While you guys are figuring out how to best kill my ferns, I have happier news! I tagged along with Dad to Home Depot. We go to the one in the "ghetto" which is Florida Ave and Busch Blvd for those who know Tampa. Seriously, there was a security guard with a gun in the garden center! The reason we like to go there is that it's the "contractor's" store so they tend to have more items and a large quantity of stock. Of course, they didn't have cheesecloth which I use to cover my caterpillar tanks with so I guess I'll have to keep on the lookout for that. Anyway, I went to check the garden center because I was looking for a specific plant - Tampa Vervain (Glandularia tampensis). It's an endangered plant and I used to have some but they eventually died off. I was looking to replace them and believe or not, Home Depot has carried them for years. The pots were different today but usually they're in those black pots that read "Florida Friendly Plants" on them. I think I read once they're grown in Riverview. Well, they had them so I bought six. And there weren't any pictures of them in the Plant Database so I added a couple. I'll take more when I get a chance. The reason I wanted to take pictures was to show you guys how similar (yet different) they are to the purple lantana. It's easy to get fooled, but Home Depot actually labels their plants pretty well and even had the Latin name on the Tampa Vervain which impressed me.
Okay, here's what the purple lantana looks like.
But here's Tampa Vervain. The centers of the flowers are different and the leaves are a lighter green.
Unfortunately, they were selling a Buddleia which is considered an invasive plant. This one had a tag that said it was "A non-invasive and ecologically responsible choice". I took a picture of the tag so you guys would know I'm not making this up. I wondered how it was non-invasive. I did some Googling and it looks like LSU was involved in the creation of this series. It said the seed was "less viable", not sterile, which means it could still spread. For those out there planning a butterfly garden, I know it's tempting to buy something with the word "butterfly" right in it. But don't! Please! Go native! If you want, plant "Butterfly Weed" (Asclepias tuberosa). It's native and will feed your Monarchs! Anyway, here's the tag.
I did have another piece of good fortune, though. I was perusing the seed packets, which is usually a waste of time. But they had Blanket Flowers there and they had my absolute favorite variety which is called 'Goblin'. I bought four packs and I'm going to inundate the area right in front of our house with them. They can take that full Florida sun and heat. Now, I have to go order some other plants...it's hard to get off ATP sometimes!
