The signs of fall are subtle but here a few trees turning yellow...or brown in the case of the Cypress. Our Curcuma, Peacock and the Dancing Lady Gingers have died back. The swamp had dried as it was the driest November on record. The temperatures are blissful.
If you haven't heard these are our state symbols.....
tree- sabal palm
flower- orange blossom
bird- mockingbird
animal-alligator,Fl panther,and manatee
butterfly- zebra longwing
song- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOObPhTYi9I
I took a drive into the big city and along the way I stopped to take a few shots of .........well, plants of course!
Strawberry Fields Forever!
 |
| Bouganvilla |
The Silk Floss Tree is a wonder with its Spiky killer trunk....not real popular with animals!
But the loveliest thing are the huge,pink,extravagant blossoms.
Huge blooms and so many!! what a wonder in December! The Silk Floss tree!
Boy, I wish to know what kind of fungus these are!This is a shot of my Night -blooming Jasmine..this wonderful perfume wafts over the neighborhood as we take our walk every mild night...Geez, are you envious yet?
They are odd looking fungus. It is not too bad up North. We will be in the fifties tomorrow. But it is nice to see things growing.
ReplyDeleteI just want to add, Santa looks a little too comfy. Should he not be getting on his ho, ho ,ho. The elves are working too hard!
DeleteHere in the evergreen state, I'm green with envy! I'll try not to gloat too much come summer when your heat causes the mercury to burst out of the thermometer and you have 500% humidity. Still, you live in such a beautiful area where so many beautiful plants, about which I can only dream of growing, thrive. Lucky, lucky you!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe you are surrounded with all this beautiful flowers while our country is covered with a blanked of snow. Beautiful photo's Sharon. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteHello Sharon!
ReplyDeleteFor me, a very frosty, white and cold.
In such a nice time watching green, the flowers on the trees, strawberries ...
Awesome text, you showed wonderful city.
Have a nice Sunday
Lucia
I am! Seriously! The Silk Floss Tree is beautiful! How nice to just be able to walk around and see all of those fantastic blooms! We have no blooms and guess what?!? No snow either! I still have my hopes up but who knows with the crazy weather we have been having. All the best!
ReplyDeleteYes, this is the wonderful time of year for us down here in FL. We could use some rain though, as things are browning up and croaking. I've been neglecting my gardens so I hope things will survive until I can get back to them.
ReplyDeleteHave wonderful holidays.
FlowerLady
The flowers are stunning! Love the brilliant pink ones! This post is full of colors and delight!! Thank you! Have wonderful Holidays, Sharon!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm always fascinated by the amazing plants that grow farther south. Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I am envious! It is gray and cold and kinda wet here up north. That silk floss tree is amazing, and your shot of pink blooms against the blue sky is so spring like. I love Christmas, but ache for some spring sunshiny views at this time of year, and these did it!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued. That silk floss tree is a winner. And I did call on my imagination to smell the jasmine. Mine will soon produce that sweet fragrance. But it'll be indoors. Enjoy paradise.
ReplyDeleteÅh how lovley whith the blue skie and all the pink flowers!
ReplyDeleteHugs from me!
Beautiful, beautiful photos, Sharon! The 'Silk Floss Tree' is amazing with those beautiful blooms. I love the intoxicating fragrance of Jasmine too. I have a 'Confederate Jasmine' that perfumes the neighborhood. I guess we both have perfuming the neighborhood taken care of. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm just so envious! It's so beautiful out there! I love strawberries!
ReplyDeleteLove all that blue sky. Interesting toad stools.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous! All those pretty blooms!
ReplyDeleteHi it is so nice to meet you! Of course you can paint the bike! I would love to see it when it is done! Have fun and pleased that you asked! Want to check out more of your blog, will do so soon! Love your header! Gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteThe Silk Floss Tree has such lovely flowers but the trunk and branches are dreadful. They look like the spikes of our durian fruits. The mushrooms are interesting, quite simliar to the ones sold in supermarkets. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletehave you eaten Durian...I dont think I ever will...haha
DeleteVery nice pictures...
ReplyDeleteI specially like the photo of the blossems
with the fine blue sky at the background..
gretting Nieske
You have every reason to gloat :) So funny, I just saw a notice in our weekly flyers to buy some delicious Florida strawberries which have just come into grocery stores this week, so, thank you Florida! That Silk Floss Tree is awesome, it looks quite tall and the flowers are glowing. But what is with that trunk? It looks like it could be a dragon's neck.
ReplyDeleteMy night blooming jasmine has been blooming profusely for weeks now. Nothing quite like it!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a silk floss tree - looks beautiful (and very unique).
eli
there are a couple on New jersey at the house on the creek with all the plants you can see the spiky trunks...but this one on 60 on the northside...hispanic people live in the house... we need to get one for sure!!!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too. I was just thinking how nice it would be to be in FL right now. It's cold here. Brrr.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing warm weather, blooming trees, you're lucky living in Hot State!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog!
Nadezda
http://northern-garden.blogspot.com/
We love the this state and it is wonderful all year except for May, June,July and August! but then the north also has 4 months of cold many.. here have 2 homes.....but we dont....and we love the northwest but not sunny enough...and California...well for expensive....they is no perfect place..
DeleteMaybe it´s time for your Santa to stop party in the sun and get me some presents soon.I want a Victorain Greenhouse can ju please tell him ;-)
ReplyDeleteHugs from me!
Thanks for showing the flowers of the silk floss tree. I saw several in so. Florida this summer and was fascinated by the trunks. Now I need to see them in flower with my own eyes.
ReplyDeleteoh, i wish i could smell that Jasmine!
ReplyDeletethose mushrooms are awesome, the way they grow in wonderful domed cities.
lovely to see flowers too.
my flowers are in the form of snowflakes.
lovely holidays to you~
Those are the craziest fungus I've ever seen!!! Happy Holidays :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Ah! I am indeed jealous as it is snowing here in North-east, freezing cold and I can't wait for spring to come to start my gardening in full swing.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too, Sharon. That silk floss tree is amazing, thank you for the pictures!
ReplyDeleteDo you know that your avatar pitcure is gone?
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Hugs from me!
The bougainvillaea takes my breath away! Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteGosh, yes, of course I'm jealous! I found your blog on Blotanical--very nice! You've included some of my very favorite warm-climate plants here: Bougainvillea and Jasmine. And how wonderful that you have Strawberries ripening! You sound like my parents: They live in Florida from January through March, and they gloat about the weather every time they call. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteEarly December is a late autumn in my place with the climax of colored leaves, but not so full of flowers like in your place. Now in January, it is so cold. I wonder how it is in your place now. I’d like the sweet fragrance of night-blooming Jasmine wafting from this way through the cyberspace.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit. Have a super happy year!
Yoko
Happy New Year! My aunt lived in Floriday and I have fond memories of the warm sun, bright flowers and lizards! I miss the sun desparately - especially this time of year. I'll have to live vicariously through your pictures. Love the strawberries.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. It sure looks different in Florida.
ReplyDeleteGrapefruit say?! Ahhh what a dream :-)
ReplyDeleteHUG from me!