Spring Blooms

A number of fruit trees are in bloom at the garden. Although it is supposed to freeze tonight, it looks like spring.

Sandhill

Here is a photo of the sandhill area after the volunteers were done with their work. The photo cannot really fully capture the transformation, but a great deal of understory was removed and many larger non-sandhill trees were also removed.

Volunteers Restore Sandhill

These hard working volunteers helped the garden restore the sandhill area. They were alumni, students, and faculty from the Department of Geography and the Environmental Science and Policy Program at USF.

Camellias

It's camellias time in the Gardens. We have a number of varieties - all in bloom in the shade garden.

Lion's Ear

Leonotus leonurus, also called Lion's Tail - this herb is just coming into flower in the medicinal display bed, next to the herb and scent garden. The flowers are orange, tubular and are pollinated by hummingbirds.

Shaving Brush Tree

This is in bloom now - the shaving brush tree - Pseudobombax ellipticum. it is in the malvaceae family (hibiscus) and is from Mexico. You'll notice there are no "typical" petals. The second photo is of new buds.

Restoring Sand Hill Habitat

One area of the garden consists of a native pine sandhill ecosystem. Unfortunately, due to fire suppression in the urban area, some less desirable vegetation moves in on occasion. Recently, a group of Environmental Science and Policy and Geography alumni, current students, and faculty worked to help to clean out the area of non-sandhill vegetation. This invasive succulent was the first to go. More sandhill photos for the next week.