The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden hosted GardenFest 2010 last weekend.  This annual plant sale featured orchids, palms, tropical exotics, native plants, and fruit trees.  Also being sold was art by local artists, including ceramics, jewelry, painting, and woodwork.  Fresh grown veggies, fruits, baked goods, and organic munchies kept festival-goers fed and happy.  Beautiful plants, fantastic art, live music performances, and good food all contributed to the festive atmosphere. 

Special seminars were held all weekend long, including ones on butterfly gardening, “green” spaces, rain barrels, and gardening in the Keys.  Demonstrations included ceramic sculpture and container gardening----always a great option in tight spaces, such as the Keys, where not too many people have yards.

The Key West Botanical Garden is the only "frost-free" botanical garden in the continental United States.  For those of you who are tired of this year’s cold winter and how it’s affecting your plants, mark Key West as a place to come..…and garden!  The forest has two of the last remaining fresh water ponds in the Keys.  Boardwalks loop around the forest and protect the habitation.  Native palms, flowers, birds, and butterflies fill the gardens. 

The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden is in the process of an expansion that includes the development of a new wetland habitat, 1.5 acres of new tropical forest and a boardwalk system with wildlife viewing areas.  

To become a member or for more info on the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

When Tampa residents reset their clocks to 'spring forward' into daylight saving time on March 14, they will have another change to make. Tampa City Council approved Code changes last week that will enact new irrigation days for locations in Tampa on the same day as the time change.

Beginning March 14, locations in Tampa will have the following once-per-week irrigation schedule:

·         addresses ending in 0 or 1 - Monday

·         addresses ending in 2 or 3 - Tuesday

·         addresses ending in 4 or 5 - Wednesday

·         addresses ending in 6 or 7 - Thursday

·         addresses ending in 8 or 9, locations with no address (common areas, entry areas), and locations with mixed addresses (office complexes, shopping centers) - Friday

·         allowed irrigation times remain at once between 12:01 a.m. and 8 a.m. or between 6 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on the designated day.

Tampa's current once-per-week irrigation schedule under Emergency Ordinance 2009-81 will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on March 14, 2010.

All City of Tampa Utility customers will be notified of the new irrigation schedule in their bill, starting on Feb. 15. The Department is also working with local irrigation and landscape providers, professional associations, and community groups to enlist their assistance in notifying their customers and members of the change. Water use violation citations will continue to be issued on first observance.

The Water Conservation Code revision brings Tampa in line with recent revisions by SWFWMD to their year-round rules, improves water system operations, improves water restriction enforcement and provides irrigation schedule consistency for all of Tampa Water Department's customers, inside and outside the City limits.

Changes in local and regional water supply conditions can result in changes in Water Use Restrictions. Up-to-date information on the irrigation schedule in effect for Tampa can be found online at www.TampaGov.net/WaterRestrictions or at by calling Tampa's automated Water Restrictions Hotline at (813) 274-8032.

Be notified automatically about restrictions changes, upcoming workshops, conservation events and other Water Department information by subscribing to the Tampa Water Department's Customer Newsletter, The Pipeline, at www.TampaGov.net/Water or the Water Department Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feed available at www.TampaGov.net/appl_rss_feeds/

The Tampa Water Department serves a 211-square mile area with a service population of approximately 652,000 people. The Tampa Water Department’s mission is to provide superior drinking water and reclaimed water services to its customers.

Many of you know I am a volunteer at the Florida Aquarium, the work they do there is tremendous. However this is an emergency so if you are able, please consider a donation.

With record low temperatures in the weather; it is not only our plants that are now suffering.

Record cold temperatures in Florida are threatening hundreds and potentially thousands of sea turtles across the state. The deep chill in our coastal waters has “cold-stunned” these endangered animals, putting them into a state of shock. When more than 140 cold-stunned sea turtles started washing up on an eastern coast on Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission called The Florida Aquarium to help respond.

Rescued Sea Turtle at the Florida Aquarium

On Thursday, Jan. 7, 12 helpless and ‘cold-stunned’ sea turtles arrived at The Florida Aquarium where staff from every department immediately unloaded the turtles and assisted veterinary staff with triage and urgent medical care. After x-rays, blood work and other diagnostics were completed, all 12 turtles were safely housed in temporary holding as their conditions were closely monitored. Most now are stable but some remain in a critical condition.

The Aquarium’s emergency rescue funds are being depleted rapidly, if you are willing to help, please consider a special contribution to help them pay for the food, antibiotics, medicines, tank operation and other costs of their care as they respond to this unforeseen and unprecedented emergency. 

Donate here today and help save a sea turtle or call Judy Anderson at 813-367-4024.  This IS NOT a Gardeners Reach site, it goes directly to the Florida Aquarium donation page.

