Rain, rain go away TOG wants to play

We had rain Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and now again today (it's better then a hurricane). When the rain is very heavy, the water puddles in the carport. But when the rain slows up the puddles disappear. I wasn't able to work in the garden, so I sat down and enjoyed the rain. Here is another picture of that rain.

Costus Spiralis and Coconuts

The cities planting is colorful all year around.

Tecomanthe Vine

This vine blooms profusely in the spring. But in the fall and winter it flowers sporadically. This year it's different, the vine is in full bloom now. This vine grows in a very large oak tree and you have to look up or enjoy the flowers that have fallen to the grass. Taking a digital picture into a tree that has a background of bright sky is a problem(at least it is for me).

Angle Heart

This orchid grows outdoors in my garden. I give it a little fertilize and it rewards me with some pretty flowers.

Breadfruit Tree, posted 9 24 07

This breadfruit tree is near the Granada entrance. Notice that the TOG is pointing to a fruit. Forty years ago I tried to grow this ultra tropical fruit tree. Of my two tries I had one that lived for two and a half years. They died of root fungus when the ground went to 40 degrees. This month I planted a grafted one that has superior fruit. I had no idea that anyone was growing it in a garden north of Key West.

Diego's Restaurant, posted on 9 23 09

When the weather is good (most of the time) you can dine on Diego's terrace and see the reflecting pond. Last Sunday I stopped in the beginning of the 100 block of Alhambra Circle to take a few pictures. I walked in all four directions, only one half a block in any one direction, to get all of the pictures that I posted for the last week. At 8 AM cars and pedestrians don't get in the way. I just wanted what's new in Coral Gables. OK the Paloma wasn't new.

One More Fountain, posted 0 22 07

This commercial building put there fountain in the middle of the street. For a closeup click here. Public art seems to be going for water features. Interesting, the city has stopped all of its fountains until we get more rain.

Alhambra Towers

Yesterdays picture showed the front door. I called it the front door because it's about the place that the front door of the church stood. Today I give you the main door. I posted a picture of the building last July 10, 2007 (the building in the middle). The stained glass windows that are used as art in this building are all that remain of the church

One Site, Three Buildings

This land was first used as the cities post office. It was a beautiful one storey with a colonnade around the building. It was sold to the Presbyterians and was used as a church. It was one of my favorite buildings in Coral Gables. But when the congregation grew they tore the build down and built a large sanctuary. It was nice but I missed the older building. In the last ten years the church dwindled and sold the property. This commercial building now has replaced the church. I still miss the post office.

A Small Park

On the left a park sits on an island with streets on all three sides. In 1940 this small triangle plot of ground was a gas station. Back then we had more gas stations in the downtown area then any other type of building. By 1942 most gas stations were closed and the one on this site never opened again. I don't remember when the city made it a park, but I'm glad that it is a park.

A Reflecting Pool

This water feature is part of the art in the new construction law (all construction except private homes). Within one block there are three water features related to new high rise buildings. The water fall at the back of this reflecting pool produces a nice sound, but for some reason it doesn't ripple the mirror affect.

A Special Croton

This croton is very beautiful but will never get to the market. It has all the attributes that a croton should have, but one. It is a very slow grower. No one could make any money on this plant. It took me 30 years to get it this big. Many visitors want a cutting of the plant but no one wants to wait 10 years before it gets to look mine.

A Porch to Live With

Friends of ours have this porch and it gets a lot of use. It's a spot to watch the world pass bye. The chairs tell you that it is used. The best time to be there is as the sun goes down and the breeze from the ocean makes it very comfortable no matter how hot the day might have been.

The Perfect Porch

This is a view of the back door. The best part of the picture is the porch. It starts on west side of the house and then continues all the way around to the east side. Unfortunately it is the city house museum and no one sits on the porch to enjoy eventide. Here is another view of the porch.

The Hidden House

This wall relates to the pond and fountain to the left, one of the many water features in the city. Now I am looking at the home owners ficus hedge behind the wall. They have managed to completely hide their house from public view. I'm not too found of the house, but it's better then the hedge.