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Property Transformed Into Botanical Beauty

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By PENNY BRAGG

Special to the Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

PLANT CITY - The Plant City Garden Club beautification award for April goes to Sandra and Sal Lodato of 3909 Stanley Road.

Three years ago, they bought their home, and in that short time turned the grounds into a botanical delight. Before starting each project, they took photos of the area they were going to be working on as an aid to plotting their course of action. They have then-and-now pictures that show how they transformed a nondescript property into the exciting place it is today.

A rustic split-rail fence encloses the property. You approach the house by going through two columns surrounded by cut-leaf philodendron and potted crotons; this puts you on a long driveway. To the right of the driveway entrance there is a pond with aqua-colored water edged on one side with 36 very healthy rose bushes in full bloom.

The pond is home to three turtles named Spit-N-Polish, Double Decker and Slime. The turtles share the pond with catfish, shell crackers and bluegill. The fish don't mind the little boy with the fishing rod sitting on the bank of the pond because he isn't real; he is a friendly statue.

There is yard art everywhere. There is a "frog tree" with whimsical frogs at the base of it and more frogs on the trunk and in the branches. There are ceramic multicolored roosters and chickens, ducks, doves, ladybugs and a yellow fire hydrant to name a few.

Sandra Lodato is a bargain hunter and has come across some fabulous finds. Her favorite hunting grounds for yard treasures are Old Time Pottery, Big Lots and Bealls Outlet. She pointed out a branch-and-twig bench planter with geraniums in it that she got for $1, and a pair of chocolate-brown plastic hanging baskets in a woven pattern that she has filled with orangey-red angel wing begonias that look pricey but cost only $2.

There are paths for walking and lots places for sitting. Mosquitoes are rarely a problem because birds are so plentiful due to the number of birdhouses, well-stocked birdfeeders and birdbaths. A wooden bench with a wisteria-covered arbor arching over it can be seen next to a little wooden bridge that spans a stream. Growing in the stream are two cypress trees at least 50 feet high with their distinctive cypress knees growing at the base.

Two large ligustrum trees with their white blossom clusters and two, even bigger, bottlebrush trees with red tassels are nearby while on the other side of the pond there is a decorative cement landing with a white metal bench. This area is under a live oak that was almost lost but has been carefully nurtured to a verdant green.

Two Norfolk pines with their graceful boughs are in this area also as well as fountain grass, patches of dusty miller and azaleas planted under a Japanese tree sporting strange elongated pods and yellow flowers when in season. Another popular sitting area, a bit more front-and-center of the pond and out into the yard, is a black wrought iron pagoda-style gazebo that was given to Sandra Lodato by her sister. It is strung with lights throughout the year while, at Christmastime, it gets dressed up like a giant present.

The Lodato home, which is set back from the road, is Tudor-style. The Lodatos didn't want to go "all out" with lots of palm trees but have managed to use the right number of them to give a pleasing mix of English and Florida; a traveling palm is up against the house, and other palms are scattered here and there. Three major paths lead from the house through the gardens that stretch out to the pond. The major paths are about 3 feet wide and are made of packed mulch. However, there are many smaller paths that make use of steppingstones, paver blocks, decorative cement and gravel.

The three largest paths are curved to create separate areas with tall live oaks in the middle of the areas and a vast variety of plants and planters and sculptures in each of them. Groups of plants such as bromeliads, impatiens, azaleas, and myrtle serve as ground cover. Placed among them are metal sculptures of pinwheels, sunflowers, a sundial and others.

An array of wrought-iron pieces includes shepherds hooks, a plant stand with four pots of purple and white triple petunias, half baskets tacked onto the trees with ferns or flowers in them, lanterns, wheelbarrows, bicycles, as well as furniture.

Exotic looking stands of bamboo and hedges of plumbago, asparagus fern, lantana, pentas and firecracker plants are planted throughout. Potted plants in groupings of three, or alone, are numerous. She has numerous pots, including Italian designer pots, terracotta pots, glazed ceramic pots and others. Sandra Lodato finds pots at a good price and then paints them to fit where she wants them. Inexpensive plastic pots of any color have been painted with plastic spray paint and look fabulous. They have become home to peace lilies, lily of the Nile, ginger, topiary, foxtail fern, Florida orchids and more.

The backyard has a rose garden and a porch with Sandra Lodato's prize-winning plants on it. She had 10 plants in the Florida Strawberry Festival horticultural show; nine of them took first place and one took second place. She has been putting her abundant energy and design sense to work gardening for 50 years in three houses.

Penny Bragg is a member of the Plant City Garden Club.

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