Roseland Community Garden at Aruna

08/18/2026

Monarch on native Seaside Ageratum

08/18/2026

Why we do it…swallowtail on tropical scarlet sage (salvia coccinea) a native wildflower that constantly attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and variety of pollinators

08/14/2026

August is the most important seeding time for the fall garden. At this Saturday's garden gathering we are prepping our 4 new raised beds so we can begin seeding out our fall veggies.

We started with palm fronds and other tree prunings at the base, and got truckloads of organic compost to fill in. We are thinking of adding: Perlite to lighten up a bit, Azomite for minerals, and biochar.

The compost is still hot and decomposing, so wondering if we should wait on the amendments. Any expertise in this area appreciated??

08/10/2026

🌿 **PLANT SPOTLIGHT: KATUK** 🌿
*Sauropus androgynus*

Looking for an edible plant that’s **beautiful, nutritious AND loves our Florida climate?** Meet **Katuk!** 💚

Katuk is a fast-growing tropical shrub treasured throughout Southeast Asia for its tender, nutritious leaves. And one of its most delightful surprises is tucked right underneath the foliage—**tiny edible pea-like fruits!** 🫛🌿

Katuk is a wonderful addition to an edible landscape or food forest:

🌱 Thrives in Florida’s heat and humidity
🌱 Produces abundant edible leaves
🌱 Attractive, lush green foliage
🌱 Grows well in the ground or a large container
🌱 Leaves are traditionally eaten in Southeast Asian dishes and are a source of protein, vitamins and minerals

**Garden Tip:** Katuk appreciates warmth, moisture and some protection from intense afternoon sun. Once established, regular harvesting encourages fresh new growth.

💜 **Good for you, good for the planet—and a beautiful addition to the garden!**

Come find Katuk and other unusual edible and Florida-friendly plants at our **Roseland CommUnity Garden Plant Sale at Aruna.**

🌿 **First Saturday of every month | 9–11 AM**
📍 8405 Salem Ave., Sebastian, FL

Plants are **grown with LOVE at Aruna** 💜🌱

One small botanical note: those little green structures are generally described as **Katuk fruits/berries rather than peas**. “Pea-like fruits” keeps the charming visual description while being more accurate.

08/02/2026

08/01/2026

What a wonderful turnout at our summer plant sale on such a steamy August day. We met so many new garden enthusiasts and loved sharing and receiving fabulous inspiration from everyone.
It’s so great to know that so many people are interested in creating more diversity and beauty in our gardens and everyone commented how tickled they were that there were so many butterflies everywhere.

🌏Saving the Planet … one Garden at a time.

07/31/2026

Some videos about growing a food forest in Florida

Understanding and applying forest ecology to edible landscaping. Efficient food production that is ecologically responsible and aesthetically pleasing. Designing, planting, and maintaining novel food forest ecosystems that create their own fertility, and perform much of their own maintenance.

07/31/2026

Everyone loves ladybugs. Red shell, black dots, lands on your finger. The most universally adored insect in the world.

A ladybug larva is black, spiny, and shaped like a tiny alligator. No red. No dots. No charm. She crawls through your aphid-infested rose bush looking like something that should not be on your plants. So you crush her. Or you spray her. Or you flick her off the leaf.

She was eating. A single ladybug larva consumes up to 400 aphids before she ever grows wings. That's more than the adult eats in weeks. The larval stage is the hungriest stage — the one doing the real aphid work on your roses. The mother laid her eggs right next to the aphid colony on purpose. Her children hatch surrounded by food.

The identification is instant. Small black body with orange or yellow spots, six legs, spiny texture, found on a leaf covered in aphids. That's her baby. Not a pest.

Every time you sprayed a plant covered in aphids without checking what else was on the leaf, some of those larvae died with the aphids they were already eliminating. The free labor, killed alongside the problem it was solving.

She doesn't wear the red coat yet. She's earning it.

07/31/2026

What’s growing in your yarden?? 

07/30/2026

🌿 Wild Coffee Spotlight ☕❤️

Don't let the name fool you—this beautiful Florida native won't perk up your morning coffee!

Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa) is one of Florida's most elegant native shrubs, prized for its glossy, deep green foliage, delicate clusters of white flowers, and brilliant red berries that brighten shady gardens.

The berries resemble coffee beans, giving the plant its common name—but they contain no caffeine. Instead, they provide an important food source for birds and other wildlife, while the nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and pollinators. (Gardening Solutions)
✨ Why gardeners love Wild Coffee:
🌿 Beautiful evergreen foliage year-round
🤍 Tiny white flowers from spring into summer
❤️ Bright red berries loved by birds
🦋 Supports pollinators and wildlife
🌳 Perfect for shade or filtered sunlight
🌱 Florida native and Florida-friendly

Its rich tropical appearance makes it a wonderful choice beneath oaks, along woodland paths, or anywhere you want lush greenery with very little fuss. Once established, it's easy to grow and rewards you with beauty in every season. (Gardening Solutions)
📍 Find Wild Coffee at the Roseland CommUnity Garden Plant Sale!
First Saturday of every month
9:00–11:00 AM
8405 Salem Ave., Sebastian
Bring home a beautiful Florida native that's as good for wildlife as it is for your landscape.