One Last Time

How wonderful retirement is that we can have days with nothing urgent to complete.  Today was such a day, so we decided to fill it with things we wanted to do "one last time" before we head north.

We DID start with three small "must do" tasks.  The first was Rick's task of spraying the weeds so our fence and yard are not overrun with unwanted grass and vegetation while we are gone.  The second task was running to the bank to cash a check, and the third was filling the whole house with a wonderful smell as I made a batch of peanut butter cookies.  I wanted to use the sugar and peanut butter, and I am sure that my nephew Jon will not mind a few cookies.  If he does, he can just give them to his fifth and sixth graders.  Kids will eat anything!

Although the sign says, "Daylily," that refers to
the spindly little plant to the right of the red
and green leaves. 

After lunch, we decided to go one last time to the Florida Botanical Gardens.  The day started chilly, but by the afternoon we were seeking shade from the too-hot sun.  We smiled as we walked into the Garden because the "Wedding Garden" was gated shut as people inside put white table cloths on the assembled tables for a Garden wedding.  The flowers inside were beautiful, so I am sure that the happy couple will have wonderful wedding pictures to treasure for years.

Is this a variety of an Elephant Ear?

Here is another variation on the
mysterious plant theme.  I think
these are all types of Elephant Ears.

The spring/ early summer flowers are in full bloom throughout the remainder of the Garden.  We saw one plant in various shades of white, pink, red, and green everywhere-- but it was always used as background and never identified.  At first we thought it was variations on Elephant's Ear plants.  And, truthfully, that might still be true.  When I got home I looked in my Florida perennial plants book.  The only other plant that comes close is an angel-winged begonia, but the leaves on the plants that we saw were shaped differently.  So what we really saw is still a mystery to me.  Anyone know what these are?

Now these ARE daylilies, and they are delightful.

We also saw various gorgeous hibiscus bushes in bloom.  I love hibiscus because they can be white, yellow, pink, red, or purple.

The Southern Magnolia tree has gorgeous flowers.

One tree that smells wonderful and is just starting to bloom is the Southern Magnolia tree.  If the trees themselves did not drop huge leaves and make such a mess, I would think about planting one in our yard.  I guess I will just have to be content to look at our neighbor's tree across the street and let him clean up the mess.  The Magnolia trees in the Garden today were beautiful with blossoms that were at least 8 inches across.

Magnolia blossoms are huge.

After the Gardens, we took a drive along the beaches, stopping at Sand Key Beach on the way home. Once again, we came upon a wedding.  This time the groomsmen were in black with deep fuchsia vests and matching striped fuchsia shoes.  The beach was very windy, so I hope that the preacher could be heard by the people sitting in the back.  The wedding area was set up, but we left before the wedding took place, so I never saw the bride.

Today was a relaxing, fun day.  Yes, this will be the last time we go to these places for now, but we will revisit them all when we return to Gladys in the fall.