My Florida Prince

Silva that little pear looks great.

Yeah Glenn, I know what you mean ! A transplant from the rather cold winters of New York City, - have been lucky enough to live in many different climates over the intervening years, and when I wound up in Islamorada, in the Upper Keys in June 1992, I thought for sure I had found my goal !

Long story short, - after 12 yrs there, I realized it was close, but no cigar ! This area I stumbled into later on, on Florida's SW coast, was it for sure. Still love it here, but this years start has me a bit dismayed. Have grown to relish the 2 + months of spring and the 2 + month's of fall ! The mid/high 70's and the hi 50's/low 60s at night had an intoxicating effect on me, - rejuvenating me for the warmer weather ! However, nine month's of summer are a bit much, but am hoping this is just a temporary glitch and that things will soon return to normal,...as they surely will,..right ? RIGHT ??

Jofus, one could hope

My god it's hot today and dry.

I have been in S Fla since Aug 69. Have to say the summer rains are not as consistent as they used to be. Seen some wicked droughts and really wet summers. The winters can be cold like back in the early 70s and again in the mid 80s, snowed twice in the 70's but the news only talks about the one. The cold fronts in the 80's nearly wiped out the citrus in central Fla. The weather is a variable thing but I hate it when it is a hot winter. I always look forward to a cooler winter.

Craig

I agree! Was working in the yard today in shorts and was sweating.

Noticed my Mango blooming. Did not see a bee anywhere. Worried about that as I got no fruit last year. This tree blooms too early.

My lemon and orange tree are flowering also with fruit hanging on it. Had a bumper crop of lemons. But again, no bees. I feel its too early for the citrus.

Jane

My older apple tree is in bloom. The wild cherry tree has completely leafed out, it's always the earliest one. The Walter's Viburnum is blooming, also the Carolina Jessamine. And the Laurel Oaks have lost their last year's leaves. I am already getting yellow pollen from the pine trees everywhere. Folks, I think it's Spring now. Also, lastly, the weeds are moving into the yard and garden beds.

Well, my hope is gone that the normal springtime temps that I relish, will return,..this spring anyway ! So now I have tacked my sails a bit,...OK, so how to look at the good aspects of this here warm ( hot ) spring ? Doesn't every cloud have a silver lining ?

Was out back early this morning watering every plant/tree out there , big or small, young or old,..everything got a good drenching ! Not surprised, I walked into another hot and HUMID morning,..sweating a lot even watering ! Somewhat unusual for sure !

However, as earlier stated, maybe there's some good can come out of this sweltering weather,..so looked extra close at my newbies,... the three babies I planted on Jan 25th

Was speechless,..well, almost speechless !!! LOL

Will show a couple of before & after pics I took of my skinny, 6 ft tall Kent Mango,..planted on Jan 25th, 2018..basically in the ground only 3 weeks !!!

3 weeks ago.....

New Kent panicles heading skyward, ( also the tree is already 6 " taller & fatter ) !

The monstrous Glenn leading the way,..hey, it even LOOKS like an explosion taking place !

So yes, I must admit that this abnormally hot and humid weather hereabouts does have a few benefits ! Originally guessed at 140 or so ripe mangoe's from this tree,..now feel it'll be closer to 240,..thanks to the early heat !

Tcgardener, as a native Floridian I'm hard pressed to remember a Feb that is this hot don't remember a single one.

Rita, that's great your apple is blooming would love to see a picture. I love the blooms.

Jane I haven't seen a lot of bees this spring normally I have honey bees and the little green bees everywhere.

Jofus,this is going to be a hot year.

I had a busy weekend rehabbed where my mango is got all weeds out of there. Planted my Florida home pear opposite the mango and added biochar to the hole area. Planted peanuts though out that area then mulched with shredded leaves and half composted grass. I have a area that has a lot of logs piled up that is over grown. Cleaned up about half of that and had two nice fire's to sit around with family. Chopped down a pine tree that was growing up between my shed and boats. Used all the pine needles to mulch around some of my fruit trees. I stopped buying mulch when I moved to this house. I just couldn't afford it so I've been using whatever I could leaves,grass clipping, palm fronds,bark from the oak tree I had to cut down, biochar and what ever else I can get my hands on with out spending money and I'm starting to get some pretty good soil going. It's much better than the sand that was the whole yard 3 years ago almost 4. Planted more seeds the I can remember. It was so hot Sat that I did most of my work that night after I light up fire I just keep on working in yard. Time got away from me and the next thing I know it was 1:30 in the morning lol.

Well I think I'm with Jofus. I don't think the cool spring day are coming back this year. It's just to hot to early and with this high pressure system just doesn't want to move and that's what is keeping the cold up north.

Weather man on TV (Tampa Bay) said yesterday the relief coming will not be enough to bring more cold days. My dead looking crepe myrtle sprang into buds yesterday. I'm planting up a storm with seeds and they emerge in 3 days. Caught the window right this year... and fresh seeds help LOL!

Irma, I haven't looked at my crepe myrtle.now I got to go look.

you're right glenn it's entirely too hot for february! my hubby and i were saying that it felt like august outside today. what is up with that? i thought maybe it was a sign of a cold front coming, but i guess not. we turned the air on to come in and take breaks.

Mangoes are loaded with flowers (no pictures, dont' want to jinx them), citrus blooms started opening this weekend, pineapples are all starting to show flowers, honey bees are working the lychee flowers.

Don't mind the warmer than normal weather, just don't like having to drag the hose around the yard in February because if it.

Danger mouse I'm with you on the draging the hose around the yard it's just way to early for that but no rain. Everything in my yard is waking up looks like I'm going to have a good year on peaches,mulberries and figs one of my 3 pears is blooming and the citrus is starting to bloom. Hope you have a good season.

Sharon,i was hoping for a nice cool spring but I've given up on that.

I would like to say goodbye to the hottest February I can remember hopefully things will return to normal and maybe we can get some rain.

And here comes the 40s as I bang my head on a door.