Johannesburg – At sunset, there is beauty and tranquillity to be enjoyed in the garden on warm midsummer evenings. The garden becomes a peaceful place where white and pale-coloured plants take on an iridescent beauty and where strong colours darken and sink away, adding a mysterious quality.

The key to a successful twilight garden is to plant up light-coloured flowers and foliage which will remain visible as the light fades. In addition to mid-summer flowering white flowers, add white or stone ornaments and benches.

A suitable focal point could be a pond of water that is not disturbed by wind. The reflection of the stars and the moon in this pond will add a magical quality to any twilight garden.

It is best if the design of twilight gardens is simple and uncluttered. Add pathways that are constructed of light-coloured stone or gravel, making them easy to navigate in the dusk. Low-intensity solar lights on pathways and steps will complement the decor.

A twilight garden need not be large. It can be part of the main garden, or positioned near the house or patio. Consider these tips when creating your twilight garden for a glorious New Year’s Eve party.

 

Twilight patios

Focus on designing a patio garden that will have the most impact during the evening. Position a small water feature or fountain near the patio to provide a relaxing background sound to a summer evening dining outdoors. Light up the patio with solar products, low-energy bulbs and candles.

Pillars and posts on patios offer vertical support for white-flowered climbers such as the white-flowering mandevilla, Pandorea jasminoides “Lady Di” or star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides).

Fill containers with white alyssum, lilies, white and lemon petunias, dwarf white marguerite daisies, dwarf Gardenia “White Gem” and white-flowering begonias (shade), interplanted with silver-grey foliage plants, as well as those with light-coloured leaves, such as Cuphea “Lemon Ice” and Lamium “Silver Beacon”.

 

What to plant

There are many white, cream, lemon and pale pink roses that are suitable for a romantic evening garden. Iceberg roses in bush, standard and climbing form are among the best for landscaping. They are generous in bloom and their clusters of white flowers show up well at night. Their scent is noticeable in the evening.

For the back of a border, grow white liliums, cleome, lace flower and tall Nicotiana alata and Nicotiana sylvestris with clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms. White agapanthus, dahlias, alstroemerias, marguerite daisy bushes and Shasta daisies are suitable for the centre of a border, with fillers of gaura with its butterfly-like blooms, frothy gypsophila and edged with white alyssum. Grow white begonias with green rather than bronze leaves in light shade.

Bulbs with white flowers include arums, the pendant bells of the Berg lily (galtonia) and tuberose. Lilies are a favourite in the evening garden, for their elegant flowers and perfume.

Consider white-flowering mophead hydrangeas, oak-leafed hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) with white panicles of flowers, as well as white-flowering proteas and ericas.

Plumbago, freylinia, Bau-hinia natalensis with white bell-like flowers, and the dainty white flowers of indigenous river stars (Gomphostigma virgatum) will also be an asset in the twilight border.

 

Foliage

Pale-coloured foliage will give a feeling of stability and permanence to a garden.

In an evening garden, the foliage of caladium, variegated hibiscus and hosta, and silver-grey Artemisia “Powis Castle”, catmint (nepeta), Festuca glauca “Silver Eyecatch”, Helichrysum petiolare, lamb’s ear (stachys), lavender, Lamium maculatum “Beacon Silver” and santolina show up well.

 

Fragrance

When creating a twilight garden, the fragrance of flowers is as important as colour. The scent of choiysa, frangipani, gardenia, jasmine, honeysuckle, mock-orange (philadelphus), murraya, roses, tuberose and viburnum will drift across the garden to patios and open windows.

Sometimes flowers are insignificant but have a strong fragrance, such as the tiny sprays of flowers on osmanthus. Alyssum has a delicate honey scent and is among the most useful of annuals for a quick carpet effect. Use it to edge paths, grow between the treads of steps and paving and spill from containers.

White flowers often attract night-time pollinators, not only because they are visible in the dark, but also because many of the blooms are scented, as in the indigenous dainty epiphytic (tree) orchid Mystacidium capense with its arching sprays of scented white flowers.

Whether you enjoy sitting on the patio or walking in your garden in the evening, there are many delights to be found in a twilight garden. – Kay Montgomery, Saturday Star

The City of Scottsbluff will move into the next phase of efforts to revitalize downtown Scottsbluff. Next week, the City of Scottsbluff will host consultants as it works on developing a landscaping and hardscaping plan.

The City of Scottsbluff has hired Dropseed Studio, an Omaha design firm and division of Kinghorn Gardens, to design the plan.

Dropseed Studios and Kinghorn Gardens is headed by Bryan Kinghorn, a native of Morrill, Scottsbluff Assistant City Manager Nathan Johnson said.

“We are looking at landscaping, hardscaping and pedestrian improvements,” Johnson said.

During the mill-and-overlay project, the city removed stoplights in the downtown area, improved the city street and made handicap accessibility improvements and spurred downtown public infrastructure improvements. The project was part of an overall larger project that helped fund improvements of downtown Scottsbluff businesses through grant funds.

