SYMBOLIC TREE OF THE SOUTH

The Live Oak in front of my vacation cottage

Looking like a scene right out of the Louisiana Bayou this Live Oak, draped with Spanish Moss, is the symbolic tree of the South. Quercus Virginiana, or Evergreen Oak, is a fast growing native tree with edible acorns that support a variety of birds and small animals. It's leaves are small, oval shaped, leathery and a deep shiny green.

The Florida State Champion Live oak in Alachua county, pictured below, is 108 inches in diameter and has a crown of 150.5 feet.

If properly cared for Live Oak can live for centuries. The low growing limbs make great places for children to climb or build a treehouse in. Some limbs are so low they almost touch the ground and make a good resting place for a cat in search of birds.

Live Oaks can be seen in abundance all over the South and is the state tree of Georgia. It is truly a majestic sight.

FABULOUS FLORIDA FLORA

" Chinese music under Banyan Trees.... "
-Steely Dan, Aja

The Banyan Tree of St. Petersburg

I found another fabulous Florida tree near the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art. Ficus benghalensis is commonly referred to as the 'strangler fig. ' It starts life as an epiphyte, a plant that attaches itself to another.

The banyan tree may start from a seed dropped into a palm tree. It begins to send out shoots that wrap themselves around the trunk of the palm and eventually kill it. The long dangling rope-like vines you see hanging from the tree above eventually reach the ground where they take root and grow into another trunk. They keep spreading these roots and can, over time, cover an entire acre.

I saw a newspaper story of an old man whose humble little "cracker" house as they call them here was enveloped by the Banyan tree.

The banyan orginally came from India where it is considered sacred. The first Banyan tree in the U.S. was planted by Thomas Alva Edison in Fort Meyers, Florida and is one of the largest in the world.

This must've been the tree that Tarzan swung from in the jungle. It was in fact the tree that Robinson Crusoe built his home in. Brian Aldiss in his novel HOTHOUSE has the Banyan tree taking over the world when it discovers its ability to join with other tree and drop its far reaching roots.

Gardening in Florida

A typical frontyard garden with large areas of grass

A drought tolerant garden suitable for the conditions

I'm not in a ritzy upscale area in the Tampa Bay area but it is interesting to observe the different gardening styles on my daily walks about the neighborhood.

Despite the lack of adequate rainfall and watering restrictions it seems that large expanses of lawns are the rule around here. The grass used for the lawns looks like quake grass that we pull out for weeds in Chicago and it takes a lot of water and maintenance to survive.

I've only come across one or two gardens that have no grass and use all drought resistant plants and other tropicals that can endure the intense Florida summers.

I am amazed that huge trees such as the live oaks are planted so close to houses, given the danger of hurricanes and tornadoes. The soil is almost pure sand here and the trees are easily uprooted during a storm.

I am also puzzled at how Azaleas thrive in this sand that lacks the acidity that they love and am amused at how houseplants in northern climes are plopped in the ground and grown as garden plants.

PLEASE VISIT GARDEN BLOGGER NO. 300

How does it feel to be garden blogger no. 300 in the category of the " Most Visited Garden Blogs " this week ? Well I visited her and she was just as good, or BETTER than those ranked among the top 10.

My point is that we are all gardening-crazy bloggers that love to write about what is important to us. Let's shake up this Blotanical world and give more credit to those who don't get to be the " favorites " or " most visited " this week !

Forgive me but I am the middle child that is often ignored and therefore I tend to sympathize with the underdog. I'm hoping that the " first shall be last and the last shall be first " for a change !

Don't be conformists, y'all ! This is a revolution that calls for a change. Start at the bottom and go to the top.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TREE IN THE WORLD?

Moi, St. Petersburg, Florida
The Kapok is in it's final stages of blooms

Chorisia Speciosa
or The Red Silk Floss Tree

While visiting the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art I passed through its gardens in the back area and was stopped by this breath-taking tree that appeared to be filled with red orchids. One of the Museum employees saw us oogling it and told us it was a Kapok tree. The Kapok I learned refers to the pods and the silk floss is contained inside.

Closeup of the blooms that appear similar to hibiscus, orchids or lilies.

The Kapok is listed as one of the top five most beautiful trees in the world. While it is not a Florida native, it is very drought resistant and does well here. The tree is filled with blooms on bare branches in late Fall and Winter.

The silk floss from the Kapok's pods

The silk floss is too slippery for textiles but is used to stuff mattresses and cushions.

I feel so lucky to have seen one of the world's most beautiful trees.