Sunday, May 31, 2009

The Little Tree That Could

Verawood tree (Bulnesia arborea) The city planted this tree last summer. During the dry winter and spring they watered it at least two times a week. The watering is much less expensive then losing the young trees.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

A Guava Flower From Guavonia

Before we were a city the area was farm land. The guava was a major crop. And the guava jelly was well known and northerners knew us for the jelly. If you Google 'Guavonia' you will get Coral Gables.

Friday, May 29, 2009

I Can't Grow Tulips, But I Do Pretty Well

Blood lilies are my answer to a Dutch spring garden. I can't grow tulips but Blood lilies will do very nice, thank you.
Click here to see a close view of one stem.
Click here to see more of the lilies.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

I Like The House, I Like The Lions, But.....

I even like the people that live there. I have to ask them about the hats.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Poinciana Place Has A Poinciana

Poinciana Place went 50 years without a poinciana tree. Now this young tree will give meaning to the name Poinciana Place.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Villa Alegria

Recently the this house was named a home of joy (or jubilation). In the 20's 6 or 8 houses were given names, such as Blue Gables, Seven Oaks, and Poinciana Place.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Peacock Ginger / Kaempferia roscoeana

The peacock ginger is showing up its peacock like leaves. By late summer the leaves will be a regular green. The flowers will continue until cold weather.


The rhizomes of this plant pops up all over my garden. This one is the lawn. It gets cut along with the grass and it never can produce a full leaf, but it manages to put up a nice flower.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

The Glenn Mango Is The First To Be Picked

It's nice to see a large crop in your backyard.

But it's better to see ripe fruit in your kitchen.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Plumeria Or Frangipani It's Still beautiful


Keno is the clonal name. We have had 5 days of rain and little blue in the sky. We need the water after 6 months of no rain. People are wondering if our lost water had to come back in one week. The rain gives the flowers something that city water or well water just can't do. The orange color is not a common color in a plumeria.
I now have a movie clip about plumeria

Thursday, May 21, 2009

A Silver Bluff In The Montgomery Garden

This stone spine runs from Palm Beach to Homestead. Most of this ridge is not visible. Coral Gables sits on this rock. Our house is 11 feet above the waterline. In south Florida that's high land. This beautiful bluff is in a private home, but a large silver bluff can be seen in Coconut Grove.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Arenga australasica

The Montgomery garden has a large collection of palms. This Arenga has a striking color that makes it stand out. It can get as high as 35 feet and 20 feet across.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

We Waited 6 Months For The Rain

The winter and spring has been very dry this year. That changed last night and now this morning the clouds still linger. I had to drive in the storm with little light and plenty of rain. Most of the time you could only see part of the road. It was like a Disney ride but not safe.

This is my water gage. We had about 5 inches of rain.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Brassavola digbyana

This is as fuzzy as they come.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Coral Gables Venetian Pool

Last October the pool was closed for repairs. It opened this last Friday, only two weeks late. The Red Cross taught me how to swim here in the 40s. The lessons were free. Back then a good swim cost five cents for children. What can you get for a nickel today?

Saturday, May 16, 2009

To The Front Door

Here is another house that has an interesting front walk.

Friday, May 15, 2009

This Addition Is 2 Years Old

The 70+ house started out as a large home. Now it's twice as large and it keeps the feeling of an old house.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Front Driveway

This is the first time that the driveway was empty since the new owners moved into the house.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Front Walk


If you get past the gate there is a beautiful walk to the front door.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Prado Is Being Fixed

There will be no wedding pictures for a few months.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Miltonia spectabilis var alba

This flower is 30% larger then the blooms of past years. One in the hand and two in the bush (well maybe a mango tree).

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The Real Sunday Picture

I know that all of you know were this is.

This Was The JPG For May 9


We were in Sebring Florida this weekend. Here is another view of the Montgomery garden.

Friday, May 8, 2009

More Montgomery Water

This garden has one fantastic view after another.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

The Montgomery Garden

This was the largest garden in Coral Gables. All of the family have passed away and the garden is now a botanical garden that studies palms and cycads.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Tree Is Down But Not Dead

This tree in a city park fell over and now three branches are trying to become three new trees. In a year or two I will take another picture, that is if the city doesn't remove the tree.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Cassia bakeriana

LinkLink
I posted this tree on April 12 and it's still in bloom. The flowers are turning to white. The show will last at least a full month. People in this area are starting to plant this cherry tree want to be.

Monday, May 4, 2009

A Water Sinkhole At The Montgomery Estate


A sinkhole is usually flat on the bottom. The stones are not stalactites.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Fireworks Are Just Starting!

Last week this is the only poinciana that I saw with flowers. But today they are starting to bloom all of the town. A dry winter should give us a big poinciana show.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Desert Rose - Adenium Obesum

This Adenium is always in bloom, but most spectacular in the spring.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Reverse Of A Theme Day

The entire back yard is in a shadow except the one ray of sunlight. Every sunny day starts with this ray of joy.
Eric posted a shadowed statue that reminded me of one that
I posted three years ago.


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