Spring into Summer
with Bob Walsh of R.S Walsh Landscaping
It's easy to tell when it is late spring on the Islands. No, it's not the non-stop ride down Periwinkle or Captiva Drive which I have longed for all season. It's not the quick sit down for a great lunch at Doc Ford's or Lazy, although I do love that. For me, late spring signals the start of high season for the glorious blooming show put on by the Island's Tropical & Native Plants.
Nothing sets the mood for a relaxing arrival home better than that sweet fragrance of Gardenias. A couple at your entrance or by the pool or lanai, and you are surrounded by the heavenly scent everywhere you go in the garden. You may have up to 100 blooms per plant.
I love to design outside dining and seating areas for this time of year so the spring breeze floats the scents across my dinner table. Add a little fountain pot water feature - it doesn't get better than this.
This time of year, I am also replanting my Herb garden to provide seasoning for all the fish I will catch and cook this summer. Dill, Cilantro, and Thyme are my favorites for Redfish, Snook, and Trout.
The king of late spring is the rebounding Bougainvillea. After working so hard all winter, and taking a small break, they are ready for a shot of BGI Fertilizer from In the Garden, our garden center on SanCap Road. They will become a wonderland of new flowers and beautiful leaves. This rejuvenation will carry you into the fall.
My favorite is the 'Barbara Karst' Bougainvillea on the curve headed up to Tween Waters at the "Bougainvillea House". It's a treat to see when in full bloom and it always tells me when the warm weather of late spring is here. The Island becomes peaceful again.
If you have a Pergola, Trellis or Sabal Palm, try attaching a beautiful scented Confederate Jasmine. The scent will fill the neighborhood on a warm May evening, as will the native Sweet Acacia. Recently, I was on a large property on Captiva Drive and caught the most beautiful scent in the breeze, only to track it back 300 feet to a lone Sweet Acacia we had planted just the year before.
There is nothing like spring in the air to raise your spirits. Whether you just purchased a home or are in the sales mode, nothing returns the investment like beautifully designed color in your landscape. Investing in a quality landscape for your home could increase your property value by up to 9%, recent studies have shown. And, for every $250 spent in adding seasonal flowering color or plants, you increase home values by $1000.
Not only do the glorious flower and scent make you happy, they could also make you money. So enjoy the quick trip from spring to summer and watch out for the blossoms. I will.
For frequent updates on island blooms, follow R.S. Walsh In the Garden
www.facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden
Robert S. Walsh
8050 Penzance Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-768-5655
www.rswalsh.com
Thank you, Bob! Your articles are always such a treat!
