Archive - February 2012

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Blooms and roots

Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 02:20:38 PM

This flower is fabulous.

The Brownea coccinea ssp. capitella growing next to the Hawkes Lab walkway, has been spectacular this year. Mary Collins, senior horticulturist, said it displayed seven flowers last week. This morning, four flowers and a bud were impressing visitors. There is a helpful sign next to the plant explaining that it is hummingbird pollinated and that its new leaves emerge to resemble a limp handkerchief, giving it the nickname “handkerchief tree.”

Meanwhile, growing next to the Brownea is a Guiana chestnut,

These roots have
emerged from the
trunk of Pachira.

Pachira aquatica, that is sending out adventitious roots along its trunk. Some of them resemble stubby little fingers that might be poking through the bark to get a feel for the place. The Pachira, from tropical America, is surrounded by rainforest plants, so perhaps it is throwing out roots to capitalize on the moist environment.

Follow the tram trail from the Cycad Circle back to the new construction, and you will find the trees on your left.

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President's Day at FTBG

Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 11:23:34 AM

Great American Egret and blue herons.

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At last

Tue, Feb 07, 2012 at 09:55:29 AM

Raindrops cling to
this tomato's bottom.

What’s happier than a tomato in the rain? A whole garden in the rain.

And perhaps even happier is this gardener.

So we didn’t get a cold snap, we got rain instead, and boy has it been a long thirsty stretch. Yellow lawns and droopy staghorn ferns are normal for April/May, not January/February. The tomatoes and broccoli relish the rain, and the bok choi grew visibly overnight. If rain continues for a few days, which is forecast, then we’ll have to start watching for snails to reemerge.

Last weekend, I stocked up on palm special fertilizer and ingredients for repotting aroids – Pro-Mix, peat moss and pine bark soil conditioner. I’m ready for the end of the month to arrive so I can garden once again.

The Catasetum orchids are showing new growth, so we can start watering them again. This new growth may be slightly early, but last week I also saw a Tabebuia caraiba in flower. One of our Oncidium sphacelatum orchids has been in flower since January. That’s really out of season. It's an interesting new world in which to garden.

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Georgia Tasker

Georgia Tasker was the garden writer for The Miami Herald for over 30 years and has written four books on gardening. Her blog is a must read for any gardener.