While it seems winter is bearing down on the Northern Hemisphere, things are looking up here in South Florida. The oppressive heat is abating and I have been madly renovating my screen porch furniture in preparation for our gardening season. All new cushion covers and some new (to me) vintage Rattan furniture for lounging. Temperatures are hovering in the 80’s (Fahrenheit, Centigrade confounds me) so it is becoming very pleasant.
I am always looking for signs of Fall here and the pickings aren’t as slim as I once thought. It is your perception that must change. I associate the Royal Ponciana tree with the beginning of Summer. Their cousin of a different genus, Dwarf or Cuban Ponciana start blooming in earnest in October. The harbinger of Fall:
Dwarf Ponciana
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
These trees are smaller than but similar to the Royal Poinciana, and varieties are available with yellow and coral flowers as well as the red mixed which is most commonly seen. Other things I am now considering fall color are certain Bromeliad flowers (Aechmea blanchetiana) and Bird of Paradise. The tropical Golden Rain Tree (Koelrueteria bipinnatus) is just starting to flower here. In December the pods on the Raintree give us a little more Autumnal feeling.
Blanchetiana Bromeliad
Tropic Florida does have some more typical fall fruiting plants. The Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, native to a large part of the Eastern United States is common here as well. The red berries are from our native shrub, Wild Coffee, Psychotria nervosa. I have seen Beautyberry Jelly but never consumed any and supposedly the Wild Coffee has psychedelic effects so coffee brewed with something other than the Wild Coffee berries is a better idea. Blueberry Scones and Starbucks coffee are more in my line of thinking for breakfast fare.
Beautyberry
Wild Coffee
I know that if I wait long enough, I will spy a Red Maple with some dull purple Fall color, usually in December and in a swamp somewhere. But with all these other Fall beauties I am not missing the Maples – Much.
The Shrub Queen 
I love that dwarf Poinciana – something totally new!
Dull purple isn’t too bad for autumn colour, but I’m quite amazed that deciduous trees have a natural range so close to the equator.
LikeLike
I consider the Poincianas deciduous, sort of, the trees do lose their leaves, just not quite all of them. The Carrotwood (from Australia) was quite popular here for being evergreen – then it was discovered how prolific they are – now considered invasive. I am happy to show you a new plant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carrotwood…we usually call it Tuckeroo (I guess that name is a bit too ‘Aussie’ for international use)…but it is quite prolific in coastal locations as well
LikeLike
love that, Tuckeroo, it does sound Aussie. It is now illegal to plant it. Invasive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just like so many aussies abroad 🙂
LikeLike
Aussie Plants?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They can’t sue me, so of course, aussie plants 🙂
LikeLike
It was really Crocodile Dundee, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Matt, haven’t heard from you in ages – is all well?
LikeLike
How wonderful to be able to grow Caesalpinia. I have tried it in the greenhouse, it germinates very readily. It always dies before it gets to flowering size. I suppose there isn’ t enough sun here.
You would need to be brave or desparate to try consuming a plant named Phsycotria nervosa.
LikeLike
There are a fair number of seedlings around but I want a coral pink one. Picky, I know. My understanding is you must be a Shaman to use the Wild Coffee and there are some weird concoctions in the Caribbean..
LikeLike
We are having the same Fall experiences here. The Fall flowers have started to bloom and it is also time to plant seeds for the spring. I was also getting the porch furniture ready for eating outdoors and our stores are out of cushions! Don’t they know it is the time to be outside?
LikeLike
Same here, it seems odd to me that retailers would miss out on the winter porch season on the coast but they do. The national stores are all on the same schedule. Although, I have gotten some end of the season deals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was too late for the sales.
LikeLike
Yes, I think Labor Day is the magic date. I got some hideously ugly throw pillows for $3 to recover, Ballard Designs had a pretty good outdoor sale online.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That bromeliad is so unique! What does the foliage look like?
LikeLike
It is orangey and huge, I don’t think they are hardy in Daytona, maybe 9B
LikeLike
I’m in NC now, so definitely not able to grow it up here.
LikeLike
Yes, too sharp for a houseplant – is HappyGoLucky thriving?
LikeLike
It’s getting there! Shipping is working out well back to Florida, and we just got picked up by two stores in NC. Here’s to hoping for a steady climb. 🙂
LikeLike
I think you are in a good place, geographically as well!? Waiting to see it at the Fresh Market in Stuart!
LikeLike
I’m not sure if it’ll be in the big chain stores, but I always can ship! 🙂
LikeLike
i like that approach: “It is your perspective that must change”.
LikeLike