How to attract birds and butterflies

To make your outdoors even more beautiful and natural, arrange your backyard so it becomes bird and butterfly-friendly. It doesn't take much more than choosing the right plants - and watching the video below. And the results just might astonish you...

Enjoy!





***

October in Florida gardens

While most of the country gardeners are getting ready for winter break from their gardening, the Floridians are given another opportunity to spice-up their yards and gardens, to add new colors (or more color) and implement new landscaping ideas by planting some perennials.

We can plant annuals that can only be used in spring time in colder climates. Some best flowers can easily be started from seeds, others can be purchased at the local nursery and some new bulbs will add spring and summer unseen before.

An excellent page on everything that can be planted in October garden in Florida can be found here: Garden ideas: October flowers

Easy to propagate annuals: Star cluster or "Pentas Lanceolata"

Pink "Pentas Lanceolata"
Originally uploaded by Luigi FDV

These beauties come in pink, lavender pink or red. They vigorously bloom all summer and the butterflies are crazy about them!

They grow 12 to 18 inches tall and can spread 2 to 3 feet wide (given enough space). Pentas perfom equally well in baskets, planters and borders and don't mind Florida's hot sun one bit...