Sculpture at the University of Miami

Anyone who went to college felt like this statue at least once. Many of us felt that way more then once.

The Weeks Music Library and Technology

We went to the opening of this building at the University of Miami two years ago. At that time it was state of the art, best of the best. After all of the pageantry and food we toured to building. One of the rooms really caught my eye. It contained 13 or more pianos. The professor and the students all could play at the same time, but the music came form the head phones. Thus when the professor played everyone heard it. But when the students were playing they could hear only their own music. The professor could listen to the music from any piano that he wanted.

We Never Get Trick or Treat children

In our old Key Largo home we never had any children come down our spooky drive way (700 feet). For that matter we don't get any beggars in Coral Gables. There are only four houses on the block and maybe it's too far to walk from house to house.

Saint Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center at the University of Miami

Like the Episcopal Church and Canterbury Center, the Catholics have a full fledged church. Many people from around the UofM call this their home church.

A Great Oak in Young Park

These low branches of the oak beg to us to stop and take a seat.

Bauhinia variegata or Bauhinia purpurea

THIS PICTURE IS NOT FORM CORAL GABLES. Yesterday we went down to Key Largo for a birthday party. I would say that the house is a family home, in that we owned it for 35 years and now our children own it. This orchid tree flower is a straggler but pretty enough to show you. The tree is full of immature seeds. When the pods are mature they are mahogany colored and burst open with a bang. The seeds can be propelled as far as 50 feet away form the tree. Click to see some pictures of Key Largo.

University of Miami School of Business

Many universities name their buildings for a grand contributor. Apparently this building was divided in three ways. Possibly in years to come when the building needs upgrading it will get a fourth name.

Tropical Daphne / Phaleria phalerata

The flowers are fragrant, followed by clusters of red fruits that look like coffee fruits on steroids. It's easy to grow from seed, but it doesn't show up in many gardens. A three year old plant is very expensive at a nursery.

U of M Has Water Front Property

This canal feeds a large lake in the middle of the campus. Thus the University can boast that it is situated by the water. Around here if you say that you live on the water, it means that you can see water out of one of your windows. For me I think living by the water means a large body of water.

The Student Union Plaza (The Whitten Building)

A week ago the Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority had a walk to raise money for Multiple Myeloma. They were fortunate to have Marlins baseball team to sponsor the endeavor. Two days ago I posted two pictures of the Marlins mascot and a baseball player. The important part of the activity is that a sorority was involved. Most of the sororities and fraternities have programs like this and there members get out and do something for the community. Click to see the full story of the program that the Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority put together.

Chorisia Speciosa, Silk Floss Tree, Once More

I know that I should have only one picture. Normally I would link two of the pictures and hope that people click the link. And linked pictures would not have their written material.
This tree is now in full bloom. You can find them all over Miami, Pinecrest and Coral Gables. The tree seems to walk to different drummers. Some bloom after all of their leaves are gone, some bloom with all leaves. And some like this tree are in the middle. A few will have few or no flowers for the season. They are not constant.
If you scroll back to September 6, 2007 you can see one that I posted last month. It is a little bit darker and it has undulating petals.
This fountain is in the North Ponce De Leon Park. About 25 years ago I was active in the North Ponce De Leon Association and raised money to place the fountain into a nondescript triangle of grass. The city then landscaped the rest of the park. The Association was active in improving this once premiere street.

Marlins at the University of Miami

Early last Sunday I visited the U of M and saw these balloons. It seemed strange that the local professional baseball team would be advertising on campus. I did my homework and thanks to Google in a day or two I will continue with the answer.

A Purple Driveway

Lonchocarpus violaceus / Florida lilac is a beautiful small tree with flowers that look like sweet peas or lupines with a very pleasant fragrance. It's native to Mexico. I had one 50 years ago and never saw any others. In the last few years it has become a popular small tree. Click here to see the flower.

The Main Entrance, Inside Looking Out

This lush entrance to the University of Miami is notable. These Royal Palms are all the same size and the effect is assume. The city planted Royal Palms about the same size in the median of Dixie Highway, just past this entrance. But after a few years car accidents knocked over a palm here and there. The new palms are shorter and the total picture is lost. But here at the entrance cars are not likely to knock down one of these beauties.

The Merrick House is Ready for Halloween

It seems a bit strange to see autumn down the street. Very few of our plants hibernate. Our gardens are still full of flowers. If shedding leaves make it autumn for you, come to south Florida in January to March when most of our trees are losing their leaves. For the nit picker we do have some trees that shed in winter.

I've been tagged by Photos From Haninge

These are the rules.

