Coral Gables Merrick House

This is one of the first pictures on this blog. In ten days this blog will be on its fourth year. Many new viewers never look at the old pictures. Because of that I plan to bring back some of the old pictures.

March 10 ,2007: 'This is the family home of our cities founder, George Merrick. His father had a grove of grapefruit, avocado and guava. When George Merrick was designing the city he first thought that he would call it Guavonia. Fortunately that did not happen. The name Coral Gables refers to the coral color of the gables on this house.'

The 64th MIAMI INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW

The 64th Miami International Orchid Show is on February 26 to February 28, 2010 at the Doubletree Miami Mart/Airport Hotel and Exhibition Center 711 N.W. 72 Avenue Miami, FL This show is one of the best orchid shows that I have seen in many years. The movie clip shows mostly orchids that were for sale, and the prices were very reasonable. If you live in the Miami area and you like flowers you should go to the show this afternoon or Sunday.

I Went To An Orchid Show.Today

The displays were outstanding.


Some of the best orchids were the ones for sale. In a few days I will post a movie clip of the flowers that caught my eye.

Bignoniaceae / Pyrostegia venusta: Flame vine

The flame vine doesn't seem to be bothered with the cold weather. Fifty years ago many homes had this vine growing on there roof. After a few years the vine damaged the roof. Now you seldom see a flame vine on a roof.

A Forest Of Flowers

This small tree sprouts new plants from its roots. Before you know it you'll have a forest. This clerodendrum will be a pest because it can overgrow our native plants.

We Had A Rainy Day Yesterday

When it wasn't raining it was misting. Not very good when you want to work in the garden. The flowers around the fountain perks up a gray day.

Frost Means Something Different In Coral Gables

I have been going to the University Of Miami since the 40's to hear good music. Every year it seemed to get better and better. But the last two days I saw and heard the best production of classical music that I ever remember. Yes there is a lot of music that I remember that I liked better then this. But this week I heard over a 100 students and it was perfect. I thank the University Of Miami and the Frost School Of Music.

Annual Flowers Are At There Best In Our Winter

One Neat Back Yard

The Trees Inc Company Is Working For The City

Keeping care of the trees along the roads are a very large job. When the city gets behind they use private companies. A well trimmed tree is more likely to be able to live though a hurricane.

A Place To Sit Down

The city built this little wall to hide the pump that feeds the water to the De Soto fountain. When you see the fountain you will realize why the city hide to pumps.

Life For An Old House.

The new owner fixed all of the problems that the house could have and then they added to it. It still looks like an old Spanish house. It's better then ever.

Red Leaves Only Because Of The Cold Winter

A month ago we had a crop on this tree. Then we had a very cold week and the tree started to put out it's spring leaves.

The leaves of the jaboticaba are much redder due to the cold weather. The mango behind the jaboticaba also has red leaves, but that's normal for a mango.

Bananas Don't Like Clod Weather

We had 7 cold days a month age. The temperature dropped to 34 once. The bananas looked healthy after the cold weather. But after a few warm days the damage become visible. For two weeks the leaves kept dieing, and then new leaves started to grow. They will start looking good in May.

These are Ae Ae bananas that I have grown for over 40 years.

My Ae Ae site will show you some pictures of my bananas.

I also have a program 'My Ae Ae Brother' for giving them away.

Unfortunately it's only for people living in south Florida

Waterlily After A Cold Spell

This tropical waterlily was growing well in December. Then in January the cold weather killed all of the leaves. The average tropical waterlily doesn't hibernate, and this one didn't want to either. Now after four weeks of warmer temperatures the leaves are growing up above the water.

Orchids For Sale At The Market Today

Twenty years ago an orchid like these would cost $200 today it's $8.

I Thank The City For The Flowers In Public Areas

Only Two More Months For The Circle

Three corners have large buildings and one has a bank and our church behind.

Crinum Asiaticum: Giant White Spider Lily

The crinum doesn't seem to have a problem with cold weather.

The City Golf Course Has Space For These Hugh Trees

Enjoy the trees now, but the white fly is going to kill them. The tree in the middle is dropping its leaves, a sign of white fly damage. The trees went through hurricanes and cold weather, only to be stopped by a little fly.

The Party Zone

All of south Florida was a party zone last night.

One of our neighbors had a great party. We also had a small party. I think at least half of the town went to a party to watch the the Super ball game.

Flowers After The Cold Snap

This clerodendrum was damaged from the cold weather last month. Most of them lost all of there leaves. In the last three weeks the plants produced a few leaves and the normal flower show that happens every February. Look at last years flowers, an another picture.

Now I Know It Was Cold

This is the first coconut palm to die from the cold weather, that I have ever seen. In the past a frost might damage coconut palm, but it would not kill the palm. This time the temperature was not that low. The seven days of the deep chill and the cold rain did the damage. We will see more dieing.

The North Side Of Coral Gables City Hall

More Brown / Less Green

Coral Gables had a week of cold weather like no other cold snap. The problem was the hours of 30's and 40's that hurt us. These two coconuts looked perfect the day after cold snap. Then day by day the fronds turned drown. A few coconut palms are now totally brown.

Only Two Trees Lost There Leaves In This Block

The city will take them down when they are totally dead. In the mean time the white flies can multiply and go on to the next trees.

We Are No Longer A Little Town

This Wood Door Is As Old As The City

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