Bonsai (pronounced: Bone-sigh), literally translated means tree in a tray or pot. However, it is a lot more than just that. One of the oldest forms of container gardening, Bonsai, was brought to Japan via Buddhist monks from China around the 12th century. (It is believed to have been practiced in China as early as 200 B.C.)
In the 1900s, the art form caught the West’s attention as Japan slowly opened to outside cultures. After the Second World War, Bonsai began to explode around the globe as Japan entered the world stage, and the small potted trees captured the hearts of the world.
Bonsai is a mixture of horticulture and artistic principles. Both aspects function to create aesthetically pleasing forms in trees that can survive in small shallow containers. A major misconception is that Bonsai is a type of tree. It is not. Bonsai can be any species of tree. It is the principles, techniques, training, and cultivation that are performed upon the tree that make it Bonsai.
A few techniques that Bonsai practitioners use to create miniature forms of trees that live in small containers are Root pruning, wiring of branches, deliberate and concise pruning, as well as horticultural practices to keep the trees healthy and vigorous. Any shrub or tree can be trained as Bonsai. Ordinary nursery stock is often the starting point of some remarkable trees. But one has to be patient. Bonsai doesn’t happen overnight.
Training from beginning to end can take many years. Most beginners will start with a few untrained trees to practice on and a few other trees at various stages of development. This way, an inexperienced practitioner can experiment with the untrained trees while simultaneously maintaining and developing a few already-started trees.
Bonsai is a lifelong journey for many people. Come check out our homegrown selection of Bonsai, pre-bonsai, and starter plants. If you have any questions while you’re in the store, ask for Matthew, he’s always ready to chat Bonsai with our guests.
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This is no ordinary monochromatic design. She rolls out the red carpet for our favorite pollinators with varying-sized and shaped long-lasting blooms. This pot will do best in a partial sun area with plenty of indirect or morning light and some afternoon shade.
Red Porterweed (Stachytarpheta mutabilis) –The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds and a host of butterflies are sure to search this beauty out to enjoy its rich, near-continuous supply of nectar. In the ground, it can grow up to 6’x4′ and is deer-resistant and heat tolerant too!
Red Gerbera DaisyGerberas produce long-lasting 3-in. to 4-in. flowers from late spring through autumn in the garden, and their blooms make long-lasting cut flowers. They symbolize being surrounded by love.
Dragon Wing BegoniaIs famous for its dark, lush leaves and cascades of rich red flowers. It is heat and humidity-tolerant and blooms all season long, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees!
ApteniaThis hardy, drought-tolerant ground cover makes the perfect spiller in many container recipes. It is truly an easy-care plant, evergreen, and, like its pot mates, attracts pollinators.
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From lavender and mauve to aubergine and deep purple, the unique flower shapes, sizes, and greenery patterns combine for a planter of purple pizzazz! Don’t care for purple? You’re sure to find plenty of choices in your favorite shades among our overflowing tables full of flowers!
Angelonia Angelface Blue® has deep blue-purple flowers and grape-scented fragrant foliage. They are heat-loving and grow and bloom best when the heat is on—heat and drought-tolerant when established. Also deer-resistant and make great, long-lasting cut flowers.
Cleome Senorita Rosalita® is heat tolerant and grows to 48″ tall. It is perfect for adding some foliage drama to containers and beds. There’s no limit to what you can do with this cleome – it looks fantastic in combinations, mass plantings, and on its own!
Salvia Mysty–An outstanding perennial for heat-tolerant gardens, this compact plant produces an abundance of large, showy blue flower spikes. Excellent in a container, garden bed, or as a cut flower. Great for our pollinators!
Osteospermum–Also known as African daisies, it is a cool weather annual that will give you beautiful blooms from winter through spring. Although a full-sun plant, afternoon shade will help colors last their longest.
Superbeanea® Sparkling Amethysthas lilac and white flowers all season. With a mounding-trailing habit, they function as spillers and fillers in planters and are best planted at the front of landscape beds. They are heat tolerant, resist deer, and attract butterflies.
Brachyscomeis covered in stunning violet daisy flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from late winter to late fall. Its attractive tiny ferny leaves remain green in color throughout the season. It makes a great filler in containers.
