Another First Time Ever Bloom - Jamaican Cherry Tree - Muntingia calabura

First time flower buds in the leaf axis which, opens to a strawberry
like blossom, hence one of two common names. Finally moved it to
a larger pot due to it drying out to often. Had I not repotted this plant
I may not have noticed the flower buds. This specimen was purchased
from our downtown Farmer's market this past fall.

A common long legged green fly accompanies this sub tropical plant.
Also known as a Condylostylus patibulatus, in some circles. Looking 
quite stealth.

First Meal - Green Beans With A Twist

Fresh green beans from Wednesday's Twilight Farmer's Market. Can
of Italian seasoned Plum tomatoes. Key lime juice, toasted sesame
seeds, Ghee and some yellow mustard. Followed this with a tin of
smoked kippers (not shown). Yum!

First Blooms Of The Year

There have been several flowers in bloom by now, but there are
a few that catches my eye. Perhaps the novelty of these have not
warn off or perhaps they just might be my favorites.

This Bromeliad hasn't
put out a fluorescence,
that's Bromeliad speak
for bloom, in over four
years.

I must not have it in
it's ideal spot in the
yard yet.




This warrants a closeup shot of this beauty.

This flowering Hawthorne tree' bloom was the first one that caught my eye
and gave me thought to blog this show of first blooms.

This Hawthorne tree reminds me of the Ironwood trees that bloom
in the Florida Panhandle. The spring foliage on the Ironwood looks
brighter due to the Ironwood's jet black park. Quite the sight for those
that notice things like that. The Hawthorne tree shares similar
characteristics, such has being short in stature and has a 'Bonsai'
like architecture also. A great substitute for the Ironwood tree.

I've been waiting on theses Amyrillas to bloom, knowing they should
have been blooming in masses, two weeks ago. The first of two that
are in bloom and many more to go.


One more, the Pinwheel Jasmine bloom. This is another one of those
plant's architecture that caught my eye, although not shown off in
this picture.

March Comes “In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb”

March's Lion just left it's mark on my potted Tomato plants. I didn't think
much more of the wind and rain last night until I went to throw some water
on these thirsty beasts. Only to discover the bamboo cage I built last
year was lying on it's side, Tomato plants still intact. Nothing that impaling
three more bamboo sticks into this tangle of vines can't remedy, albeit
temporary. Only lost three tomatoes from last nights carnage. 

Trumpets Herald The Freakish Pinkish Blooms

This Devils Backbone Euphorbia has some unusual blooms that
caught my eye this late afternoon. I just found out another common
name, Redbird Cactus. How fitting.

Euphorbia tithymaloides

Top Dressing, Feed and Water The Vegtables

No different demands than us humans. I gave my three potted vegetables
a top dressing of soil, some new organic food in pallet form. Along with
a good drink of some collected rain water. These plants need to be watered
at a minimum of once a day and during a short hot spell last week, twice
a day.

I also tasted two cherry tomatoes the other day and they were really good.
Light years from how they tasted this past late summer. The tomato plant
in the back is from last year. The one's in the front are cuttings from last
year's tomato and already showing some blossoms. The cuttings aren't as
deep green as it's parent plant. The main difference that I contribute to
that is the soil, a compost not as complete as the original batch and also
a bit more sun. Will see how this new organic fertilizer does along with
the ramped up the watering schedule. I should consider a drip irrigation
to quench it's thirst.

Last Chill Time For Cacao Tree

Brought in my Cacao Tree for two nights now, the first being forty-four degrees and
the second night for being down to low fifties. Ok, I was just being a bit lazy but,
still cautious. The novelty of this tree still has my attention, obviously. I didn't take
into consideration when my Crape Myrtle tree had shed it's leaves that it no longer
shaded the Cacao Tree. Good thing it was the winter sun and the Vanilla Orchid
did show signs of being overexposed, pale green instead of a deep green leaves.
Time will tell in regards to the Vanilla Orchid. The Cacao Tree seems to have
survived this oversight, knowing that they preference to being in an understory
envirorment.

