming again.
My hibiscus, gold mound duranta and ti plants I only trim the most extreme dead parts to get rid of the ugly, dead leaves. These plants were protected with frost cloth and although they completely defoliated there is still ‘good’ green on the stems just under the surface of the branch when lightly scratched.
We added four oaks to the back yard that faces west to provide more shade during the hot summer months. Rooting will occur during the cool season to give these trees a good head start when the spring growing season arrives in March.
I expanded my butterfly garden to make room for more perennials in the spring. I like to have as many different varieties as possible to make the garden look like one big bouquet of flowers. Doing the work now is a lot easier when it’s nice and cool, and, the less grass my husband has to mow and take care of the better!
The first week in March if no freezes or frost are in the forecast I fertilize all my blooming plants and perennials with Nurserymen’s Sure Gro 6-8-10 slow release Bloomer. The rest of my plants and palms I use the Nurserymen’s Sure Gro 8-4-12 Palm fertilizer. After the azalea’s bloom I fertilize with Nurserymen’s slow release acid fertilizer.
Check back on my next post to see how things turned out!
Allynne Jones
If I had to describe my garden in a couple of words I would say it is a “tropical cottage garden”. My garden is filled with palm trees, hardwood trees and many flowering plants that would make it, less a formal garden, and more about color and wildlife. The many palm trees, trees and large privacy hedges that surround my garden provide a haven for the multitude of birds and squirrels that find a place to hide and rest throughout. They also provide berries and food sources for these same creatures. I enjoy watching them just as much as they enjoy being there.
Flowers are a large part of my garden- whether they be part of my “butterfly garden” in the form of perennials or flowering shrubs that provide months of color. I love to incorporate seasonal annuals that provide colorful flowers year round Many of the flowering shrubs that I have chosen also attract butterflies and hummingbirds to my garden both in the front and back. I use Earth Boxes to plant vegetables in the various seasons to provide me with food as well.
I also like to add in accent pieces that provide interest. For example, I have statues that I have strategically placed in a couple of places in my garden. I also have a couple of bird baths and a birdfeeder to further attract the wildlife. I like to decorate my garden with accessories that emphasize the seasons such as garden flags and lighting.
The shaded patio in the back of our yard and the adjacent fire pit provide many hours of pleasure to sit back, relax and enjoy the gardens that we have created and to wonder at the array of hummingbirds, cardinals, mockingbirds, wrens, robins and butterflies that also love to visit. It is a welcoming place!
Come in to discuss your ideal outdoor space!
Linda Geiger
Linda Geiger is a garden center sales associate who works for us seasonally. She works in the garden center, buys for the gift shop and is our event coordinator.
Here in Florida we enjoy beautiful weather year round with plenty of sunshine. That makes it easy to understand why outdoor living and entertaining spaces are becoming a hot commodity in this area.
Linda Geiger was seeking a space that combined the elements of outdoors and indoors to create an atmosphere where she could entertain. Whether hosting a party, enjoying a dinner outside or watching her grandchildren enjoy the pool deck, her outdoor space has become her favorite room in her house.
Linda has incorporated ambient lighting, water and fire to her outdoor space to make it more attractive and inviting. Incorporating a fire pit can provide ambiance in the evening and offer warmth during the cooler months. Water features can be used for decorative effect and to create soothing sounds for a relaxing atmosphere.
Linda has softened her hardscape by incorporating containers throughout the patio area. These containers have an abundance of color.
