Thanks Gigi, we sure did have some windy, dramatic thunderstorms last night, and I woke up a couple of times. But little damage except branches and palm fronds down that I've seen. Went shopping today and there was a small tree broken off in a parking lot at the store.

The up side is we also got nearly 2in. of rain, how about everyone else??

Glad you are safe!

We got lots of rain

plenty of rain here too.

I didn't sleep well at all last night ... hubby snoring like a freight train and I had a splitting sinus headache and just couldn't get to sleep. I've been feeling kinda puny the past couple of days like I'm trying to come down with something. I was still awake at 2:30 a.m., finally dozed off sometime shortly thereafter and then loud thunder woke me at 3:05 and I was awake until 4:00! I can't ever seem to sleep late so I've been dragging all day today. The storms didn't last very long but we did get some much needed rain! I heard about a tornado that did some major damage, destroying homes over there in Manatee county and a couple of deaths.

I think I remember hearing a report that there's a chance of severe weather again tomorrow night and then it's going to get downright cold!! We're predicted to have lows in the upper 30's to low 40's with wind chills making it feel colder. Yikes ... might be time to drag out the down comforter.

Our down comforter has been in use for two months but its too hot to sleep under it. My wife loves it though. We also switch to flannel sheets and pillowcases in the fall.

Lin.

We got 1.5" of rain. If it thundered I didn't know it. The dh didn't mention any thunder. Supposed to be 36 tonight & then 2 nights @ 28 but gorgeous sunshiny days like we had today after the rain quit.

Just wanted to drop a line about my trip to USF Botanical Gardens last week. I needed to get out of the house or risk my sanity, so off I went! I'm a member, and if you're not aware, the American Horticultural Society has a great reciprocal program where you can visit other gardens for free. Check out the link here: http://www.ahs.org/gardening-p...

FYI, Selby Gardens started enforcing the 90 mile exclusion this year. I emailed them about it since USF members have always gotten in free and I was super bummed. The admissions lady told me they had to start enforcing it because one particular garden's members were abusing the program (she wouldn't divulge who). But she told me USF members would be welcome. I'm about 75 miles away and I really don't want to pay $19 to get into Selby. I like it, but maybe not as often at that price. Besides, I always eat at their pricey cafe to make up the difference. And hide my wallet in their plant shop! I told myself last time I wasn't going to buy anything but came home with two bromeliads. Still, two isn't that bad, right?

I know we're having a bit of a cold spell (for us) but I thought I'd just remind people that it's really great to visit botanical gardens, preserves, or parks at different times of the year because you really do see some surprises. There were plants I took pictures of that were the first to be added to the database! And it's not like I haven't been there dozens of times so why didn't I take a picture before? Because they weren't "interesting" enough. For example, this Canary Tree was absolutely covered in happy bees. Canary Tree (Bakeridesia integerrima) I'm sure it looks like a plain green shrub most of the year so I never bothered to really look at it.

The gardens also have a small plant shop. USF stopped giving the gardens money during the recession so they have to charge admission ($5) where it used to be free. It's free to members, though and very reasonable. Also, they have their huge spring and fall plant festivals each year in April and October! Maybe start planning now? It's where I buy most of my plants. I did want to highlight the plant shop because I know some of you like Hoyas, and I remember Hetty was looking for a particular one (Hoya macgillavrayi). I looked, but I didn't see it. They have lots of them, though. They always do. Here's some pictures. The ones in the 5 inch pots are $7 and the hanging ones are $15.



You never really know what you're going to find. I bought myself a mounted tillandsia for $15. Oh, members get 10% off! And we get into the plant sales a half hour early which is paramount if you want to beat the collectors. Just watch out for the orchid folks - I'm convinced they're all insane! Like, they might shank you if you get in their way. Here's my Tillandsia stretophylla (red form).



I've been to some other plant sales in the area, and I really like USF because they have a lot of the plant clubs and societies, as well as a few regular vendors. People that are always there include the Native Plant Society (I buy so many butterfly host plants from them!), the Bromeliad Guild (I should just hand them all my money), the African Violet and Gesneriad Society, the Begonia Society, the Rare Fruit Council, there's a man that sells only Gingers, there's a vendor that sells carnivorous plants. Of course, there are always several orchid vendors including one of the clubs. Colorfield Farms is always there; Crowley's Nursery is usually there. I know I'm leaving some out. But if you are interested in a particular type of plant, it's a great place to go to find some rare species and cultivars, plus you can talk plants with people who totally understand them. And the clubs generally charge very reasonable prices. I've gotten some super bargains. Which reminds me, the Soroptimist Society usually sets up and they sell a variety of random plants for as little as 50 cents!

