Flowers, Trees and Wetland Plants, Jacksonville

Favorite thing: While I don't know of any commercial citrus farms in the area I can certainly say that orange and grapefruit trees are a common sight in the yards of Jacksonville. Many residents pick their own fruit from their own trees. I guess that's another one of the many perks to being a Florida resident.

Favorite thing: Visitors to Jacksonville certainly won't be surprised to find that the city boasts numerous palm trees. What might surprise people though is the wide variety of palms that decorate our parks, neighborhoods, commercial centers, beaches, natural areas and road medians. Trunks range from tall and skinny to short and fat, and are adorned with fronds that range in length, texture and bushiness. Beach Town Center is a popular gathering spot that also features a dense concentration of palm trees lining streets and marking beach access points.

Favorite thing: If you're visiting in late April and May it could be the jasmine vines with their tiny fragrant flowers in full bloom. Then again, it could also be the ligustrum hedges that also bloom at this time, or perhaps the magnolia blossoms that emerge a couple weeks later. At any rate, by late spring the scents of the season are everywhere.

Favorite thing: Wetland areas can be found all throughout Jacksonville, particularly near the Intracoastal Waterway, the St. Johns River and in the Timucuan Preserve. Wetlands are easily identifiable as flat areas bordering bodies of water that are dotted with blades of green and brown sawgrass. Sawgrass is so common here it even inspired the name of the Jacksonville's famous golf course where the Tournament Players Championship is played each year.

Favorite thing: Hibiscus flowers, a symbol of tropical beauty, can be spotted growing in Jacksonville throughout the year.

Favorite thing: From the second half of February through the month of March, Jacksonville's neighborhoods experience a major color explosion while red, pink, purple, white and other colors of azaleas are in bloom.