We love our Sea Grapes!

This months gardening star is a native tree that has a name you wont forget.
Sea Grapes,(Coccoloba uvifera) is instantly recognizable by its oversized, dinner plate leaves. You see it everywhere in our botanical garden and on Sanibel, but may not know its name.

As our star matures into a tree, the bark develops its knotty, light, splotchy unique appearance. Old age in a Sea Grape pruned for a tree, produces massive trunks of highly prized wood. Mature height is a whopping 50-60 feet tall! We have several 40 year plus trees in our Moorings botanical garden that have been shaped in the manner to resemble Banyans, Oaks, Ficus and Magnolias.

Sea Grapes aka Banyan Tree.......Sea Grapes Clusters...........Mature Sea Grapes as a Tree

Unbelievably stunning and quite artistic, Sea Grapes are a major component of the coastal hammock and beach thicket areas in southern Florida and many tropical locations.

Flowers are creamy white, fragrant and small on long racemes 6-14 inches long all year round. The grapes, which are the fruits that occur after the flowers, are another telltale sign of identifying the Sea Grape. They hang in clusters and look just like miniature versions of our cultivated edible grapes. Hence the name, they are trees near the sea that have grapes on them. The grapes start out a light green color and mature into a burgundy purple color. Inside opaque color that has a tart sweet taste with a single seed that is very large in the small fruit. The clusters can get quite large sometimes numbering 40 fruits.

Our Ancestors used them for making jellies and wine. Many frustrated pickers tell us that the grapes do not ripen all together. A picked cluster would have different degrees of ripeness in them. I believe this issue is why it is very difficult to find Sea Grape wine or jelly! Fortunately, this leaves the fruit available to be relished by birds and wildlife. You will enjoy watching the variety of wildlife our numerous trees brings to our botanical garden.

______________________________________________

Botanical Garden Tours

As a Moorings guest you are invited to our complimentary botanical garden tour with our Master Gardener & Naturalist, Anita Marshall, every Tuesday at 9am. We meet in the butterfly garden and explore the 6 acres of gardens in approximately 2 hours.

If you are not one of our guests, you too are invited to join Master Gardener & Naturalist, Anita Marshall, for an open to the public botanical garden 2 hour walking tour Wednesdays at 9am. RSVP required with a $5.00 fee/person........A must see for plant lovers!

Call us toll free at 1.800.237.5144 or 239.472.4119 for reservations and/or information.

_________________________________________________

Butterfly Basics Workshop
The Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings Resort invites you to learn the basics of butterfly gardening. Join our Master Gardener, Anita Marshall for a 2 hour workshop Thursday Mar 11 at 10am-12noon.
A must do for gardeners!
RSVP required $10.00 fee per person.
Call for reservations and/or info 239-472-4119. 
Or Email   Gardens@sanibelmoorings.com

.  

About our Speaker:
Anita Marshall became a Master Gardener in 2002 and a Master Naturalist in 2006. Her special interests are birds, butterflies, and backyard habitats.  She is a co-organizer for of the SWF Annual Butterfly Conference. She writes monthly "Habitat Gardening" articles for Sebring Publications. She serves on the planning committee for the Lakes Park Botanic Garden. She is the vice president of the N.A.B.A  SWF Longwings chapter and a proud volunteer for the Bird Patrol, SCCF Native Plant Nursery, and Sanibel Vegetation Committee. She works at Sanibel Moorings Resort as the Gardener, where you'll find her keeping the gardens gorgeous.



The Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings has an awesome Hibiscus hybrid collection. We have lovingly selected and planted over 200 plus unique, exotic, and spectacular bloomers. Join us in our excitement and stroll thru the collection daily. These blooms usually last for only a day, so you wouldn't want to miss out on the one that might become your favorite. Our favorites change on a daily basis!

____________________________________________

Chronicles of Once In A Lifetime

Our Agave Americana Variegated, (lovingly nicknamed Audrey from The Little Shop of Horrors story) has left us with multiple memories to share with you. We were mesmerized with Audrey and her 6 month bloom. As you can see, Bill Zak (our front office clerk) was on call day and night recording her gynormous display. We anticipated the 24 foot bloom stalk, but never knew it would weight over 200 lbs!



Strong summer winds proved too much for the huge flower stalk. We were unable to stake her in any way that would support her stalk. Sadly, our Audrey's flower collapsed after 7 months of brilliant display. Three landscapers with a chain saw removed and (all three) carried her bloom to the composter. We have watched Audrey change before our eyes as she nurished her bloom.



She began at 8 feet by 6 feet and ended up at 2 feet by 3 feet. Consequently, after her 7 month bloom, our grand lady will join the circle of life. We will be honoring her with an young Agave of Audreys same species to plant in her honor, Our new Agave has been named Audrette.

________________________________________________

Future Botanical Workshops

HIBISCUS GARDENING WORKSHOP
Thursday, April 8 at 10am - 12noon. $20.00 (includes booklet) fee per person

_________________________________________________

Ask the Gardener

Please contact me, Anita Marshall, Sanibel Moorings Master Gardener at gardens@sanibelmoorings.com with any questions or comments about our gardens. I welcome guests, garden clubs and all who love the beauty of gardens! Sanibel Moorings Resort and Sanibel Island have so many venues to enjoy tropical plants in natural and orchestrated settings. I am in the process of developing future Garden Packages for all us who can't get enough of gardening. See you in the garden!