Nehrling Gardens representative Teresa Schretzmann-Myers spoke in February to Orlando Garden Club members on attracting birds to our yards and feeding them. Nehrling Gardens is the 6 acres that remains of Dr. Nehrling’s homestead and gardens. Dr. Henry Nehrling purchased 65 acres in the 1800s near the town of Gotha. As a Florida pioneer horticulturist, he developed 25 acres into a tropical garden. Today the Henry Nehrling Society cares for the property, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites.
Bird Feeder Care
Clean your bird feeder with vinegar before refilling to prevent spread of disease. Teresa recommends Sky Café bird feeder to thwart squirrels. If not replacing your feeder, add Fiery Feast seed which has hot pepper in it to foil the squirrels. There is also a Suet with hot pepper to keep squirrels away.
She encourages a ‘puddling area’ of water for bees and butterflies in a quiet sheltered corner of your yard. Cut back your butterfly weed regularly to prevent the spread of diseases butterflies leave behind. It is good for the plant as well.
Some Flowers that Attract Butterflies
Jatropha Integerrima (Coral Plant)
Buddleia Davidii Buzz (Butterfly Bush)
Cestrum (Orange Zest)
Verbena
Liatris Spicata (Blazing Stars)
Seudogenoxys Henopodioides (Mexican Flame Vine)
Feeding Hummingbirds
To feed hummingbirds mix one cup of sugar and 4 cups of water until dissolved. Clean the feeder with bleach between fillings and let dry. Store any spare sugar water in the fridge. Do not add food coloring.
Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association Inc. Seed 99% pure seed, no fillers. floridawildflowers.org, Email: businessmanager@floridawildflowers.org.
FNGLA Free Nursery and Plant Directory, Wholesale and Retail: plantant.comv Fresh Birdseed, Bird Feeders, Stations, Birdbaths Fully Washable
Wild Birds Unlimited, 8015 Turkey Lake Road, Suite 500, Orlando, FL 32819.
In February the Orlando Garden Club’s Lake Silver Shores Circle members learned about the art of Bonsai.Robert Kempinski is an internationally renowned Bonsai grower. He travels the world appreciating the art of Bonsai as perfected in different countries and cultures. He lives in the Melbourne area.
Suggested Species
Kempinski suggests a few plant species for growing Bonsai. He says it is best to use trees that grow well where you live. Plants that grow well here may not grow well in Melbourne where he lives, for example,
Salt Bush. This plant grows very slowly and is malleable. It may grow better in Melbourne than in Central Florida.
Cedar Elm -This is an example of a tree that grows well up north, it needs cold weather. If you grow a Bonsai with Cedar Elm you will have to have it indoors all the time. This tree won’t have leaves until March.
Sea Hibiscus. This plant has fast growing roots. By trimming, it gives smaller leaves.
Juniper Trees. Kempinski says these are great for bonsai. He has one growing since 1998. “There’s no such thing as an instant bonsai,” he said. They grow slowly.
Florida Elm – This tree has small leaves and grows well in a pot. He has one that is 20 years old.
A Few Important Points
You can copy designs and then try your own designs.
Bonsai started in China then emigrated to Japan during the Chinese cultural revolution.
Kempinski says, “Styles are a human affliction,” trees don’t care about style.
The secret to growing Bonsai is using granular soil, not potting soil.
The Bonsai Society of Florida is celebrating 50 years at their state convention which will be in Orlando. Their convention will be held at the Florida Hotel in Florida Mall during the Memorial Day weekend. You can visit and enjoy the display of Bonsai from all over the state.
The Orlando Garden Club Commemorated Arbor Day in many different ways this year. Approximately 150 Florida Garden Clubs held their tree planting event at 11:00 am!!
Kathy Hall, arborist from the City of Orlando spoke on planting new trees. Her team planted a Bluff Oak on club grounds. This tree does not have aggressive roots, its canopy is rounded and upright, and it may get up to 60 feet tall. Ms. Hall shared some of her tree knowledge during a brief presentation to our members after our ceremony.
Hall is an arborist and landscape inspector for the City of Orlando.
Kathi Hall with OGC members and Karmi Shepard, OGC Grounds Chairman
