Change of seasons, Central Florida style

Living in Central Florida doesn't give one a sense of changing seasons. The weather has wild fluctuations that could have winter-like conditions one day and summer-like weather the next.

However, the biggest indicator of the changing season in my part of the world is returning humidity. For at least a month or two, it has been trying to come back and stay, but cold fronts bring back those springtime "open windows" days with the crisp air and mild temps.

This is my favorite time of the year!

Although I spend way too much time sitting behind this computer, I have managed to get out a bit to start tidying up the carport jungle. It is where I hang out on my breaks where I can enjoy nice breezes and nature unfolding before my eyes.

My desire to garden is coming back strong this year and I even bought some seeds to start my veggie/herb garden. I should have started last month!

Bear with me as I restructure my web spaces . . .

In the meantime, I will be writing about some area attractions like Busch Gardens and Disney World . . . I have photos from years past that I would love to share.

What's blooming in your garden?

My paradise jungle is colorful with blooming Kalanchoe

I've written about these plants in my new blog . . . come by
and discuss what is blooming in your garden this month.

Florida gardeners webpage

It has been ages since I've posted any entries on this blog . . . I've been busy reorganizing my life, taking care of a nasty computer virus that took me over a month to conquer and way too much to go into again as everything has been covered in my other blogs . . .

My latest project is updating my personal website, DonitaWorld.com, which is mainly devoted to gardening and soap operas . . . much more coming soon.

In the meantime . . . I have updated my Florida gardening webpage . . . click here to go there.

Have all of my Florida gardening buddies thawed out by now?

My paradise is a bit crispy, but better than I expected. We were supposed to get down to the 20's in Tampa, but it didn't happen in my area. This Florida girl is still bundled up in many layers of clothing as my bones have not thawed out sufficiently :) I absolutely HATE cold weather . . .

With the economy as it is and my internet endeavors taking a huge financial hit, my unsuccessful attempts at joining the real world with a "real job" haven't worked out . . . well, I'm looking at all areas of my life that need cutting back.

One of them is food that I can grow myself and I intend on at least clearing out a section of my paradise and devote it to growing tomatoes, peppers and herbs to start off with . . . even if I have to grow them in containers . . . that works better for me anyway!

I've begun a series on my food blog, Gina's Italian Kitchen, on saving money on groceries, including recipes for cheap meals. There have been times in my life where I have gone through some serious financial struggles, I know how to adapt and still eat well.

You can really save money when you grow your own herbs and veggies . . . especially from seed . . . I'll start a series on growing your own food.

In the meantime, I keep a smile on my face with awesome music . . . this is what I'm listening to at the moment . . .

Break Me Shake Me - Enrique Iglesias




Music soothes the soul . . . check out my playlists . . . it costs nothing to join . . . I have almost 4000 songs from my diverse music collection uploaded.

Can you tell I hate to be bored? :)

Collectors of Disney memorabilia

Click on the 1st Disneyana Convention
Mickey Mouse Christmas Ornament to go to my eBay store . . .
I've just begun listing my collection of collectible Disney stuff.

There are hundreds of items in my collection that I am ready to let go of . . .
I've been collecting this stuff since Disney World first opened!

Where did the summer go?

It didn't hit me until today that summer is over. Labor Day crept up on me like all the other holidays and special events that have come and go.

Since my husband passed away, I've found it difficult for anything to seem normal. Even my biggest passion, gardening in my Paradise, has been a dreaded reminder of my happy past. But you know, circumstances don't go away if you ignore them, and untended gardens turn to jungles. My biggest promise to myself has been to get my Paradise back to where I can enjoy it again. Summer marked its beginning which never really started. My Paradise was not to be the jumping off point to my new "normal". An overwhelming task that needs professional help . . . and lots of money!

All is not lost though . . . it seems like this summer has marked my way back to "normal" in many different positive ways. My other blogs have chronicled these incremental changes that have brought me to this place in life that feels like the beginning of many new changes.

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know I'm still around, but have not been very active in the garden and have not gotten out to enjoy the Florida sunshine like I will be doing very soon. I've spent most of the summer getting my online stores going again and getting myself ready to get back into the "real world" and getting another job. I haven't worked since April and I miss getting out . . . it is time!

Don't most hermits hibernate during the winter?

:) Happy Labor Day!

Organic pest control

Someone left a comment on one of my posts asking the question . . .
"how do I keep bugs from eating my basil?"

I'm an organic gardener and don't use chemicals in my garden, especially on herbs and vegetables.

There are several recipes that I've used to control pests, but the one that is very simple . . . a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water (do not use Dawn or any other grease cutting dishwashing liquid). You can also add a teaspoon of cooking oil to make it stick to the leaves of the plant.

Something else I have learned is spray the plant with plain water with the spray nozzle on the hose . . . the spray of water will knock the bugs off the plant.

The key is to keep the leaves clean and check your plants often.

Screening with container plants

Container gardens can add a green privacy screen to a balcony or an open area.

A trellis gives vines a structure to grow on and stakes added to the bottom of the trellis help support it on the outside of the planting box. Trellises and stakes should be attached to the containers with galvanized bolts.

Water-sealed redwood and cedar are good choices for planter boxes. To help them last longer, line boxes with landscape fabric which has the added benefit of preventing soil from washing out the drainage holes. After the fabric is in place, add a mixture of half potting soil and half compost. Fill the box to within 10" from the rim.

Select a fast-growing evergreen vine to cover the trellis. Once you've selected a vine, remove it carefully from the nursery container, and place the back of the stake supporting the vine against the trellis. Cut away the plant ties from the support stake, and disentangle the vine. Tie each stem to the trellis, fanning out the stems as you go.

If you like, add other plants to your container for additional color and interest. Make sure the additions have growing requirements similar to those of the vine.