Seasons can be difficult to recognize in South Florida. You have to look hard to find fall color, last year I found some Red Maples with red foliage in the nearby swamp – long about December. I have learned to look to the Indian River for signs of fall, there is always a mullet run when the seasons turn and I am just starting to see the little fish jumping out of the water, I enjoy the mullet run – it is a sign that relief from the oppressive heat is close at hand.
Royal Ponciana
Delonix regia
Another sign of fall is the Poncianas are slowing down on the flowering and producing gigantic green pods. The ferny foliage is still shimmery green, but the pods foretell a soon to be naked tree. Getting in touch with my inner plant nerd (not difficult) I did some research on the Ponciana and found it is native to Madagascar and rarely seen there anymore. Another Madagascar native that is popular in landscaping here is the Bismarck Palm. This one is planted unfortunately near a power pole – that is not fruit. This Palm has huge silvery fronds, costapalmate! and literally 4 feet wide. The fronds sound like big pieces of cardboard rubbing together. Fruit is borne in grape like clusters of 2 inch wide shiny mahogany colored nuts. I planted one a month or so ago and it is supposed to take more than 2 months for the seed to germinate and 86 degrees Fahrenheit is the required temperature. So far nothing on that front.
Bismarck Palm
Bismarckia nobilis
Here is my Flight of Forest Fancy, both these trees supposedly occurred in Forests.
Just imagine these forests – the Palm and the Ponciana can get to be 60 feet tall.
The Shrub Queen 
Beautiful trees. That palm is so silvery.
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Really silvery and huge!
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Beautiful trees indeed. And the Flamboyant Tree has such wonderful pods. I grew some seeds once but it was a pointless exercise. They will never be able to live outside and have flowers.
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My neighbor has grown some from seed. I am waiting for one of the late blooming ones with the gigantic canopies that look like the African Savanna.
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They are lovely trees – still one of my favourite. When they are put next to a Jacaranda, the effect is stunning!!!!
That palm is surreal. I love it 🙂
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Surreal is a good word, I wish I had photographed the fruit, really surreal. We’ll see if my seed comes up..
I see Jacarandas here but they are not particulary reliable I think.
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That’s odd – I thought they would have loved the tropical climate. I guess being from tropical mountains, they have a limited tolerance for heat
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Probably, I have seen them in Hawaii and they look sturdy and more healthy.I took one out of my front yard and could see through the holes in the trunk.
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