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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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Chapter 12 - In which we visit the other Tribune garden writer’s garden
Posted Nov 14, 2009 by Loren Omoto
Updated Nov 14, 2009 at 08:35 PM
It’s been kind of strange. For several years, Brandon garden writer Monica Brandies wrote for the Brandon News, a small newspaper owned by the same company that owns The Tampa Tribune, my source of food, bought plants and utility bills, among other essentials.
When I became the editor of the Trib’s (now defunct) At Home section a few years ago, I tried to steal Monica from our Brandon brother. They said, flat out, “No.” Then times got hard. The Brandon News became part of The Tribune and the At Home section died. People got laid off. Kim and I started writing gardening stuff because, even though we’re not the greatest gardeners ever, there’s nothing more fun than to write about what you love. And, heck, there was no one else to do it.
But it’s been kind of weird to know there’s another garden writer for the Trib who I’ve never met. Monica is popular, very knowledgable (she’s written and co-written 11 gardening books, probably best known is “The Florida Gardener’s Book of Lists”), and heck, we both work for the same paper now! I’ve always wanted to meet her and to see her garden.
Here she is!
Thanks be to mangoman (Eric Young) for telling us about Monica’s Open Garden, an annual event. She held it last Saturday and today. I discovered lots of new plants, along with some old favorites—bigger and better than I’ve ever seen. (Mine will never get that big. Monica has the magic thumb. I do not. But one can dream!)
I also got to finally meet our garden-writing triplet, which was a thrill. Monica is the nicest person!
But back to plants. My hands-down favorite, which I MUST find, is Coks comb celosia, an annual that so looks like a perennial. Monica got hers from a flower someone gave her. She saved the seeds from the flower, planted them in the spring, and had flowers in the fall.
The plant is an upward growing shrub with canes. The blooms look like softest velvet but, as Mangoman pointed out, looks are deceiving. They’re hard!
Oh, I failed to mention that this was a mini Dirt reunion. Janna Begole was there, and Mangoman was giving tours! In apology for Kim’s horribly pixalated photo of Eric (Mangoman) posted from the Riverview Flower Farm tour, I submit this much more accurate depiction of our handsome garden guide. (Eric, I want you to know, there was a better photo of me, but your eyes were closed. I’m totally sacrificing for you here!)
Another plant we loved, which I didn’t think would grow in Hillsborough County, is poinciana. This one’s a “dwarf” but Monica says it will get 25 feet tall if you don’t cut it back. The secret to growing them here? Plant it in a protected, warm spot. she says. Her’s is right up next to her house.
Last (only because I’m tired and hungry) is yellow salvia. YELLOW! I love salvia because it flourishes in my %$* sand. But all I’ve ever seen is purples. Monica started this one from a cutting snagged at the Hillsborough Extension office a few years ago. I may just have to poach in her yard, because I certainly haven’t seen this in nurseries.
It’s a pretty tall perennial, about 4 feet, with an upward growth habit and sort of caning branches.
Reader Comments
Posted by (mangoman) on November 14, 2009
Hi, Thank you so much penny for not putting a picture of me with my eyes closed! And you look very good in that picture! If I go to homeDepot or lowes soon I’ll let you konw where it was that I saw the #####’s Comb.
I had never really heard of salvia before i went to her house so I think purple salvia would be interesting…
Thanks again for the pics! I’ll save some mexican midget seeds for you.
Eric
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on November 15, 2009
Penny, I had such a great time at Monica’s last Saturday I took two more friends yesterday. The Cockscomb plant is my favorite as well, Monica had me put my name on a mailing list and she is going to mail me some seeds. My other favorite was that butterfly ginger!!!!!!!! Did you take a picture of that plant? Please post if you did. I bought and planted several of her gingers. Great lady feel blessed just to have met her. Janice
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on November 15, 2009
Oh I am green with envy——can you see it? Ever since I moved to Florida in 2000 Monica’s column was one of the first things I fell in love with, along with her books. She is part of what made me the gardener I am today. Her information was invaluable to a beginner in this Florida climate. I even got some seeds from her for that poinciana a few years back. Mine are thriving. They get so tall they bend over ( I would love a solution for that)
4 foot tall green salvia? How fun. I planted red slipper salvia and they reseed themselves all over the place. I love when flowers show up in places I didn’t plant them. Gifts from the fairies, I call them. (Even though its probably the wind and bird droppings——let the Irish genes dream).
