The Mango Trees Are Starting To Bloom

The White Flies Came Back This Fall And The Tree Will Die

More then 60% of this ficus tree is dead. If another bad winter kill the white flies the tree will linger one more year.

Christmas Is Always Good

It's much better when you have youngsters in the party.

The Birthday Cakes For Christmas Day

And the little boy is first in line. Don't you remember when you were 5 years old. This is something to remember.

It Was A Great Day

Getting Ready For Christmas

Yesterday we put the turkey in a brine and this morning we cooked this bird.

I cut the meat this after noon and it will be ready for the big day. The bones were used for making a great gravy.

Our Canals Go Out To The Ocean

In the 40s I fished with my dad in this canal. Then in the evening we ate the fish that we cough. I still prefer fish over red meat.

It's Too Dark For Grass Around This House

The Ae Ae Banana Doesn't Like Cold Weather

A few nights ago the temperature was down to 37f. If we stay over 40f then the leaves will look nice all winter.

The Bougainvillea Is Twice As Large As Last Year

Last Year The Caimito Tree Lost All Of It's Leaves For The First Time

Today it looks like it will lose all of it's leaves this year. That's two times in 35 years.

You Don't Rake A Leaf Like This

Each palm leaf is 20 to 30 pounds. Take a look at the palm.

This Orchid Is Growing On A Palm

This orchid seems to not have problems with cold we4ather. For the last 2 weeks the nights are in the 40s. The coldest night so far was 37f.

The Coral Gables Rotary Club Taking Care Of The Kettle

Santa Came To The Merrick House

It's More Then Presents

The Orchid Flower Will Not Open In Cold Weather

A week ago this orchid opened it's flowers by 10 am and it closed by dark. This is normal for it to last for one day.

Yesterday these flowers have been trying to open up for 3 days. They are still trying to open today.

Christmas Is On The Way

The Acorns Are Killing The Grass

These trees cover the street and also they cover our lawn. Raking up the acorns are a pain. I think that I got 50% of them.

My pile of acorns could feed all the squirrels in Coral Gables.

It's Cold Now But The Flowers Still Bloom

The Last Of The Season For My Plumeria (or Frangipani, Temple Tree or Pagoda Tree)

Avocados: We Grow Them Big

This is the Lula avocado and we have been eating them for the last two months. For the last 2 weeks squirrels have been eating as many as we do. We just picked the last of the crop. When the squirrels start to eat the avocado, you know that the fruit is ripe.

The Ponce Entrance Will Give You The Time.

Theme day topic: Time
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This Great White Heron Has Been In Our Garden All Day

The bird seemed to be interested.

Then the bird got closer.

Our glass is stronger then a beak. The bird is still in the garden
(5pm).

Greenery Around Smaller Buildings Are Becoming Common

The New Large Buildings Have Some Plants To Make The Building Look 'Green'

Floss Silk Tree Has Been In Bloom For 3 Weeks

This Chorisia speciosa is one of the last to bloom this season. I saw some booming in July.

Art In The Park

This statue looks at home in the jungle of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

A New Weed For South Flower

The Last Of The Mamey For The Season

The fruit was ripe in late July and that's when we started to eat them. The fruit is left on the tree and it doesn't soften on the tree. Like the avocado, the fruit takes 2 to 4 days after picking before eating.

Firebush, Hummingbird Bush, Scarlet Bush and Redhead

The Hamelia patens bloom almost all the year. But now this plant will slow up a bit due to the cold weather.

The First Of The Sobralia Decorda Flower This Season

Last year we had 40 to 80 flowers on my 3 Sobralia decords in one day (the flower only lasts one day). They should bloom off and on for all fall and winter. After last year's cold weather I'm lucky to have the orchids just to be alive. See last years flowers.

He Is Here With The Rotary International Group Study Exchange

Martins is a team member and he stayed at our home. He is from Cesis in Latvia. He was amazed at the size of the palm leaf. He is 6 feet tall and the leaf is the biggest that I have ever seen. Look at the new houses that are being built near by Cesis.

An Ice Cream House

We had home made mamey ice cream tonight and it looked like this house.

Theme Day Topic: Public Transportation

This morning I used the metro to go to my doctor in Miami. The train was able to go faster then a car and I didn't have to pay to park my car. I didn't even pay for the metro ride. The metro and the bus is free if your over 65 and you live in the area.

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Not Every One Liked The Party

Maybe she doesn't like her mothers camera.

The street was filled happy youngsters.

A Small House And A Beauty

A Good Crop This Year

The Boy Scout Garden Is Grrowing

The Scouts stared the garden on Oct 16 and the plants are growing very well.

Althea Can Now Enjoy Her Garden Once More.

Solomon and Althea Merrick bought the property 100 years ago. There grove thrived and the house was enlarged. The son George started the building of Coral Gables 85 years ago. The Coral Gables Garden Club (also 85 years old) gave the city this statue of Althea Merrick today. Here is another statue of Althea.