on 8/27/08 Kirsten Llamas asks:Haven't heard a word about the picnic this year???? What about a link to Tropicsphere forums??:http://tropicsphere.com/main/forums/index.php The Jungle Gallery is here (It runs on different software so needs separate registration at least until bridge software comes out): http://www.tropicsphere.com/gallery/main.php 
A TFTS member mentioned today that he lost his photos from his travels to SE Asia from a card mishap and they want $600 to retrieve them! I suggested that he could back up photos to the gallery from the field at full resolution. There are no space limits and it is free. Kirsten Llamas (Ex Ed of Tropicsphere)

on 8/28/08 Paul asks: This shrub/tree has just bloomed for the first time.  Does anyone know what it is? The flowers have a sweet scent and smell like Chapstick lipbalm.

on 8/25/08 n asks: I want to get a, well I thought anyway, jacaranda, for my yard in bradenton, fl.  I thought there may have been more than one species - I love when I catch a glimpse of yellow or red in the tree tops!   But i guess Jacaranda is usually purple.  I was told red/yellow were ponciana and cassia but dont know what is better for canopy, tolerance to soil conditions, etc.  I like the horizontal plane of the leaves, the outstanding beauty when they flower (not so much when they drop - lol).  Also - anyone know a place to get them without spending hundreds? 

on 8/21/08 Indiana Paul asks:I am looking for sources for Clusia species.  I have the following :C. rosea, C rosea 'Nana', C. orthoneura, C. guttiferae and C. lanceolata. Does anyone know of other species in cultivation in the US? I am looking to purchase or trade for plants, cuttings or seed.Thanks!

on 8/17/08 no name asks: What to do in order to get a blooming bouganville?
on 8/21/08 Brugmaniac replies - Bouganvillea bloom best under short days.  Peak bloom is from November thru June.  They need to be kept on the dry side, and too much water will lead to many leaves and few flowers. They also  like to have a fertilizer high in Potassium and low in Nitrogen like a palm special.
on 8/27/08 Kirsten Llamas replies - No name - depends where you are located. In the Miami area you can find Bougainvilleas in almost any nursery. Many TFTS members who own nurseries carry them. I would suggest Lyons, Bloomin Good or Paul Gehrke off the top of my head. Also the Bougy Society often sells plants at sales at FTBG. I personally recommend Pixie as a really fast growing dainty little bougie that I have planted recently with great success. Easy to propagate from cuttings. It flowers off and on all year and is not restricted to the dry season. In fact my 1 year old cuttings are blooming right now.

on 8/14/08 Adam in Southern CA asks: I live in Vista, CA and am looking for particular Chorisia cultivars like 'Willis Harding', 'Sugar Loaf', and Chorisia spp. 'SUGAR LOAF X RHODOGNAPHALON' .  Does anyone have a source that I can purchase small grafted trees, scion wood or seeds of these spectacular cultivars.  I am looking for them to be shipped to me in California.
on 8/27/08 Kirsten Llamas replies: Adam, you are aware that plants cannot be shipped into CA from Florida without a permit I presume. I would suggest you talk to one of your Cally nurseries that carry unusual tree species such as Leon at XOTX in West Hollywood. For a long time the name Rhodognaphalon has been misappied to a Ceiba/Chorisia sp. Actually Rhodognaphalon is a old synonym for Bombax which does not hybridize with Ceiba (syn Chorisia). This resulted from some fossilized information introduced in older literature and the name got stuck on a cross made by one of our members, Crafton Clift. We have tried to stamp it out but the misnomer persists. Actually Crafton's cross is Ceiba 'Sugar Loaf' x Ceiba chodatii (a creamy white Ceiba from Argentina)

on 8/4/08 Verawood Bulnesia asks: Living in South Fl how large does this tree grow, what are the diamations?
on 8/22/08 CDavid replies: This Tree can grow to 60 ft.
on 8/21/08 Brugmaniac replies Bulnesia will eventually get to 50 feet in many years.  They grow fairly columnar and are much taller than wide

on 8/1/08 Scott asks: Hi Larry, can you please tell me when the TFTS Annual Kampong Picnic will be held this summer? Thank you

on 7/12/08 sublme437 asks: I recently bought a flowering tree tree from Walmart and I'm having issues finding out exactly what it is and how to care for it.  It looks similar to a bonsai except it is a little larger and the trunk is more green in color than brown.  It looks somewhat like a rubber plant as well, with rounded, long leaves.  It is a flowering tree as well, the other one that I saw had a white flower with a trumpet shape.  Please help me figure out what this is!!  Thanks!!  =) 

on 6/26/08 Ronnielee Cohen asks: I live in Palm Harbor FL and have seen two large trees that have orange color flowers on them. What kind of tree is this? Does anyone have a picture of them so that I can find out?

