Queen's wreath is a real traffic stopper when in full bloom. It's also called tropical wisteria, queen's wreath, bluebird vine, sandpaper vine or its real name Petrea volubilis. The vine on this house was bright blue for two weeks and now it has turned blue gray. It is still beautiful. 
This is a close up picture. Notice the true flower is the purple part. There is a pure white form, but it's rare.
This tree produces flowers on the trunk of the tree right down to the ground. It also blooms on the small branches at the top of the tree. Our Brownea grandiceps from Ecuador is a large tree.
This is a close up picture of yesterdays picture, but two days older. Can anyone figure out a general name (like orchid)? But it is not an orchid.
This last stem for the season is more blue then I have ever seen. I think it has to do with the temperature.
We had some friends from Canada visiting last week. This is there take of the Biltmore Hotel. It looks pretty nice to me.
This orchid has an easy name, dove orchid. My plant is very large and when it flowers there are a few hundred flowers. It blooms many times a year. But the flowers last for only one day. I have faith that it will give me joy, but I have to be alert for the day that it will come my way.
A friend gave me the water lily last fall. It had one bloom but then it lingered all through the winter. I thought that I would lose the plant since they don't rest over the winter here in south Florida. The three flowers opened all at once this Wednesday.
This red bougainvillea will take over. With out trimming it could cover the house in 5 years.
We have a Irish tavern in the middle of town. Once a year the traffic stops to honor an important Saint. The numbers of Irish in the area are sparse, but we had a lot of people dressed in green. The beer started at 4PM and the live music went to 11PM and by midnight every one disappeared. As the evening progressed the short line became a problem. But the long line was even worse, I think people thought it would be cleaner in the tavern.
Bougainvillea must be the most popular. This red one is a very old variety, but it is the most ofen seen.
This is the note that the city sent out to the residents.
This house was built in the late 20's and was painted in an earth color that was rather light. Without air conditioning no one would paint their house in a dark color. Beside that, dark pigments weren't on the market. But in the last 20 years these darker colors are being used. They get by when they call it historic. Any owner that wants to have their house painted must go to city hall and have the color approved and the painter must by licenced painter. I have painted my own home for 40 years and now it is illegal. But I can paint if it's just a touch up. So I do one wall at a time.
The common name is Baobab tree and often spelled Boabab. This is the tree that sometimes is used as a jail. The center of the wide trunk base can be carved out for the cell. Google any of the three names and you will find some interesting reading.
Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden has one of the major collections of cycads in the world. Some of the species are among the most likely plants to become extinct. The orange cones of this cycad should be full of seeds. That is, if a male of the same specie is near by.
Our grandson (19 months old) was just learning how to use a fork but the cherry pie got the best of him. Now he is a mature 2 year old. The short movie clip has my favorite picture of each month.
We have two Jabotacaba trees. The other one has produced heavy crops for 40 years. But this tree lagged behind until now. Both trees are over 70 years old. It tastes as good as it looks.
Yesterday I raked up the oak leaves from the parkway. There are piles up and down our street. Notice the light circle on the lower right of the picture, it's a special leaf. Click here and see a leaf that you are not likely to have raked in your garden.
For three weeks the oak trees dropped there leaves. Now for the last two weeks they have bloomed and put out there bright apple green leaves. Ahh! it's spring.
Our oak has an extra perk. This vine has a flush of flowers now and in the fall, and then a few flowers off and on the rest of the year.
Be sure to click on this picture and see the beauty of the Tecmanthe blossoms. Lan took a picture of my vine March 6 08. Please look at his picture.
The original building was built around three patios. Each room had an entire wall of windows. In warm weather the windows were opened. But when the building was fitted out with air conditioning the windows were removed. No more gazing out of the windows. And we wonder why we have problems in the school?
The leaves have washed out green areas and brown spots due to low temperatures. But the red petaloides are perfect. The petaloides protect the bright yellow flowers that will pop out in a few weeks.
