Not Finished Yet

This old house is being repaired and enlarged. When I first posted this house, I thought that they would be finished in a few weeks. This project will take at least a year. The owners have lived in the house all during the renovations.

Periwinkle / Catharanthus roseus

This periwinkle is not a native plant. But once it was planted in Florida, it was here to stay. Now we have periwinkle on steroids. They are much improved for looks but not easy to grow in Florida. They have trouble with fungus. Click for more information.

Lotus Season

After you enjoy the flower you can then eat the seeds and tubers. You can also make a tea using the leaves.

Wrought Iron Column

Wrought iron columns are seldom seen in our city. Wrought iron fences and gates are very common.

Jackfruit / Artocarpus heterophyllus

Friends shared this ripe jackfruit. But it was so big, we needed 10 more people. It's sweet and tastes a bit like bubble gum.

Bougainvillea Tree

This is a bougainvillea species that is different from all of the rambling types. When it was in my blog the last time it had a name, 'Bougainvillea arborea'. Now the name arborea is incorrect. No one knows the real name.

If you Google Images 'Bougainvillea arborea' you will find my picture of last years blog and a site in India using my picture. They didn't ask for the picture and when they cropped the picture they removed my water mark.

Calabash Tree

The calabash tree (Crescentia cujete) is a perfect tree for orchids. You can grow them right on the trunk just like it would be in the jungle. This particular one is a special tree because it produces very large fruit. Normally the trees seldom have any fruit.

5 Big Pups And 5 Small Pups

These young banana plants are called pups. This is the Ae Ae banana and they are among the most of all wanted bananas. Click here and see what I do with my pups.

Pink With Silver Leaves

This bromeliad is a garden plant in Coral Gables, and a common house plant further north.

The Spores Went Everywhere

Spores from my stag horn fern landed on the oak trees that line street. They are high above the street and not likely to be stolen. In there native habitat they can be a pest. I might give my big stag horn fern away but the wild ones will remain. And I don't have to fertilize of wild ones.

It Had To Go

I started this staghorn (Placyterium Bifurcatum) 60 years ago. I have enjoyed for all these years, but now it's just too big. Spores from this plant has found there way to the trees in the neighborhood.

An Orchid Bouquet

This orchid always looks like a bouquet. The flowers are bunched and ready to be picked.

There Was A Big Oak

A thunder bolt killed the oak tree in a second. It didn't take the city long to remove the tree. When driving along this street you feel like your in a green tunnel. Now we have a brake in the tunnel.

Sea Grape / Coccoloba uvifera

Uses: Eaten fresh out of hand or used to make jams and jellies. When I was a youngster I tasted some of the fruit and thought it was too tart. Because of that I have never tried the jam or jelly. I don't know anyone that likes it. It's sold to visitors. The visitors keep coming, but I'm not sure that they keep buying the jelly.

It Was Once A Beautiful Garden

The owner worked in this garden for at least 50 years. He still lives in the house, but there is no one to keep up the garden. Now people look and think that it should be sold for two new houses. I still miss his garden.

Breadfruit On It's Third Year.

Fifty years ago I tried to grow breadfruit, but cold winters killed them. Now the winter weather causes the tree to lose most of the leaves and kills a few tip growths. It's healthy and big enough to produce fruit.

First They Crawl, Then They Walk, Then They Get A Haircut

Our grandson Sunday


And yesterday, he is a man.

Fantastic Flowers On A Big Tree

This is the Silky Floss Tree / Chorisia speciosa and it is just started to bloom. This particular tree is always early and then there are other trees that are always late. That gives us a long time to enjoy this beautiful tree.

After A Dry Spring

In May the grass was brown and then the rain came. We had rain every day in June but July is giving us a few dry days. It's harder to mow the grass if it's wet.

7 am, Saturday

Our street was filled with trucks and county workers. There was only one open traffic lane and the cars took their tern. I went over and asked three different workers what were the doing. I didn't get an answer, not one of them spoke English.


They worked very quickly and by evening they had 2 big holes that were 6 feet deep. Now I know what they are doing. When they come Monday to finish the drainage wells they don't need to close the road.

The Front Door Just Shouts 'Come On In'

The Grotto And It's Fish

The Grotto is behind the Merrick house. Most people don't event know that it's back there.

Someone fed the fish yesterday. That doesn't happen every day.

One Big House

And this is just the side of the house.

Big Homes

In our city most of the homes built in the last 10 years are big. Our home is small enough that we can clean the floors and cut the grass. Upkeep of a large house might be a burden to the owners in these hard times. Oh, now I have to go and work in the garden.

Sobralia cataractarum

This one opens at dawn and is finished by 4pm. You don't have much time to take a picture.

Now this is on it's third day and for a Sobralia that's amazing. Many Sobralias grow on the side of the road in there native countries. If you don't know your orchids you might think that the plant was a reed with pretty flowers. And to see the flowers you must pick the right day and hour to see them.
Chick her to see more Sobralias that I grow.

Sobralia liliastrum

I grow 7 different Sobralia species. This is the only one that lasts for more then one day. Some don't even last for a full day. You have to be on your toes to even see the bloom.

You Could See Fireworks All Around

But this was a stopper. It looks like a pineapple.

The Picture Tells It All

Desert Rose - Adenium obesum

This is the first bloom on my new Adenium. Doubles are something new and very scarce. The extra petals are not stable and some flowers don't have them while others do on the same plant. The growers of Thailand seem to be the best in producing new clones on Adenium. Check here to see some of the now types.

Orchids At The Front Door

The Theme Is Empty, Oh Is It Empty

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

I wanted white hair since I was a youngster because my dad had white hair. His hair was white when he was 35 years old. I went white in my 60's. I still have enough, just like my brains, just enough.
I posted a picture of Venetian Pool when it was empty.