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The Year's Best Garden

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By CASSANDRA BANNING

Special to the Tribune

Published: April 1, 2009

PLANT CITY - Members of the Plant City Garden Club, along with President Cassandra Banning and Florida Federation of Garden Club District Director Jan Griffin, surprised Sandra Lodato when they arrived at her home recently with flowers and presented her with the 2008 Garden of the Year award.

Thinking only that Banning was coming to show off Lodato's gardens to a friend, they were able to pull off the surprise. Lodato's husband, Sal, was not at home.

The couple started their garden three years ago when they moved to Plant City from Tampa.

"I brought home 110 plants, started planting them and quickly realized a plan was needed," Sandra Lodato said.

There are three main paths that take you from the house to the pond where Sandra Lodato planted red roses, ligustrum and bottlebrush trees with a statue of a little boy fishing and birdbath adding to the picturesque setting. The gazebo looks over the pond.

Pots of peace lilies grace the entrances to the paths and start you off enjoying the beauty of impatiens, bromeliads, azaleas and ferns with large spilt-leaf philodendrons providing the backdrop. Pots of begonias, petunias and garden art and statues will surprise you as you wonder along the paths. Smaller paths will take you in different directions, often leading to a quiet place to sit or to a charming statue or garden art.

There is lots of shade under the very large live oaks, but Sal Lodato has maintained sunny areas as well, perfect for picnic lunches or entertaining friends. Since winning the Garden Club's April Garden of the Month Award, they have added fishtail palms, more pots of begonias, weeping willows, yesterday today and tomorrow bushes, ixoras and Australia tree fern.

Begonias planted in baskets around the decorative light pole set the tone for color in the gardens. Along the walkway devil's backbone, lavender and bird of paradise keep your eye moving.

The club chooses gardens of the year from its monthly winners. The awards are open to all homeowners in the Plant City area.

"We are always looking for gardens to receive the Garden of the Month and possibly the Garden of the Year award. We welcome recommendations from the community. We look for outstanding gardens that have color, texture, balance, space and follow the current water restrictions," Banning said.

For information, call Banning at (813) 759-1638 or Margaret Rodwell at (813) 659-3351.

Cassandra Banning is the president of the Plant City Garden Club.

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