The city will further those public infrastructure improvements, including looking at traffic mitigation and expanding handicap accessibility, as part of this next phase of projects.

“We would like to boost the aesthetics downtown and make it more of a destination point,” Johnson said. “Some of the things that we would like to incorporate would be sustainable, looking great but also have functionality about it as well.”

Johnson pointed to a parking lot project on First Avenue as an example. The parking lot is adorned by native grasses and plants that use less water, but soften the hardscaping of the lot. Dropseed Studio specializes in some projects and the City of Scottsbluff is hoping to see projections include permeable pavers and other sustainable practices implemented.

“We want the aesthetics to serve a purpose. Hopefully, we can come up with something that is not only innovative, but also be sustainable, 10, 20 or 30 years down the road,” Johnson said.

Dropseed Studio representatives will be in Scottsbluff on Jan. 7. Representatives will do a walking tour in downtown Scottsbluff with business owners, council members and others before hosting an open house, which is open to the public from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Midwest Theater. At 5:30 p.m., a brief public presentation will take place.

On Jan. 8, representatives of Dropseed Studio will start drawing up ideas, as covered in the walking tour and the open house, during a “pin-up process” at the Midwest Theater.

Members of the public are invited to stop at the theater to speak with the firm’s consultants, share input and see the process from 9 to 3 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., Dropseed Studio consultants will host another public presentation, presenting the pin-up ideas.

“The idea is that the consultants will take the ideas from the pin-up process back to Omaha and develop the plan,” Johnson said. “We can take the master plan and incorporate it into the budget process.”

The council will decide whether proposed improvements can be funded in one large project or if improvements will be implemented in phases.

The key to the meetings being hosted in the downtown area is to gather input and information from the public, Johnson said.

“We want to make this process as transparent as possible. We really want the public to give input, whether that be good, bad or indifferent.”

Anyone with questions about the upcoming meetings can contact Johnson at 308-630-6202, or Annie Folck at 308-630-8011. Folck, who has served as stormwater specialist for Scottsbluff, will serve as the city planner.

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NORTHFIELD — Former high school science teacher John Lepore spent 1,600 hours crafting a plan for the Pioneer Valley Regional School’s 90-acre property.

“It wasn’t work; it was fun,” Lepore told the School Committee when he presented a summary of the plan.

Lepore volunteered nearly a year’s worth of full-time work to put together the 132-page comprehensive plan, “Pioneering Stewardship: An Action Inspired Design.”

Lepore’s 132-page plan encompasses outdoor learning, student land stewardship, biodiversity and more. It was recently endorsed by the School Committee in a unanimous vote.

The district will seek grants, donations and other funding, to avoid asking the district’s four-member towns to pay for the plan through taxes.

The school’s grounds are the largest of any non-vocational public school in the state.

That’s a lot of room for proposals from a wetlands viewing platform and projects to support biodiversity to a team-building rope obstacle course and three outdoor classrooms, one that would overlook the school and the valley from the hilltop in the northwest.

Many of the plan’s aspects, like invasive plant removal and recovery, could be done by volunteers, or as a class project.

“Kids starting seventh grade could adopt a piece of land, and care for it for six years. They’d really be able to see the results, and they’ll become attached to that piece of property.”

Lepore hopes a student stewardship program would foster a connection with the environment, teaching students to care for the world around them, rather than just exist in it.

Student gardens could also be built and maintained without breaking the bank and they’d provide agricultural education and fresh food at once.

Other parts of the plan will take money, like putting in ground-mount solar-electric panels or incorporating “green” roofing into the building.

Some of those projects could be paid for with open space or land preservation grants. Lepore said many aspects of the plan would be eligible for money from the town’s Community Preservation Act funds, a third of which are set aside for open-space projects.

Lepore, who holds a master’s degree in sustainable landscaping from the Conway School of Landscape Design, consulted experts, school officials and Pioneer students in crafting the plan. It includes an in-depth analysis of the site, and explores possibilities for its use.

While it covers areas like biodiversity, ecological resilience, runoff control and food security, Lepore kept one thing in mind while he wrote every page.

“My number-one philosophy is to do what’s best for the kids,” he said.

Lepore sees a bevy of outdoor educational opportunities on the Pioneer property, but he said it’s going to take a while for students and teachers to get used to outdoor learning. The idea of taking a class outside can be daunting to some teachers, said Lepore.

“Kids don’t know how to be outside. To them, it’s recess; it’s a release,” said Lepore. “It takes time to get them to understand that we’re going into another community (of nature), and that they have to show respect and act responsibly. It’s a process, and it will require support and encouragement for the teachers.”

Once the students acclimate to their outdoor surroundings, they can start to take in the world around them, said Lepore.

A recent walk of the grounds showcased a few of the species those students could come across.

