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.

More Hibiscus!

Hibiscus

Chalice Vine

One of the most asked about flowering vines in the garden is the Chalice Vine (Solandra maxima). To read about this vine, please see this link.

The flowers are quite spectacular. They are pollinated by bats. They grow vigorously along a fence or on a trellis. On occasion, the gardens plant shop has some of the plants for sale that were rooted from the cuttings taken from the one on the grounds.

Cactus and Succulents in Bloom

The cactus and succulents area is really looking great right now--many plants are in bloom. Here's just a couple--aloe and crown of thorns.

Peaceful Spot in the Garden

There is an abundance of water at the Botanical Gardens. There is a big lake, and this lovely water feature. It is set among the bamboo and the bonsai.

Citrus

If you missed the kumquat festival this weekend in Dade City, you can always stop and admire the fruit trees at the gardens. There are several that are bearing fruit right now--include a couple of kumquat trees.

Gingers

The shade garden on the property contains some beautiful gingers. Here's one that happened to be blooming this January.

Workshops in the Gardens

On Saturday 1/20, we held a Craft & Create Day. Participants learned through hands-on workshops how to make rain barrels, growing boxes (similar to Earth Boxes) and very creative stepping stones.

Butterflies

The butterfly garden is a great spot to see butterflies flitting about.

Water Feature

This is the waterfall and pond built as part of the Jon Gifford Meditation Garden. It is located near the Hukyu Bonsai Society Bonsai Exhibit, near Lake Behnke.

Carnivorous plant bog.

Sarracenia flava, yellow pitcher plants in the carnivorous bog at the Gardens. Taken in the summer. These are mostly dormant now, but will be coming up again around March and April (maybe earlier if our weather stays so warm). The pink flowers in the foreground are Rhexia.

More January Bloomers

Antique Roses

The garden has some beautiful and very fragrant antique roses near the herb garden. Enjoy the smell!

Flame Vine and Bromeliads

If you drive on the outside of the Botanical Gardens these days you will see a beautiful orange flame vine in bloom. Also, there are a variety of bromeliads blooming in the bromeliad bed.

Best Blue Ever

The color on this plant is the best blue ever. It is an electric blue and it draws lots of beautiful butterflies in the butterfly garden.

Orchids

The gardens have an amazing collection of orchids. You can check out several that are in bloom in the conservatory.

Entrance to the orchid conservatory

You can find this nice bloomer at the back entrance to the conservatory.

Blooming Vines

These nice vine bloomers are polinated by bats! You can find them by the carnivorous plants. There are some available for sale in the plant shop.

Succulents in Bloom

The succulents are doing great this time of year. Many are in bloom.

Shade Garden

There are a number of plants in bloom in the shade garden right now. The camelias are really starting to come in, but there are surprises at every turn.