Today I took my husband over to The Exotic Plumeria, a plumeria nursery in Seffner, Florida - just east of Tampa, and about a 40 minute drive from St Petersburg.
Some of the plumeria in my yard came from this nursery, but I'd never been over to see it.
Yes, here in Florida, they grow over 200 varieties of plumeria! They even ship to Hawaii, believe it or not.
They sell wholesale and retail, from cutting to trees twice as tall as I am.
Alan Bunch, whose interest turned to a hobby to a business to a passion, was there and he as well as all the employees were helpful and knowledgeable.
The plumeria, also called the Frangipani in the Caribbean, grows well here in the Tampa Bay area.
Talk about stress relief - at the end of the day, before dark, I enjoy walking around our small yard with George (my husband) and seeing new blossoms, and watching the head of a pin become a beautiful flower.
No, sadly, it's not like Hawaii. The fragrance doesn't envelop you throughout the garden, and you don't have extensive groves to walk through, with plumeria everywhere. It is nice, though, to drive home and in several yards along my street so see the plumeria, multi colored, in many shapes. On one street I even drive by a tree with red, pink AND yellow blossoms - ok, when you look closely you see that there are actually three trees planted close together, and that their branches intertwine so that it LOOKS like one tree with multiple colors.
Wow! these are beautiful, Sharon! And nice way to relax.
Wow, is that the plant the body lotion and cologne are named after? It is one of my favorites. Gorgeous plants you have there in florida.
Missy - I imagine so. I have a fake plumeria in my office, since I have a black thumb. It looks so real many visitors think it is real. Point being - I also have plumeria candles. Like any other scent, some products succeed and some don't. I was talking to my California son tonight and we talked about plumeria - the scent in the plumeria garden at our hotel on Lanai is locked in our memories. Our plumeria tree at home that's in the ground, now about 12' tall, really takes care of itself. Our potted plumeria around the pool take some water and fertilizer and fortunately my Green Thumb husband keeps them alive.
We have plumeria everywhere here. I am surprised they ship here.
Aloha from Sunny Hawaii.
Hi Sharon, One of my favorite flowers and the smell is awesome and fresh. I had them in Florida in Palm Beach, I had one in Dallas but it had to be potted and I had one that didn't make here in SD. What I don't get is how they make leis out of these. It takes so many flowers because then tend to flatten out. They don't charge that much for a lei in Hawaii, yet it takes a whole years to get enough blooms on one tree for in lei.
Hi Sharon,
I love these myself. I have one potted in my back yard, it's the white with a yellow center. It also reminds me of the lovely lady who gave it to me. It came from a cutting from a client who has since passed away. It means more to me than if I purchased it myself.
When my kids were little they called them fringy panties. They also call Miami, Your-ami because that's what Florida kids do. lol
Sharon The Exotic Plumeria sounds like a great place if you are really into flowers and gardening. We have a huge nursery about a mile from my home.
What a neat place to visit. We have these folowers here as well. I always enjoy going to the nurseries, even if I don'y buy, as I am always discovering new plants and flowers. So different from what I was familiar with in Boston. Beautiful photo, Sharon.
Jeff
Wow! Wow! Wow!! Those are gorgeous and you take such a beautiful photograph of them. I can almost smell them!
William - it does take years to grow the trees (i.e., flowers) and it must take hours to string them all. You can order leis through The Exotic Plumeria for $25 each, including shipping from Hawaii, minimum of 5 leis.
Lynda - there you go again. It's the people, their heart and soul, that truly add the meaning.
Chris - I love their choice of words. Out of the mouths of babes!
Bill - it was wonderful to see - so much better than choosing from a catalogue. I must admit I was a wee bit disappointed, though - I had hoped for groves/gardens like I had experienced in Hawaii.
Jeff - I love looking at them, in nurseries, in gardens, in yards - even on my table.
Linda - thanks! Just because of your comment, I added another photo.
Sharon, THANKS!! These are so pretty!
You're most welcome, Linda!
I live in Virginia Beach and brought back a couple clippings, I bought on the Island of Oahu. They are about 3 1/2 feet tall now and live outside from spring to fall. I enjoy the beautiful flowers. I just hate them going dormant in the winter...