May 2023 Selection of the Month

Michael Racano and Charles LaFlamme of Arrowhead Drive have been recognized as May 2023 Selection of the Month by The Garden Club at Palm Coast.

They moved from Rhode Island to Palm Coast in 2013 when they retired. Michael was a caterer and made floral arrangements and Charles was a Director of Nurses. Michael is always working in the yard, and he propagates his own plants. He likes to buy reduced plants at Walmart and brings them back to life. Charles also likes to spend his free time working in the garden and watering. They like to make their own fertilizer by blending vegetables and fruit peels, and they use coffee grinds and eggshells on the lawn.

This curb appeal landscape was discovered at the end of March, and we were amazed by the abundance of colorful flowers and the diversity of plants. The front bed has many zinnias, bush daisies, firecrackers, phlox, roses, amaryllis, lantana, dusty miller, pansies, coleus, potato vines, and milkweed. They recently added 60 Asiatic lilies, 60 gladiolas, multiple-color sunflowers, white Casablanca, and red stargazer lilies.

The top of the garage has climbing red bougainvillea and yellow Mandevilla surrounding the front door area. On the left side, they have cleome, calla lilies, mums, bleeding hearts, foxglove, climbing ligustrum, and bamboo.

Over time they have created and recently expanded their backyard with leftover pavers and other materials left by contractors. They have two gorgeous red and pink bougainvillea in pots, drift roses, dianthus, and red calibrachoa parviflora. They have a pagoda with several hanging pots. They even have an orange flowering nasturtium in which they make pesto with the leaves and use the blossoms in salads. Nothing goes to waste in their gardens!

Submitted by Nancy Iandoli
Selection of the Month Committee

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4 Responses to May 2023 Selection of the Month

  1. Gail Stone says:

    I’m lucky enough to live in the same neighborhood as Michael and Charlie so I get to enjoy their beautiful gardens daily. But in addition is so much joy they bring others by sharing their flowers. Many people have gotten incredible bouquets from their gardens! Congratulations, well deserved.

  2. Kathleen Schierhorst says:

    Congratulations to Michael and Charlie! Their hard work and talent is appreciated all year long! Each day I walk by this beautiful garden and often are the recipient of a beautiful, fragrant bouquet. Thank you for sharing your talent with all of us!

  3. Lori Dyer says:

    Michael and Charlie were the first neighbors we met when we were building in Hidden Lakes four years ago. I fell in love with their gardens and cascading bougainvilleas. Daily I’ll walk or ride past their gardens…the blooms make me happy. Sitting in their front sitting area looking out at the flowers, antique urns and trellises, I’m transported back to a courtyard in Tuscany that we once visited. Michael and Charlie are such generous neighbors and gardeners, sharing both bouquets and plants that have seeded themselves. Such a well deserved recognition. Congratulations. You make Hidden Lakes more beautiful.

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