http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/index.html http://media.miamiherald.com/images/logos/rss_sitelogo.gif http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/index.html 140 25 News, sports and entertainment from MiamiHerald.com en-us Copyright 2008 MiamiHerald.com Watch It Grow | Georgia Tasker 60 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:17:05 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys miamifeedback@miamiherald.com http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/607867.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/607867.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Plumbago, Cape leadwort Botanical name: Plumbago auriculata (Plumbago capensis) Description: We went to Boulders Beach south of Cape Town, South Africa, to see the penguins. Walking past the boulders we found two famous landscape plants of the region, Cape honeysuckle and Cape leadwort or plumbago, taking in the winter sun and salt air. The climate on the Western Cape is said to be Mediterranean, meaning cool and wet winters and dry, warm summers. Bringing the plumbago to a subtropical climate... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/600205.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/600205.html Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Lobster claw Botanical name: Heliconia rostrata Description: One of the more controllable heliconias, the dwarf form of lobster claw has the right scale for small gardens while producing a classic pendant inflorescence in green, yellow and red. The bracts that conceal small flowers are so finely sculpted they are works of art. The Heliconia Society shows several forms of rostrata on its website, and it's worth going to www.heliconiasocietypr.org/heliconia_cultivars6.htm to take a look. Originally... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/592035.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/592035.html Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:01 EDT Name: sapodilla Botanical name: Manilkara zapota Description: Native to the Caribbean islands, this large and handsome tree gives shade with the added benefit of fruit. The fruits are dropping now from our sapodilla, and their brown skin splits open to reveal a light-colored flesh and black seeds. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/583868.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/583868.html Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Madagascar palms Botanical name: Pachypodium species Descrip- tion: Swollen trunks, spines and leaflessness in winter would hardly seem to describe an attractive garden specimen, but these characteristics of Pachypodium are so important in keeping the plants alive in Madagascar that you come to embrace them. These trees, which live in the most xeric conditions, are highly endangered, as are most plants in that country. Several species grow in the southern dry forest, while others grow in the... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/576322.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/576322.html Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:01 EDT Name: Ylang-ylang Botanical name: Cananga odorata Description: The flowers of the ylang-ylang (ee-lang ee-lang) are strange looking, with six greenish-yellow petals hanging limp or curled. They develop as little green buttons along the twigs. But their perfume, not their looks, is their most delectable and desirable quality. Sometimes called the perfume tree, ylang-ylang produces a volatile oil in the flowers that is distilled and used in Chanel No. 5 and other perfumes throughout the world. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/568889.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/568889.html Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Bird's-nest fern Botanical name: Asplenium nidus. Description: When the rainy season returns, our ferns once more will be happy. The bird's-nest fern, while requiring less humidity than many more delicate species, is resuming its summer growth. The fronds are undivided, and each one has a black midrib and undulating edges. A central crown from which frondlings emerge is a nub of dark brown fuzz, reminiscent of a bird's nest. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/560618.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/560618.html Sun, 08 Jun 2008 03:01 EDT Botanical name: Copernicia hospita Description: Found naturally only in Cuba, this pretty palm grows to about half the size of its better-known kin, the Bailey palm or Copernicia baileyana. Yet, you don't have to be a giant to see the beautiful symmetry of the large crown and the way it displays its flower spikes so gracefully among the many leaves. The round, palmate leaves are stiff, waxy and bluish- or grayish-green. The leaf stem extends into the leaf blade, and the leaves bend toward the center... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/552298.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/552298.html Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Golden shower Botanical name: Cassia fistula Description: The golden showers are handsome this summer after a fairly dry spring, with racemes of yellow flowers cascading abundantly and gracefully from the twig ends. Originally from India, the trees is widely loved throughout the tropics. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/544427.