I mentioned earlier how this tree lost one of it's twin growing tips. Only upon
inspection that it shows a new side sprout. Time will tell just how viable this
new sprout becomes. I also gave this tree a nice dose of liquid organic food that
I just found. Not too fond of the scent they gave it to disguise it's origins. I
decided use it all up on what ever else I could so as not to be reminded of
it's off putting man made scent that reminds me of  fabric softeners.

A Window Into My World

Need I say more?

Sometimes If You Look Too Hard

The first Amyrilla blooms were once the sign of my late
neighbor's birthday, which also coincides with St. Patrick's
day. This benchmark of when and how many, along with
the intensity, which would alternate every other year. This
year should show a spectacular show of blooms. Up until
this year they would have been in full bloom by now and
have more than enough to represent this flower with an
intoxicating bouquet for all the senses. Most of which were
grown from seed and the originals came from my grandmother's
garden. So not only do you have the originals but variations
of said originals and therefore the results can be more beautiful
than their certifiably patented parent.

So this morning I thought I would see if there were any Amyrilla
blooms to be found, while admiring yesterday's rainfall. You may
ask how does one admire yesterday's rainfall? Let's start with the
moisture in the morning's air. Generally this would be typical for
an early morning venture except that this is mid morning and the
concrete is still damp and not with just the morning's dew. All
that is green is now a deeper color of green and sparkle with
either drops of rain still captured or still not evaporated because
of the heavy moisture that is still in the air.

 Then there is the smells. What was once dry is now wet. Plenty
of dried out and once green and viable that is now brown, whether
it's leaves, grass or dried twigs.Various droppings from all the birds,
insects and lizard. Not to mention all that is microscopic, bacteria
and all that bio mass that have been now infused with yesterday's
rain and know perfuming the air with what we associate with
an earthy aroma.

The sound, as I walk along what was once dry and crunchy is now
well, damp and spongy. While all this is going on and stimulating
the senses, at first the only bloom I see is this seven inch stalk topped
with a tiny and possibly it first ever soon to be a flower. These Amyrilla
are always producing new bulbs, clones if you will, that in time eventually
bloom. A long with and even shorter shrimp of a bloom, to it's left. A nice
surprise in it's self but still a bit disappointed. Do I see the nearly two
footer just behind it? Nope! I had already made up in my mind that there
are still none to be found. So as if blinded by a self full filling prophecy, if
for only a matter of seconds. Not until I ready my cell phone's camera
do I see the this and another tall bloom, still days if not a week to bloom.

This years first Amyrilla blooms not including the various African Iris blooms.

 

Yesterday's First Meal

Grilled Eggplant dressed with Olive Oil, Marinara sauce and pickled Banana Peppers.

A Confluence Of Seasons

Here we are in the remaining days of Winter, with Spring knocking at our door. The temperatures are like Summer, although without the humidity. I have a Live Oak that
has finished dropping it's leaves, which punctuates Fall's presence. Another sign of
Spring brings the green cast of pollen that dusts every conceivable surface. Soon
to follow are the cattails that fall from said oak tree to leave it's blanket of brown.
Where else but here, do we witness this dance of the Season.

A World Between Terrestrial And Celestial

Using android apps Pixlr camera and SkyView along with some
local pics. We have a collage of four images blended to make
a nice phone Wallpaper.

Our City's Late Winter Spring Obsession Plant Sale = Asmina triloba - PawPaw

This will be the third time in attempts to establish and sustain
a planting of a Florida? variety of PawPaw. I've had two saplings
last one and two seasons. So when I saw this tree length
specimen, I thought I would give it at least one more try.

It's a good thing I wasn't aware that I received my income tax
return electric deposit three days ago. I could of brought a couple
of other more pricey items back to my garden paradise.



Three years and in counting. This mini Vanda orchid as been a
blooming regularly. This year has been no exception, with four
blooms in it's infant stage. This to was found and bagged at
our Spring Obsession.

