09/17/2026
๐ช๐ธ From the Flower Markets of Madrid to The Ranch Nursery in Ponte Vedra ๐บ๐ธ
When you own a nursery, itโs nearly impossible to walk past a flower market, even when youโre thousands of miles from home. During our recent travels in Spain, we spent time exploring the cityโs neighborhood flower and plant markets. What immediately caught our attention wasnโt just how beautiful they were, but how many familiar plants we found. Ferns, begonias, snake plants, succulents, vinca, kalanchoe, citrus and colorful flowering plants filled the displays. Many of the same plant families and varieties youโll recognize from nurseries and landscapes here in NE Florida. Thatโs where horticulture gets interesting. ๐ฑ
Madrid and Ponte Vedra can grow some surprisingly similar plants, but under very different conditions. Madridโs Mediterranean-influenced climate brings hot, exceptionally dry summers and colder winters. Northeast Florida gives us heat along with high humidity, abundant summer rainfall and a much longer subtropical growing season. The result is a plant that thrives in both places that may require completely different care - from irrigation and soil drainage to seasonal placement and protection.
We loved seeing some true Mediterranean favorites: olive trees, citrus, succulents and drought-tolerant plants woven among the familiar flowers and foliage. Traveling is always inspiring, but seeing another part of the world through the eyes of a grower and nursery owner makes it even more interesting. We returned to Florida with photographs, inspiration and a few new ideas for The Ranch.
Whether youโre shopping a flower market in Madrid or visiting your neighborhood nursery here in the Nocatee Community, thereโs something universal about bringing home a plant you love.
The Ranch Nursery | Locally grown | Globally inspired | Northeast Florida ready ๐ฑ