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/544427.html Sun, 25 May 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Brazilian potato tree, blue potato tree. Botanical name: Solanum wrightii (syn: Solanum macranthum). Description: Related to tomatoes, potatoes and four-o-clocks, as well as chalice vine and yesterday-today-tomorrow, this flowering tree is from Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. It produces clusters of flowers across its wide canopy throughout the year. The flowers open purple and fade to white. It's a fast-growing small tree with large lobed leaves that are sticky with prickles. Highly ornamental... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/535706.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/535706.html Sun, 18 May 2008 03:01 EDT Name: wild cinnamon, cinnamon bark Botanical name: Canella winbterana Description: Native to South Florida and the Caribbean, wild cinnamon is a beautiful, slow-growing tree of the coastal hammocks. The flowers grow in clusters at the branch ends, opening a few at a time throughout spring and summer. The canopy is narrow and dense, and the leaves leathery and somewhat succulent. Canella winterana is salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant and casts a dense shade. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/527114.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/527114.html Sun, 11 May 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Mexican honeysuckle Botanical name: Justicia spicigera Description: In the same family of plants as Brazilian plume and shrimp-plant, this Justicia has brilliant flowers that sparkle in our equally brilliant light. The species name means spike or spike-bearing, which aptly describes the orange tubular flowers. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/517233.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/517233.html Sun, 04 May 2008 03:01 EDT Name: old man palm Botanical name: Coccothrinax crinita Description: This threatened palm from Cuba is as charming as any plant you could want. Topped with circular palmate fronds, the old man is loved for the hairy thatch that adorns its slender trunk, making it appear a great deal thicker than it is. It's quite slow-growing, which means it won't beanstalk skyward like coconuts and veitchias. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/490416.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/490416.html Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Guatemalan bird of paradise Botanical name: Heliconia subulata Description: A small heliconia from Central and South America, it grows from Guatemala to Paraguay, through Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, according to the online Global Biodiversity Information Facility. The flower bracts are red and contain the flowers, which are lemon yellow with lime-green tips. In spite of its common name, this heliconia isn't a true bird of paradise, which is in the genus Strelitzia. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/482904.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/482904.html Sun, 06 Apr 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Vietnam gardenia Botanical name: Gardenia augusta `Vietnam' Description: A gardenia is a plant for skilled gardeners who like a challenge. This gardenia from Southeast Asia likes acid conditions. Growing it in alkaline soils means keeping on top of its nutrition, but the beautiful, solitary flowers, with lustrous white petals forming pinwheel-like corollas, should make the effort worthwhile. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/454531.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/454531.html Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Two ''terete vanda'' species Botanical name: Papilionanthe teres and Papilionanthe tricuspidata Description: These species, once classified as vandas, are among the 10 that have terete or cylindrical leaves that may have formed by rolling in on themselves to thrive in full sun. The plants are from the warm Asian tropics and grow to be quite tall. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/445887.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/445887.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:01 EDT Name: Flor de rosa, rose of Venezuela, scarlet flame bean Botanical name: Brownea coccinea subspecies capitella Description: A gorgeous orange-red ball of flowers characterizes this leguminous shrub/small tree that is native to northern South America, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago. The stamens are golden yellow and joined at the base, topped with golden anthers, adding liveliness and depth to the spectacular flower clusters that appear from late winter to spring. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/437128.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/437128.html Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:01 EST Name: Silk cotton tree Botanical name: Bombax ceiba Description: A flowering tree of great scale that produces fiercely colored red or orange flowers. The silk cotton drops its leaves in late winter, making its bold flowers highly visible. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/427445.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/427445.html Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:01 EST Name: Flame vine Botanical name: Pyrostegia venusta Description: When a western sun strikes it just right, the flame vine seems to ignite with dramatic clusters of slender flowers. The lobes of the flowers curl back to reveal the stigma and stamens, and a day later flowers will drop like spent embers. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/374089.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/374089.html Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:01 EST Botanical name: Zamia tuerckheimii De- scription: A cycad from Guatemala with gracefully arching leaves. Leaflets are glossy, pointed and full on the individual fronds, resulting in a beautiful abundance. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/365667.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/365667.html Sun, 06 Jan 2008 03:01 EST Botanical name: Alcantarea odorata Description: A glorious bromeliad that has blue-green leaves covered in a white powder. Use this as a focal point in your garden, as it looks especially lovely against dark green leaves. Related to the Alcantarea imperialis (once called Vreisea imperialis), this plant and its relatives are large, elegantly formed and eye-catching. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/358235.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/358235.html Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:01 EST Name: Guayabilla, cafecito Botanical name: Samyda dodecandra Description: A rare multitrunked shrub or small tree from dry evergreen forests of Mexico, Central America and the West Indies, guayabilla has pretty leaves and small flowers that range from whitish to pink and deep pink. The species name dodecandra means 12 stamens, and if you pull out a hand lens, you can check them out. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/353079.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/353079.html Sun, 23 Dec 2007 03:01 EST Name: Beach sunflower Botanical name: Helianthus debilis subspecies debilis Description: A cheery and bright plant that graces our coastal areas, the beach sunflower performs well in many settings, provided the plants are fairly dry. It grows quickly. It spreads by underground runners, by seed and when a stem hits the ground. The leaves are deltoid shaped and toothed. The flowers are two or three inches across. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/293363.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/293363.html Sun, 04 Nov 2007 03:01 EST Name: Necklace pod Botanical name: Sophora tomentosa var. truncata Description: Until this native shrub develops fruit, it's hard to see why it would be given its common name. Then, when it dangles a few pods, it's a duh moment: of course. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/277142.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/277142.html Sun, 21 Oct 2007 03:01 EDT Name: Dahoon holly Botanical name: Ilex cassine Description: From the edges of low-lying areas in the Everglades, this true holly is a Florida native useful for planting in areas that retain moisture, perhaps a lakefront. Leaves are leathery and dark green, and when the trees are young, the leaves have a few spines. There are male and female trees; this photo shows the female with red berries. The trunks are whitish, with some gray and black patches, making a lovely contrast to the leaves and fruit... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/253541.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/253541.html Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:01 EDT Name: Cyrtosperma johnstonii Description: An aquatic and semi-aquatic aroid that comes from somewhere in Oceania, probably the Solomon Islands. This attractive plant has a surprise: beautifully mottled but wickedly armed leaf stems. The upward pointing arrow-shaped leaves are marked with red veins and the petioles or leaf stems are maroon and brown to charcoal. The prickles are short and in bands or spirals around the stems. This makes a show-stopping pond plant when it reaches its mature size, which... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/245757.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/245757.html Sun, 23 Sep 2007 03:01 EDT Name: Cockspur; devil's smooth claws or smooth devil's claws Botanical name: Pisonia rotundata Description: Round, glossy leaves distinguish this small tree that grows only on No Name Key and Big Pine Key and is on the state's endangered species list. It is briefly deciduous and also dioecious, meaning there are male and female trees. Pisonia flowers in the spring. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/237453.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/237453.html Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:01 EDT Name: Flask philodendron Botanical name: Philodendron martianum (mar-shee-AY-num) Description: A beautiful, slow-growing plant that makes an attractive container specimen. The leaves are substantial and dark green. A central portion of the leaf stalk continues into the blade and tapers at its apex. http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/228905.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/228905.html Sun, 09 Sep 2007 03:01 EDT Name: Phalaenopsis violacea Description: A summer blooming species from low-lying and shady riversides in Sumatra, Borneo and Malaya, the small but colorful flowers emit a spice-citrus fragrance that belies their size. Phal. violacea has a wide range of colors. Eric Christenson, author of Phalaenopsis, A Monograph, says ''It is quite likely that these differences represent . . . a more or less continuous gradation from one end of the species range to the other.'' There also are white and even blue... http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/221586.html http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/georgia-tasker/story/221586.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 03:01 EDT Name: Baby sunrose Botanical name: Aptenia cordifolia Description: A member of the ice plant family, this South African succulent is a good ground cover for the Florida Keys in particular, but also for rock gardens and sunny, sandy soils. Baby sunrose also makes a good candidate for hanging baskets, according to the University of Florida's Cooperative Extension Service.