I'll have to add the plant sales to the events calendar here. Keep it in mind if you need to wander over this way come April. I might also be convinced to do private tours of the butterfly garden at MOSI! And it's right across from USF!

I'm posting this one just to make Ken jealous. This is just one of the Staghorn Ferns at USF Botanical Gardens. If you guys know which one it is, let me know and I'll post it to the database. I couldn't find a tag on it and I know there are a few different types.

Great (post) article! Melanie! And you were so kind to look for my desired Hoya for me!

for keeping us posted Mellanie, I am in Tampa and USF is surely within my area. I am cheap though, I don't like paying an entrance fee plus I still have to spend money to buy plants 😍 and eat.
Speaking of Tillandsia I bought 3 this week. I've never had one before. Every Thursday now, downtown Tampa plaza has vendor sale now, great interesting plant and some other stuff but some (I think) were pricey. I can't blame them though because they have to pay a fee plus sit there all day. I could not miss it even if I want to, I could see the vendors little white tents from my office window.

Here are my Tillandsias (vases with succulents and cactus are mine) the vendor give me their variety names but I forgot.










This particular vendor was also selling plumerias ($6 and $10), great price but when you paint what you think is the color of the plumeria, I could not take my chances, I might have that Color already. He also sold some really nice bromeliads, I was sooo tempted but I hold off, I don't have room for them when they multiply fast and not fond of the sharp leaves.

Nice write-up, Melanie and I really need to get up there to see the USF botanical gardens. I'm not surprised that Selby is enforcing that 90-mile limitation, because I think they have been in financial straits for quite a while. Their prices for admission and memberships go up each year, and the perks you get with membership have reduced a lot. I used to be able to bring in up to 4 guests with me for free. Now the guest limit is 2 and they still have to pay $5. I just upgraded my membership so that at least I can bring in 4 guests now, and it only cost me $20 more for the year so that was worth it.

My membership at Selby also gets me into the wonderful Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City for free, and I'm there a lot since my kids and grandkids live there. So that is also a lot of fun to take the kids now.

Gigi, you will love your little tillandsias, and they will grow happily outside in your oak tree if you have a nice spot where you can see them. I do spray mine with a tiny spritz of orchid fertilizer once in a while and they seem to love it.

Here's my little "tilly ball" that my daughter gave me for Christmas a few years ago. It has doubled in size, and blooms with delicate blue flowers at least twice a year.



A few shots of the school garden where I volunteer - tomatoes on the vine, we're hoping they will ripen up before the plants are killed off by the cold. Also really nice nasturtiums and marigolds going strong. The kids are vastly amused that they can eat a flower off the nasturtiums. Red Russian kale is going a deep purple color in the cold weather.

Wow! That's a lot Ellaine. I saw one with similar bloom as yours but I didn't have enough money. Do you know that it is $4 a piece, that's a lot of dollars already on your Tillandsia ball.

I love tomatoes but the ones I planted last spring didn't do well.

Yes, the tilly ball was a gift, Gigi, so I don't know how much my daughter spent on it, but I've wanted to make another one, and run into the same thing as you - each plant is $3 or more and you need a dozen or so to start a ball.

Don't feel bad. Timing is everything on tomatoes here. Those tomatoes were planted in September, and we'll be planting more by the end of February for a spring crop. You can't keep them going into summer here for a lot of reasons. But of course at the school garden we have to yank them out before the end of school anyway. Mine at home sometimes keep going into June, but not last year. It got hot so early, they gave up early, too.

That's probably the (standard) Platycerium bifucatum, @mellielong. I have grown them this large when I had a block and tackle rigged up to lift them. Finally, getting too large for two men to move them into the greenhouse, I had to take the knife to her. Gosh, I now hate that word

I've started a new thread:
The thread "Florida Garden - Winter and Spring 2016" in Florida Gardening forum