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.