on 6/19/08 Trish asks: I live in Palm Harbor FL and have seen two large trees that have orange color flowers on them. What kind of tree is this? Does anyone have a picture of them so that I can find out?

on 6/8/08 tropifruited asks:I would like to graft mature scion wood onto jacaranda and royal poinciana seedlings to encourage earlier blooming trees.  When is the best time and method to graft these flowering trees.  I live in so. Texas and our weather is similar to yours.  Thank you
on 7/20 Brugmaniac replies: It is very easy to graft jacarandas and they often pop flower buds right from the graft especially the Maroon dwarf type.  Royal poincianas are much more difficult to graft and to align the cambium layers.  Expert grafters get about 20 to 40% take rate on poincianas.  Both trees graft best in spring and early summer.

on 6/4/08 stephanie asks: Hello, I happen to come across your site looking for flowering trees, of course! :)  I absolutely love the 'Golden Chain Tree', however as I was looking up information I found out that every part of this tree is poisonous.  This will not be good for me as I have a young child, and a dog. So I am looking for flowering trees, particularly ones with racemes that will grow well in zone 6(Rhode Island).  All I can find so far are the wisteria vine and the golden chain tree, so any help in picking one some out would be greatly appreciated.  Also, the tree would be in a mostly sunny spot.  Thank you for your time!-Stephanie-

on 5/28/08 miamimark asks: I have been a member of TFTS for several years cause I love trees and color. I'm hoping someone at the society might refer me to  landscape designer who could fit my needs and who is strong on horticultural considerations and practical considerations, and flexible in being able to help the client with their own vision rather than the way the designer always does it.
1.  No need to sell installations (consultation only)
2.  Able to advise on how to spice up an existing mature landscape with color, with a strong understanding of light requriements and how things will look down the road and ability to work around the existing plants.
3. Someone who does really cool work. 
on 5/19/08 Larry replies: Hello, We have some great consultants at TFTS. Here are just a few names for consideration:
Richard Button - Bloomin' Good
Rob Bobson - Biospheric Engineering
Peter Ostrowsky - Plantscapes
Paul Gehrke - Paul Gehrke Nursery
Jesse Durko - Jesse Durko Nursery
These gentlemen have a tremendous depth of knowledge and expertise, Kind regards, Larry.
5/29/08 mark repiles: Larry, Thank you for the reply.  You know me cause from time to  time I sent you poinciana seeds.  May I make a suggestion and if its something you already have,  please excuse the oversight. I went to your website the other day for the first time for the purpose of figuring out how to initiate communication, and also  tried to see if there was any quick check list of flowering trees that are hurricane resistant or relatively hurricane resistant and easy to get and grow. I guess you dont want to favor certain trees   to encourage diversity, but for the guy who does not know, considering the universe of trees can be information overload. Maybe  a  recommendation by where you can see it   rather than name would be good. For example,  a couple of members with a digital camera,  that they keep in the car shoot bloomingf lowering trees on high visibility roads  and post them referenced primarily by location.    It would take time,  but eventually interested people would know that if they spotted  a flowering tree they liked in a relatively high traffic area they could  find the  approximate location on your website and maybe find the tree they liked and all about it including where to get it    That would eliminate the need to interact with an expert.  And if the idea worked  maybe some of the growers would make the planting and take the picture. Probably too much work.   But I do see flowering trees that are captivating  as well as elusive as they pass into the rear view mirror. All my best, Mark
on 6/5/08 Larry replies: Mark,Thanks for your reply to my response! Now I know what you need. For starters, I attach a list of 97 flowering trees that grow well in S. Florida, and are available at any one of those five nurseries mentioned in my response to your original query. Here are two books that I heartily recommend. They are relatively new publications, and their botanical nomenclature is impeccable.1.    Tropical Flowering Plants - a guide to Identification and Cultivation by Kirsten Llamas Published by Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-585-3  Purchase at amazon.com (cheapest source) 2.    Tropical and Subtropical Trees - an Encyclopaedia by Margaret Barwick Published by Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-661-2 If you purchase these two books, the photographs alone will answer many of your questions. In the meantime, I suggest that you join the TROPICAL FLOWERING TREE SOCIETY. The membership fees are $30.00 per annum, payable to TFTS (Cindy Bobson). TFTS members receive a Quarterly (in color), free admission to the annual holiday party, picnic at The Kampong, and other exciting benefits. Next week is the annual Royal Poinciana Fiesta. If you would like to take the trolley tour to see the most attractive flowering trees in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and South Miami, please call Carol at 305-258-1086. Carpo diem! Kind regards, Larry

on 5/22/08 benwa asks: I would like a description and possibly a picture of a Pomgam tree thanks.

