White Swamp Milkweed

White swamp milkweed (Asclepias perennis) is an herbaceous perennial (height – 12 to 18 inches) for full to part sun. This beautiful, native wildflower is naturally found on floodplains, water way margins, marshes, cypress swamps, ditches and wet lands. Although it does thrive with regular moisture, it will also tolerate most garden situations including somewhat well-drained soils. It propagates by seed and tolerates temperatures to zero degrees Fahrenheit. Asclepias perennis blooms from May to September. Its pinkish white flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators, and its foliage is larval food for both the Monarch and Queen butterflies.

At Native Nurseries, we typically stock white swamp milkweed in quarts and 1-gallon pots. Currently we have 1-gallon pots only. As always, give us a call to check availability before making a special trip (although we’re always happy to see you). Sorry . . . we do not ship plants.

Some information for this blog post came from the following sources –

http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/demogarden/printables/swamp%20milkweed.pdf

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completeWildflowerData.asp?id=5

Basil

Basil must be everyone’s favorite herb. It is definitely a heat lover, perfect for our steamy hot summers in North Florida. A native of India, Southeastern Asia and tropical Africa, basil is a member of the mint family. A succession of plantings starting in spring and continuing till fall will ensure fresh basil all season. Plant this sun loving annual in a well-drained, organically enriched soil. Pinch off the flower buds to prevent it from going to seed, and harvest the leaves often to maintain a bushy form. Keep it mulched, water often (depending on the summer rains) and fertilize monthly with fish emulsion or a slow release organic fertilizer.

The many types of basil include:

Sweet Basil is the most widely used and can become a small bush, three feet by two feet. Genovese basil is also considered sweet basil with a more robust flavor. These are the traditional types used in making pesto, a thick sauce consisting of basil, garlic, nuts, olive oil and parmesan cheese. Pesto is very easy to make in a food processor.

Spicy Globe basil is a petite variety maintaining a rounded global form, great for containers. Easy to cut and use fresh in salads.

Lemon basil, with its delectable lemon flavor, is a favorite for use on fish and seafood. This one wants to bolt quickly so be vigilant about pinching off the blooms.

Thai basil is essential in any Thai recipe and makes a good substitute for cilantro in tabouli salads.

Cinnamon basil has a unique spicy cinnamon aroma. It is used in baking and Middle Eastern style cooking.

The purple basils are beautiful in the garden especially when paired with plants of silver and grey shades. They include Opal, Purple Ruffles, Red Rubin and African Blue which may be a perennial here in Tallahassee for some gardeners. It attracts many pollinating insects and is a gorgeous plant in the garden. This one you can let bloom, and it will be hardy up till frost. It makes a great cut flower, too.

When harvesting basil I like to do it early in the day. Spray it with the hose first to wash it, let it sun dry and then cut. It can be kept in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to a week. If at the end of the season you have too much to use fresh, simply make pesto and freeze.

The splendid fragrance of freshly cut basil in a vase on the kitchen table delights the senses and inspires me to keep on planting!

Safe Solutions - Nolo Bait for Grasshoppers

If grasshoppers tend to be a problem in your garden, try Nolo Bait, an EPA registered biological control. It contains naturally occurring Nosema locustae spores. These spores are applied to flaky wheat bran which attracts grasshoppers who then consume both the bait and the spores. Because young grasshoppers consuming the bait will die more quickly than older stages, the most effective time to treat with Nolo Bait is during the spring hatch. However as Nosema locustae builds up in the gut of heavily infected grasshoppers, they become lethargic and lose their appetite for your plants. So treatments later in the season can also reduce grasshopper damage. In addition, infected grasshoppers are often consumed by healthy grasshoppers, which further spreads Nosema locustae throughout the grasshopper population. Infected females can also pass the spores through the egg-laying process. Nolo Bait does not harm people, pets, birds, non-target insects, wildlife or the environment and is NOP compliant for use in organic gardens. Here at Native Nurseries, we carry it in a 1 lb. bag for $29.99. It is best applied during the morning as that is when grasshoppers do most of their feeding. To increase the effectiveness, split the bag into 3 or 4 applications several days apart (but never within 4 to 6 hours of rain).