Susan first moved to Sarasota in 1980 where she raised her family.  After returning to Rhode Island, Sarasota’s charm and lifestyle harkened and back she came in 1990. How lucky Susan is- both her sons live locally!

 

Susan’s vocation was in real estate but her pride and joy and treasured memory is an avocation start-up not for profit organization! The Children’s Healthy Pantry 501-C3 was all consuming for over eight years. Susan and a group of friends delivered healthy food to some fourteen schools as well as taught healthy eating habits to all including the Boys and Girls Clubs.  Detwiler's was her first large donator for fruit and vegetables for healthy living! A hands-on philanthropic endeavor which we know her students have taken with them to foster sound nutrition to the next generation.

 

Back on to the home front, Jeff Hibbs helped Susan design her cottage garden and Lauren Troyer maintains.  There is no question that the full color and glow of her garden attests to “the right plant in the right place”!  Two delightful sculptures call…an Andrew Carson colorful metal dynamic motion piece adorns the front lawn and in the entryway “Mary Margaret” welcomes you!

What drew my attention, initially, is the amazing display of Croton Petra throughout the property. Although crotons (Codiaeum variegatum) are a Sarasota staple they hail from Southeast Asia.  It is important to know that this vibrant and visually striking plant renowned for its boldly colored foliage is best maintained by receiving bright, indirect sunlight. The Croton prefers a well-draining soil that is kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. It’s essential to allow the top inch of soil to dry out between watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot. There is no limit to the colors this plant comes in:  gold, red, orange, green and even pink! This easy-care shrub features color and low-maintenance for any size yard. You don’t need flowers in Florida-texture and color come from many of our non-flowering shrubs. Consider the following varieties for your garden: Sloppy painter, magnificent, Petra, Mammy, Gold-dust, Zanzibar, Lauren’s Rainbow, Mrs. Iceton and a multitude of others!

Plumbago flanks the side white picket fence. With its bright blue prolific flowers, it pairs beautifully with yellow flowers like marigolds or coreopsis. If you fancy a more monochromatic look, white flowers like daisies can provide a soothing contrast. Looking for a total purple or blue look then blue daze offers a small blast of blue which when placed in front of the fence will not hide it. Susan shared her love of lavender and wants to try some in the yard.  There are few lavender species that can handle the hot, humid weather we experience in the Sunshine State. 

Spanish lavender, (Lavandula stoechas), is suited for humid areas. The growth habit is different from all the other lavenders in that it is sprawling and low growing. It offers a lavender alternative to blue daze and will not hide a cottage picket fence! 

French lavender ( Lavandula dentate) can grow larger with a height of 3 to 4 feet and up to 6 feet wide. It makes a delightful house surround by itself!  A year-round Florida special is sweet lavender.  It has long, slender flower spikes and attractive silvery foliage.

Walk around the pocket park property with curvilinear bed featuring an Old Oak with a traditional stag horn fern surrounded by confederate jasmine ground cover; pots of skeleton-fern mixed with aloe, and a private front deck featuring a colorful container garden. A little gem magnolia is so Southern! 

So simple, pleasing and peaceful and low maintenance to boot!  Serenity is what gardening is all about. We are so fortunate to live in a neighborhood affording every type of garden from cottage to contemporary.  We thank you Susan and Luigi for sharing your cottage refuge with us!