Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary....

Someone please tell me how one grows and keeps a garden alive! And, if you happen to find Mary, well... tell her I'm looking for her! :)

So here it is Springtime again, in Florida. 80-degree days, 50-degree nights; the perfect outside oasis. So I have decided once again to try my hand that this gardening thing. I mean, I have killed everything green I own! If it weren't for our lawn guy, I'd probably have a true Arizonian yard out there! Dirt and Rocks! Last year was my first year, attempting a flower garden. I tried my hands at angelonia, hibiscus, a bonsai, knockout roses, geraniums, marigolds, dusty millers, and a odd assortment of other plants. Let just say... it didn't go quite as well as one would dream. ;) It was so bad, a doctor I work with (A very talented woman, to say the least) bought me a book. It is called 'Florida Gardener's Resource'. I have been studying this little book as if my life depended on it. :) It's a very great resource by the way, I highly recommend it to any Florida Gardener.

So this morning I work up, dragged my daughter and hubby to our local Lowe's. Oh my! Second to Joann Fabrics, it's like my own personal adult Candy Store! They had aisles, and aisles of bright colored little babies calling my name! Pinks and Reds, Snap Dragons, Lily's, Roses, Petunias, Orchids Oh MY! I tried to restrain myself the best I could, however, I had a hubby who was constantly telling me to buy what I want to make the yard look nice! Little does he know the danger he may get himself into. I, however, was a good girl. I bought a few petunia's for my full sun front yard, a few snap dragons, African lily's, more impatiens for the lanai, and a beautiful purple orchid. Oh, I'm in heaven. I am mildly afraid to plant these beautiful little guys, as I don't want them to die by my hand. LOL. Moment's like this I wish I was rich enough to hire a very attractive Latino gardener who would tend to the yard with his shirt off, covered in glistening sweat. But, alas, I have only myself, and I don't think the neighbors would like it if I gardened with my shirt off. 

So tonight I will plant the new flowers, and hope that I am careful enough to keep them alive. For my progress I have purchased a notebook to log what I do wrong this time around, as well as care instructions (Does that make me odd?). Advice is welcome!

Here are pics of last years garden. All my attempts at color kept dying.  

 I don't remember the name of the little colorful flowers there, but I won't be buying them again. The dusty millers (fuzzy white ones) make great winter plants. They don't like the soggy summers.

This was my favorite, Angelonia, however it does not like frost. :(

After I plant the new flowers this year I will try to remember to post pics! 

Happy Gardening everyone!