Norma J. Rose of Ferndale Lane has been recognized as November 2020 Garden Selection of the Month by The Garden Club at Palm Coast.
Norma is originally from Jamaica, has lived in the Bronx, NY then Connecticut until her final move to Palm Coast in 1995. She worked for 47 years as an RN. Her mother was a gardener and being from the islands they both loved the natural beauty. Norma is a Vegan and lives on a healthy plant-based lifestyle with various plants that she grows.
In the corner area of the garage grows Jamaican sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) an herb plant with tasty leaves ready to pick which has a tart lemony flavor that she uses in salads and makes a delicious drink. It is also known as red sorrel, roselle, and Florida cranberry. The red calyces of the cranberry fruit can be made into jams and sauces. The entire front area of her house has a variety of colorful plants such large crotons, pagoda, African daisies, pink caladium, yellow knockout roses, hydrangeas, tricolor ginger (Stromanthe sanguinea), red plumed cockscomb, pink vincas, zinnias, azaleas, and a very interestng Dreadlock croton (Codiaeum variegatum) which resembles a cascade of dreadlocks!
Moving towards the back is a hedge of Schefflera arboricola which brings you to a beautiful watefall pool area that looks like a tropical paradise with bird of paradise, ferns, sabal palm trees, yellow hibicus, pagoda, crotons, Hawaiian ti, and a red anthurium plant. Inside the patio she has many African violets and Christmas cactus. Behind the pool area are several pots of beautiful pink and red crown of thorns, bird of paradise and sabal palms. There is also a garden area of sugar cane, collard greens, thyme, rosemary, tomatoes, pumpkins, chive, aloe, and fruit trees such as orange, lime, bananas, and grapefruit.
Before COVID-19 the owner of the “Garden of the Month” would be invited to the monthly Garden Club meeting where he/she would receive a “Selection of the Month ” certificate and a set of photos of the yard. Unfortunately the monthly Club meetings have been suspended due to the COVID restrictions. As a result the certificate is now being handed out on location. In this picture Ms Rose is on the left holding the certificate and on the right Nancy Iandoli who selected and judged the garden.
Article submitted by Nancy Iandoli
Selection of the Month Committee
