Monday, May 31, 2010

Catchfly Prairie Or Prairie Gentian


This gentian can be found in 17 states, from Florida to California. When I was young I saw it in the open land of Coral Gables. But now there is no open land in my city and there are no gentians to see. Every spring I see them in Key Largo. These only grow near the salt water. We call them wine cups.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

This Is Seldom Seen In Coral Gables

I know of only 3 houses that look this bad in the city. The city cleaned the yard of one house, and I guess that the city will have to clean this one.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Two Poinciana Trees


The tree in the back has deep orange colored flowers. The tree to the right has a deeper red color. Most all poinciana trees are seedlings and you don't know what shade of red you will get. A tree with the perfect color could be grafted, but it's not offen done.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Adenium At It's Best

This grafted Adenium is a new variety from Thailand. In the last 10 years new varieties have made this plant popular. Compared to the older types, these look like they are on hormones.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The Prado Entrance Has A Poinciana

I always like to see a picture of the Prado Entrance.

When you stand under the poinciana you can see the dead branches due to the very cold winter.

If your a few feet away it looks perfect.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Two Trees Are Gone

A fork like gadget is just knocking the tree stump out of the grown. It took at least 6 full days to take the tree out and level out the grown.

This machine sawed the second tree.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

The Coral Gables Country Club Is Open Again

It looks like the old country club, but it is only restaurant at this time. I miss my old country club that started with the beginning of the city.

The club is in the middle of the residential area and the 'open' sign just doesn't look right.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Onc. Sphacelatum Grows Around The Palm


It started as one small plant with one spike of flowers. After 40 years it's a giant.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Canna Lily At Its Best


This canna lily blooms all year long in our garden. They are at there best now in the spring.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Dendrobium Gatton Sunray, FCC/RHS


I have had this orchid for over 50 years. When I bought it it was 50 years old. Each year the plant will produce new growths and lose some old ones.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Desert Rose - Adenium obesum


I've grown Adeniums since the 50's. There were pink flowers and then I found a good red one 20 years ago. In the last few years the new varieties are fantastic. This one is a double and the color is not like any that I have ever seen.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Dinner At The Pool

The open area didn't get too busy.

The shallow area was filled with the younger swimmers.

That's were I learned to swim 60 years ago. The Red Cross gave us free lessons.

The adults watched the youngsters.

There was plenty room to have a nice meal.

And there was more then enough to eat. Now we are looking to the next dinner at the pool

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Venetian Pool Was Closed All Winter, Fixing Leaks In The Pool

On Saturday it was opened, three month late. Everyone is now happy. Our church is having there regular Wednesday dinner at the pool today. Now I have to go and get some pictures.


This is what it looked last week.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Chonemorpha fragrans


I saw this vine at F.T.B.G. last Sunday. I never saw plant before. Does anyone know anything about it? I found some information.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

More Trouble With The Dumbarton Ficus


This one looks healthy but the palm seems to be choking it. Normally the ficus is the one the does the choking.


This tree fell over this week, one block from the other one. The only Dumbartons that I know in Coral Gables are on these two blocks of Granada Boulevard.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Every 10 Years

This is a state road and the state pays the bill. In the past they just put on a now coat of tar. This time they are first taking off one inch of tar. Next week we will have a new road.

All of the material that is cut off of the road is taken and reused for the new cover of the road.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Red As Red That It Can Be


Vinca rosea is a annual flower that will live for more then a year in warm climates. This is one of the new genetic fiddled plants. The wild ones never had this red color. But the new periwinkles have a flaw. It's easily killed by a fungus while the wild periwinkle doesn't have the problem.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Kalanchoe Single Or Double

The double form is the prettiest. But I have never had it live to bloom the second year.


The single form has been blooming in our garden for the last 30 years.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

A Rare Type Of Ficus (Dumbarton Ficus)


It's old and braking down.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Some Plants Liked The Cold Winter

This iris grows very well in north Florida. They will grow here but they seldom bloom very well. This year we have a bumper crop.


This one is new to our area.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

The First Floor Is For Cars


And the second floor has the office space.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

cought-in-act



In our botanical garden we have a statue of a women sitting on a wooden bench. You can see statues like this all over the world, only the face is different. Then there are the statues of men that show a bit too much. We have one and I have seen two in CDP blogs.

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