on 5/20/08 cynthia asks: I purchased a Solanum macranthum a few years ago at your sale; but I must cut it down as the roots are digging up the driveway.  But I love it and would like to plant another in a better spot (too big to transplant sadly).  I have missed your May sale since I was out of town.  Where could I find a local supplier?  Thanks, Cynthia
on 6/2/08 brugmaniac replies: Solanum macranthum is available from Jessie Durko's Nursery in Davie, or from Sid Gardino in Delray who does mail order thru his website rareflora.com

On 5/16/08 Roger asks: I live in the California bay area, and just saw a stunning tree that perhaps someone can help me identify.  It was a fairly old specimine, at about 15-20 feet.  At first I thought it was a bouganville, but it was definitely a tree form and was clearly different in a number of ways.  The flowers were smaller (visible at a distance but not nearly as striking) and located only at the last foot or two of the 'limbs'.  The flowers are a red-pink color.  The limbs had leaves that were also like a bouganville, but much more tightly packed and smaller - sort of in tight, highly-packed whorls along the limbs.  There was a distinct trunk, at about 5 feet, with branching into smaller branches and then individual limbs (some of which maybe 10+ feet long).  I realize this is a pretty loose description, but if someone knows the tree, then they will probably know exactly what I am talking about. This was at a gas station, and the guy said that the owner has brought it in specially, and it had been there for years.  The owner had also been told that it would not survive here, but it has obviously done very well. Thanks and regards -- Roger
on 6/2/08 brugmaniac replies: The bougangillea like tree in San Fransisco is probably a dwarf bouganvillea.  There is one clone which is short in stature and grows and blooms in tufty whorls.  They can make trees if they are very old.

on 5/13/08 Ian asks: Hello,I am an interpreter at the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation in Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada. This summer I'm running an educational program for the public on pollinators. For my program I need a photo of Combretum fruticosum as an example of a nectar source for neotropical migrant birds. I was wondering if I might have permission to use yours?

on 5/10/08 Unamed asks: I live in Fort Lauderdale and there are these magnificent yellow flowering trees in bloom right now. I've heard them called "tabby" or something like tabibulla .What is the correct name, as I cannot seem to find it on the internet? I believe they are not native as I remember reading an article somewhere about their being brought over from another country as a gift or by one of the Pioneers ie.Stranahan.
on 4/11/08 brugmaniac replies: The tree is Tabebuia caribea. Tree of Gold. It is small to medium sized tree with corky ridged bark. They make great street trees and do not require any water once established in the ground. It is native to South America.

on 5/6/08 RP asks: I found what I believe to be a small frangipane tree amongst my shrubs. It has a long bare stem and lovely white flowers.  Can you please advise on the care of a frangipane? I can't find info on the internet.  Should I transplant it in full sun or do they like shade?  How big do they get?  What kind of fertilizer does it require?  I appreciate any and all info.  Thank you.
stickman answers: I will try to answer your question but first I will need few more details. Where in the US do you live? Would you have a picture of the plant and flower?  Is there a flow of white latex when you remove a leaf or a flower ?  The most flow should be when you actually cut or trim a branch. Your short description appears to point to an Oleander. Do you know the difference? Both plants belong to the same plant family. Plumerias require full sun to perform well. Growing in competition with brushes is not very favorable to them. Please give me few more details. We can go from there and help you better identify your guest.

on 5/4/08 popper1 asks: I am curious if anyone can tell me the age & size at which Couroupita guianensis, the cannonball tree, will begin to flower.  Thanks1

on 5/2/08 monique asks: What a wonderful website! I'm a botanist and a quilter.  I'm planning a redwork quilt that features embroidered images of some of nature's most unusual plants.  I've found a an image on your site that I'd love to turn into a line drawing for stitching, specifically the Adansonia (baobab) flower. If I may have your permission to use your image as starting points, I would certainly credit you as the source of the image if the quilt is ever shown.

on 4/29/08  LRoach asks: When does the Tropical Flowering Tree Society Meet?
EPert answers: 7:30 every 2nd Monday of each month, except May, when we have the Mother's Day Sale the entire weekend of Mother's Day. See About TFTS for more info.