The Early BloomerMONTHLY NEWSLETTER JUNE 2013seven acres of inspiration

in this issue

Dining OutSatisfying Summer Flowers Seashells and Coral – Beautiful Florida Décor Father’s Day Scavenger HuntContainer Garden of the MonthHave You Visited Our New Website?

Dining OutDining Out

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outdoor living ideas

Dining OutFire Roasted Berry Crostini with Honey Crème Fraiche

Grill this super simple dessert right before you serve it.

½ cup crème fraiche1 Tablespoon honey3 half-inch-thick slices of country bread, halved crosswiseSoftened unsalted butter, for brushing¼ cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling4 cups mixed fresh berriesPinch of kosher salt

1. Light the grill. In a bowl, whisk the crème fraiche with the honey.

2. Brush both sides of the bread slices with butter and generously sprinkle with sugar. Grill the bread over moderately high heat, turning once until crisp and caramelized, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a platter and let cool.

3. In a medium bowl, toss the berries with the ¼ cup of sugar and the salt. Spread the berries on a perforated grill sheet or in a grill basket and grill over moderately high heat, tossing until starting to burst, approximately 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool slightly.

4. Spoon the berries on the crostini and top with dollops of the honey crème fraiche.

FOOD & WINE magazine, June 2013

Living on the coast of Florida definitely has

its advantages, including year-round alfresco

dining. Outdoor kitchens are ideal for our

coastal lifestyle because they strike the perfect

balance between casual living and urban

refinement. And what better place to entertain

family and friends than in a custom designed

outdoor cooking area. Dining “out” takes on a

whole new meaning!

Whether you want a simple space for grilling or

a beautiful outdoor kitchen, Rock City Gardens’

new hardscape division is the essential source

for creating or updating your outdoor rooms.

Our designers and certified installers can help

take your vision to reality. Innovative elements

like a pizza oven, bars, grills, wine chillers and

water features are available in a wide range

of styles.

Rock City Gardens is a Belgard Authorized

Contractor. All of our hardscape materials come

with Belgard’s lifetime guarantee and Rock City’s

installations carry two-year warranties. For a

personal consultation, please call

our General Manager, Wade

Baxley at 772.589.5835.

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new varietals

Satisfying Summer Flowers Choosing the right plants for our summer, subtropical

climate is important to ensure their survival and beauty.

There are several flower varieties that enjoy the summer

season, some of which prefer shade and others that can

withstand full or partial sun. At Rock City Gardens, we

have a host of heat tolerant plants available in a multitude

of colors.

For your convenience, we’ve organized a handy list of

our best-selling varieties, organized by shade, sun and

partial sun requirements. These plants will help keep your

gardens perky and bright all through the summer months.

When you visit Rock City Gardens, our knowledgeable

sales associates will guide you to the right plants for your

growing environment.

4”-6” Pot

Coleus $3.99 Torenia $2.39Caladiums: $3.99 Thai Caladium Humboldii Pink Splash

4”-6” Pot

Caladiums: $3.99 Aaron Raspberry Moon Highlighter Freida Hemple Angelonia $3.99

4”-6” Pot

Caladiums: $3.99 Carolyn Wharton Tri-color ButterflyPurslane $3.99Periwinkle $1.99 Available in 7 colors of upright

and 7 colors of cascading

Angelonia $3.99

Cuphea $2.49

Shade Plants Partial Sun Full Sun

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How Does Your Garden Grow?

Although plants require more watering during the

summer months, take care not to over water them,

as this can cause root rot. A good rule of thumb is to

simply keep them evenly moist.

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Fun Fact

Florida is the only state in the continental U.S. with shallow coral reef

formations near its coast. Corals are classified as animals, yet microscopic

plants live within animal tissues in a symbiotic relationship. Coral

animals benefit from sugars and oxygen that the plants provide through

photosynthesis, and the plants gain nutrients from animal waste. These tiny

plants give coral much of its color.

Source: Department of Environmental Protection

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garden boutique

Seashells and Coral –beautiful Florida décor

There is something that lures us to the beach in

search of the perfect shell – no knicks or blemishes,

no barnacles attached. Perfect specimens of all

colors and sizes are hard to find, but not if you’re

searching at Rock City’s Garden Boutique.

Equally striking is the natural beauty of our legally

harvested coral collection, including Birdnest,

Cauliflower and Lettuce Cup. Ranging in size and

complexity, our collections of shells and coral make

wonderful displays for your coastal décor and

unique gifts for that special occasion.

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special events

Father’s Day Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, June 15th 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Dads and kids are invited to join us at Rock City

Gardens for a special Father’s Day Scavenger

Hunt on Saturday, June 15th. Drop by anytime

between 10am and 4pm and join the fun. Garden

associates will be on hand with a list of items from

which to search and provide guidance through

the gardens. Our garden paths, flower houses and

pond provide the perfect place for hunting nature’s

treasures. When you’ve completed the search,

stop by our new outdoor living area for grilled

hotdogs, chips and a drink.

The entire event is free of charge! Although

reservations are not required, we kindly request

that you RSVP to Margaret at 772.589.5835 or

admin@rockcitygardens.com so we are properly

prepared.

Scavenger Hunt participants receive a Garden

Boutique coupon for 20% off purchases made

that day.

June 15th

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Container of the Month

Summer officially starts in

June, and with it comes

longer days and plenty

of Florida sunshine. This

month’s container garden,

planted in a beautiful,

orange glazed urn is the

perfect tribute. Featured

are Zinnia, Croton Zanzibar,

Calibracoa Million Bells,

and Purslane. These hearty

plants are heat tolerant and

promise to bring a smile to

your face all summer long.

For more information about

our custom container

gardens, including

individualized plant care,

please contact Rhonda

Lowe at 772.589.5835.

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seven acres of inspiration9080 U.S.. Hwy 1, Wabasso, Florida 32970 772-589-5835 RockCityGardens.com

The Early Bloomer © Rock City Gardens

Have you visited our new website?

Rock City Gardens’ website has a fresh, new design. Easy to navigate, beautiful

photography shot on location, and a smart reference for updating your gardens and

outdoor living spaces, our new website provides the inspiration.

Visit RockCityGardens.com and let your imagination run wild.