Rabbit tracks intersected with deer prints in the snow by the pond, and a young moose had passed close by. By the pond’s edge, a snow-slide carved by beavers’ bellies led down to the water, where a large beaver den pokes up from the middle of the pond. Overhead, a hornets’ nest lay dormant in a tree’s bare branches. Piles of acorn shells lay at the bottom of trees, implying that a squirrel had been dining above and many a tree was riddled with woodpecker holes.

Though animals thrive near the pond, so do invasive plants. In recent years, the pond area has been overtaken with Japanese stiltgrass, but volunteers have been eradicating the foreign plant. Lepore said that, after two years’ work, 90 percent of the stiltgrass has been removed.

There are a variety of invasive plants on the property. Though they can be removed, Lepore said it’s pointless to pull the weeds unless a restoration plan can be implemented. Otherwise, the plants will come back sooner than later.

Some of these species are just biding their time, waiting until conditions are right for them to take over. All along the woods’ edge, winged euonymus, or “burning bush,” grows and it could creep farther into the forest.

All it needs, said Lepore, is for some of the trees overhead to fall down, letting in light. That’s likely to happen, said Lepore, as many of those trees are toward the end of their lives. Once the canopy overhead opens up, they’ll spread like wildfire.

While there’s a lot to learn from wildlife hikes and invasive plant management, outdoor classrooms would enable a variety of subjects to be taught outside. Each of three proposed classrooms would provide a covered seating and instruction area.

They could also provide lessons in lumbering and construction. Lepore’s plan points out a red-pine forest “in desperate need of management,” which could provide site-sourced lumber for the classrooms.

To see the summary and full editions of Lepore’s plan, visit goo.gl/OhQFY7.

You can reach David Rainville at: drainville@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 279

 

The Boxborough Garden Club meets at the Sargent Memorial Library, 427 Massachusetts Ave., Boxborough, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 9 a.m. The garden club will welcome Andy Covell, owner of Bird House Ecological Landscaping, for a discussion of plants that hrive in the local climate during winter.

Coffee and visiting precedes the event.

The meeting is free and all are welcome. A brief business meeting is followed by the program.

Covell’s website provides more information at www.ecolandscaping.net

To learn more about this garden club program, please call Pam Collins, 978-263-3855.

Anyone with any level of interest in gardens are welcome at all garden club programs and may visit boxboroughgardenclub.org.

Toronto, Ont. – Innovative products featured in the New Products Showcase at Landscape Ontario’s Congress 2014 will help landscape designers, contractors and average gardening buffs achieve their visions and improve the value of their projects. Landscape Ontario’s Congress Trade Show and Conference will be held January 7 – 9, 2014, in the south building of the Toronto Congress Centre.

As one of North America’s largest horticultural, lawn and garden trade shows, Congress 2014 is the ideal place for landscape construction, design, and maintenance business owners to see what new, efficient and cost effective tools, equipment , hard and soft landscaping products are coming to market that will help improve their services, set new trends and inspire customer interest throughout the 2014 season.

“Congress covers every facet of the lawn and garden industry. From several Ontario college and university students demonstrating their skills in the feature gardens to multinational vendors showcasing the latest equipment, plants and products , an ever popular New Product Showcase and an outstanding conference program, green industry professionals will achieve their personal and professional goals when they attend this year’s show.” says Heather MacRae, Director of Events and Trade Shows.

The New Product Showcase offers up a wide variety of innovative products. There is something of interest for everyone. Congress is a full service horticultural, lawn and garden trade show offering a broad range of equipment, live goods and services to help green industry professionals run their businesses more effectively, efficiently and profitably. From new technologies to green gardening products, business owners and public green space managers will find new and innovative products that will help them grow and prosper.

Here are a few examples of products being presented in the New Product Showcase:

For those looking for Green products:
– Rubber Venture Corporation – Enviro-Mulch – Booth 268
    – Rubber mulch made from 100% recycled tire rubber, coated with non-toxic UV table pigments. Enviro- Mulch will not compact or decay and will retain beauty for many years.
– Eco-flex – Eco-flex Rubber Multi Brick – Booth 409
    – Eco-Flex Rubber Multi Brick Mats are made from recycled rubber material with a unique over/under lap link system designed to prevent shifting. The installation process is very easy and quick providing an instant, anti-sip surface when completed. They also offer the durability required to withstand equestrian, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, allowing acceptance into any location regardless of climate. http://www.systemfence.com

For those looking to beautify their backyard:
– Greenstar Plant Products – Colourful Hanging Baskets – Booth G39
    – Decorative coloured hanging baskets; 12″, 14″, 16″. Wire baskets in 6 different colours: red, yellow, pink, orange, green and black. http://www.getgreenstar.com
– Molnar Metal Art – Custom Metal Art, Garden Gates, Signs and Gift Ideas – Booth 1352
    – Molnar Metal Art specializes in creating very special custom garden and interior gates, signs and decorations from metal. They also create custom one-off decorative screens and panels from sketches or drawings. http://www.metalartcreations.ca

