Late afternoon's sun reflecting on a golf course gazebo.
"The descending fire descends;
The ascending fire ascends.
The smile of Light Watches their tasks divine
From across the empty space
Where the hands of ether
Salute the golden mystic sun."
Sri Chinmoy
To me, the real beauty of Florida is in its flora. Sure, we are surrounded by water and lots of beaches (this is a peninsula, after all), but the flowers were what first met the eyes of the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, who in 1513 named the region Florida, which means "full of flowers" in Spanish.
Thanks to Naples' subtropical climate, there is always something abloom around here and this is one of my favorites.
Today's question is: can you name this flowering tree?
There's a small canoe and kayak launch in my community. If you feel vigorous enough for a 3 hour round trip, you can paddle along Spring Creek to Estero Bay all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. There are many fun twists and turns as you meander between the coast and barrier islands. The only things to watch out for are the currents and the occasional alligator sizing you up...Feel lucky today?
Great Heron fishing for his Sunday brunch.
I am very fortunate to be living in an Aubudon Sanctuary Area where the birds and other wildlife are protected from human aggression. To me the benefits are quite palpable: I can approach most birds - wading and some raptors - without them even flinching. Quite the opposite, they seem to enjoy the attention and some of them, like this heron, strike a pose...
Hickory Island beach at low tide.
Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war. ~Loren Eiseley
Gite in Provence? Pensione in Tuscany? Nope, just a garage in the neighborhood. As for the rest of the house...well, I'll leave it up to your imagination ;-). Think big!
Have a great week-end, everyone!
Spider web suspended over the water reflecting tree leaves. No photo editing was committed ;-)
“The means to gain happiness is to throw out from oneself like a spider in all directions an adhesive web of love, and to catch in it all that comes”
Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy
Wilbur (runty pig): I think you're beautiful.
Charlotte (heroic spider): Well, I am pretty. Nearly all spiders are good looking. I'm not as flashy as some, but I'll do.
E. B. White Charlotte's Web
I've always had a soft spot for Brown Pelicans. They seem to defy gravity when they launch their heavy (up to 15 lbs!) bellies into the air. And they look rather comical with their short, stubby legs and fat pouches under their long bills (not unlike my uncle Teddy, but I digress).
But not everyone is thrilled with pelicans. They are a big nuisance to fisherman, by hanging around the fishing piers and stealing their catch. Losing one fish to a bird is not a catastrophe. The real problem arises when the pelicans get hooked themselves, or get tangled in fishing line - they can get seriously hurt.
There's a Conservancy group in Naples that rehabilitates wounded pelicans, but it's like putting a band-aid on bullet wounds. There should be some resolution to the fisherman-pelicans controversy...Maybe we need to put up a sign: "No pelicans allowed on fishing pier". Think it will work?
The bromeliad plant, is a native of Florida. This plant family contains over 3000 species, including the most well known bromeliad - and the only edible one - the pineapple.
Today's question is: How many lizards can you find on the plant?
This exotic fountain from Thailand adorns the entrance to J. Semmler International Collections, an interior/exterior decorating store (and one of my favorite for window shopping) in downtown Naples.
"Avoid places that disturb your mind, and always remain where your virtues increase." Venerable Atisha
A bit of father-son bonding at the beach of Naples.
"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." ~Clarence Budington Kelland~
This past week-end I attended the Bonita Springs Art Festival which ranks #5 in the nation.What I really like about it is that it limits the food (1 booth) and truly focuses on fine arts. So all this week I am showing you photos from the Festival in hopes that they will appeal to your artistic side.
This is the last day of this series, so I leave you with the overall ambiance of the Festival
and an observation: is it just me, or is this Schnauser saying:"enough with the art already, where is that food booth?"
This past week-end I attended the Bonita Springs Art Festival which ranks #5 in the nation.What I really like about it is that it limits the food (1 booth) and truly focuses on fine arts. So all this week I am showing you photos from the Festival in hopes that they will appeal to your artistic side.
Today I highlight some of my favorites from the Festival: Suzy Scarborough's mixed media including acrylic, oil, pastel, charcoal, grease pencil and epoxy resin,
Jeff Ripple's amazing photography,
and Beth Carver's watercolors of the hefty ladies. Fun, fun, fun...