The Aquarium will continue to take in cold-stunned sea turtles until they reach their capacity. They hope you will partner with them to rescue these endangered animals.

Did you know?

The Florida Aquarium is one of only a few rehabilitation facilities that has a full-time veterinary program. The dedicated medical staff can assist with turtle rehabilitation efforts around the clock. The Aquarium has been treating injured sea turtles over the past 12 years, nearly 60 turtles have entered the facility: and 75% have been returned to the wild after successful rehabilitation

What is Composting?

Composting is the biological decomposition of organic wastes by bacteria, fungi, worms and other organisms under controlled conditions where oxygen is available.

3 Reasons to Compost
 
1 - Compost is a wonderful soil additive, especially to Florida's poor, sandy soils. Finished compost is mostly humus, which, when added to soil, makes it more moisture retentive, offers a bounty of food for soil improving microorganisms, and improves soil texture by creating spaces for air, water, and nutrients to circulate. Finished compost is nearly neutral in pH, and helps to stabilize the balance of acidity and alkalinity of the soil when added to it.
 
2 - Compost improves the disease resistance of garden plants because some of the organisms that break down plant material into compost produce natural antibiotics. Its disease-fighting ability also discourages the growth of soil borne fungal diseases. Compost also, is more nutrient dense than raw animal manure, and gives longer-lasting results than synthetic fertilizers thereby being cost effective for you as a gardener.
 
3 - Be environmentally friendly, up to 75% of materials seen in landfills could be recycled, if you began composting you would aid in reducing the planet’s waste and the cost of the resources used in disposal.

Home Compost Bin

 
Do you want to know more about Composting:-

Attend either or both of these Master Gardener Presentations:-
 
Compost Happens - Wednesday October 14th at 7pm
SouthShore Library 15816, Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573

At the Talk above you will be given a redeemable voucher so that you can obtain a compost bin FREE (complete with thermometer) similar to the one above from Hillsborough Extension Service in Seffner, FL

So, mark you calendar and make it a date! Then you too can start Composting!
 
Another type of composting is Vermicomposting (with worms) to learn more you can attend:-

Vermicomposting - Tuesday October 20th at 6.30pm
Riverview Library 10509, Riverview Dr, Riverview FL 33569

When we moved into our home 15 years ago, we were issued two, bright and shining recycling bins: One blue and one green. The blue one was for papers. The green one for bottles, clear plastic containers and cans.

They looked as if they were indestructible.

They weren’t.

After 15 years, they look like death warmed over. They’ve got more cracks than a downtown Tampa sidewalk, holes bigger than my fist and three layers of duct tape holding their parts together. They, like this old body of mine, are showing their age.

So now, it’s time to recycle my recycling bin.

Fortunately, the Hillsborough Extension Service has a new, part-time person dedicated to ensuring that residents can recycle their recycling bin.

Pat O’Shea, the new Recycling Program Assistant, can be reached by calling (813) 744-5519, extension 141, but she should only be called if you want more info about the program or you would like her to speak to your Library, Home Owners Association or club about the Recycling Program.

If you live in Hillsborough County (outside the Tampa limits), and you need a replacement for your recycling bins, call (813) 272-5680. As soon as you begin to hear the annoying voice mail message (telling you want a wonderful county you live in, how valuable your call is, and giving you 8 choices in two languages), touch zero. Donna will answer and, after confirming your address and phone number, she’ll arrange to have a new recycling bin delivered.

If you live in Tampa, dial 348-1111.

The person who picks up your recycling will leave the new recycling bin or bins.

Leave the old ones with your regular trash. Be sure to put a piece of paper marked — in large print — "THROW AWAY".

It may take time to get your replacements. The demand for new bins is higher than was anticipated, but more are on order.

Recycling makes sense, and if we all do our part, our planet will remain a great place to live, to grow and to enjoy. The recycling bins are just a part of a larger program, but they serve a vital part in getting recyclable items from us to those who can recycle them.

The children (aged 4 & 6) who live across the road are eager to return to school, or should I say their Mom is eager! Today, she had kept them busy making terrariums out of soda bottles that had been going into their recycling bins.

This evening they paid me a visit to show me their terrarium creations. I have posted instructions below so that if you needed a last minute activity before school starts you have one to use.

The girls obviously thoroughly enjoyed the activity and are eager to see changes in the days ahead as the violets continue to grow.

The dictionary definition of a terrarium is:- a glass container enclosing a garden of small plants.

TO MAKE A TERRARIUM

Obtain TWO 2 liter bottles, the clear bottles will work best as the children will be able to clearly see the water cycle and progress of growth of the plants within.

Soak off the labels and wash out the bottles carefully, then cut them both in half. Keep the bottoms and recycle the rest to the recycle bin.