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Bringing plants into our homes is back in a big way with this houseplant container gardening recipe. Just like you put together beautiful combinations of plants on your porches and patios, you can also make elegant planters to complement your interior design. The basics are the same. Combine plants with similar light and watering requirements using the thriller, filler, and spiller recipe. Here we have pulled out the red of the stems of our thriller with the fantastic red leaves of the Heartbeat Begonia as our filler. Also, the silvery blue-green leaves of Apoballis Acum are matched by the unique spiller Cebu Blue Pothos.
Apoballis Acum Lavalei– Don’t let this camo plant ‘hide’ in your collection! Apoballis Acum “lavallei” is a rare tropical houseplant relatively new to the United States. Grow in bright, indirect light inside the home and keep away from hot sunlight, which can burn tender leaves. If grown outside, place it in a shady location.
Heartbeat Begonia– Drought Tolerant, Colorful/Attractive Foliage, Shade Tolerant, Low Maintenance. Bright, excellent foliage plants grow in the deepest shade – carefree and colorful.
Cebu Blue Pothos– a pretty and popular variety of pothos with shiny, silvery-blue leaves that seem to sparkle in the right light. Trailing or climbing, Cebu blue is a beautiful addition to any indoor jungle, and it gets bonus points for being such an easy-care plant.
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Inspired by the freeze, this beautiful speckled blue pot, and the electric blue of delphinium, we created this icy-cool combo for our January Container Gardening Recipe 2023.
Delphinium – A compact variety Ideal for containers, the rock garden, and for edging the sunny border. Remove faded flower heads regularly to encourage repeat blooming. A summer perennial in cold climates, we consider it a cool-weather bloomer.
Lobelia Laguna Dark Blue- A rare true-blue flower, this variety can take the heat and will bloom consistently. They do not like wet feet, so be sure your container drains well between watering. A haircut will encourage new growth and more flowers if they go out of bloom. Plus, it can trail up to 24″!
Dusty Miller– Their silvery leaves look stunning when paired with blue flowers. Winter hardy in our zone and drought tolerant, this plant can go all year long in the Florida sun. They will grow 1-2′ tall and wide.
Alyssum- Mounding and growing 6″ tall, makes this plant suitable for borders and pathways. Alyssum is also a fragrant addition to combo planters and containers. They are heat tolerant, deer resistant, and a butterfly attractor.
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Combine winter annuals for colorful planters throughout the season.
It is time to freshen up your pots with colorful cold-tolerant flowers that will bloom throughout winter into late spring. We started with a classic purple and yellow “jump-up” viola and followed that color pallet to create a container garden that is sure to brighten up any garden!
Dianella Flax lily – This plant’s tall, brightly variegated leaves make a great thriller for containers. Flax lilies are cold and heat-tolerant, as well as deer resistant. They are excellent border plants preferring full to partial sun.
Snapdragons – These classic bedding flowers come in various colors and sizes. They are a winter annual here in NE Florida. They look fantastic in groupings, are sun-loving, and grow best with consistent watering.
Flowering Kale Songbird – As the temperatures cool, ornamental kale comes into its full glory. The color intensifies with the cold, bringing shades of red and purple to the garden. Beautiful when partnered with pansies in containers or beds by the house.
Nemesia Ecsential® Strawberry– Extremely scented bloomer, covered with flowers and full of color! This HEAT AND COLD tolerant variety should last all winter into late spring!
Viola Jump Up – A smaller relative to the pansy, these full-sun flowers are easy-care and bloom from late fall through spring. They come in a variety of colors and combinations as well.
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Start with an evergreen cone, spiral, or ball-shaped topiary. In this recipe, we have used a Eugenia cone. Other options include bluepoint juniper, boxwood, or even rosemary. Then pick some annuals that do well in the cooler temps of December, like the Easy Wave Petunia® and Alyssum. A green, red and white pallet will give you many flower options and leaf textures to choose from. Add some ribbon and lights to take let your Christmas spirit shine!
Eugenia Cone – Adds a formal touch with rich glossy leaves. If we get unusually cold, topiary eugenia can be overwintered indoors as an elegant houseplant. Just be sure to put in a sunny window.
Easy Wave Petunia – As the name tells us, these are easy to grow and will trail beautifully as well. Full sun to partial shade. They do well in our mild Florida winters.
