SPRING IN JANUARY

Plants in my yard blooming in January

     Here in the northern part of Florida near Gainesville we are in the 8 to 8.5 agriculture weather zone. These vines should have frozen back a month ago and the Azaleas shouldn't be blooming until the middle of February. The Redbud trees in the area are in full bloom and my citrus trees are beginning to show new leaves and blooms. The blueberries are in bloom as well. I can't recall any winter this warm since moving to Florida in 1964. Although there is always a danger of frost here until Easter, it just doesn't seem likely this year.

Azalea in front of a fruiting Loquat tree.

I love seeing the new blooms and, as I walk around the yard, I see that nearly all of the Azaleas are ready to open their flowers. Usually they don't overlap the Camellias that open in mid-winter here, but they are blooming side-by-side this year.  All of this blooming makes me anxious. If we do have a freeze there will be no oranges or blueberries this year, and probably no plums or pears either, although they tend to hold off their blooming until a bit later. Still, the air is filled with the scents of tea olive and viburnum blooms and the Confederate Jasmine is blooming just below the hill. Those are not to be missed. So, early or not, Spring has come in January this year. I just hope it lasts.

Eastern Redbud tree in my front yard.