Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 20 Nov 2023

Growing Dreams and Happiness:
A Decade at Top Tropicals

By Kristi VanBenschoten,
Top Tropicals Manager

Cat  in  the  garden

"The purpose of agriculture is not the production of food,
but the perfection of human beings"

- Masanoby Fukuoka -

Working with Top Tropicals for the past decade, I frequently hear heartwarming comments from customers like, "Oh, wow, this place is breathtaking," "You must adore working here," "Isn't it marvelous to be in harmony with nature every day?"

The truth is, yes, all these sentiments hold true, and I genuinely cherish every single one of these comments; however... If you were to inquire about my most cherished aspect of working here, I would have to say that my absolute favorite part is when a husband calls and says:

"My wife and I embarked on a honeymoon five years ago, and we stumbled upon this exotic wonder called Helicona Lobster Claw. My wife was captivated by it. I would love to surprise her with one for our upcoming anniversary. Do you happen to have them?.."

Heliconia  rostrata  -  Lobster  Claw,  Parrots  beak

...Or when a bereaved wife sends an email, expressing:

"My beloved husband recently departed, and he held a deep affection for Gardenias. I wish to plant one in our front yard as a living tribute to his memory. Could you kindly recommend one?..."

Gardenia  vietnamensis

Or, it could be the heartwarming scene of a new father visiting with his young son, exclaiming:

"I have a dream of creating a bountiful food forest for my children with fruit and other edibles. I want them to experience the enchantment of watching food grow and to impart the wisdom of cultivating it. Can you guide me in this endeavor?"

Or the passionate plant collector who has spent years on a quest to acquire that one elusive specimen, the final piece of their adored collection. We spare no effort in locating it, and when we succeed, it fills me with an indescribable joy!

You see, here at Top Tropicals, we don't merely sell plants; we trade in precious memories, lofty aspirations, and vivid visions for a brighter future. We deal in dreams. These dreams are nurtured in pots with a touch of fertile soil and an abundance of love. This is the essence of what makes Top Tropicals so special to me:

We Grow Happiness…

Happy  people  at  TopTropicals  Garden  and  nursery

Date: 6 Sep 2023

Event Mementos (September 2)

Kristi's  Birthday  Bash  and  Plant  Market  at  Top  Tropicals

Thank you all for making this happen!

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for making our garden event in celebration of our manager Kristi's birthday such a resounding success!

To our wonderful guests, thank you for joining us on that beautiful Saturday and making the day special for Kristi and all of us at Top Tropicals. We hope you enjoyed reconnecting with nature and finding the perfect plants to adorn your gardens. Your presence and the efforts of our amazing Team combined to create a memorable day filled with tropical beauty and inspiration for all.

Top  Tropicals  nursery

A heartfelt shout-out goes to our exceptional Top Tropicals Team, the true heroes behind the scenes. Our dedicated People and PeopleCats , who generously shared their knowledge and passion, guided you through the nursery, and helped you select the perfect plants. They are the ones who work tirelessly to ensure every plant thrives, nurturing our garden with love and care. Their unwavering dedication was particularly evident in the incredible recovery of our garden after Hurricane Ian last year. Today, you witness its beauty once again, renewed and flourishing, thanks to their hard work and commitment.
These People are: Kristi, Jamie, Onika, Tony, Chiane, Mark H, Mark M, Ed, Beatriz, Aurelio, Mick... (see Our Team).
The PeopleCats are: King, Snitch, Sushi, Loki, Paisley, Josephine... (+10 more at Garden Center and 9 more at B-Farm! See all PeopleCats)

Here are a few pictures from the past event, and please visit Event Mementos page to see all of them!

Kristi's  Birthday  Bash  and  Plant  Market  at  Top  Tropicals

Kristi's  Birthday  Bash  and  Plant  Market  at  Top  Tropicals

Kristi's  Birthday  Bash  and  Plant  Market  at  Top  Tropicals

Kristi's  Birthday  Bash  and  Plant  Market  at  Top  Tropicals

The  Robuster  and  a  cat

Top  Tropicals  Garden  Event

Date: 5 May 2023

Mark your calendars: June 17
Summer Flowers Plant Market

Summer  Flowers  Plant  Market  at  Top  Tropicals

Saturday, June 17, 9 am - 4 pm

Join us for a celebration of Summer Garden Festival and Plant Market! Immerse yourself in a world of colorful blooms, fragrant scents, and nature's beauty. Don't miss out on the opportunity to stroll through our gardens and nursery. Bring your friends and family for a day of fun in the sun!

Event agenda:

9 am - 4 pm: Plant Market. 30% off online price, one day only! Raffle.
Gift bags - for first 25 customers with $50 order
Secret Garden: Super savings area 50% off
Fruit tree specials
$10 plants and FREE plants with a purchase!

Event discounts valid at both locations:

Ft Myers Garden Center: 13890 Orange River, Ft Myers, FL
Sebring B-Farm: 9100 McRoy Rd, Sebring, FL

Facebook event page - Download invitation

Outlook.com - Office 365 - Google

Date: 9 Apr 2023

How Gardening improves your health

Flowering  Adenium

Q: Can gardening improve my health?

A: Gardening is not only a fun way to spend time but also an opportunity to bond with family and friends. Get everyone involved in planting flowers, starting a vegetable patch, or even organizing a whimsical Easter egg hunt amidst the blooming garden.

The joy of gardening offers mood-boosting benefits, leaving you feeling invigorated and cheerful during the festive holiday. Plus, the sense of accomplishment when your garden begins to flourish perfectly aligns with Easter's spirit of personal growth and transformation.

Head out to your garden with a spring in your step and a smile on your face. Revel in the beauty of nature, spend time with loved ones, and watch as your garden transforms into a lively, colorful haven.

Tuxedo  cat  with  tomatoes

Date: 19 Feb 2023

Top 5 butterfly attractors

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly"
Chuang Tzu (Taoist philosopher)

Newborn  Butterfly

In the photo: yesterday we watched a butterfly born on one of our Champaka trees!

Q: What are the best butterfly attracting plants for a Southern garden?

A: If you love butterflies and if you enjoy having nature around your home, then plant a butterfly garden. Florida is a perfect place to create a year round and fully functioning butterfly garden. Caterpillars, which transform into butterflies, require special kinds of plants to feed upon and these plants grow extremely well in the South Florida and other subtropical areas. Below are the top five winners that butterflies appreciate the most. Besides, remember That all yellow flowers are attractive to them, for example Cassias. Butterflies like the Sun and everything that looks like the Sun!
1. Calotropis gigantea - Giant milkweed, Arka
2. Odontonema cuspidatum - Firespike
3. Plumbago auriculata Imperial Blue
4. Rondeletia leucophylla - Panama Rose
5. Asclepias curassavica - Red Milkweed, Butterfly Weed

Read more about Butterfly garden:
The Milkweed and the Monarch, how to raise your own
Musings of a butterfly gardener about the milkweed bug
Plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds

Odontonema  cuspidatum  -  Firespike

In the photo: Odontonema cuspidatum - Firespike