Creeping Jenny – A must-have trailer also enjoys our mild temperatures and will come back from a frost.
Galaxy Red Geraniums– This scented geranium attracts bees and hummingbirds and is deer resistant and drought-tolerant.
Alyssum – This filler/spiller has a wonderful scent and is a perfect choice for adding white to your combinations.
Sun Hosta – This is a medium-sized hosta that does well in Florida. It is a perennial and can take the sun. In the spring and summer, give it some afternoon shade.
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Lawn Care Services, Lawn Maintenance, Lawn Fertilization
Lawn Pest Control, Lawn Weed Control
Aeration and Top Dressing
Water Features, Koi Ponds,
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Jacksonville (Jax), Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Orange Park, St. Johns, Nocatee
Make an impactful seasonal statement with a Fall container garden grouping.
Try arranging three related pots in different sizes. The Seagrass Planters shown here are lightweight options made of liconfiber®. Set the largest pot in the back, with the medium pot to one side and the smallest in front between the other two. Then gather beautiful plants in Fall colors of oranges, reds, yellows, and purples. Find plants with different leaf textures, flower sizes, and shapes to create interest. You can follow the thriller, filler, and spiller recipe in each pot or pick a single plant in a size to fit each pot. The options are endless.
Shrimp Plant-This evergreen year-round bloomer is perfect for a fall arrangement. Its deep red blooms are hummingbird attractors too!
Petra Croton -With its multicolored leaves, this plant can say Fall by itself. It is a tropical plant, so bring it inside or cover it when it freezes. But the beautiful tropical look is well worth the effort.
Alternanthera little Ruby – A zone 9+perennial evergreen, or should we say “ever purple,” will give you rich color all year.
Marigold Bolero– These French marigolds fit the theme with splashes of yellow and red blooms.
Chrysanthemums – also known as mums- are iconic autumn plants. After using them in your fall displays, plant these in your garden. Mums are easy-to-grow perennials that can live for years and continue to bloom.
Coleus Wicked Witch – This stunning annual with deep burgundy ruffled leaves bordered in chartreuse will add a fun fluffy texture to your combo.
Summer Sunset Asiatic Jasmine – Don’t forget ground covers when looking for a spiller. This Jasmine is perfect in these pots but even better as a rich variegated alternative to the common green Asiatic Jasmine.
Salvia Sally Fun– Add a touch of purple with this excellent pollinator-attracting perennial. They are heat and drought-tolerant as well as deer resistant.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Fall is Football time! Show your spirit with a fun pot and plant combo perfect for the season. Go JAGS!
Croton Petra is a gorgeous ornamental foliage plant with stunning leaf color and variegation. Colors range from pink to reds, oranges, yellows, light and dark greens – so much color on one plant!
White Penta is the perfect perennial for any full sun container garden. Plus, they are heat tolerant, prolific bloomers, and pollinator attractors.
Ornamental Pepper Black Pearl With glossy black leaves and loads of shiny round black fruit, this is a unique must-have plant. As the plant matures, the black peppers turn red; Peppers are edible but scorching (over 30,000 Scoville heat units)—exceptionally heat and drought-tolerant.
Lantana New Gold is a fast-grower and a heavy bloomer, featuring dark green foliage and an abundance of tiny clusters of vibrant golden flowers. The colorful bloom attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.
Inspired by whimsical terracotta pollinator-designed pots sporting bees, ladybugs, butterflies, hummingbirds, and dragonflies, this container is full of pollinator attractors in yummy shades of orange.
Crossandra Is a wonderful perennial that will thrill all year long until the first frost. The hummingbirds and butterflies will love them too.
Sunpatiens® Compact Orange These bright orange flower-packed plants are perfect for any pot. They can thrive in 6 hours of sun to up to 4 hours of shade. A perfect easy care pot filler.
Orange Marigold This classic heat loving flower will bloom spring through fall here in Florida. The compact variety fills in nicely.
Gaillardia also known as blanket flower, it comes in many shades or orange yellow and red. It is heat, drought, salt, and deer tolerant. They do well as cut flowers too.
Creeping Jennyone of our all-time favorite spillers. This bright green mass of small heart-shaped leaves will mix perfectly, able to take full to partial sun.
For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping needs, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions.
Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.