For those that like Cool Tools:
– CORE Outdoor Power – Power LokTM – Booth 1848
    – The Power Lok landscaping system couples a unique GasLess Power Drive Unit, which houses the intelligent electronic controller, with quick swapping interchangeable attachments. Each attachment is powered by its own state-of-the-art CORE motor. CORE motors produce the highest energy factor per pound of any existing motor at a fraction of the size and weight. http://coreoutdoorpower.com/products
– Bannerman Limited – Riding Seeder Machine – Booth 236
    – A new way of seeding areas that are too small for tractor operated seeders. http://www.sportsturfmagic.com

Show Dates and Hours:
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday, January 9, 2014
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

NEW LISTINGS

DATED EVENTS

Garden Workdays: 9 a.m. to noon. Heathcote Botanical Gardens, 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce. Adults. 772-464-4672; www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org.

Getting Started on Your Lagoon-Friendly Landscape: IRC Master Gardeners. Noon-1 p.m. Feb. 19. IRC Administration Bldg. B, Room B-501, 1800 27th St., Vero Beach. Age 18+. Register: 772-226-3094; ircmg1@gmail.com.

Lagoon-Friendly Fertilizing: IRC Master Gardeners. Noon-1 p.m. March 19. IRC Administration Bldg. B, Room B-501, 1800 27th St., Vero Beach. Age 18+. Register: 772-226-3094; ircmg1@gmail.com.

Florida Native Landscaping: Course lectures will be delivered live with laboratories. 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Begins Jan. 8 until mid-April. University of Florida Fort Pierce campus, The Indian River Research and Education Center, 2199 S. Rock Road, Fort Pierce. $600. Register: 772-468-3922; irrec.ifas.ufl.edu.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Unusual plant containers. 9 a.m. Jan. 23. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Academy Awards fashion show and luncheon. Noon Feb. 6. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Rose Gardening in Florida. 9 a.m. Feb. 27. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Fun with succulents. 9 a.m. March 27. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

Home Garden Show: Fine art and Orchid show and sale. Orchid show noon to 5 p.m. March 21. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22, 23. Martin County Fairgrounds, Stuart. 772-287-1088, ext. 111.

Garden Club of Stuart Annual Spring Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. April 7. Willoughby Golf Club, 3001 S.E. Doubleton Drive, Stuart. $30. Ticket: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Basic principles of flower arranging. 9 a.m. April 24. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

Plants that Clean the Air Workshop: Presented by St. Lucie County Extension. 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 13. Fort Pierce Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce. 772-462-1660.

Plants that Clean the Air Workshop: Led by St. Lucie County Extension. 7-8 p.m. March 12. Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, 2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-462-1660; www.stlucieco.gov.

REGULAR MEETINGS

Garden Club of Stuart: General meeting; speaker Stan Doerr, president and CEO of ECHO, discusses four plants that can assist in reducing world hunger. 11 a.m. Jan. 13. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave, Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

Garden Club of Stuart: General meeting; speaker master gardener Laurie Hart, “Orchids are Easier to Grow Than You Think.” 11 a.m. Feb. 10. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave, Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

Garden Club of Stuart: General meeting; speaker Martin Matei, “The Big Five of Tanzania.” 11 a.m. March 10. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave, Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

Garden Club of Stuart: 11 a.m. meeting, 12:45 p.m. program. Knights of Columbus Hall, 7251 S.W. Gaines Ave., Stuart. RSVP: 772-219-4332; sandee108@gmail.com.

IRC Master Gardeners Plant Clinic: Have a plant question? The master gardeners can help. 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. IRC UFL/IFAS Extension Office, 1028 20th Place, Vero Beach. All ages. 772-770-5030; indian.ifas.ufl.edu.

Fort Pierce Orchid Society: 10 a.m. Garden Club of Fort Pierce, 911 Parkway Drive, Fort Pierce.

Gardening Advice: Bring your questions, a sample of the problem. 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-337-5632; library.stlucieco.gov.

Snowbirds Garden Club: Snowbirds Garden Club informal meetings. 1-3 p.m. Sebastian North County Library, CR 512, Sebastian. Adults. 772-581-9056; ecirish@comcast.net.

Treasure Coast African violet Society: Learn how to grow beautiful African violets. 10 a.m. Garden Center of Fort Pierce, 911 Parkway, Fort Pierce. $10 annual membership. 772-489-0504; emshelton315@aol.com.

Snowbirds Garden Club: Focused on gardening challenges for snowbirds and year-round residents. 1-3 p.m. 2nd Wed. North County Library, C.R. 512, Sebastian. Adults. ecirish@comcast.net.

MONDAY

Rio Lindo Garden Club: Monthly meeting, workshop, horticulture and ecology, have lunch. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parks Edge Recreation Center, 3201 S.W. Landale Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Age 18+. $30/year. 772-873-9446; iconley4055@comcast.net.