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on November 15, 2009
BTW——you and Eric both look pretty darn cute.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on November 15, 2009
Dirty kitchens will always wait for you. The good stuff at Home Depot will not. Happy shopping.
I’ll have to work on that Saturday-less profession. Not a bad idea. I hate missing all the fun.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on November 15, 2009
We got to Monica’s at 9:50 before the crowds got there. I sent her an email asking where to buy Chinese hat plant and the Butterfly ginger. If any of The Dirt readers know who sells these let me know. I was hoping to see you on Saturday too but my friends got hungry and soup and salad at Olive Gardens was calling out to us.
I have a seed pod on my yellow Devil trumpet that I am saving for you. Janice
Posted by (Chip) on November 15, 2009
It looks like Diane and I need to add Monica’s open house into our schedule for next year. It all seems to happen one after the other this time of year. I would hold off on starting any Mexican midget unless I am mistaken they are a hot whether plant most mini/cherry tomatoes are there are a few but not many come spring they will do great but you would be bucking the odds to start them now.
...........“Chip”...
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on November 15, 2009
Chip and Diane—-and Eric drop these awesome pearls of wisdom. I think they should teach us a class. Whadya think?
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on November 16, 2009
I have been busy calling around for butterfly ginger and found it at Kerby’s and Tree Mart. No one has even heard of yellow salvia, but they put me on their list. Eric I can not believe I missed you this Saturday, great picture of you and Penny. Janice
Posted by (Janna) on November 16, 2009
Janice, too bad we missed you at Monica’s garden! We got there a little late because someone had an exercise class.(Obviously, not me 
) It actually worked out well though - we got Eric all to ourselves for a very interesting and informative tour! (Thanks, Eric for the seeds and cuttings.) BTW, great picture, Eric and Penny! Our somewhat late arrival also allowed Penny and Monica time to sit down for a good talk after most visitors had left.
Chip, you and Diane should put this on your calendars for next year!
Posted by (Janna) on November 16, 2009
Susan, I agree with Penny that you could start a new career as a mosaic artist! No Saturdays.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on November 16, 2009
Thanks Janna——tempting, but my customers may not agree. They love their Saturdays.
Posted by (Janna) on November 16, 2009
I’m glad that I had the opportunity to meet Monica. It was so gracious of her to allow the public to tour her private garden. Another thing I thought was very cool - (Eric pointed this out) a flourishing WHITE plumbago. I’ve only seen blue before…
Finally, for all of you “non-commenters” out there - I’ve talked to some of you at Lowe’s, Home Depot and at Rick’s flower farm….it would be great to hear from you! The more gardeners (or those who would like to try gardening) who write, the larger the pool from which we can all draw information, ideas and advice! To all of you here who have already given me MANY tips, Thanks!
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on November 16, 2009
Penny, If I find the yellow salvia I will buy all of them and pass them out and you are at the top of the list. Janice
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on November 16, 2009
Yeah, we need to clone Eric. I was pruning and weeding on Sunday, as well. Plus I had my brother cut back two huge overgrown honeysuckle bushes that got way too out of control for the spot they were in and was hoping he would dig it all out. But the roots are ridiculous and very close to the fence. Anyone know how to get rid of roots? I guess I’ll just have to slowly but surely hack away at them. Otherwise I won’t be able to plant anything else.
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on November 17, 2009
That’s what the guy at the extension service told me too. So I bought this root hacking tool yesterday that was at Tuesday Morning. My drip irrigation is stuck in those roots so I’ll have to cut and repair that later. Yard work is never done, is it?
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