In Jo's Yard - last post - Join Facebook group

 It has been a pleasure writing this blog, but it is time to move on.  My Villages Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society has started a Facebook page.  I hope you will join us there.  It should be more interactive:   a place to share photos of Florida Native plants and yards, ask questions and share your knowledge, to hear about meetings, seminars, plant sales and more.  See you there:  

FNPS The Villages Chapter FaceBook

In Jo's Yard - 73 Walter's Viburnum (compact)

 

Let me preface today’s entry with a note that this blog will be coming to an end shortly.  My Villages Chapter of The Florida Native Plant Society is starting a Facebook page.  Facebook will be more interactive, allowing members of the group to post photos, ask questions of the group, share knowledge. 

In my small yard, I have Dwarf Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obvatum ‘densa’) along the north side of the house. This compact variety may grow to 4’-5’ high and can be pruned to stay neat and tidy.  Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obvatum) may grow as big as 27’.  It is evergreen.  In the spring it is covered in beautiful, fragrant white flowers.  After flowering, it will get red berries that ripen to black and provide nourishment for lots of birds.  It provides cover for birds and small mammals, and is hurricane wind resistant. 

It is low maintenance, and once established, needs very little water. 

 

RESOURCES:  

https://www.fnps.org/plants/plant/viburnum-obovatum

http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nassauco/2017/06/11/fact-sheet-dwarf-walters-viburnum/#:~:text=This%20hardy%20plant%20is%20great,nice%20and%20neat%20year%20round.&text=Like%20many%20Viburnums%2C%20%27densa%27%20does%20not%20need%20much%20maintenance. 

Feb 10 – Walter’s Viburnum getting ready to bloom

Feb 24 - Walter's Viburnum in full bloom

In Jo's Yard - 72 Chapman's Goldenrod

Let me preface today’s entry with a note that this blog will be coming to an end shortly.  My Villages Chapter of The Florida Native Plant Society is starting a Facebook page.  Facebook will be more interactive, allowing members of the group to post photos, ask questions of the group, share knowledge. 

Chapman’s Goldenrod (Solidago odora) is planted in the bed with my Pinelands Lantana, Bee Balm, Flatwood Plum trees and now Dune Sunflowers.  It flowers around August – October in my yard. Some neighbors were alarmed telling me about allergies, but actually people rarely have a reaction to Goldenrod plants because they pollen is not air born – the pollen is heavy, does not float, and this plant relies on the bees and butterflies to pollinate it.  I’ve been told that “in the wild” Goldenrod and Ragweed often grow together in the same places. Ragweed is not as showy a plant as goldenrod, but ragweed is the pollen that causes itchy eyes and nose! 

Goldenrod likes full sun.  Once the yellow blooms go, many people cut it back, but I found that it continues to make an interesting plant through Fall, so I’ve only cut it back around late November or December. 

RESOURCES:
https://www.fnps.org/assets/pdf/pubs/solidago_odora_chapmansgoldenrod.pdf
http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2010/10/chapmans-goldenrod-solidago-odora-var.html
Goldenrod-vs-Ragweed-Which-causes-allergies-and-which-benefits-pollinators

                                       AUGUST - Chapman's Goldenrod with Beebalm

                              OCTOBER - Chapman's Goldenrod yellow flowers fading

                         NOVEMBER - Chapman's Goldenrod, yellow flowers are gone