TUESDAY

Martin County Master Gardeners: Horticulture questions answered; bring samples. 9 a.m. to noon. UF/IFAS Martin County Extension Office, 2614 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart. 772-288-5654; martin.ifas.ufl.edu.

Gardening Advice: Provided by master gardeners. 1 to 3 p.m. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-4621-660; library.stlucieco.gov.

WEDNESDAY

Martin County Master Gardeners: Horticulture questions answered; bring samples. 1 to 4 p.m. UF/IFAS Martin County Extension Office, 2614 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart. 772-288-5654; martin.ifas.ufl.edu.

North IRC Master Gardener Clinic: Volunteers answer your plant questions. 10 a.m. to noon. North IRC Library, 1001 C.R. 512, Sebastian. 772-770-5030; indian.ifas.ufl.edu.

THURSDAY

St. Lucie West Garden Club: Monthly meetings on horticulture, floral arranging, ecology, plus outings. 9 a.m. to noon. PGA Country Club at Country Club Estates, 951 S.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie. Ages 18+. $35. RSVP: 415-513-8546; pallen6342@yahoo.com.

Treasure Coast Hibiscus Society: 10:30 a.m. third Thursday. PSL Botanical Garden, 2410 Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie. Ages 14+. 772-337-2126; paddylaurie@bellsouth.net.

FRIDAY

Martin County Master Gardeners: Horticulture questions answered; bring samples. 1 to 4 p.m. UF/IFAS Martin County Extension Office, 2614 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart. 772-288-5654; martin.ifas.ufl.edu.

SATURDAY

Gardening Advice: Provided by master gardeners. 9 to 11 a.m. Morningside Library, 2410 S.E. Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 772-4621-660; library.stlucieco.gov.

GARDENS

Garden Walk: Old garden roses. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Country Care Roses, 14070 109th St., Fellsmere, RSVP: 772-559-5036; www.countrycareroses.com.

Heathcote Botanical Gardens: 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. November-April. $2-$6. 772-242-2293; hboi.fau.edu.

Historic Bok Sanctuary: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, $3-$10. 863-734-1221; www.boksanctuary.org.

McKee Botanical Garden: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 350 U.S. 1, Vero Beach, $4-$7 May 1-Oct. 30; $5-$9 Oct. 31-April 30. 772-794-0601; www.mckeegarden.org.

Oxbow Eco-Center: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. 5400 N.E. St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie, 772-785-5833; www.co.st-lucie.fl.us/erd/oxbow.

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 2410 S.E. Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie, $5. 772-337-1959; www.pslbotanicalgardens.org.

Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open one weekend/month. 1905 S.W. Ranch Trail, Stuart. 772-283-5565; www.trbg.us.

As 2013 comes to a close, local businesses reflect on the year and look forward to what’s to come in 2014. We checked in with some of our favorite classics, some notable “new kids” and a few to keep an eye out for in the new year.

THE CLASSICS

O’Brien’s Steakhouse

113 Main St., Annapolis

www.obriensoysterbar.com

The keys to success at O’Brien’s, “Annapolis’ original steakhouse,” are great service and consistently good food in a welcoming atmosphere.

The building at 113 Main St. has been a tavern since it opened as The Rose Crown in 1774. While the name has changed over the years, most recently when owner Jerry Hardesty acquired the restaurant in 1993, the property has always served as a social hub for locals and tourists alike.

O’Brien’s is a landmark institution in downtown Annapolis. The décor pays homage to the sports heroes of the Naval Academy and the history of Annapolis. Sunday evenings feature robust games of trivia. Free games of Texas Hold ‘Em beckon on Monday nights.

Jerry recently invested in an extensive renovation of O’Brien’s décor and menu. In 2014, he looks forward to showcasing OB Prime, a traditional steakhouse replete with fireplace above the tavern, while bringing renewed excitement to diners with O’Brien’s great steaks, extensive raw bar and Sunday brunch.

Homestead Gardens

743 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville

www.homesteadgardens.com

Homestead Gardens started as a dream and a roadside stand opened by Don Riddle in 1973. The company has grown to encompass greenhouses, nurseries and retail space across the region.

Homestead Gardens has won national retail and landscaping awards. The company is well known for their motto: “Because Life Should Be Beautiful.”

They offer the area’s most extensive array of landscape plants as well as several thousand square feet of retail space for home décor items — everything from patio sets to place settings and pillows.

In 2011, the company opened a second location in Severna Park on Route 2.

In 2014, Homestead will premiere Homestead Farm and Pet, a new division that will showcase premium pet foods for both farm animals and household pets, as well as toys, accessories and grooming supplies. The barnyard will re-open in late spring with backyard chickens, geese, turkey, miniature donkeys and the now-famous Homestead llamas.

Homestead offers winter workshops during January and February that are often free. Visit their website to learn more.