This past week-end I attended the Bonita Springs Art Festival which ranks #5 in the nation.What I really like about it is that it limits the food (1 booth) and truly focuses on fine arts. So all this week I will be showing you photos from the Festival in hopes that they will appeal to your artistic side.
Today I'm focusing on the diversity of the arts represented at the Festival: metalworks,
glassworks,
and mixed media. What's your preference?
Continuing the subject of arts, here's one of the striking sculptures from the Bonita Springs Art Festival. It is totally crafted out of stainless steel and it can be yours for the mere price of $7000.
Today's question: can you guess the name of this artwork?
This past week-end I attended the Bonita Springs Art Festival which ranks #5 in the nation.
What I really like about it is that it limits the food (1 booth) and truly focuses on fine arts. So all this week I will be showing you photos from the Festival in hopes that they will appeal to your artistic side.
I will start off with the famous "plastic people" and the subject of my Quiz Tuesday from December.
Some new faces...er...torsos this year. For information on the artist, please visit here.
Both The Inn on Fifth and the McCabe's Irish Pub and Grill are famous institutions on the fabulous 5th Avenue South in historic Naples. But the reason I post this photo is the webcam attached to the hotel's canopy (see it on the right, above the topiary?). If you click here, you can catch some natives, tourists and, on occasion, me strolling by...
Red Mangrove trees are Florida's true natives. They thrive in salty environments because they are able to obtain fresh water from saltwater.They typically grow along the water's edge and are easily identified by their tangled, reddish roots called "prop roots." That's why they are also called "walking trees", they appear to be standing or walking on the surface of the water (see here).
Mangroves are invaluable to our Eco-System; in addition to providing protection to the coastal area during hurricanes, they serve as feeding and breeding areas for wildlife.
The wilting plants under the midday sun, in the corner of my yard.
I guess this photo describes how many of us feel at the end of the week;-)
"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." ~Walt Streightiff
When do we lose the ability to see the world as this 3-year old does, on the beach of the Big Hickory Island?
Since this is still the Chinese Year of the Dog (until Feb 18 when it turns pigish;-), I thought I'd introduce you to some of my canine neighbors:
A sweet and gentle English Mastiff named Brute,
a pair of adorable Yorkies, Sugar and Pepper, living the good life,
and a well behaved Soft Coated Wheaten, McDuff, spoiled but lovable.
This post is dedicated in memoriam to my baby, a Golden Retriever named Donovan. Here's winking at you, kid...
A common sight here in Florida (therefore Southerners are disqualified from participating;-))):
What is the story behind this black box?
If you arrive from the North (or Europe;-)), where your wardrobe colors tend to run from gray to black, this is the first stop you should make upon your arrival in SW Florida. Tommy Bahama's flagship store in downtown Naples offers "fine resort wear for the relaxed island lifestyle". In other words, expensive shorts and overpriced flip-flops;-)
Southwest Florida is world renowned for its shells. Have you heard of Sanibel Island? Upon arriving here, Ponce De Leon named it "Costa de Carocles" - Coast of Seashells. With over 400 species of shells, Sanibel's beaches are considered the best shelling beaches in North America.
These shells wash up on Sanibel's beaches because unlike other barrier islands which run North to South, Sanibel runs East to West.Winter is the best time for shelling, because the storms push the shells along the shallow plateau of sand along the Gulf of Mexico and deposit them along the beaches.
This lovely private residence on 5th ave south downtown Naples, just steps from the beach, was under 5 feet of water during the hurricane Wilma in 2005. But as you can see, the water retreated quickly, and the Paradise is not Lost...
Even reindeer enjoy a respite in Naples, after their busy season;-)
(I certainly hope it's not Dancer or Prancer - looks more like a tired Vixen to me!)
I came upon this fellow enjoying his mid morning snack. Although they have 80 teeth, alligators do not chew their food (unlike the crocs), which brings us to today's question:
can you see what he is swallowing whole?
...gets the worm, or in this case, a minnow. (Can you see the fish wiggle in the bird's beak and splash and cause circles on the water's surface?)
So, are you up yet? Then I can yell out loud (those of you with a hangover, please cover your ears):
Bonne Anne 2007 - Szczesliwego Nowego Roku - Feliz Ano Nuevo!
"A happy New Year!
Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year."
Edgar A. Guest
