End 2008 with a Bang

On the last days of the year 2008, Miami is full of blooms. I think that the brief two or three quick but timely and "just right" cold fronts did a lot of good to entice the trees to produce. My Purple Wreath vine (Petrea volubilis) is going crazy and blooms as if there is no tomorrow. All the mango trees around are full of flowers. Stay indoor if you are allergic to pollen! The purple wreath is a tropical perennial vine and climber. But mine grows quite hefty and its trunk is as large as that of a juvenile tree. It blooms spectacularly several times a year. Today it seems to be at its peak. In the background is the Keitt mango tree fully covered with blooms. 'Keitt' is a Florida mango that has become one of the world’s most renown. It produces excellent eating quality, disease resistance, four to five pound goliath fruits. While the fruits are extremely disease resistant, the juvenile trees are very difficult to grow due to disease problems. The flowers begin now so the the fruits can ripen from August to October. I can't wait that long for these mangoes.