Wolfe Island - 2009

We will soon see this beautiful place again: Wolfe Island, Canada. Ahhhhh . . . 

On the St. Lawrence river with Kingston, Ontario 3 1/2 miles across the way . . . 

 The roof of the cottage bunkhouse, looking towards Simcoe Island . . . 

 my dad made the canoe and the paddle 

what a lovely summer studio! 

 The canoe my dad built . . . Chloe relaxing . . .

 Asia loves Canada!

 kayaking trips for Steven . . . 

 beautiful Wolfe island sunsets . ..  

Happiness is never stopping to think if you are.
  ~ Palmer Sondreal

florida home front - july 21 2012

If you saw my previous post here about our geckos, then you saw a glimpse of our back yard. Here is a view of the front yard. I have just finished weeding and spreading down pine bark mulch (phew!) so it was a good time to take some photos. Click on any photo for more detail - I added an artistic filter to this photo . . . .

The tall grass here is something I have transplanted from the back yard. We had 3 Fountain Grasses put in and they have multiplied so much I dug up a couple of babies and planted them in the front. They are doing more than okay, I'm glad!

 purple lantana grows under the palm tree, it is so pretty and attracts butterflies.

The lizards live in the front gardens too! Do you see her hiding under the plumbago?

I have found Plumbago does well here in Florida (if I remember to prune it!)

My mom has it her her yard, with blue flowers. 

The plantings are very simple, but I am a pretty simple gardener - so it works well. 

We planted the palm tree you see here and the Royal Poinciana tree below . . .

I did a whole post on these trees here. If you have not seen the photos, check it out. The blooms the royal Poinciana produce are absolutely amazing -vivid orange and tons of them! I look forward to the time when our tree will bloom. We moved to this home in September 2010, so we have almost been here 2 years now. I have come to really love Florida . . . especially the geckos and the beautiful beaches.

Thanks for stopping by! lenna 

A hunch is creativity trying to TELL you something.

   ~ Frank Zappa 

July 15, 2012: Lizards

Lizards or Geckos seem to really enjoy living in our yard. We have many scurrying about. I find these creatures fascinating. Some of them are very shy and others seem to watch me while I photograph them, tilting their head. And there are some lizards in our yard that serenade us with a lovely chirping sound.

I see various sizes and colors. They like to hang out on this fence.

of course you can click on the photo for more detail if you wish.

I see you!

Do you see me?

We have a bird and squirrel feeder attached to a large live oak tree in the back yard. 

Today I found a lizard hanging out there, right on the feeder! 

He is enlarging a fold of skin under his throat called a dewlap so he will look larger.

Since I was so focused on the lizard, the camera did interesting things with 

the light through the trees in the background. I like what happened. 

Two different lizards sunning themselves on the other side of the same tree. 

we are not in short supply! 

Few men during their lifetime come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.

  ~ Richard E. Byrd

our dogs Asia & Chloe

 Asia and me, June 7, 2011

we love our dogs! 

 Chloe boating in Florida - January 7, 2012

Asia in "buzzy" in Canada 2009

You can never have too many accessories . . .

with Steven at De Soto park, January 29, 2011

 Asia boating in Florida, December 11, 2011

What can I say, our dogs like to go in boats! 

 Chloe with Cheryl on the Braden River, January 7, 2012

Asia, first mate: "I think we should go this way!"

Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they are executed.

  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rainbow: July 13, 2012

a rainbow at Nia class . . . click on any photo for a larger version.

To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun? 

  ~ Katharine Graham 

Poinciana: June 4, 2010

Royal Poinciana Tree, or Delonix regia

I know I have shared photos of this tree before on my creative lenna blog, but I find this such an amazingly beautiful flowering tree that I cannot help but share a few photos here too.

for more details click on any photo, click again if you see a plus sign.

I have one of these trees growing in my front yard now, I planted it last May.
It's grown a lot and I hope to see it flowering next May!

Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing.
   ~ William Feather

florida plants: July 02, 2012

Bamboo growing in my mother's yard . . . pulled into photoshop

The sunshine feels so lovely here, I'm wishing you some.
This is part of a King Sago palm in my mother's garden. A fulll view is HERE.

Then I found a hibiscus that looks like a dancer's skirt . . .

the same flower, tweaked in Photoshop with accented edges . . .

frangipani is such a sweet flower . . .

Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.

  ~ Stan Smith