I think it's wonderful that you stopped and spoke with them. When I see beautiful gardens I'm often tempted to stop and knock on the door but I don't do it. And yet I know that anyone who is tending that garden would probably love to talk about it and show it to someone who appreciates it.
You've inspired me. Maybe I'll stop and visit the next time I get the urge.

So Amber,
Spill the dirt! Did you find out what they're doing to have such a healthy yard?
We all need to know.

Fish heads burried around the lychees, lots of soil build up, with lime and such, and a lot of water.

I bet they got a kick out of you stopping by.

Seems like when my angel trumpets are in bloom, I get folks who stop by to ask about them. Whoever's brave enough to ask gets a few cuttings. :)

You may have made a new gardening buddy. That's always a good thing.

niki-that is how i got my angel trumpet cuttings. i saw this amazing tree full off flowers so i knocked! people who work hard in their yards love to show off...we all know that!

I like to turn people on to plants so I'm happy to show them what I have. Too many people in my area put the same begonias and ixora and shifflera in without thinking about native plants or butterfly plants.
My last visitor was a 12 year old boy riding his bike by who stopped and asked if I ever need help. I don't but I think he just wanted to look around so we took a tour of my small yard (not a showplace at all).
I don't bury fishheads but I do bury my kitchen scraps in the garden.

Hello, I am new to this so I will probably be asking a lot of questions...like what kind of kitchen scraps do you bury and where?

Welcome birdlover! Ask all the questions you would like there is always someone, two, three and more to answer.

You can bury anything but meat, bones and dairy products. Roses and staghorn ferns like bananas for example. I have a compost bin and bury all my veggie scraps, coffee grounds including filters in the pile. One of these days I'm gonna have Black Gold!

I'd suggest you look around on the Compost Forum for more info on composting or you can ask your questions on this forum.
Oh one more suggestion...I'd update your profile to reflect which zone you live in, it helps when someone is answering your questions.
Marion

birdlover
I don't have a compost bin (my yard is too small and the HOA would jail me). I just keep a plastic bowl with lid in the sink and collect egg shells and veggie scraps then put them directly in the raised beds. The worms make short work of it and I haven't had any larger critters digging it up. You might have to pull a few tomato volunteer seedling though (or not).
It's really cut down on our non-recycleable garbage (probably 50% less trash).

Hey, thanks guys. I have always put my banana peels and coffee grinds around my roses but never buried them. I live in Pensacola. Just moved back down here after 40 yrs of being in Virginia. Is Pensacola in zone 8 or 9? I have had several garden books tell me both. It is great to be able to have a longer gardening period than in the mountains.

Welcome Birdlover,

I'm also a newbie here, I just moved from Ohio in November, so Florida gardening is a shock, but a good one. I can't believe how things root so fast here. You can literly put a stick in the ground and it sprouts leaves :)

Brat

I know Brat...It is great! Things that were annuals in VA are perennial down here even though the locals refer to Pensacola as "LA"...lower Alabama! LOL

Birdlover, I would say Pensacola is Zone 8...Gainesville is, and you are north of there. You definitely get some winter weather up there that we in the Orlando area don't get. Maybe some years are warmer than others, but if you plan for Zone 8, you will probably be okay.

And welcome to the group, btw!

Marcia