The Four Seasons:
Spring in Florida
The first sign of spring in South Florida is the appearance of the Golden Tabebuia.
Last Sunday there wasn't a single blossom visible; on Monday, the trees burst forth
with clusters that look like richly buttered popcorn. Every gas station has several.
These trees are very hardy, easy to grow, and spectacular looking in the spring.
So they are found everywhere - in every mall, around gas stations, along the streets,
and in yards. They are delightful and gorgeous. This year they seem especially full.
The trees are deciduous and lose their leaves in January. The flowers appear in March
before the new foliage emerges. There are enormous clusters of flowers.
The tabebuia tree comes in a variety of colors, and many people like the pink color, which is
much softer. We have several Pink Tabebuia Trees around my building.
Pink Tabebuia Blossoms
Pink Tabebuia flowers. You can see why they are also called Trumpet Flowers.
Royal Poinciana Trees are another sign of spring. They are all over town and bloom from
late May through June. They become very large and their entire canopy is covered with
the hot red-orange blossoms.
Royal Poinciana Blossoms
The clusters of flowers on the Royal Poinciana are huge and lush.
The blue-violet Jacaranda Trees are also spring bloomers. The flowers appear in big clusters
after the old leaves have fallen and before the new leaves appear.
Jacaranda Trees are very special and bloom only a few weeks during spring.
The Cassia Fistula are the spring blooming Cassia. They hang in huge clusters from trees
which are just beginning to send out their new leaves. These trees are so spectacular that
you often see cars stopped in the street in amazement at the appearance of one of these.
Cassia Fistula Clusters
White Oleander. Oleanders bloom profusely in the spring in white, pink, rose, magenta, and
both single and double flowers.
White Oleander. You can also see their long, thin leaves.
White Oleander Branch
Pink Oleander Bush. This one is next to our swimming pool.
Pink Oleander Blossoms
Double Pink Oleander Blossoms,which look like roses or peonies.
Deep Rose Oleander, in front of the building next to mine.
The Frangipani Tree is also a spring bloomer in South Florida. It is also called
Plumeria and is the flower used to make Hawaiian lei necklaces. The flower petals are
so luscious, they look as if they were made by a Dairy Queen machine.
White Fiddle-leafed Frangipani
Yellow Frangipani
Pink Frangipani
The Bottle Brush Tree / Callistemon bears long bunches of red "bristles." The tree is
covered with them in springtime. If you crush the foliage between your fingers, it emits
a beautiful aroma. We have many in our neighborhood. The foliage is evergreen.
Bottle Brush Tree
Pink Powder Puff Bush / Calliandra
Pink Powder Puffs / Calliandra. These are found in many yards because they are easy
to grow and fun to look at. .
The Powder Puff Bush, in either pink or white, bears balls of stamens and is also
called Fairy Brush and sometimes Shaving Brush Bush.
The Geiger Tree is another evergreen which stays gray-green all year but bears
flowers only in the spring. Some trees have white flowers and some orange.
White Geiger Tree. They stand 8-10 feet tall.
The Starburst Clerodendron is one of the most dramatic spring flowers. The pool down the
street is surrounded by them. The bush stands 8-10 feet high and clusters of flowers
burst forth like firecrackers during spring only.
Starburst Clerodendron just before it opens.
Starburst Clerodendron in full flower.
Crepe Myrtles are delicate little trees which blossom in beautiful pastel colors in late
spring. Our new tennis courts are surrounded by Crepe Myrtle Trees in pink, white, and
raspberry.
Pink Crepe Myrtle Blossoms
White Crepe Myrtle Clusters
Raspberry Crepe Myrtle
Queen Crepe Myrtle is about twice the size of the usual Crepe Myrtle. Clusters
are huge and very dramatic.
There is a line of a dozen Queen Crepe Myrtles along a street by an apartment complex.
The trees are about 10-12 feet high, and with the deep purple flowers, they are stunning.
The Gardenia Bushes grow to about 9 feet high and have dark foliage and creamy white
blossoms. There are two large bushes near my house, and they bloom particularly in spring.
Gardenia Blossom
Each Gardenia blossom opens its petals in a slightly different manner.
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So, these are the colors and flowers of spring in South Florida.
I hope your spring is as colorful and joyous.
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