J L asks about gardening in Florida summer heat:

I really have enjoyed clicking through your site. I see you have moved now, but have also found links to Jim the Grower and other tips. Thank you. We just moved to Tampa and I was wondering if you could offer some inspiration. Some resources say I should really wait until the heat is over, but is there anything fun I can plant right now? Also, since I don’t know what chemicals they used on the yard before we lived here, should we take some precautions? I’m thinking raised beds for veggies and such, but trees are ok?  Thanks!

Also, not sure where you are in CA, but I spent a summer in Panama as a kid. I sometimes think about and try to identify a fruit from my memories of that time, but I haven’t found it here. It’s kind of like a grape but a muted lime green color and the you don’t eat the skin. Inside is a white/clear/yellow soft tart fruit. We would eat those by the bunch. Maybe it was just a not ripe longan. Who knows, but I hope you get to enjoy them!

So excited to be in a 9b/10a for the first time!!