Annuals are Hardy and Thrive in our Soil

Annuals are plants that grow, flower, produce seeds and die in one growing season. The quickest way to enjoy your garden filled with flowers is to purchase young annuals from your local nursery and set them out in your garden.

The following annual plants are hardy and will thrive very well in our soil.

Marigolds: There are two sizes of these plants — dwarfs which are eight inches high and giants, with large blooms and reach a height of four feet. They should be planted at least 12 inches apart and in full sun. Marigolds it is noted, have pest repellent qualities.

Zinnias: Grow to heights of two to three feet and should be planted at least 12 inches apart. The flowers are often referred as “cut-and-come again” and are excellent as cut flowers for your home or office. They should be planted in full sun.

Balsam: These plants consist of white or pink flowers, and should be planted in the shade. They grow to a height of eight to 24 inches.

Nasturtium: A delightful and fragrant flower to grow for picking and use in salads. These flowers require some shade during these hot summer months. The vinegrows from four to 14 inches in length.

Sweet Alyssum: Ideal for hanging baskets or as an edging flower. They grow to a height of three to 12 inches. The plants begin to bloom in six weeks, producing white, pink or purple flowers.

Petunia: In order to have masses of flowers all season, purchase plants from your local nursery. For the greatest show in your garden, get one color only and place them in a sunny place — 12 inches apart.

Sunflowers: Grow to a height of six to eight feet. The flower center provides seeds for the birds that thrive in your garden.

Verbena: These plants require full sun and should be spaced six to 12 inches apart. Plants can be obtained in pink, white red, lavender and salmon colors and are ideal as cut flowers for your home or office.

Biennials: Have a two-year plant cycle. During the first year, they produce leaves and the next year they flower beautifully and then die. Some of the favorites in this group of plants that give an abundance of flowers and color in your garden are Sweet William (Dianthus) which provide clusters of bright blossoms on six to 24-inch plants in various colors. Canterbury Bells, an unusual plant that is often called the “cup and saucer bell flower” because of the shape of its blooms, which grows to a height of four feet, with flowers which may be white, purple or pink; and Foxglove, one of the most stately of all flowers with spines reaching a height of five to eight feet tall. This plant grows best in shade and has tubular flowers in purple, white and yellow flowers which hang down like bells.

Planting guide for July

Flowers: Aster, cosmos, gaillardia, marigold, portulaca, periwinkle, salvia.

Vegetables: Celery, collards, eggplant, okra, pepper, spinach, turnip.

Grasses: Bahia, Bermuda

For help with garden problems, write to Garden Korner, P.O. Box N-3011, Nassau

Sources:

The Nassau Guardian

The Ministry of Transport and Aviation recently signed a $2,244,526 agreement with the leading provider of solar powered lights, Carmanah Technology Corporation, for the wireless controlled solar led lighting systems.

The airports that have been identified for the new lighting system are Colonial Hill, Crooked Island and Spring Point, Acklins; Staniel Cay, Black Point and Farmer’s Cay, Exuma; Congo Town and Mangrove Cay, Andros; Deadman’s Cay, Long Island; Sandy Point and Moore’s Island, Abaco; New Bight, Cat Island; Port Nelson, Rum Cay; Duncan Town, Ragged Island; Great Inagua; Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands and South Bimini.

Sources: Cipore.org

For more information about Rum Cay Airport: http://www.rumcayairport.com

Jose describes Kiteboarding as ” a new style of water sport where you’re flying a giant wing through the air and you’re on a wakeboard, and basically you’re using the wind with this kite to move you along the water. There’s this organization called Kitehouse that teaches out of Key West. Really it’s a group of kiteboarders who are instructors, and they take a ship and load it with kites, peoples and boards and go out to a flat in Key West.” Visit http://www.thekitehouse.com to learn more about kiteboarding in the Key West area.

Season 2 of Jose’s The Road Less Traveled video mini-series featuring Rum Cay:

Episode 1: Go Fly a Kite

Watch The Road Less Traveled Season 1 Episode 1: Go Fly a Kite

After several falls and swallowing a few liters of the water off the coast of Key West, Jose takes his new kiteboarding skills to the azure waters of Rum Cay. Join him and Emily as they take advantage of the wind off the beautiful, deserted beaches of the Bahamian island.

Episode 2: Around the Way

Watch The Road Less Traveled Season 1 Episode 2: Around the Way

Jose discovers more of Rum Cay with friends, Emily and Bobby. On the West side in Flamingo Bay, they explore the ruins, visit with locals and find the time to do a little bonefishing.

Episode 3: Work and Play

Watch The Road Less Traveled Season 1 Episode 3: Work and Play

While we call Rum Cay a paradise, a tight-knit community calls it home. Jose’s friend, Bobby, shows the island through the eyes of those who work and play there.

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