Where I've Been, part 3

While vacationing in Florida, I couldn't help but be struck by the difference in vegetation. The plants that people in Florida routinely grow in their yards are what we in Kentucky might refer to as 'extremely overgrown houseplants.' The huge tropical plants, palm trees, and Spanish moss-strewn live oaks strike me as otherworldly. I also took a trip to Selby Botanical Gardens while I was in Sarasota, and thought you might like to see photos of some of my favorite flora.

 The front yard of the lovely home where I stayed in Sarasota...

 ...views of the garden...

 ... with its fantastic intertwined trees...

... and peaceful gurgling fountain.

 

Another couple of highlights...

 ... from my hostess's yard...

 I would so love to be able to grow plants like these at home!

 Live oaks and other plants...

 ...across the street...

 A nearby tree...

 ... whose red-orange blossoms always seemed to glow in the sun...

The canal at the end of the street.

 Selby Botanical Gardens was just gorgeous...

 ... so much to see...

 ... though I neglected to write down their names...

 I did find out that this is a 'little blue heron'...

 This sago palm was unbelievably huge...

 The koi would actually come up to edge of the pool...

 and allow people to pet them...

 It was like being in a very well-kept...

... tropical rain forest...

 

...complete with over-sized pitcher plants...

... and  beautiful blooms everywhere.

 The oddest were these corpse flowers. The larger bud here is about 4 feet tall, and they're said to smell like rotting meat when open...

 ... which, at the time, they were not.


 Have a great week, everyone! I hope you enjoyed my plant tour!

Things I Forgot

If this title seems a bit scary to you, just imagine how I feel.  If I actually included everything I forgot, this post would go on forever... Luckily, though, I don't remember most of it - ha!  Every year since I started blogging, I have always shared photos of my flower gardens, which have been a source of much pleasure, work, and therapy for me.

The front corner flower bed with antique seeder, orange honeysuckle vine, echinacea, Turk's cap lilies, Russian sage, black-eyed Susans, and liriope.

I tried a little photoshop-ery with some of these, just for fun. 

I really like the negative space in the two compositions above.

The shady flower bed by the side porch, with hostas, impatiens, ferns, and more echinacea (of course).

Two hosta flower close-ups, complete with bee in the second one.

Nicotainia in the front flower bed.  I like the weird 'floaty' quality in this photo.

This teeny-tiny moth was smaller than a dime; I probably wouldn't have noticed him without the telephoto lens. 



And while I'm playing catch-up, I just realized that I completely forgot to share any photos from my vacation this summer. So here is a quick look at my trip to Cumberland Falls, Big South Fork (of the Cumberland River) and the wildly beautiful Rockcastle River, all of them in Kentucky.

CUMBERLAND FALLS


 Cumberland Falls, complete with mist.


 
 We took a lovely hike down the Cumberland River below the falls,

 
  surrounded by high rock walls..

 
  ... the rushing river...


 
 ... rhododendron forests and trickling rivulets...


 
 ... that carve out huge rock shelters, given a few million years or so.



BIG SOUTH FORK

 The Big South Fork was muddy and swollen from recent storms...
 
 
 ... and looked like a river of cafe au lait...

   This the coal tipple at Blue Heron Mine, a now defunct mine which has been restored as a historical site.

 
 The bridge from the tipple to the other side of the river.


ROCKCASTLE RIVER

 
 The Rockcastle River is certainly deserving of its name...

 
 ... lots of rocks, for sure, but also sparkling, crystal-clear water...



 ... little sandy beaches...


 

... and some of the most gorgeous views ever, even in the rain.



Wishing you all a great weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving next week!  Don't forget to enter my give-away; just leave a comment on my last post.  One of my dogs will choose 2 winners on Thanksgiving Day.