PeopleCats Botanical Garden Grand Opening
Guided tour with Mark Hooten

Top Tropicals Garden Center is pleased to invite you to visit our new PeopleCats Botanical Garden on the grounds of Top Tropicals in Ft Myers. It is named in honor of the relationship with our beloved Cats, who we treat like People. You'll see our Garden PeopleCats roaming the property. As a matter of fact, they rule the garden!
The Garden has many mature trees and plants so you can see what they look like before your purchase them in our Garden Center. And of course, our PeopleCats will be guiding you in the Gardens!

Photo above: blue light in the forest - TopTropicals Garden Ghost, the spirit is always watching!

Fall Garden Festival @ TopTropicals

- Amazing Momentos -

The biggest Garden Event in TopTropicals history just happened! (and bigger event yet to come!)
Fall Garden Festival on Saturday 11/21/20 was a blast! We had so many amazing vendors with cool, sunny, happy products.
We would like to thank everyone who brought their arts, crafts, and their LOVE to our gardens, and to all the guests who really enjoyed the show! As always, Pros and Congas live jazz set a tropical tune to the day. Please come again to our future events and share your talents with the World!

Special thanks to our vendors:

Izzy Baquerizo - Graphic Artist (Fort Myers)
Tony Campo Gallery
Homegrown - tropical oils, creams and blends by Rebekah Bunting
Sara's Stowers Jewelry - Resin and Clay Jewelry (Naples)
Kelsey's Treasure - Macrame & Wire Jewelry (Fort Myers)
Cinthya Celeste - with her Moonlight Gypsy Tarot Card Readings
Twain's Tye Dye @asmrdotcommunity @twains.tyedye (Spark Twain)
Elijam Adams - Hoop Flow (St. Petersburg, FL)
Someuglyrugs
See all participants with links to their businesses

See more photos of the event >>

Florida Starter Garden in Winter

Photo above: Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree

Six reasons to grow
Elephant Ears in your garden

Alocasias and Colocasias, commonly known as Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a touch of tropical elegance to any garden. Here's why they are often considered great additions:

1. Striking Foliage: One of the most captivating features of colocasias and alocasias is their large, lush foliage. The leaves can be enormous, resembling the shape of elephant ears, hence the common name. The foliage is usually rich green, but there are also varieties with hues of purple, black, or variegated patterns. These vibrant leaves create a dramatic focal point in any garden setting.

2. Tropical Aesthetic: Colocasias and alocasias have a distinct tropical vibe that can transform your garden into a lush oasis. Their exotic appearance lends itself well to creating a tropical-themed garden or adding a bold accent to other styles of landscaping. Their large, architectural leaves add a sense of drama and create a stunning backdrop for other plants.

3. Versatility: These plants can be grown in various garden settings. They work well in containers, making them suitable for patio gardens or balcony displays. In larger landscapes, colocasias and alocasias can be planted directly in the ground, either as standalone specimens or as part of mixed border plantings. They can also be utilized around water features or in bog gardens since they enjoy moist conditions.

4. Low Maintenance: Once established, colocasias and alocasias are generally low maintenance plants. They thrive in full to partial shade, preferring a consistently moist soil. Regular watering and occasional fertilization will help them grow vigorously. While they are generally hardy, some varieties may require protection during colder months or overwintering in frost-prone regions.

5. Impressive Size: With proper care and favorable growing conditions, colocasias and alocasias can reach impressive sizes. Some varieties can grow several feet tall, creating a stunning vertical element in the garden. Their size and presence make them ideal for adding structure and height to planting arrangements.

6. Unique Varieties: Colocasias and alocasias offer a wide range of cultivars and species, each with its own distinct characteristics. From the classic Colocasia esculenta to the more exotic Alocasia macrorrhizos, there are numerous options to choose from. You can select plants with different leaf shapes, colors, and patterns to suit your taste and garden design.

You are safe in your garden!

Lucie's tropical garden in Montreal, Canada:
"The movement of plants fascinates me!"

Our customer Lucie Herard shared pictures of her tropical garden with us... Many of you have beautiful gardens that you are proud of... but this one is... in Canada! Believe it or not, before winter she digs everything up and brings it inside! Then in Spring, she starts again every year. Dedication? Determination? Heroism! Lucie won the Planet Bananiers photo contest for the third time.
Look at these pictures and visit Lucie's Facebook page for more photos and videos of her amazing garden. Ask yourself: and what can I do? Is my life really that hard with mowing a lawn once a week and blowing the leaves? You don't have to be a hero to make something worthwhile in your life. Just take a shovel and start... one plant a day. And you will end up living in Paradise.
Lucie reminds you: "Ornamental horticulture production activities are now considered an essential service! Add soil in a pot, water very slightly for the first two weeks and put closer to the window. That's all, the leaves will start growing again!"

Share with us photos of your garden. The winner of this contest will get plants $200 worth, with FREE shipping!

Submit your photos before April 15, 2020
and win $200 in tropical plants!

Garden Sustainability Tips: Live your Life. Dig your Garden.

You can grow herbs and vegetables that can be easy incorporated into your home landscape. You don't need a raised bed for a few little things that will come really handy for your kitchen.

1. Parsley. Get a small 4" pot parsley plant from a local garden center. It grows super fast and just one plant can provide great healthy addition for your cooking for a few months. Plant in in full sun, under a tree or shrub, where it gets hit by a sprinkler.
2. Dill. This one grows from seeds quickly and easily. It also needs full sun and regular water.
3. Chives, or Green Onion. Don't through away "bulbs" from chives you got from the store. Stick them in the ground, pretty much anywhere in your garden. You will have supply of fresh chives loaded with vitamins right away (withing a few days!) and for many months. You can also plant an onion bulb (root-end down... duh) - this one will produce greens even faster!
4. Bay Leaf. If you live in a mild climate, plant a Bay Leaf in your yard (closer to the door - closer to the kitchen!). It is a wonderful healthy spice for soups and stews that makes them super flavorful. If your winters are cold, keep the plant in a pot. Bay Leaf makes a great undemanding houseplant that needs bright light, but very little water.
5. Cherry tomatoes are easy to grow, heat tolerant and even grow in lower light, so they are easy to incorporate into any existing landscape. Get Sunshine Boosters to double your crop: see how it works.
6. More herbs and spices. Check out our large selection of herbs and spices - they are on sale today!
7. Garden work is a great exercise. While the gym is closed - get to gardening. Read about Fun workout and Calories Burning Gardening.
8. Lemons. Vitamin C is your best friend for boosting immune system, and Lemons have tons of it! In areas where citrus can grow outside, Lemon tree is a must-have for your garden, or at least find a friend who has one! Citrus also makes a great house plant, so you can keep it in a pot, too. Just make sure to have a grafted tree that will produce right away.

Lemon Juice Health Booster Recipe

1. Squeeze juice from 1 lemon and mix it with 1 cup of water.
2. Add ice cubes and 1-2 tbsp of any flavored syrup (optional). You may add some fresh mint for Mojito flavor.
3. Enjoy this drink at least once a day.
4. Get a bunch of lemons, squeeze fresh juice into ice cube trays and freeze. 1 lemon = makes 1 ice cube. Store in freezer and use 1-2 cubes to make the above drink, daily.

Besides being rich in vitamin C that will boost your immune system, Lemon juice is a Natural medicine that helps to treat:
- cold and flu
- headaches and high blood pressure
- stomach problems
- insomnia
- and much more
Drinking lemon juice on regular basis will make your body stronger and more resistant to infections and many illnesses.