Place a layer of gravel in the bottom of one of the soda bottle bottoms and then fill half way up with potting soil.

Proceed to plant your small plants within the soil. The girls had planted violets within their terrariums.

Water your new plants until the soil is pretty wet. If you are using bog plants then the water can soggy!

To complete, flip over the other bottom and carefully slide over the half in which you have planted your plants.

Place your terrarium in a sunny area, away from direct sunlight and observe the changes. The direct sunlight could cause the temperature in the terrarium to be too high for your plants, so ensure your children are watchful.

Only add water when necessary. Moisture from the terrarium should condense on the inside of the terrarium top and provide the necessary water.

A terrarium may be simple to make. The result however, of doing this simple activity can be profound, as it provides enrichment to a child’s life in ways that are very important. By teaching a child to care for living things, they become more aware of the complexities of nature and the world in which we live.

ENJOY : )

If you’re looking for a way to contribute to the future of this planet, get involved in recycling. No, I’m not talking about going door-to-door collecting cans and bottles.

I’m talking about gathering stuff that you’re going to get rid of anyway — from your home, from where you work and from where you travel.

Recycling is the process of turning one product’s useful parts into a new product. This is done to conserve on the consumption of resources, energy and space used in landfills.

The evidence is over-whelming: Recycling pays dividends to future generations.

Recycling creates 1.1 million U.S. jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls. It creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management and disposal industries. And recycling and composting diverted nearly 70 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2000, up from 34 million tons in 1990-doubling in just 10 years.

Recycling benefits the air and water by creating a net reduction in 10 major categories of air pollutants and eight major categories of water pollutants.

Here are some of the things you can recycle:

Paper — newspaper, office paper, cardboard, magazines

Why recycle paper? If everyone in the US recycled just 1/10th of their newsprint, it would save approximately 25 million trees a year! Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees.

Aluminum — beverage containers, canned foods containers

Why recycle aluminum? By recycling one aluminum can, you can save enough energy to run a TV set for 3 hours.

Plastics — soda bottles, milk jugs, plastic bags (at grocery stores), detergent containers.

Why recycle plastic? Five recycled plastic bottles makes enough fiberfill to stuff a ski jacket. By recycling one plastic bottle not only saves anywhere from 100 to 1000 years in the landfill but also saves the environment from the emissions in producing new bottles as well as the oil used to produce that bottle.

Glass — green, clear, amber.

Why recycle glass? Glass never wears out. For every ton of glass that is recycled, a ton of resources (sand, soda ash, limestone, and feldspar) is saved. The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb for four hours.

Other metals — steel cans, automobile bodies, appliances

Why recycle steel? For every ton of steel that is recycled, 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1000 pounds of coal, and 40 pounds of limestone is preserved.

According to "The Benefits of Recycling," by Michael Russell, ezinearticles.com, August 20, 2009, "In 2000, the recycling industry was responsible for more than 1.1 million jobs and a yearly payroll of $37 billion. For every 10,000 tons of waste that is recycled, 36 new jobs are created. If you were to incinerate the 10,000 tons of waste instead, only one job would be created. In addition, for every employee there is collecting items that can be recycled, there are 26 employees that turn these items into new products. There are as many employees in the recycling industry as there are in the automobile and truck manufacturing industry. Also recycling industry employees make more money than employees in other industries."

Roger Rochat reminds us, "We have not inherited the earth from our grand parents, we have borrowed it from our grand children."

Care for your planet so that it will still be vibrantly giving to generations when you and I are long since forgotten. Mother Earth has been good to us, we see her assets in our gardens. This is our chance to give back to her.

In our garden we have three rain barrels, with the amount of rain we have had over the past two weeks in Florida we could have filled a dozen!!! With the current drought and water restrictions they are a great way to save water and money too!

Our rain barrels each hold 55 gallons of water, but some can hold up to 80 gallons. They can be gaily decorated to match their surroundings or to add fun to the position in which you site them. To decorate our rain barrel is on our 'to do list!!'

Using rain barrels can aid in the reduction of storm water runoff. In this time of drought, the rain water saved can used for any activity within the garden. We have attached a spigot so that a watering can, can be used for hand watering, but we can also link the rain barrel to a nearby soaker hose irrigation system to water the plants in our garden. My husband however, thought it might be fun… to throw our bronze fish pond spitter into our rain barrel to increase the area of water flow to the garden. I’ll have to keep an eye on him!!!

The rain barrels do fill quickly in a down pour, in fact I was amazed how quick! So, you actually can end up with more rainwater than you think! But with the drought upon us, it is an added bonus for us to have those extra drops for our landscape.

So will you consider becoming Waterwise like us?