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs

So eight random facts about myself:

1. I delivered the newspaper longer then any one in this area. I peddled my bike 5 miles a day. And it was all up hill.
2. The money that I earned from the paper route was used to buy Orchids. I have grown them for over 60 years.
3. I still cut my grass and paint the house. I am the only one in my block that does.
4. I was the oldest student in my computer class.
5. I have 1 site and 2 blogs.
6. I give away free the most expensive banana trees in the world. You can see the page My Ae Ae's Brother at my site www.togofcoralgables.com
7. We have had over 55 exchanges students in our house for as long 3 years and as short as a week.
8. I am proud to be a member of the Coral Gables Rotary Club

Now who shall I tag?
Miami Every Day Photo
Weston, FL. Daily Photo
Ft.Lauderdale My Web Page
Guelph Daily Photo
New Orleans Daily Photo
A Picture a Day of Lovely Hilo Town!
Brighton Daily Photo
Quick Snap 365

Universal Woman

I saw this woman at the University of Miami during an International Myeloma Foundation program. I ask her what was going on and if she was the queen. She told me what was going on and yes she was the queen. When I looked at my picture I found out that she was the Universal Woman. To be a Queen of the Turnips is one thing but being Universal Woman is quite an other thing. As she talked to me she was an absolute beauty. Her charisma set her apart and I'm sorry that I can't share it with you.

Mahoney Residential College

This is one of the first large dorms on the University of Miami main campus. About 25 years ago we had an exchange student from France that went to the U of M for one year. He was in another dorm during the week days and he stayed with us on the weekends. He told use about this dorm. At that time it was called the drug store. I think things are a little better now - I hope.


A Miami blogger has posted many pictures of Coral Gables and most of the subjects have been previously posted on my Coral Gables blog. The fire station picture was almost identical. Now today the Miami blogger posted the Merrick House. Previously I have posted four pictures of the Merrick House. You may enjoy seeing them again.

Front of the house

One of two back doors

The porch

The grotto

The Episcopal Church and Canterbury Center at the University of Miami

Unlike the Methodist center, the Episcopal center has a fair size sanctuary. This church draws the students and the neighbors near the university.

One Down and One Up

These light posts look very sturdy, but they are deceiving. Almost all of the concrete posts on our street have been knocked over at least once in the last 40 years. But if you look close you will notice that the pieces can be restored like a puzzle.

White Bougainvillea

This white bougainvillea is consuming a pergola and it looks like it's headed to the pond. A bougainvillea can be trimmed and kept small, but once it gets out of bounds it can't go back. Chick to see a closeup of the flower. This pergola and pond is duplicated on the other corners of the intersection.

The Wesley Foundation

While the University of Miami is non sectarian it does have many faiths that have built buildings on the campus. This building is the Methodist building. It is a home away from home for Methodist students.

A Roundabout for the University of Miami

A traffic calming device that slows university students rushing to class. I guess it works, but it is a bother. I think that a roundabout should facilitate the traffic and not hinder it.

The Lowe

The Lowe Museum of Art is gem that the University of Miami has given our community. Anyone can join and sponsor the museum. The art is a gift for all of us, and it gives us reason to visit the UofM main campus

The real mascot for the U of M

The University of Miami is the heart of Coral Gables. George Merrick(founder of Coral Gables) gave the land to the university. The mascot for the university is the Ibis. I don't remember seeing the Ibis on campus until the landscape was upgraded in the last twenty years. Taking a picture of this bird is a challenge, as they will run away or fly away. Does anyone know of a school mascot that roams the campus like this one? I don't mean a cardinal or bee. I mean something like an alligator or an Indian in full regalia.

Award Lotus

This jpg won first place in a photograph competition held by the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society and published in the Water Garden Journal. My lotus is a seedling from a lotus named 'Mrs. Perry Slocum'. This picture has been in my site since last season.

Sobralia decora

Sobralia decora comes from Latin America and grows next to the roads were the vegetation has been disturbed. This orchid blooms off and on in the fall and winter. This is the first flower of the season. The flower is variable depending on the weather. To see the differences click here.

The Rectory for the Little Flower

This beautiful home is across from the church and abuts a golf course. It was donated to the church, most likely in the late 30's. I have walked, peddled, and driven by this house all my life and always thought what a nice home that the priests enjoyed.

Church of the Little Flower

This Roman Catholic Church was given the land by the city of Coral Gables in the 20's (the Congregational Church also was given land). Fifty years ago the congregation built this magnificent sanctuary. At the time it was built it was considered to be the cathedral for the area. In that time I have seen a few repairs on the roof but this is the first time that they had to rework the dome. I have seen many cathedrals in the EU that had roofs that were a few hundred years old and none were being replaced. The more formal name of the church is St. Teresa. You can see St.Teresa above the front door. The new Catholic cathedral is is on Red Road about two miles south of Coral Gables.

FREE BURMA!

It doesn't get any bigger

It doesn't grow in the jungle like this.

Aechmea fasciata

These bromeliads are ground covers in my garden. It used to be a major bromeliad for the florist trade. But now there are more flashy forms. I just went out between the rain, no reason to get on the road today.

Rain Lilies

These little lilies send up their flowers after a good rain, usually in the late summer or fall. And we have had a lot of good rains this past week.