Monday, June 30, 2008

Coelogyne pandurata And It Is That Green

This orchid tried to bloom in March but a late cold snap killed the flower stems just as the flowers started to open. Now in late June a single stem popped up. That's a first in my yard.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

The Rotunda Of The Coral Gables Colonnade

This room was once part of the major bank in our city. The room was full of wrought iron and as a youngster it looked like a prison. This room is now the entry room to the Westin Hotel. It's often used for weddings and parties. Since the Coral Gables Country Club closed, it is meeting place for the Coral Gables Rotary Club.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

The Leaning Tower Of Coral Gables


This high rise office building was semi-imploded early this morning. The plan was to open the street for business by 9AM. Now no one knows when the area will be safe. The leaning tower went done Sunday at 7:20AM and we heard the sound at our house. It was good that we knew what was happening.


The party is over. The builders, the owners, and the politicians most of had a strange breakfast.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Asian Exercise Comes To Coral Gables

It's a good start. Now we must get more people out. It looks like a pleasant way to stay healthy.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

A Giant Fern


This fern is not a tree fern. The fronds are bigger then most tree ferns and mine touches the roof.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Rain Lilies

We had three days of rain. That means that the rain lilies are all over the town. Displays like this are usually pink. This white type is a one of a kind.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Made From The Local Rock

Often this rock is referred to as coral rock, but usually it is oolitic limestone. Oolite is the local rock while the coral rock is from the Florida Keys. The coral rock homes in Coral Gables are really oolite. Coral rock is usually used as a veneer on a house, maybe because it is much more expensive.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Diamonds In The Glass.

These windows are original from the 20's. In the 40's there were a few homes that had these windows, in our neighborhood . But now this is the only one that I know that has them. Click on the picture and get a better view of the windows.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

The Blue House

This is the largest house on the block and everyone knows it. But not because it's big, but for the blue paint. That's not a complement. A blue house is very hard to sell.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Barnes and Noble Being Noble

Today the Coral Gables Rotary Club is having a sale at Barnes and Noble.


This is the left side of the store.

Friday, June 20, 2008

City Of Colonnades

There is a busy cafe at the end of the colonnade. The sidewalk cafe is in the shade.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

At The WOC 19

Five months ago the World Orchid Conference was held in Miami and I came home with pile of jpgs. I made some movie clips from my pile of pictures and I'm not finished. I should have some more movie clips by the evening, thanks to the rain (I posted 3 new movies by 6PM). Today's picture of two Macaws at the orchid show caught my eye and I wanted to share it.
My movie clips can be seen at: www.togofcoralgables.com

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Pretty But Dangerous

This bromeliad looks harmless. The leaves look smooth and if you enlarge this picture you will not see the spines. I have been stuck and had a hard time getting the nano spine out of my hand.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Yesterday The Flower, Today The Tree

This last winter was warmer and dryer then normal. Now the old leaves all dropped off and every flower gets a chance to be seen.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Gold Rush Tree

This tree has many names, such as Gold Rush Tree, Golden Shower Tree, Indian Laburnum, Pudding Pipe Tree and Cassia fistula. It's formal name is Cassia fistula, but most people call it golden shower. I like Laburnum and I call it Florida Laburnum. The Laburnum is a temperate tree that has chains of yellow flowers shaped like a sweet pea. The tropical tree stays in flower much longer then the temperate one.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

A Green Orchid

Green is a seldom seen color in this type of orchid.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Banaba

Lagerstroemia speciosa is the formal name but most people call it Queen's Crape-myrtle. It's a common small tree in Coral Gables. But when it's called banaba it becomes the producer of a fantastic snake oil. A tea made of the leaves will cause the loss of weight and it comes only from a small island in the Pacific Ocean. For more magic cures go to: http://www.banabaherb.com/

I believe that this is the tree that Lan posted today.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Lotus At The End Of Day 3


The petals will drop off on the 4th day.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Bermuda?

This Bermuda style house looks like it's on the island except for the terracotta roof of the house in the background.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Clock Vine

I grew this vine when I was a teenager, and have not seen it for 40 years. Last Saturday I found it in Sarasota FL. in the Selby Botanical Garden. I made a movie clip about the Selby garden.
You can see it at: http://togofcoralgables.com/MovieClips.aspx

The vines formal name is Thunbergia Mysorensis and it comes from Mysore India. It's also sometimes called "Brick & Butter Vine" & "Dolls' Shoes".

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Up To It's Name - Flamboyant

This Poinciana is a bright orange but we tend to call it yellow. The one in my garden is more yellow and I know of one that's canary yellow.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Just Like A Poinsettia

This red Mussaenda has a small yellow flower with bright red petaloids. The red parts are more like a leaf then a flower.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Another Red

This Mussaenda blooms from May to December. Many visitors to the garden think that it is a poinsettia. This is just a bud, not the flower.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

More Red - Well Maybe Orange

This tree is only six years old.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Old Spanish House With A Touch Of Red

This poinciana tree is just starting to bloom. Next week when it's showing more flowers you would not bother to look at the beautiful house.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Seeing Red On The Granada Golf Course

The Poinciana trees are in full bloom.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

I'm Seeing Red - Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant

The trees are aflame all over the city.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Den. crumenatum



The common name for this orchid is the dove orchid because the bud looks like a dove perched on the stem. The flower lasts for only one day, but they do it for 10 to 15 times during the year. On Jan. 7 08 Lan posted this orchid and called it the cockroach orchid. Yesterday when it bloomed I checked it for fragrance. I found it to be a light fragrance and very pleasant. You can see Lan's picture at:

Cockroach Orchid


Monday, June 2, 2008

We Live In A Jungle

This Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) has been in the garden for a few days. Yesterday I saw the bird perched on the water fountain. I hurried to get my camera and hoped that the window is clean. I took a few pictures, back side and front side. As soon as he started to leave I snapped the picture. And by luck I caught him.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

June 2008 Theme Day: My Corner Local Shop

If you're over 50, this is your corner shop. Bugger Bob has been there longer then I can remember. They serve breakfast and lunch in the middle of the city golf course. We pretty much know every one there.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey by afyonblog, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Clare Unsworth, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gainesville (FL), USA by Leah, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by Chanin, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Los Angeles (CA), USA by Martha Perez, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Fotos. Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sequim (WA), USA by Norma, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Urayasu, Japan by Zono, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

But if your under 40 you would pick Houstons. Most evenings people have to wait out on the sidewalk and talk to strangers.