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)

Oct 19, 2013

Boktoberfest rolls out the barrel

Yes, it has rolled around  to Boktoberfest time  at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales,Florida. It's the annual pilgrimage of gardeners to visit the gardens to check up on the blooms, perhaps steal a few cuttings (don't tell), and enjoy the setting without having to pay the entry fee. And, of course, we buy a few plants from the vendors and listen to cheesy German music. Well, I do have a rich German heritage! 

 I always have a load of fun and the husband goes home with pockets empty and cart full. I always purchase a few ferns from the fern guy, buy some tillandsias, and marvel at the exotics. And every time I visit, I find new vistas and plants to marvel in bloom. This year was an unseasonably warm 92 degrees so next year I plan on going bright and early!

 If you want to read about this garden you can go to last years post of mine. There you can find its history and interesting facts.














12 comments:

  1. My Garden Diaries10/19/2013

    What an amazing setting and what glorious blooms!!! It sounded like a lovely day friend! And oh my....your shots of the water are stunning! i hope that your painting is going well! So glad you came home with some goodies!!!

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  2. FlowerLady Lorraine10/20/2013

    Wow, thanks for sharing Bok Tower's gardens, they and the tower are beautiful.

    Enjoy your new plants ~ FlowerLady

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  3. Laurrie10/20/2013

    How exotic and lush and green it all looks, compared to my northern garden at this time of year. Beautiful!

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  4. Bethany Benton Art10/20/2013

    How beautiful! Thanks for taking us along for the fabulous garden tour. Of all your lovely photos, the lily pads just "take the cake" for me. All the best! :-)

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  5. Leslie Kimel10/20/2013

    Wow, these pictures are amazing! I love the first one of the lily pads. The tower is gorgeous too. Bok Tower Gardens is definitely on my to-visit list!

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  6. Rosemary10/21/2013

    Some wonderful plants in Bok Tower Gardens - I love the lily pads, and have only seen them that size before in Brazil and in the glass houses at Kew gardens.

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  7. Jennifer10/21/2013

    I certainly wouldn't pass up an opportunity to see a garden like this for free ( and I would probably go home poor but happy too)!

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  8. Unknown10/21/2013

    Good to know this fabulous garden's still going strong.

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  9. Sue10/22/2013

    Well organized annual garden events are always fun to have on the calendar. And what a feast for the eyes to those of us who are wrapping it up for the season.

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  10. Anna10/23/2013

    Sounds and looks a great day out Sharon although I think that the heat would be too much for me :) Love that pink grass.

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  11. Beth at PlantPostings10/29/2013

    Oooo, looks dreamy! I wouldn't mind the heat if it was in a garden like that! Bring on the shorts, the sandals, and the water mister! ;-) Oktoberfest is a big thing here in Wisconsin. I think I'll celebrate with a mug tonight--thanks for the reminder!

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  12. Ela11/15/2013

    This garden is wonderful. Beautiful pictures !

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