Week of February 17

Spring is even more evident as the camellias are winding down.  The peaches and plums are in full bloom, joined by the Chickasaw plums creating a cloud of white petals.  This means it is AZALEA season in North Florida.  It appears that azaleas in Florida do not provide the dense banks of color like we see in the midAtlantic States.   Rather, Florida  azaleas have large single blooms scattered along the bush.  Our Florida Home had several banks of the Formosa variety in the front yard, along the fence in the back, and a 40 foot diameter ring around the live oak by the driveway, all magenta in color.  I have added a light pink Formosa variety along the back fence, a  twice-a-season blooming orange variety at the shady end of Palm Row, and a deep red one at the other end.  Spring in the South cannot do without azaleas.