Date:  Wed, 8 Nov 1995 02:18:04 -0500

From:  SETH SKLAREY <crissiet[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]IPOF.FLA.NET>

Subject: Re: bougainvillea



Bougainvillea, most commonly pronounced hereabouts boo-gan-vil'-lah,

is primarily a desert area plant popular in Mexico, south Texas etc.

as well as south Florida. Blooms best in dry season & loses blooms with

water. Since it is thorny, it gives good protection against intruders, and

can be trained to grow on arbors like a vine.



In Golden Beach, Florida they used to have them on the median strip, and

trimmed them down all the time. It is a very hard, knarly plant when treated

way, and I'll never forget one long 1953 Studebaker that crashed into

one and wound up as long as a Nash Metropolitan. They stopped using

them as median plants and removed them all. Every once in a while a

new landscape architect comes along somewhere in South Florida, and

not knowing any better has them planted in a median strip. After

explaining my true story to them, they usually see the light and have them

removed.



For years I have been searching for a yellow bougainvillea, have only

found two plants, and they both died. If anyone knows where I can find

a yellow (not gold) plant, please let me know.



Thanks,



Seth Sklarey

Coconut Grove,FL