Green thumbs learn to adjust to the Fla. way

Helen Novella, a Florida Master Gardener shows how to plant flowers in a decorative container with no holes. Using two pots ensures the plant will grow but Novella says its necessary to drain water from each container when it rains so the plant doesn't drown.

The Lee County Extension Service has one message for all those winter resident attempting to grow gardens in Southwest Florida: What you do up north doesn’t apply here.

Gardening doesn’t happen over night and great care needs to be paid to plants that prefer the areas subtropical temperatures.

A lesson local green thumbs learned at a session at the Bonita Springs Public Library was on “Creating Container Gardens.”

“There is such a vast amount of information on gardening that is geared toward this climate,” said said Helen Novella, a Florida master gardener with the extension service. “No need to kill all your plants trying to figure it out.”

But being flexible is the key to a successful garden, especially for plants grown in containers.

“Container gardening is a great way to be creative and just try everything out and see what happens,” said Novella to a small group of gardeners hastily taking notes.

Novella insists that container gardening is easier than using a shovel and being on your knees while gardening.

“It’s just so much easier and you can play with things. Move one pot over here ... one over there ... it’s living,” she said.

The extension service is offering the program at six libraries throughout Lee County for gardeners who want information on growing vegetables, flowers and herbs on their patios, lanais, or pool decks.

“You just have to plan what you are going to do. The earlier you start when season starts again ... the sooner you can enjoy the plants,” she said.

Novella argues that container gardening is also better for the environment.

“We reduce the use of water and fertilizers and we can avoid having to use a shovel,” Novella said. “You can just do more with less and it’s a great outlet.”

During the hour and a half long session, attendees asked questions about specific plants and Novella shared titles of books that can be used to translate northern state techniques to this sub-tropical zone.

“Georgia is a whole different zone and you have to get information from down here,” she said. “If you put yourself in the gardening mode you can always be looking for fun, creative things you can do.”

Chili rivalry simmers at Bonita’s eighth birthday festival

This is an annual event that ran on 1-A of the News-Press. The story was reported and written under daily deadline.


Emerson Drive drew more than 10,000 fans to Riverside Park on Sunday as part of the eighth annual Celebrate Bonita Festival.


Unicyclist Wade Henry high-fives David Hall, 11, of Naples during the eighth annual Celebrate Bonita Festival at Riverside Park.


Tim, right, and Ben Bogacz size up one of their more than 50 slabs of ribs during the eighth annual Celebrate Bonita Festival, which included a chili and rib cook-off. The Bogaczes didn’t win the cook-off but it was the camaraderie of the day that keeps them coming back year after year.

Cooking chili and grilling ribs are a family affair for the Bogaczs of the Bonita Springs Fire Department.

Ted and Ben Bogacz fired up the grill Sunday and put their reputations on the line during the chili and rib cook-off at the eighth annual Celebrate Bonita Festival.

The competition was fierce, with cooks from around the state squaring off against their biggest rivals, the San Carlos Park Fire Department.

“We got the best because we are in Bonita, and we just cook better food than you know who,” said Bonita firefighter Wayne Bay, while pointing at the San Carlos Park firefighters. “It’s all in the flavor.”

The flavor is a guarded Bogacz family secret and has won the Bonita firehouse a few awards in the past five years.

“It’s all good fun, but these boys got me up early today to start grilling,” Bob Bogacz said.

The Bogaczs say their barbecue is finger-lickin’ good, but the San Carlos Park firefighters see it a little differently.

“If you want chili, go to the San Carlos tent .... If you want vegetable soup, visit Bonita,” John Nichols, 25, a San Carlos Park firefighter, shouted to passers-by as they decided which chili to buy.

Both firehouses decorated their tents with colorful decorations and, of course, fire hydrants. Cooking square-offs aside, both teams admitted the camaraderie and cause bring them together.

“We do it for the community, and this is a big event and there is a lot of recognition,” said Ernie Hand of the San Carlos Park Fire Department. “It’s great to be out here with these guys.”

To keep their minds off the competition, the firefighters sold more than 100 slabs of ribs and 50 gallons of chili to a crowd of more than 10,000 at Riverside Park, said city spokeswoman Arlene Houston.

The crowd ate, drank and partied the day away to big-name acts such as Emerson Drive and the Charlie Daniels Band.

“They are great. We came just for them, and we have been sitting out here in the sun waiting all day,” said Kris Reber, 29, of south Fort Myers.

Great was what the San Carlos Fire and Rescue guys felt at the end of the day when the judges awarded them the third-place prize for best chili. The group also won for best-decorated booth.

“We still feel it was a win. Bonita has a great chili, don’t get me wrong, but we just have a flavor that’s tough to beat,” Nichols said.

As for the Bonita Springs firefighters, well, they went home empty-handed. Bonita Bay Realty took the top prize.

The guys will return to chop, stir and cook another time, though.

“We will be back next year to claim the title back,” Tim Bogacz said, “but it’s nice to come out and be together. It’s all for fun.”

Rep. Connie Mack speaks to Bonita Chamber

This story appeared on 1-A of the News-Press and was written on daily deadline.


U.S. Congressman Connie Mack, left, speaks to Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce member Ray Faubion after his speech during the group’s Tuesday luncheon.

Southwest Florida has big problems and national leaders are only offering small solutions, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, told a gathering of Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday.

The group of 150 heard from Southwest Florida’s congressman about what he says matters most: the Interstate 75 expansion, taxes and immigration.

Mack said Congress isn’t doing enough to help the rapidly growing area.

“We have to think outside the box to find solutions,’’ he said. “Southwest Florida is unique, and I grew up here, so I understand what matters. There are a lot of things going on in Washington and I sometimes feel pressured to talk about it all.”

At the top of Mack’s list is I-75. He spoke adamantly against using tolls to pay for two new lanes.

“We already pay taxes and we ought to find other ways to pay for it,” he said. “I’m certain we will find a solution, but once you put a toll in ... the money doesn’t always go for transportation.”

He is equally committed not to raise taxes. He said people need the money to spend, which will help the economy continue to grow.

“We have passed the first budget of this new leadership and it means $3,000 from each of our pockets,” said Mack, adding that a sluggish economy doesn’t benefit from increased taxes. “We need to change the thinking away from so much spending.”

And, change is exactly what Mack wants Congress to do about immigration.

“We need to protect our borders north and south and think realistically about how many people we actually need to do jobs in this country,” he said.

Mack said he doesn’t believe in amnesty for those who are already in the country undocumented but admits the United States has a lot of work ahead.

“It’s become so political that we may end up somewhere in the middle and that will be difficult for me,” Mack said about the gamut of solutions being considered in immigration policies.

“It’s great to come out here and talk about these issues with a group like this,” Mack said after the speech. “People just want to see results and hopefully we can see them soon.”

Chamber president Nancy Keefer said the speech shed some light on Washington and gave Mack a view from the trenches.

“This gives (Mack) a chance to address the business industry and see what is happening locally,” said Keefer. “They are the ones working in the trenches and these issues affect the business community directly.”