Giolitti Delicatessen

2068 Somerville Road, Annapolis

www.giolittideli.com

Giolitti Delicatessen is a unique sort of place. Opened in 1992, when Annapolis had few outlets for specialty foods, Giolitti’s has always been a classy deli with a twist.

While customers can purchase a variety of artisan cold cuts, many imported, the deli also offers eat-in lunch, a retail shop with hard-to-find Mediterranean specialties and an entire wall of wine.

Over time, the business had grown to include an expanded menu, freezer cases full of lasagnas, sauces and desserts, and more tables for lunch service.

Mary Giolitti attributes the success of her restaurant to consistent quality. “People count on us,” she says. “And we don’t let them down. We do everything we can to make people feel welcome and excited about coming back.”

Although there were rumors of Mary closing shop after 20 years, they are not true. She’s here to stay.

In 2014, she looks forward to introducing new Italian specialties and other Milanese treats to catering services.

Echoes Accents

224 Chinquapin Round Road, Annapolis

www.echoesandaccents.com

Barbara Rasin Price and Leah Deane opened Echoes Accents, an upscale consignment store off Chinquapin Round Road, in 1987. The sisters’ original mission hasn’t changed: They want to help customers find affordable home furnishings that are stylish and beautiful.

“We’re so lucky here in Annapolis. Just as people are downsizing in retirement, other families are building new or larger homes. They come to us for unique decorating solutions,” Barbara says.

Echoes Accents has enjoyed more than 30 years of success not only because they curate a diverse selection of excellent quality décor, but especially because they offer an inviting, no-pressure atmosphere. Customers can snack on cookies or enjoy coffee while they browse.

“We really try to help our customers consider the possibilities of our products,” Barbara says.

The store has an excellent reputation for taking care of customers’ goods.

“The best part of this business is our collaboration — our partnership — with our customers. We are happy to take good care of people’s items and to find new, wonderful homes for them.”

In 2014, Barbara and Leah are looking forward to more and better of the same. The shop has won local awards for Best Furniture Store and Best Consignment Store. They are constantly receiving referrals, and the sisters are excited about meeting new friends and clients.

“It’s a joyous life,” says Barbara, “and we are looking forward to more of it.”

THE NEW KIDS

Wrabyn

12 Annapolis St., Annapolis

www.wrabyn.com

www.facebook.com/wrabyn

Wendy Rabyn describes Wrabyn as the brainchild of a stay-at-home mom with a deep need to create. Wendy co-owned Sitting Pretty on Maryland Avenue for several years before taking time off to start a family.

Her new concept should appeal to any woman who wants to look good, feel good and invest in pieces that have timeless appeal. Wendy’s goal is to work with unique American designers to find items that can transition from work to dinner, weekends and events.

“Annapolis is a wonderful small town. I source clothing that is beautifully made and that you won’t see on every gal in town. You won’t find it at Nordstrom.”

Wendy is working especially hard to source clothing from designers like Nanette LePore and Catherine Malandrino, whose designs are made in the United States rather than overseas.

“It’s hard to find designer goods that are not sold in China,” she says. “But about 40 percent of our offering is apparel made in the U.S., and we are very proud of that.”

In 2014, Wendy is looking forward to more individualized client styling. She’s launching in-home, private consultations to not only help women make the most of their current wardrobe, but also to help them expand their choices with pieces that are flexible and have longevity.

“Our clothes are an investment in beauty, and we are excited about helping people feel good about themselves and their appearance.”

Cariloha

181 Main St., Annapolis

www.cariloha.com

Cariloha debuted on Main Street in downtown Annapolis in April. The Utah-based franchise, locally owned by a family from Potomac, is well-known amongst sailors, runners and now happy sleepers for clothing, towels and bedding made from bamboo.

Bamboo production requires less water than cotton, and because the plant naturally repels insects, pesticides aren’t necessary. Since bamboo is so grass-like and prolific, it’s a very renewable resource.

The best selling items at Cariloha are bamboo sheets. While ultra-soft and luxurious, the fabric is also innately hypo-allergenic, antimicrobial and self-regulating. Fibers in the bamboo naturally respond to heat, opening and closing to raise or lower temperature, making a comfortable night’s rest attainable year-round.

Cariloha is a new concept for Annapolis. Business was slow until a few locals bought products or received gifts and began to spread the word. In 2014, Cariloha looks forward to adding new items to the assortment, including more colors of sheets and new sportswear.

Cupcake Blvd

1117 Route 3 N #104, Gambrills

www.cupcakeblvd.com

Cupcake Blvd has grown progressively since Angelette Aviles opened her Crofton shop in 2012. She started the business from her home, expanding first into a food truck and quickly thereafter into a storefront.

“The shop has far exceeded all of my projections and expectations,” says Angelette. “Growing progressively has really allowed us to respond to our customers while making sure our plans were sound.”

The store offers several flavors of handmade cupcakes and truffle cake pops — cakes enrobed in chocolate then garnished with even more deliciousness.

