Week of February 3

February is the depth of the winter in most places, but in my Florida garden, it is the beginning of spring.  We could still have a frosty night or two, but many of the trees and bushes are beginning their presentation of FEBRUARY FLOWERS.  The Camelias are still blooming with the later blooming varieties taking over.  The azaleas are just starting to show color.  Some odd plants used to warm climates also flower now, such as the Matchstick Bromeliads and the Turks Cap Hyacinths.  Another February bloomer is the Banana Bush, a large, shiny leafed shrub with creamy white flowers that smell like bananas.  The Viburnums also present their small white clusters.  More encouraging are the budding and blooming of our fruits and berries.  The blueberries (all UF high bush or rabbit eye varieties) are forming their buds and some bushes are fully arrayed with the small pearly blossoms which should yield a blueberry.  The peach and plum trees are also budding with pink and white blossoms, with small fruits already started on the peaches.  All this reminds us that spring up at TAProots Farm in Upstate New York can't be too far away.