Week of March 8,2020

This is the week to focus on the trees in our Florida garden.  First, the oaks, especially the live oaks, are budding and blooming.  Their thinner leaf cover is going away, making the warbler watching much more challenging and their pollen gives everything a greenish hue.  We have had several wind events this spring, with some blow-downs along the back fence, including a 10 inch diameter tree falling to bisect a bromeliad clump.  Our neighbor, Jack, arranged to have several dead trees on his side of the fence threatening the fence between our properties to be removed, for which we are grateful.  Other trees and bushes are budding and the loquat that I planted some years ago is covered in yellow fruit.  The redbuds provide their bright color to the back fence line. The banana bushes are in full bloom, sending their banana aroma around the back yard.  Finally, I planted a new Metley plum to my plum row.  This is the same variety that grows at TAProots Farm, which we used to make the delicious plum sauce we enjoyed last summer.  With cool nights and warm days,  this is the best time to stroll in the Florida garden.