In 2014, Cupcake Blvd is excited about expanding their product line and classes. The truffle cake pops have become so popular that Angelette plans to debut several new flavors each season. She’s also had a remarkable number of requests for specialty cakes and is looking forward to combining her staff’s talent and creativity for more birthday, wedding and special occasion confections.

This spring she hopes to add more ovens to the kitchen, which will enable her to sell other fun treats. She has pie-cakes in mind — a pie baked inside a cake.

Pure Barre

2484 Solomons Island Road, Annapolis

www.purebarre.com

Susan Singleton and Anne Fava opened Pure Barre at the Annapolis Harbour Center just one month ago. Already, they are astonished at the warm welcome they have received from local fans of barre.

“Right now is just such a busy time for everybody, so we are astounded by the number of women who come in, some at 6 in the morning, to take care of themselves,” Susan says.

Pure Barre, a national franchise that coaches a trademarked style of barre, is a fusion of Pilates, ballet and yoga. Susan notes that barre is a no-impact yet athletic approach to all three forms of exercise.

Every major muscle is worked in each class through small isometric movements that work the muscle to fatigue, strengthening then lengthening to create long, lean tone. Susan says students who attend classes three or more times a week should see a difference in tone within just a few weeks.

The Pure Barre studio can accommodate up to 25 people, so while walk-ins are welcome, reservations are preferred. Reservations can be made online or over the phone.

In 2014, Pure Barre is looking forward to partnering with local athletic groups. They’ve hosted the Annapolis Triathlon Club and are working with Lululemon to offer free classes to customers.

“We offer 55 minutes to focus solely on yourself. You will leave feeling lighter and brighter and ready to face anything that comes your way,” says Susan. “We look forward to offering that healthy feeling to even more clients.”

COMING SOON

Dry 85

193B Main St., Annapolis

www.dry85.com

Dry 85, an industrial take on the Prohibition-era speakeasy, is set open on Main Street in downtown Annapolis in January.

The Bolter family, also owners of Red Red Wine Bar, says Dry 85 will be a place to go for bourbon, beer and gourmet comfort food. The bar will feature more than 100 whiskeys with special emphasis on bourbon. There will be 12 craft beers on tap, along with a smattering of domestic bottles.

The menu will offer gourmet burgers, slow-roasted ribs, oyster po’ boy sliders and decadent truffle fries paired with Veuve Clicquot. Very exciting will be the Bacon Brunch, a showcase of all things bacon, perfect for a lazy Sunday morning followed by a walk through downtown.

HomeGoods

Jennifer Road, Annapolis

www.homegoods.com

A sister company to Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods offers heavily discounted décor items sourced from department stores and locations around the world.

There are 471 HomeGoods stores throughout the United States, and the Annapolis location will be opening next to Marshalls in Annapolis Plaza off Jennifer Road. The new store will encompass more than 25,000 square feet, will employ about 60 full- and part-time employees, and will feature more than 30,000 items.

HomeGoods buyers travel the world to find interesting and special items you may not find anywhere else. Think of decorative bird cages sourced in India, statues from Africa, furniture from North Carolina and cookware from Italy or France. All items are first-quality — none are used or refurbished.

The new store is slated to open in March. Managers look forward to providing Annapolis with a new forum for decorative items and furniture.

The incentive for Burbank residents to replace the turf in their yards with drought-tolerant plants just got a little sweeter.

The Burbank City Council signed off on plans last week to double the rebate for water-saving landscapes — raising it from $1 per square foot to $2. And that applies now not only to front yards, but also side and backyards, city officials said.

Since most single-family households use 50% of their water on landscape irrigation, customers who participate could save between 15% and 25% on their monthly water bills with the right plant materials, said Burbank Water and Power spokesman Joe Flores.

“A native landscape garden can be really beautiful and lush, and there’s all kinds of different styles of native land gardens,” Flores said. “Some people have a perception that it can be a cactus garden, but that’s just one particular style.”

When Burbank resident Juan Jimenez replaced the turf on his frontyard with drought-tolerant plants and installed new sprinklers about four years ago, he said he realized a $40 savings on his water bill each month.

The Metropolitan Water District will subsidize half of the cost of the rebate and provide the manpower to work with Burbank customers, while Burbank Water and Power will foot the bill for the other half of the rebate.

Anticipating more interest among residents, the utility plans to commit $75,000 to the rebate program.

That means residents can pocket hundreds of dollars by relandscaping their gardens, depending on the size of their lawns.

Since the rebate program began a year ago, 30 households have transformed their gardens, and 15 more are in the process of making the change.

The rebate increase was approved by the council in a 4-1 vote, with Councilman David Gordon being the sole dissenter.

The utility also offers “how-to” landscaping workshops to cover turf removal, with the next one taking place from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 11.

For more information, visit burbankwaterandpower.com or call (818) 238-3730.

—

Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.

