Hi Venus!

I spend an awful lot of time in my yard doing work because I love it and I see the results! I have lived in South Florida, North Florida and now, Central Florida. That is 30 years of living in Florida and heeding the advise of my beloved Grandma who loved her yard and plants with a passion. She was always taking cuttings and re-potting them...she always told me to stick with perennials.

These are the plants that have saved me money BIG TIME because of her wonderful advise and they keep on giving me pleasure year after year...

LANTANA - these are small little flowers on a low lying or creeping green foliage...great for Florida weather. My Grandma used to tell me all the time what a great plant this was...I've seen them in purple and yellow. They border my front walkway beautifully. Plant it and forget it! FULL SUN

PENTAS - what a great plant. It freezes, cut it back and it comes back!! I have had pink, red and white but love the reds because it lends itself to lots of holidays. Another one you plant and forget about! Loves drought! FULL SUN

BEGONIAS - another one that you can cut off, stick in the ground and it grows. Lots of pretty pink or salmon-red flowers. One variety is called ANGELBACK, it has polka-dotted leaves, beautiful. SEMI-SHADE

GERANIUMS - My very favorite!! I have these in terracotta pots all around the front and in back by the pool. I also keep them inside of an old tin washer tub! They love the sun and I water every day.

HIBISCUS - another one that just needs sun and water and it will bloom always!!

BOUGANVILLIA - the sign of the tropics!! I love this one so much and I can't grow it!! You need lots and lots of sun for this one. It loves DRY conditions and blooms like mad!

RED or PURPLE PASSIONFLOWER - I have great luck with these growing on my fence. Blooms always and the purple one is very fragrant. Since they are in the ground, nature takes care of them water-wise. Great plant on a fence.

AZALEAS - these come into their glory in February. They love fertilizer and need to be cut back after the last bloom before July 4th! Then you will have your show in February ---lots and lots of blooms. Mine are always giving me pink and white flowers....love them!!

I am always out there every other day sprinkling with my hose and I do fertilize quite often. I always, always cut back after the last freeze to srengthen them. If I happen to have any impatiens (they love shade) I always pinch back for lush growth.

My porch is filled with hanging pothos, ivy, rabbit fern, lipstick plant and maidenhair. It's cool and shady and they love it. I also mist all those in the porch at least once a week and they get their dose of Peter's Fertilizer regularly.

This book has helped me out tremendously:

FLORIDA LANDSCAPE PLANTS by John V. Watkins and Thomas J. Sheehan

As always, remember for plants to thrive they need 4 things:

WATER
SUN or SHADE
FERTILIZER
LOTS OF LOVE

Hope this helps you out a bit!

Gina