Spring Arrives in Central Florida

Amaryllis is a subtropical bulb that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is native to South Africa. It is grown as a potted plant in most parts of the United States but can also be grown outdoors year round in warm areas like Florida. Amaryllis flower in the late winter through early spring in central Florida.

For several weeks central Florida kept getting cold spells as storms crossed the country.  Not cold like up north but below our average for winter.  I wasn’t out seeing the neighborhood or noticing neighbor’s gardens.  This last weekend it warmed up and I’ve been riding and going out in the car a lot this last week.

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January Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known colloquially as Chinese hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus, rose mallow and shoeblackplant, is a species of tropical hibiscus, a flowering plant in the Hibisceae group of the family Malvaceae.  The biggest difference between tropical and hardy hibiscus is that tropical hibiscus is not hardy in zones lower than zone 9. Tropical hibiscus does not tolerate freezing temperatures and cannot survive more than brief periods of cold.

 

The other morning I went outside shortly after sunrise.  My two yellow tropical hibiscus had multiple flowers.  Hibiscus are made to flower, and mine always try when they have sun and water.  We have a mild winter with only occasional freezes. It’s been over 5 years since I lost tropical plants to frost.

 

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