 

Our City's Late Winter Spring Obsession Plant Sale = Billbergia 'Darth Vader'

A collector of Bromeliads and it's black color has been my
second Bromeliad in this non-colour range. One being a
specimen and two makes it a collection.

Note the star like blemishes in it's inner leaves. I can
see why some numbskull fell for the Star Wars
themed namesake, albeit due for lack of creativity and
an obvious Star Wars fanatic.

Went outdoors to find where the other pair of black Bromeliads
were located and what do I come across? A not often seen,
three foot Black snake. Wow, if there's not a dark force lurking
out there. I should of placed my phone on video instead of
photo, otherwise we would have had some pics of that black
beauty.

While trying to seek out and capture this snake on digital. I came
across this little gem. The seed pod from a Clivia, cousin to the
Amyrillis.

Our City's Late Winter Spring Obsession Plant Sale = Euphorbia leucodendron - Cat Tails

My next purchase is this stunning Euphorbia. Before I go on, looking
at the name Euphorbia's name, knowing that the sap can be near toxic
in some cases must have had some other properties than can or have
produced euphoria states of mind, hmmm? Some poor sap, pun intended,
must of had to been it's first victim of toxic proportions.

Euphorbia leucodendron - Cat Tails Euphorbia

Will have to find a place under the house's eves so as not to let our
summer rains saturate it's dry origins of Madagascar.

Our City's Late Winter Spring Obsession Plant Sale = Liatris spicata - Blazing Star

Every year around this time our city's annual Spring Obsession
plant sale never fails to impress. Years past, it has been hard
for the city to collect enough vendors to hawk their plant wares,
due to other competing plant shows throughout central Florida.
Even though it may not be Spring yet, but central Florida's weather
rarely followed the what's on the calendar.

Take my Amyrillis plants, which flower by the time of St. Patrick's
day and a late dear neighbor's birthday. This year may be an exception,
but then anything could happen in the short time frame between now and
then. When Spring's mighty burst of renewal takes hold , there is no holding
back this mighty force of nature.

In spite of an insipid collection of plants one has to satisfy one's
obsession, right?  From a plant collector's perspective, if you look
hard and long enough, one can always find a gem of a plant among
the paste. Our diligence never fails to bring to the forefront something
new that catches the eye and my wallet.

 Two things caught my attention about this plant. First and
foremost, which I was not totally in control. The volunteer
whom recognized me from past purchases of Florida native
plants and snagged me from the early morning crowds like
a fish. The bait being an appeal to my vanity perhaps as being
recognized but also drawn to simplicity that native plants have
that can contribute to our landscape. The second, being that
this plant's beginnings appear to have a grassy stage which
caught my eye in the meager collection that these hardworking
volunteers managed to present to the city's presentation.

The first plant is a (Florida) eastern North American native,
I hope. Having done my internet skimming on said plant to
verify my nagging suspect to confirm that this is not an
invasive species, which shares a common name of Gayfeather.

The Liatris spicata - Blazing Star, a lavender colored flower,
also in keeping with my wanting to collect cool hued flowers.
Who needs hot hues when you have hot weather. Save those
for a specimen planting, in order to spot light their hot blazing
contrast to the other plantings.

First Meal

Inspired by what memories I have of a Western Omelet with more
modern influences, hence the  Avocado and Black Olives. Using
the remains of Asparagus, not enough to call it out as a main ingredient.
Same goes with some smoked ham. Some Red Pepper,Shallots ,Celery
and a dash of black pepper. A ripe Avocado with some Romano cheese
to round out the fatty goodness that will satiate your appetite.  Finish
with Florida's finest Pink Grapefruit to boot.

Last night, wrapped up Season two of the TV series Kingdom. Along with a 2006
movie Paul Walker vehicle, Running Scared, intense.

Buds and Sprouts

This Drunkards Dreams which started out as a cutting this past June,
is setting up some flower buds along with some new sprouts.

Update Mar 20 2016

The Greening Begins

Two of the nine Bald Cypress trees are beginning to put on their
first show of needles for the year.