Another Cassia

This Cassia nodosa reminds me of cherry trees flowers. But unlike the the cherry flower that only lasts for a few days, the Cassia nodosa stays in bloom for at least a month.

Maclay Gardens, Tallahassee, Florida

We went to Tallahassee for a family reunion. We pretty much know what to expect of the older folks. But seeing all of the young people was the most important part of the reunion. The pictures of yesterday and today were taken in a garden near our hotel.

Sorry I Was Out Of Town

This past week I missed a few days on my blog. We were out of town. Can anyone tell me were I was?

A Air-Layer On A Breadfruit

The little branch has a air layer that produces roots to produce a new plant. We could not grow this tree in the past because our winters were too cold. For the last few years we have been able to grow this tree and have it fruit in Florida.

A Strangler Fig

The Ficus aurea is a strangler fig and native to Florida, Caribbean and Mexico down to Panama. Germination usually takes place in the canopy of a host tree and the seedling lives as an epiphyte until its roots establish contact with the ground. The tree started on the palm to the right. The strangler will in time kill the palm.

Coral Gables Keeps Us Tidy

Every Friday this city truck picks up the waste on our street. I can put out the garden trash and the city takes it away every week. Most of Miami-Dade has only 2 pickups a year.

The Ae Ae Banana Doing It's Thing

The Ae Ae banana is the most coveted banana of all the bananas. I have grown this banana for more then 50 years. Check out the 3 pages on my site related to this banana.
They are:
Ae Ae bananas (pictures of the plants from the last few years)
My Ae Aes Brother (a way to get one free)
Ae Ae culture (question and answers about growing the Ae Ae)

Bees, Bees And More Bees

It must be bee swarm season. This swarm landed on my old office in the middle of our town. A large percentage of the wild bees in south Florida are the dangerous killer bees. Because of the possibility of danger, specialists are needed to remove them. Around here we call 911 to get the name of a bee remover.

Key Largo

The family home has a laid back look. It looks very natural, but it takes some hard work to make it look easy.

One Of The Small Stone Houses

Most of the stone houses in Coral Gables are twice as big as this one.

A Ficus Surround

The trees make this house. Unfortunately the trees are sick and their years are limited.

A Piece Of Our Jungle

The bromeliad at the right will keep the orange spikes of flowers until October and the croton in the middle is colorful all the time. The little tree with big leaves in the back is the Florida Daphne that I posted June 11 09.

Invisible Fence

The little flags are a warning that this is an invisible fence. It's the first time that I have seen such a flag.

Blue Gables

The house has a name Blue Gables. The problem of the name is when the house needed a new roof, where do you fine blue tiles. It wasn't easy and it was expensive.

Dry Wood Termites

If you have a house in south Florida, you will get termites. Tenting a house is the common why to kill dry wood termites. Our house has been tented twice in the last 40 years.

The Sun Is Out And It's Time To Take A Walk

Florida Daphne

This tree bloomed in January and off and on every month since then. It smells just like Narcissus papyraceus, the paper white narcissus.

A rainlily and a lot of rain.

It's now 22 days out of the last 23 days. The poor rainlily is getting tired of all this blooming.

Ginger Likes It Hot

This ginger always has flowers, but they look better in warm weather. The rain helps too. We have had rain for 21 days out of the last 22 days.

Queen's Crape Myrtle

The Queen's Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a common flowering tree and it's planted for it's beauty. Some people call it Banaba. Banaba extract, obtained from the leaves of the plant, is high in plant insulin, known as corosolic acid. Herbalists claim that the extract produces anti-diabetic effects when consumed by humans in the form of dietary supplements, juices or teas. Tea made from the leaves is said to help you to lose a few pounds. If you Google it (or Bing) you will find that the more expensive the product, the better it will work.


I think that I will just enjoy the beauty of the flowers.

Stragglers

The Blood lily flower lasts for only a few days. About 90% bloom at one fantastic show. But there are some that open early and then there are the stragglers. If you missed the show, click here.

Less Grass, More Interest

School Is Out And The Pool Just Opened

The Venetian pool opened just in time. When I was 10 years old I could walk to the pool and get in for 5 cents. Now you have to have an adult drive you there and pay $10 to get in for a swim. Sure, when I was young the walk was up the hill (both ways) and it was always raining. The Red Cross people gave free swimming lessons.

The Patio At Venetian Pool

The city will rent this space for private parties, including weddings. Our church has an annual dinner here each May.

Once An Apartment Building, Now A Condo

Built in the 20's as an apartment building and better then ever. The 21 apartments were changed into 6 very large condos. A condo is one part house and two parts art.

Water Lilies In The Back Yard

They bloom all year, but they look best when it's warm.

Shoes Of Friendship For Our Feet

Cartagena our, first sister city, in Colombia sent us the a replica of the statue 'My Old Shoes' by Tito Lambrano in the mid 80's. The original sculpture remains in Cartagena. May we all walk in friendship.
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