Your garden looks great, keep us posted on how everything does. I am especially interested in how the S. palmetto seedlings do unprotected in your location. Speaking of the growing season, It looks like it came to a decisive close last night over most of north Florida. The low this morning in Tallahassee was 23F, ouch, thought it was a tad early for lower 20s, even in the interior panhandle. This obviously nuked the annuals and seasonal tropicals. Does this also fry the leaves off the deciduous trees which are not yet bare? Saw this happen to some of the trees in Atlanta years back after an early November night into the upper teens. The low this morning at the Orlando Executive Arpt., on the other hand, was 51F.

Nicole--si, il cuor verde d'italia, esattamente! :-) It's an apt nickname. If you ever get the chance, go there! Of all the places I've been on this planet, it stands out as the most enchanting, hands down. And the wine is unique and wonderful. I call that corner the Heart of Darkness because it's where the property line meets the seawall, and it's overgrown with clusters of palms of various sorts that never seem to get manicured--and so all of the dead fronds hang there and it becomes more and more like a tiny jungle as time passes. Small *cringe*. Anyway, I'll be glad to send the cutting either way. I know your trees are young. But if you make me an offer I can't refuse, I might then hafta accept :-) We'll talk about over the winter LOL it'll give us something to do while are plumies are bare naked sticks. Thank you, Wendy! :-) You're very kind. And I don't expect you to bother John on my behalf--it's all good. If I decide I MUST have that tree (and put it where???), then you've given me enough info to, theoretically at least, find out from John what that sassy little plumie is named, if not Tangerine Dream, and then order me one! LOL it makes my day to know that y'all enjoyed my storytelling :-) You hafta have a sense of humor, I guess, right?, 'cause if you don't, one minute the iguanas are downing your trees, the next minute you're going postal! hehe In seriousness, the iguanas still come 'round often enough to decimate any progress that a few of my smaller trees have made-- it only takes 1-2 visits a month on their part. It's sad--Mary Moragne and Kona Hybrid each came to me as short 2-tips, and they've been picked clean so often that the nubby tips are tapering up to nothing. Another one recently broke a branch off Haleakala, on its way to shred the leaves, kinda beaver-style LOL. It's MADDENING but I guess there are some things that one cannot control. G

Nice flowers! I have a few of them also. This year here was not all that good for my Vavoom. It bloomed regularly, but it sure wanted to blackspot. I think it will be an indicator variety for difficult winter/spring transitions. Thanks for the visual feast.

Bernd, I wish; but that is not my pond. The area is 50 acres privately owned, which abuts about another 50 that is a nature reserve (It is labeled a bird sanctuary, but there is a teenager that I run into walking around that is my wildlife expert who says it is no longer a bird sanctuary). I have to believe my expert. The sanctuary has another pond that my expert says is 'The Duck Pond' where the ducks rear their ducklings.....not looking for a longer walk. 'The Walk' is 1.5 miles (far more for Shasta as she meanders all over on a 20 foot lease, stalking game). Weather permitting we do the route 3 times a day. The above is a view from the opposite side, looking East. I just took it as dusk was closing in and my fearless hunter sights every living rabbit, deer, snake, dove, duck, frog, turkey, human and other living creatures and continuously bolting after them all. Not far from this 100 acres, or so there is a state park which is +/- 350 acres with 3 huge ponds so the place is teeming with wildlife. Hawks, Great Blue Heron, an American Bittern (I am pretty sure), etc., etc., etc.. Jon