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Guelph Mercury

We’re a week past the solstice and Christmas is over. Only New Year’s Eve to go and the garden season is about to begin.

What? In January, you say?

Yes, it may be some time before the garden is accessible, but like me, many gardeners are already reviewing landscaping plans or practising with the new tools they received as Christmas gifts — please, no hoes on the hardwood floor. Others will be setting up grow ops in their basements to get an early start on plant production. Despite rising hydro costs, it doesn’t cost much to run a twin tube fluorescent light — and it pays off given the number of plants that can be grown.

This means time spent browsing seed catalogues, which are often as enjoyable as a good book, except that the major seed companies are now doing business online and consequently, because of shipping costs, don’t mail out catalogues in the numbers they used to.

Not everyone, however, is comfortable with online buying and some simply don’t have internet access. For these gardeners, the catalogues are essential.

Even so, it may only be a matter of time before printed versions go the way of phone booths and typewriters, so enjoy them while you can — maybe hang on to a few as they might one day become priceless collector items. Even the companies that still publish a hard copy typically require that it be requested online, or they only offer a downloadable version you can print yourself.

A most helpful publication I recommend for those without internet access is the Gardener’s Journal and Source Book, an ideal resource designed for gardeners in the Golden Horseshoe area of Ontario.

Besides seed and garden product suppliers, it lists practically everything garden related from arborists and garden centres to books and radio shows. If you’re looking for a supplier of rare plants or an educational program, you’ll find it here. Need a soil test or a garden to visit, it’s all listed.

The book can be ordered online at www.torontogardenbook.com or mail cheque or money order for $24.95 plus $3.50 shipping to: Garden Book Orders, 490 Briar Hill Ave., Toronto, ON, M5N 1M7

For those comfortable in the digital garden world, or who have just received a new smart phone or tablet this week, there are lots of garden apps to spend time with. Below are a couple provided courtesy of The National Garden Bureau. Email me for the full list.

•Leafsnap — a free app created by researchers from Columbia University, University of Maryland and the Smithsonian Institution, allows users to take a picture of a leaf then use the app to help identify the species.

•Garden Compass App — a free app that allows you to take a photo of a plant, disease or pest and submit it to a team of garden advisors who will identify it for you, as well as provide you with specific product recommendations to resolve any problems you may have.

Dream Garden Conference

Back in the real world, this coming month brings the first major event on the local garden calendar, the Galt Horticultural Society’s Dream Garden Conference on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Grand Valley Golf Club.

It’s a day to catch up with friends (I’ll be the master of ceremonies) and hear the following entertaining speakers: Paul Zammit, director of horticulture at Toronto Botanical Gardens, speaking on The Soul of the Garden; Darren Heimbecker of Whistling Gardens, speaking on designing and creating of 20 acres of paradise, and Lorraine Roberts, author and photographer, speaking on Recipe for Continuous Bloom.

Tickets, which go fast, are $40, which includes lunch and door prizes. Call Nancy Smith at 519-623-7085 or email nancy@nsmith.ca for more information.

That should keep you busy for a while.

Happy New Year, gardeners!

David Hobson gardens in Waterloo and is happy to answer garden questions, preferably by email: garden@gto.net . Reach him by mail c/o Etcetera, The Record, 160 King St. E. Kitchener, Ont. N2G 4E5

WESTFIELD, Ind. (Dec. 27, 2013)– The murders of a Westfield woman and her adult daughter December 20th were the result of a vendetta and opportunistic robbery by an ex-employee of the family’s business.

Mary-Lyn and Kelly Erb were found bludgeoned to death inside their Oak Park Court home by Todd Erb as he returned home from work.

According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators think the women were surprised and killed during the lunch hour.

Within days Westfield Police released photographs from surveillance videos shot at two eastside Indianapolis stores of a man attempting to use a stolen Erb credit card to receive cash.

On Christmas Eve morning a tipster called police to say that he overheard Jamiyl Gilbert claim that a friend, Christian Haley, “had murdered those people in Westfield.”

The tipster also identified Gilbert as the man in the surveillance video.

The tipster told police that Gilbert was aware that Haley formerly worked for Todd Erbs’ landscaping company, Sundown Gardens.

Later that day a search warrant determined that Haley’s cell phone was traced to the Erb neighborhood the day of the killings.

On December 26th Gilbert told police that Haley gave him the Erb credit cards and, “Haley stated he bashed their heads in with some cement or something.”

“Gilbert advised Haley told him several months back he was going to rob an ex-boss…because they fired (him).”

“Gilbert stated Haley is one of those guys who would go shoot the place up.”

Gilbert said he accompanied Haley to the neighborhood in July during a previous robbery attempt one month after Haley was fired from the landscaping company for poor attendance.

Search warrants served Thursday recovered some evidence linking Haley to the murders.

Detectives wrote that after he was taken into custody for questioning, Haley provided incomplete alibis and denied the cell phone evidence and text messages to Gilbert that linked him to the killings.