Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date: 15 Jan 2026
Date: 14 Feb 2026
Vanilla does not come from a bottle. It comes from a climbing orchid. Vanilla planifolia is the plant that produces real vanilla beans - and yes, you can grow it at home. It starts simply. A potted orchid with glossy leaves. Then it begins to reach. Vanilla is a climber. It wants something solid to attach to. This is where most people go wrong. They keep it in a pot and wait. Vanilla needs support - a log, a trellis, a wooden board. Once its aerial roots attach firmly and the plant matures, flowering becomes possible.
It is not instant. You need patience. The pods form green and only develop their aroma after curing. That slow process is part of what makes vanilla so valuable. For gardeners who enjoy growing something meaningful - something edible and beautiful - vanilla is worth it. Vanilla is not a novelty plant. It is a long conversation with your garden.
Date: 12 Apr 2026
Easter morning with Smokey and Sunshine
Date: 1 Apr 2026
Cats Smokey and Sunshine celebrating Passover
Date: 6 Feb 2023
In past blog posts, Ed Jones shared his insights on cultivating olives in Central Florida using Sunshine Boosters. Despite olives
having a reputation for slow growth and being uncommon in Florida gardens, Ed has
successfully grown not only productive but also aesthetically pleasing trees
in just two years. As seen in this winter photo, the trees are thriving!
Encouraged by Ed's success, we have decided to plant olive trees as well. They are low maintenance and tolerant to cold
temperatures. Simply heed Ed's advice, and you too can have a beautiful tree that produces your
own olives in the future.
