Robins

Flocks of Robins, hungry from their journey south, are swarming the camphor tree and devouring the berries.

Roseapple blooming

The Roseapple tree is blooming very early this year!

Quesnelia testudo

Quesnelia testudo is a very cold-hardy bromeliad that is great for landscaping.  Individual plants start to bloom in early winter and large beds of them may show color until late spring. Plants easily tolerate brief periods of 25°F and the foliage shows little damage from frost.

This Quesnelia will grow in full sun to full shade. They look best with morning or afternoon sun, and shade during the middle of the day. Plants grow about 18 inches tall, with solid green leaves that are tipped by a sharp spine.  Long-lasting, cold-hardy, and beautiful!  What more could you ask for?
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Related species:
Quesnelia arvensis
Quesnelia liboniana
Quesnelia quesneliana

Yellow Chorisia

This is a Chorisia (now Ceiba) hybrid combining C. speciosa, C. chodatii, and C. insignis.  The flowers open bright yellow, then fade to a cream color with maroon eye in the center.  They seem to have a much longer bloom period than the pink species.  This one blooms from about August through February or early March.

Loquat trees in bloom

Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) are all coming into bloom.  The air is filled with their spicy fragrance!  The fruit will be ready to harvest in March.

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Aechmea dealbata

I just discovered an Aechmea dealbata coming into bloom!

The second photo was taken during the first week of January.  The individual flowers are starting to come out now.

Nun orchid in spike

The nun orchid (Phaius tankervillae) is starting to send up its annual flower spike from between the leaves.

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Jaboticaba in bloom

Jaboticaba is starting to bloom.  The fruit should be ready to eat in about 3-4 weeks.
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Billbergia saundersii

Bill. saundersii is coming into bloom now.  They are a great bromeliad to have because they all come into bloom at the same time each year.

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Goldfish

The goldfish have really grown this year.  We put them in the pond in February when they were about 1/2" long.  They have grown and multiplied.  The oldest ones are now about 8-9" and their babies are about 5-6".