Friday, June 27, 2014

Summer On Honeymoon Island


I took this photo some years back....
 typical scenery, weekends
on Honeymoon Island.
Definitely need shade....the sun is so hot
and temps reaching into the 90s.

I love watching families.....they bring
all the necessities for the day.  Coolers,
umbrellas, beach towels, lawn chairs....and 
the list goes on.

I hope your having a wonderful summer.  Dee Dee

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Birthday Pink Hydrangea

We share the love for flowers,
my youngest daughter and I.  Her 
garden is home to a variety of
beautiful flowering plants.
One of our favorites is the
"Hydrangea".
She presented me with a 
beautiful pink hydrangea on 
my birthday.
Every angle seen with my
camera lens, proved it 
exquisite beyond words.



I hope you've had a blessed
Lord's day.....Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Friday, June 20, 2014

Crape Myrtles In Full Bloom

Every year these are the first 
Crape Mrytle shrubs to bloom
and the most impressive.  The color is
amazing.....

I'm never disappointed with nature.....
love these giant clusters of pink.


The crape myrtles go dormant in the 
winter...appearing as sticks.  Come
spring they begin their transformation.

Glad you stopped by....
have a blessed day. Dee Dee

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Summer Garden Images


We couldn't be more pleased with how things
are looking in our tropical garden.  The colors
blend so well....multi-colored crotons we planted
three years ago are thriving in one of our larger
pots. The smaller variety of palms are reaching
unexpected heights, towering over the pool. 



We accomplished all we wanted to do in the 
garden....new plants, trimmings and fertilizing,
just in time for the high summer temperatures.
Now, we sit back and enjoy summertime.

Sweet blessings for all.....Dee Dee

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Summer Garden

Delicate snow bush leaves.....

Towering over the snow bushes 
are palm trees.....so pretty.


My pride and joy....pink hibiscus. I was
afraid we had lost this "fountain hibiscus"
tree.  The spring rains and a good flowering
fertilizer has brought it back.

All is doing well in the garden, promising
good photos here on my blog all summer long.

Have a sweet ole' day....Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Monday, June 16, 2014

Pink Peace Lily



This is the third year the 
"Peace Lily"
 has been on our back porch.
The lily is in a smaller pot
and then placed in a very
large porcelain pot.


I discovered long ago
the conditions for growing
require a lot of water.....
almost swamp-like conditions.
The planting style, along with
hot, humid tropical Florida weather
and a good fertilizer,
produces blooms all year long.
More so in the summer as you
can see here.

I'm glad you stopped by....
have a blessed day. Dee Dee

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Lavender Crape Myrtles



Our tropical garden is lush this time
of year.  We have rain often and the
plants respond by growing.
My favorite crape myrtle tree is now
blooming....covered with gorgeous
massive blooms.
I for one stand in awe of their beauty,
again amazed by the One who 
created them.

Have a blessed Lord's day, everyone.  Dee Dee
*Note: always click on images to expand

Friday, June 13, 2014

Four O'Clocks



Tucked inside a 
Christmas package,
a small packet of 
Four O'clock seeds 
from the
 Farmer's Museum in
Cooperstown New York.

I could hardly wait 
for spring
to plant them.
Five little seeds were 
placed in the
ground, watered and 
watched daily.

Finally one little plant
 poked through the soil 
and I was thrilled
beyond words.

Sweet blooms 
have covered the plant
and promise of seeds for
next spring are
inevitable......sigh.

Have a blessed day....Dee Dee

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Hydrangea




Family friends living in north Florida
have beautiful hydrangea growing on
their property.  
The hydrangea colors vary, depending
on elements found in the soil.
Hydrangea dried, can be used in flower
arranging.  It is the plant in the garden 
that life continues on after death.

Enjoying the summer.....Dee Dee

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Crape Myrtle Shrubs




We have 
crape myrtle shrubs 
and
crape myrtle trees in our 
cottage garden.
 They grow
throughout the south and 
are found in
most landscapes here in
our part of Florida.
Thankfully, the blooms last
 throughout the summer.
Seen here are the first of our 
crape myrtle shrubs to
 bloom this year.

Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Hibiscus




Hibiscus
 are right at home 
in the Florida
 sunshine and heat. 
 Today the thermometer 
is showing
90 degrees ....sweltering, 
you might say.

Have a beautiful summer day.....Dee Dee

Monday, June 9, 2014

A Kind Deed


I took this photo a few years back.  
It's
still one of my favorites,
 taken in the fall.
It was during that time,
 a generous
 man of good fortune donated 
a good sum of money
to refurbish the island. 
 He hauled in white
sand, planted sea oats and
 palm trees.
 One might say he completely
 transformed the
beaches. 
 I'm quite sure he enjoyed his 
efforts for a while.....
but then 
nature had it's 
a way of re-designing the land.
Erosion 
washed away the white sand, the
sea oats and palm trees he had planted.
Whenever I come across
this photo.....I pause for a few
moments and think of the
good man who did a 
kind deed for all
who enjoy Honeymoon Island.

Have a blessed day....Dee Dee


Sunday, June 8, 2014

Mockingbird Music In The Air

Honeymoon Island
 is a ten minute drive from
our home in Florida.  
Left to it's natural state,
it is a safe haven for
 man and animal. 
On this day, there was 
music 
in the 
air provided by
one beautiful Mockingbird
....Florida's state bird. 
Images seen here were taken 
last week.
Rains have brought nourishment
 to the island,
and all is beautiful as seen through
 my camera lens
......palm trees, wild berries and sea grapes
cover the island.






"Wake up in the morning to the Mockingbird shrill......"


Sea grapes' growing along side
the  Gulf of Mexico. 
It takes little imagination to feel 
the coastal breezes
 and hear 
the waves
splashing against the shore.

Have a blessed Sunday.....Dee Dee

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Garden


I love when a plant re-seeds itself.
I have Periwinkle and Zinnia plants
growing, having made their way up
through good rich soil.  I've sprinkled
them with water daily and used a 
good bloom enhancer fertilizer to 
encourage growth.
Will post when the blooming begins.

Have a blessed day....Dee Dee