Think of it as Fertilizer.

When you walk your dog just think of the many times that you fertilized the neighbors grass. Our dogs always found a new place to help the poor starving grass. But, for my yard, I always religiously spread Vigoro on the grass. Thus the dogs going by need not help me out on my gardening endeavors. I do remember accidentally fertilizing the oriental rug at the front door(not to mention the car), because of some helpful dog passing by the house.

The New House At The End of The Block

The east side of the house.

The north side of the house.

The owners gave the house a name, 'Villa Granada'. Coral Gables has 8 official named houses. Some of them are Blue Gables, Poinciana Place, and Seven Oaks.

West Indian spurge (Euphorbia punicea)

This large shrub or small tree is from Cuba. The eye stopper is growing in Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden (a jewel of a garden in Coral Gables). I tried to grow it and failed. I grew it in the shade, but it is a sun lover.

Isabella and Her Zamia furfuracea

I went next door to get this picture. I was looking for some ripe seeds but all I found was a lot of cones. I guess I will have to check it out in spring.
The seedlings of the Cardboard Cycad are all over the grown. They look like four leaf clovers. Maybe 40 years ago it was very rare and expensive, but now it's so very easy to propagate that it is common and not expensive.

Phoenix is a Mythical Sacred Firebird

The phoenix (firebird) arises from the fire. The Coral Gables light post arises from accidents. On Oct 23 07 the post fell (click to see the damage). Then in Nov. 3 07 the city brought it back (click to see the repair). The old historic parts were put together and the original post seems to be a phoenix.

phoenix is a mythical sacred firebird

New House on the Block

Well at least a block away. This house was finished with in the year. The landscape is so complete that the house looks like it has been there longer. The owners of many of the new homes landscape their property like it was something to be redone every few years. Most people want their yard to look mature. But that only comes with years.

One More Pioneer Vallage Home

It's easy to spot this village. The white fence is not used in any other part of Coral Gables. And all of the homes have the golf course in there back yard.

The Happy Pie Eater

Our grandson isn't quite two years old but he knows a good apple pie when he eats one.

Thankful 24/7

Time to go to grandma's house, maybe. We are going to the grandson's house. This apple pie is cooling off before we put it in the car and go over the bridges to grandson's house. We're going to the Florida Keys, but the water is too cold for swimming (no swimming between Thanksgiving and Easter.

Broughtonia negrilensis

This orchid is a native of Jamaica an it is growing on my mango tree. This is a forth generation USA plant. That means that two plants form Jamaica were crossed (both were the same specie). The best of these plants were crossed and this was done four times. The flowers were improved to the point that an orchid grower would want to grow the improved plant. This is very important, because there is no longer a pressure to strip the plants out of the Jamaica forests. You can see more pictures of this orchid on my web site.

Another Pioneer Village Home

The houses in this theme village are all very large. They are close to todays Mc Mansion, but for some reason the village homes seem to fit the area.

The Finger Pointer

The garage sale in this front drive was for charity and held by the local Rotary Club. The pointing woman was the coordinating Rotarian that put it together. The money that we raised will help to eradicate polio, send water filter systems to areas needing drinkable water and many other programs. No, we are not a group of old people sitting on our rear ends listening to nice speeches.

Pioneer Village

This home is part of a theme village within the city. These homes were built in the beginning of our city to lure buyers from the north. Today they look rather new.


This is the back side of the house. But it looks like it's another front door.

Cookie Kid

This weekend the city has sponsored an art show. It's a part of our seniors program. To enter the competition you had to be over 65 and live in Coral Gables. The entries were better then your average sidewalk show.

Killed by the Name

This flowering shrub was very popular in the 40s and 50s. We called it the candle flower and it sort of looks like a candle. In the 60s we started to have more Caribbeans moving into south Florida and they brought their name for this plant. They called it 'young mans pride'. Over night the plants vanished. I spotted two this year.