Teen Challenge Event

Here's a photo from the Teen Challenge Banquet a couple of weeks ago. The spectacular floral arrangements in front of Pastor Fernandez were assembled by the residents of Teen Challenge from donated flowers (actually, mostly bromeliads and heliconia).

Photo: Pastor Rick Fernandez at Teen Challenge Dinner. [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of the Week: Four O'Clock Flower

Here's another recent photo of a flower in my back yard: a Four O'Clock (Mirabilis). Contrary to popular belief, these flowers don't just bloom at four o'clock.

Photo: Four O'Clock flowers in Mayor Tom Truex' back yard. [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive photo of the week: Heliconia (Lobster's Claw)

Here's another type of heliconia in our back yard. This particular variety is commonly called a "lobster's claw." I think I have heard it called a "bear's claw" too. But I may be just confusing the plant with the pastry by that name. This variety has been around a long time.

Photo: Heliconia in the Mayor's back yard. [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of the Week: Coconut Tree

If you lived in South Florida in the 1970's, you probably remember the blight that killed almost every coconut tree in the region. Those trees were mostly Jamaican Tall coconuts, which are highly susceptible to lethal yellowing.

Arborists tried innoculating the trees, which proved futile. The only "cure" was to introduce a new variety--namely the Malayan Dwarf Coconut. This variety does lack some of the stately swaying height of the old tees. But they supposedly resist the blight--although I've read recently, they are not as blight resistant as once thought.

I tried planting three of the old Jamaican Tall Coconuts in the 1980's. They were imported from the Florida Keys, where the blight hadn't killed them all yet. The trees grew fine for a while. But they fell to the blight eventually. After they'd grown tall enough to make their removal a problem.

Lessons Learned?

• Seek out species that are resistant to known diseases/pests. Now we have three blight resistant coconuts growing in our back yard.
  
• Any plant species can fall prey to a disease/pest/blight. Even if you like a particular species, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify.
  
• Experiment. Variety is the spice of life.
  
• If at first you don't succeed, plant again.
  

Photo: Malayan Dwarf Coconut tree. One of three in the Mayor's back yard [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of The Week: Yellow Cactus Bloom

Not being an expert on cacti, I can't tell you for sure what the name of this cactus is. As best as I can tell, it is a Beavertail Cactus , possibly of the species, Opuntia. I found a piece of this plant, broken off from a larger cactus in the Florida Keys. The lobes on this plant are the size and shape of large dinner plates, and are one of the easiest plants to grow. Just put a of piece of the plant in the dirt, supported by a stick and it will be growing in no time. In fact, if you just threw a piece of this cactus in the dirt, I think it would take root and grow. I never tested this idea, but now that I've thought of it, I'll have to give it a try.

Photo: Another cactus bloom in the Mayor's back yard. I couldn't identify this species with certainty. It looks like a "Beavertail Cactus." [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of the Week: Heliconia in the Mayor's Back Yard

This is one of several types of heliconia we have had over the years. Heliconia are usually brightly colored plants. They grow in warm climates. Once established they are very hardy and don't require much work, other than to periodically cut them back. I've seen lots of different species. You could easily devote a whole garden to them if you wanted to.

My in-laws periodically mow over a large clump of heliconia, which always grow back as good as new.

Photo: Heliconia (Heliconia caribaea x H. bihai 'Jacquinii') in the Mayor's back yard. These plants are about ten or fifteen feet tall. I took this photo about a week ago. [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of the Week: Peruvian Cactus in Bloom

Here's a picture of a cactus plant in our front yard. I've heard it called a Peruvian Cactus . However, it may be more accurately called Apple Cactus, Peruvian Apple (Cereus peruvianus) Our plant is about 30 feet tall. It is trying to grow out the top of a Live Oak tree, which also provides support for the Cactus. These blooms show up several times a year, generally after a lot of rain. The flowers open for a single night, and close up when the sun rises. The fruit is a red bulb (hence the name, "Apple Cactus," I'm guessing).

This cactus looks similar to the "night blooming cactus" in our back yard. But--NOT quite. The shape of the cactus and color of the bloom is different.

Photo: Apple Cactus, Peruvian Apple (Cereus peruvianus) in the Mayor's front yard. [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of the Week: Aloe Plant with a Pink Bloom

The Aloe plant is as beautiful as it is useful. The cactus like leaves have a gooey sap that's good when applied to minor burns. Commercially it's used in lots of stuff. It's another low maintanance plant that seems to always be in bloom.

Photo: Flower from an Aloe plant in the Mayor's back yard. [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of the Week: "Desert Rose" in the Mayor's Back Yard

The Desert Rose (Adenium obesum ) is a spectacular little plant which does not require a lot of work. Our potted plant did very well for years with next to no maintenance. I moved it recently since a big oak tree was casting a little too much shade on it. The desert rose requires lots of sun and good drainage. My mother-in-law says dumping sour milk on the plant occasionally will help. (I've never personally tested the theory, as our kids always drink the milk long before it has a chance to go sour!)

Photo: Desert Rose in the Mayor's back yard. [*click* photo to enlarge]

Archive Photo of the Week: "Cecile Brunner" Rose in the Mayor's Back Yard.

I used to spend a lot of time taking care of my roses. Some varieties simply demand a lot of time and effort if you want them to grow in South Florida. Now I don't have the free time to tend them, nor the inclination to use the amount of fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides I used to employ. Result: the less hardy varieties died. Some of the hardier varieties (still very pretty) thrive without a lot of fuss. And, skipping the toxic yard chemicals is better for the environment. We have a huge assortment of butterflies in the yard, which thrive in this habitat.

Photo: Cecile Brunner Rose. This is an antique rose variety with a small flower. I took this photo within the past week. [*click* photo to enlarge]