Got chilly last week, but it is rebounding nicely. The Carolina jasmine is beginning to bloom as well as the Japanese magnolias. It's really nice around here when the wisteria blooms. We planted the purple and white varieties and they look really nice blooming together. Plus they each have their own fragrance which can sometimes be almost overwhelming. Of course, it may be a drawback if it attracts the Africanized bees which have recently been found here in Florida. They probably sure could ruin a quiet walk down the driveway.......
Haven't seen anywhere near the toad population outside the reptile building as we have in the past, however. We usually have a group of spadefoots patiently waiting for a handout. They seem to be pretty much night owls and don't show themselves until after 10pm or so.
Well wonder what will get my bamboo groves this year? Last year it was hurricane Dennis. Knocked a bunch of my Phyllostachys vivax down. Pissed me off because those culms were reaching 4 inches and more in diameter. Those 40 foot shoots don't have much of a stabilizing root structure, so they are pretty easily toppled, it appears. Too much leverage when the high winds catch the leafy part of the shoots.
Last couple years before that the squirrels pretty much wiped out all of the new culms (shoots) that came up. But last year, before the new culms came up, I put a bounty on all squirrels and had my two employees at the time keep them at bay. So between squirrels and hurricanes, it's been a pretty tough chore keeping the bamboo from getting stomped on.
And I guess the tangerine grove will begin flowering pretty soon as well. Going to be getting pretty smelly around here!
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