CCC |
As an avid gardener, I was saddened when I moved to South Florida that I could no longer have boxwoods in my garden. In Virginia, I loved and coddled my boxwoods, watching them slowly grow to maturity. Every snowfall I would be out in the garden gently brushing off the snow so their brittle branches would not be broken.
When I redid the landscaping in front of my home here in Florida, I really wanted boxwoods but knew I was far too south to have them. After much research, I landed on the idea of Eugenia. Eugenia grows easily here and is quite disease and pest free. (Boxwoods can be quite temperamental even in the best of environments).
I had my gardener plant a dozen small ones I found at Home Depot and in less than 2 years they are the size it took my boxwoods in Virginia 20 years to achieve. Tell me these don't look just like boxwoods. They also make wonderful topiaries.
Eugenia |
There is indeed a solution to most things, you just need to figure it out! Gardening in Florida is a delight - you can garden virtually every day of the year. When it is going to be a hot day, I do what I learned years ago vacationing in Bermuda. I was told to play golf or tennis early in the day and I apply that here in South Florida in the summer - gardening or playing racquetball before the heat of the day.
I also wanted you to get an idea how fabulous my crazy cheap solar lights look at night -
CCC |
See my post here and find them here - I did my entire front yard for under $100. And they cost $0 a year to operate!
I have planted a very viable option to boxwood here in NEFL...the ilex schilling also known as dwarf Yaupon. Though does not reach the height of the boxwoods in VA, with a bit of trimming each year these create an exceptional ball-shaped addition to the garden.
ReplyDeleteThis brings me joy
ReplyDeleteThe Eugenias look wonderful, and as a Californian, where the price of energy has gone through the stratosphere, I LOVE the fact that your solar lights cost zero to operate!
ReplyDeleteYour lighted landscaping is gorgeous !! I've always loved Florida at night with all the uplighting, especially the palm trees. And, yes, the Eugenia look just like boxwoods. Lovely!💚
ReplyDeleteI'm in Alexandria, VA, and we used "Soft Touch Holly" to achieve cute little round balls that are kind of like boxwood, only much hardier. I love that they aren't fussy. 🙂
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