About Me!

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Central, FL, United States
I am a former teacher, aspiring artist, inveterate traveler This blog is about my Florida garden experience and its expression though poetry, philosophy, photography and art. It includes my other creative endeavors. Here can be found posts about travel to other gardens around the world. My garden is a half acre in zone 9a which includes a large water garden. I have mostly a shade garden because of the huge live oak. To keep things easy, I love to grow bromiliads,ferns,gingers and other tropicals. I need to have a low maintenance garden. In the summer we usually have plenty of rain and it transforms into a jungle. I have converted my swamp into the water garden where I grow irises, waterlilies, papyrus, radigan, spikebush and swamp lily. I also grow citrus (lemon,key lime,grapefruit,tangerines,pineapple,and loquats). Me?...Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses. (Ovid)

Jul 28, 2012

the gardens of Cape May- July 2012

my oil painting

 

 

Cape May

Take my hand, walk with me.
Listen to the wetlands and the sea.
A sandy cove full of wild life and flora.

A painted turtle does a flip to show his coat,
A pair of swans glide gracefully upon the moat.
The foliage is full of honeysuckles.

The lighthouse is nearby staring down upon our path.
A small rabbit makes a dash up ahead makes us laugh.
We head for the beach pick up shells along the way.

Just another day with my sweethearts, in Cape May.

Saint Eule
 white Swamp Mallow



Below is the Emlen Physick Estate which we toured...

These are not my houses,Im just visiting......I was a big fan of the Victorian era....my house is a new Victorian...simplified version ..These houses are virtually blocks from the beach and the breezes  here are wonderful.




This beautiful ironwork must have cost a fortune!

A vase an make New Guinea Impatiens pop!


fading hydrangeas still look great!





here is an example of good garden design where you have various color and texture and forms in the foliage.
I like the fact that this gazebo is painted green rather than white...what a difference!

What a stunning Japanese Maple and great contrast to the whites and greens

Jul 8, 2012

the music of the night

Darkness wakes, and stirs imagination
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Softly, deftly, darkness shall caress you
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you
Open up your mind 

Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin
Let your darker side give in
The power of the music of the night


Charles Hart

anticipation!


In the cool dark damp stillness and the only sound the crickets and frogs.... the flowers await pollination and call with a lovely perfume























Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night ~~~~~Rainer Maria Rilke