Christmas songs were written for Floridians. Without them, December 25th would pass us by. We wouldn’t know any different because the sun would still shine. It’s December 1st, and it’s only just beginning to feel like fall, let alone winter. The temperature is a crisp 55 degrees right now. Although it’s only feeling like fall today, there’s one spot in Sarasota where it’s been looking like fall for about a week now.
There’s a huge tree on the corner of Ringling and Shade dropping leaves like it’s growing up North. John and I were stopped at the light last week, and there were leaves scattered everywhere across the intersection. It was the first visual spark of fall I’ve experienced in a long time. Those cues don’t always exist in Florida. The feelings of fall – going back to school and approaching holidays - become dulled with consistently warm weather. Floridians wear shorts on Christmas! There’s no physical sense of seasons when the air is still warm and the trees are still green. But don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade it. Southerners have a lot less chores – raking, shoveling, changing out wardrobes and tires – I’m thrilled to say none of these things are part of my life.
John identified the tree as a Sweetgum. Judging from the grooves in its bark, which are characteristic of Sweet gum trees, he’s right. Sweet gums can be found from Florida to Connecticut: Gardening climate zones 6a-10b. The name, Sweet gum, is derived from its sap. The sap can be boiled down into a medicinal balsam to help treat a variety of conditions including ring worm and dysentery. The trees, themselves, are useful in reforestation efforts because of their rapid growth and insect resistance. Good to know, but I’ll keep the rake in the garage and continue to admire them from stoplights.
My Sweet gum source: http://www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu/factsheets/sweetgum.pdf
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