Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
December is such a festive time in our Florida landscapes. I love seeing seasonal light displays and holiday decorations in yards, businesses, and municipal offices. We are so blessed to be able to be out in our gardens all winter long.
With a La Niña winter is finally here and is predicted to last until March 2026. For new Florida residents, we will not have many periods of cold temperatures or freezes. But we will experience a few polar vortexes that will drop temperatures by 30 to 40 degrees within a few days, if not overnight. Be prepared and check your 10-day weather forecasts so you will know when to put on your frost cloths. New this year are frost cloths decorated for the holidays as snowmen, Christmas, and Santa Claus. They are wonderful!
The Christmas Bird Count is in full swing this week with Audubon asking for your help to count bird species and number of birds seen in your landscape, cities, parks, and conservation areas. Please consider providing your observations online at Audubon’s website. It’s a great activity for families, grandchildren, service and garden clubs.
Randy Schultz, the editor and founder of Home, Garden, and Homestead, recently appeared on my Better Lawns and Gardens radio show to share advice on choosing the best Christmas gifts for garden enthusiasts. I was especially taken with the Aglaonema Tricolor ‘Camouflage’, a striking houseplant featuring uniquely patterned, camouflage-like leaves and the delicious ‘Changshou’ Kumquat Tree, perfect for containers and patios. You can find all of Randy’s recommendations on Home, Garden, and Homestead.
Another memorable Christmas gift can be a ticket to beautiful gardens around the country and overseas. Tony and I lead Art in Bloom Garden Tours, with a focus on small, intimate groups, and opportunities to experience inspirational botanical and private gardens. A must for any garden bucket (pronounced “bouquet”) list! In 2026 we will be featuring a once-in-a-lifetime Sesquicentennial celebration of the United States 250th Anniversary with the Revolutionary Garden Tour. Some of the exciting gardens we will be going to will only be open one or two days just for the Sesquicentennial and will not be available again. We also have the must-experience Chelsea Flower Show and the Best of English Gardens, the Newport Flower Show and Martha’s Vineyard, The Garden Walk Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Canada, Artiste Gardens of France, the Brandywine Valley and palatial estates, and the Ethereal Gardens of New Orleans. All of the gardens are exceptional. Spaces are limited and filling up fast. We have a great time! Join us. Please go to Art in Bloom Gardens Tours to register.
I give you everything you need to plant and accomplish in your landscape for December. This weather is a terrific time to plant shrubs and trees. Check out the rest of the newsletter with my beautiful Christmas Plant of the Month, Landscape Malpractice #42 which is a “brilliant” and important tip. Lizzie’s asks for help with her staghorn ferns, and I go over important mulch considerations in my Landscape Design Tips.
Don’t miss an episode of Better Lawns and Gardens every Saturday from 7am - 9am EST on WFLA- Orlando, iHeart radio, or if you like sleeping or miss it, you can always hear it 24/7 wherever you listen to podcasts. https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7
Tom Maccubbin co-hosts our special New Year’s Show on December 27th! We won’t be taking phone calls but please send us texts during the show. We would love to hear from you.
As you enjoy all the festivities, don’t forget to take time for yourself and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us during this season. Whether you’re tending to your garden, participating in local events, or simply relaxing with loved ones, December offers countless opportunities to make lasting memories. Take a moment to reflect on the year’s successes and challenges, and set new intentions for the coming year. Here’s to growth, gratitude, and joyful celebrations! Your support to us and our sponsors is very important. We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. See you in 2026!
