A fairly formal native landscape designed by FANN member Kirsten Sharp-
Ortega, Green Isle Gardens Nursery. The rock pathway is bordered with
neatly maintained Twinflower, Dyschoriste humistrata, fast becoming a
favorite for tight spaces. The Weeping Yaupon tree, Ilex vomitoria cultivar, is
an east Texas, not Florida native, but it performs well here. If a frost burns
the Firebush, Hamelia patens, it will come back quickly in the spring. Yellow
flowering perennials include Starry Silphium, Silphium asteriscus, and Cutleaf
Coneflower, Rudbeckia laciniata. Against the wall on a trellis is Skyblue Clustervine,
Jacquemontia pentanthos, a winter-flowering vine featured elsewhere
in this guide. Around the corner are trimmed shrubs of Rougeplant, Rivina
humilis, and Simpson’s Stopper, Myrcianthes fragrans. This landscape is about
two years old and professionally maintained. Photo by Kirsten Sharp-Ortega
Nature, organized. Another Green Isle Gardens Nursery design and installation.
The curvy Sabal Palm, Sabal palmetto, our state tree, creates a fun, happy Real
Florida welcome. Native plants installed around the driveway include, from
left, Muhlygrass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Coreopsis
lanceolata, behind the Coreopsis is St. Andrews Cross, Hypericum hypericoides,
to the right and behind are Coontie, Zamia pumila, behind the Sabal is Firebush,
Hamelia patens, and to the right is Tickseed, Coreopsis leavenworthii, and more
Muhlygrass. The trees include Eagleston Hollies and Magnolias. The Eagleston
Holly is said to be a natural hybrid of Dahoon, Ilex cassine, and American Holly,
I. opaca, admired for dense foliage and abundant bright red berries. The Eagleston’s
origin is unknown, so FANN classifies it as a southeastern native, rather
than Florida native. The Magnolia trees shown here may also be cultivars chosen
for their upright habit and foliage color. The surrounding property consists
of many acres that the owners are maintaining as natural habitat by controlling
and removing invasive species. Photo by Kirsten Sharp-Ortega
(continues on page 7)
LANDSCAPES COME
IN ALL
STYLES
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