Re: Growing A. titanum in South Florida

From: SelbyHort at aol.com on 2000.04.02 at 14:58:12(4313) Susan, The west coast of Florida is much dryer than the east coast almost any time of year...but in both places we are now in very severe drought conditions, almost all the grass is dead unless you water it continuously, which you can't do legally because SW FL water restrictions now only allow one day per week, absolutely no car washing or sidewalk washing, and even hand watering annuals and smaller plants in the yard is also restricted to one day (the water police are out in Hillsborough county - Tampa - and they have levied fines up to $500 for non-compliance). River and lake levels are some of the lowest in many years. Brush fires are a major hazard now. Temperatures are climbing each day. Generally our rains begin in late May on a regular basis, but sometimes it is late June before there is enough moisture in the air to kick in those daily convectional afternoon rains and sometimes it even takes a late season hurricane or tropical depression to really dump enough rain to replenish aquifer levels for the next dry season. Indeed, it is now dry and dusty in SW Florida! There are similar conditions in S. California each summer, but their situation is much more critical since we always have more humidity even in our driest time. Leather, books and almost anything will mold here if you don't use your air conditioner or at least a de-humidifer year round. Donna Atwood +More << To add to the South Florida conversation, Where did you live that it was dry and dusty? When I lived in West Palm Beach (hi Ju-Ju) it would rain every afternoon in the summer. And the winters weren't all that dry either. The leather shoes in my closet got moldy from the humidity! >>

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