So far, I’ve had pretty good luck with my four-tree eugenia “forest” test and I attribute the success simply to good irrigation. As a self-admitted non-gardener, I found out the hard way that plants actually need water to survive.  I certainly didn’t want these expensive plants to prematurely end up in photosynthesis heaven, so the trick was to provide each tree with its own drip system spigot which supplies water every other day for 15 minutes. I’ve come to actually enjoy setting up and adjusting the drip irrigation system and when finally tweaked to the point where all is working well, it provides a good sense of accomplishment.

I recently felt confident enough to spring for nine more trees and planted them using the same methods as for the original test: plant them still in their nursery pots to control growth (and just in case, making them easier to reposition if needed), provide each with its own water supply, add surface mulch to help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay, and regularly trim to shape. Before I got started planting I had to remove and replant some out-of-control annuals to make room for the new trees.

Taking hints from how real forests grow, I purposely spaced the trees in random groups and added ground ferns to break up any unnatural patterns. The wider spaced areas also help provide better views of the trains as they run though the forest. These eugenia cones came fully shaped from the planter up and when placed near the railroad tracks needed to be trimmed at the bottom to create the necessary clearance for passing locomotives and rolling stock.

The newly added plants were all my local nursery had in stock so I’m waiting to go back and buy more when they become available.

The next grove of “trees” will eventually go on the other side of the San Gabriel River to help create the notion that the canyon is deeper than it really is, not to mention the added shade will allow local gold prospectors to work longer into the day.

The view should be spectacular when done! Stay tuned!

The San Gabriel & Moonshine Creek Railroad is considered a “backwoods” line which in my opinion should have groves of tall evergreens representing pine or redwood forests. Because I live in USDA hardiness zone 9b it is difficult to find a suitable looking shrub that could pass for a pine and yet be tolerant of the hot and humid weather in central Florida. After consulting with an expert at my favorite gardening place, Lukas Nursery, I decided to plant four 30″ cone-shaped Eugenias as a test.

I planted them with their 2-gallon pots into the ground in hopes of controlling growth and making them easier to move in the future if the need arises.

It was easy to prune the bottom part of each shrub to reveal the single-stalk “trunk” and I’m hoping the rest of the “trees” will begin to take on more irregular shapes as they mature.

So far, I’m quite pleased with their appearance and seeing the occasional logging train passing between the tree trunks gives the impression that they’ve been growing there for a long time.

I plan on eventually adding more Eugenias as time permits, expanding the forest to potentially 15-20 “trees” flanking both sides of the San Gabriel Canyon.

Who knows, I may even run a new spur line across the canyon and into the “woods” to add more interest and switching opportunities. Perhaps a new mine or logging camp may grow out of it!

While some may believe that Florida is a tropical paradise year-round, it does get cold in the Winter and sub-freezing temperatures are not uncommon. Eugenias are sensitive to extreme cold, especially if the wind blows. I’ve read about several ways to protect these plants in the winter and the most intriguing method was to wrap them in bubble wrap! The more I think about it, the more sense it makes and the more I like the idea. I will give it a try this winter and report my findings in a future post. Stay tuned!