Its a local place called the Green Market Nursery. In 1992 when we first moved here, the entire plot of land that this place sits on was a business complex called Greenery Square. All the businesses there had something to do with gardening, landscaping etc. Patio furniture, nursery, landscaping architect, irrigation place, tractor repair etc. The nursery was called the Plant Shoppe and was owned by Alan and Ellen Shapiro, who also owned the large wholesale growing operation out here in the stix by my house, Grandiflora. The Shaprio's decided to retire from the Plant Shoppe and the nursery was taken over by 2 of their long term employees. It was a WONDERFUL place. Beautiful. Huge, with ponds and decks and a building that had supplies and stuff. And the Shapiros had So FL roots so they would stock So FL type stuff for people who wanted to experiment.
Then, the entire complex, which was owned by someone (all the businesses were renting) sold it to a local guy named Dorn who ran a series of statewide liquor stores. Their store here is great. They carry wine, beers liquor and specialty groceries and have a cheese shop inside. The new owner almost IMMEDIATELY raised the rent on every business on the place. I knew the ladies who had the nursery quite well, and they told me it was exorbitant. They could not pay it. Every business there left, and the entire place fell empty. Then the 2008 financial crisis hit, and the new owner was left with a huge piece of A-1 prime real estate but no tenants. And he didn;t find any for YEARS, and the place fell into profound disrepair. It stood vacant for years, all the buildings started to deteriorate, and he had no money to upkeep it.
Once the crisis finally passed. some businesses started to venture in. But the damage to the nursery was done. All the infrastructure had deteriorated to the point of no return unless a huge amount of renovation $$ was spent to bring it back.
So of course the rent cannot be huge anymore, and someone finally moved in to most of the buildings and fixed them up, But the nursery is still in profound disrepair, even though it has a new tenant that has been there a number of years now. He has land out in Alachua where he apparently propagates stuff then brings it in to the 'nursery' to sell. Most of it is really really cheap.
Apparently, the property is being sold again. He said the complex is under contract. I think its future is unclear. But most if not all the current tenants may have to leave. This property is in a prime location, right on Newberry Road before the Oaks mall where it intersects 8th Avenue. If things go the way they have been here in Gainesville, the buildings will all be razed and they will build cheap ugly industrial looking apartments on the site

I met Alan Shapiro years ago. Grandiflora was the only grower that delivered to local nurseries in the SC Lowcountry. The locals then had to buy trucks and travel down here to get their plant material. Everyone was crushed because they also just liked Alan. Didn't Grandiflora also go into the medicinal pot business like so many others?

They are putting vast apartment complexes up around here also. I don't understand where all the renters will come from, no one can afford the rents now.

It is so sad to see so many mom and pop businesses go under, and these ugly apartment complexes go up, here they are taking all the open land that is wildlife habitat to build them.

Caladium 'Poison Dart Frog' looks alot like C. Florida Beauty.


Aspidistras is planted at the beginning on our neighborhood, always looks half dead, lots of brown, it is under tree canopy and I think it is irrigated, just the solid green one.

Heuchera, doesn't do well for me, it did well until the summer heat and rain, came back the next winter, but never did after that summer. Too bad because it is a pretty plant.

Alice yes they got the mari jane growers license from the state then its my understanding they sold the licanse and the entire Grandiflora site to a Canadian company to farm pot. But we have never been able to ascertain if they are really growing any out there or not.

A local grower, who formerly grew bedding plants, is growing "the lucrative crop" now and the ones who live nearby sure can tell. Apparently they burn their waste/compost and there is no question of what is in the air.

Sherri, Aspidistra should be cut to the ground every spring and fertilized. That is the only way it really looks good as a landscape plant.

ardesia said: A local grower, who formerly grew bedding plants, is growing "the lucrative crop" now and the ones who live nearby sure can tell. Apparently they burn their waste/compost and there is no question of what is in the air.

Does that mean all the neighbors got the munchies..

The older foliages of Fatsia japonica becoming spotty as they mature

I have Fatsia japonica somewhere, I need to go look for it.

Have had Fatsia japonica for years. They must be kept in check and never let it go to seeds.
Interesting tidbit. The name fatsi is an approximation of the Japanese word for 'eight' (hachi in modern romanization), referring to the eight leaf lobes. In Japan it is known as Template:Nihongo, meaning "eight fingers". The name "Japanese aralia" is due to the genus being classified in the related genus Aralia in the past. It has been interbred with Hedera helix (common ivy) to produce the intergeneric hybrid × Fatshedera lizei.

Thanks to the info Bea, Surely will not let this one goes to seeds, although it will be nice to see them flowers.
Fatsias are tricky in tropics, Have had lost few in the past, but I really love large palmate foliages.
Thats a bright spotty Aucuba and Fatshedera there Bea, love it.
Would want to grow that one dat

Fatsia has flowered in the past with strange looking ping pong ball size round balls covered in tiny flowers .
See link https://www.istockphoto.com/ph...
The seeds are quickly destroyed so the birds can't spread them. I live next to a forest and have a couple plants that can strangle trees. Fatsia , ivy, clematis and butterfly bush are considered invasive in my zone. Especially evergreen clematis can climb 50' or more and strangle and block light to tall Douglas fir trees a strategic Oregon lumber tree .

Coleus 'King Kong'. Interesting leaf pattern. A collage of dots, speckles and spots with pretty blue flower and serrated leafs.

Good info on the Fatsia, I like those you posted Bea. I still haven't checked on mine.

I have not grown Fatsia in years, it was kind of a thug where we used to live, self seeding all over. I do have an Aucuba but it is on the side of our home where I rarely go. I am in NC for the next week or so, I must remember to check out the Aucuba when I return home. Mine is not as gold or bright as Bea's beautiful one.

I have solid Fatshedera outside in my garden for 20 years. It can flower but doesn't go to seed. It spreads slowly and doesn't vine. The tips and leaves may die back in winter, and it can easily be trimmed back. It is a nice groundcover where you get the ivy leaves without the damages associated with ivy.

The pink actually looks more like neon pink in person

Awesome, Gheri! What is it? Do the bright leaves fade to green as they age?

It's a croton sloppy painter

The croton mammie has interesting colorful leaves too

I love the croton gold star too.

I love having crotons here. They provide constant color in the garden and require little to no maintenance once they are planted.

The leaves start off green with yellow splotches and get more colorful with age.

I do love Crotons, they add some great color foliage to the garden.