Sanibel Moorings

Friday we visited Linda who has a lovely farm near Carp Ontario. Paul had met her during a paint-out with a group of Plein-Air painters who allow him to go with them to photograph.

Linda is a snowbird also, and we met her at her rented place on Sanibel Island. Earlier in the week, we found out that Linda and Joan are related, what a shocking but welcomed surprise!

We were to meet Linda in the early afternoon but she was delayed on a boat trip, so we walked around the gardens at the Moorings. These pictures were all made with my borrowed camera, what fun.

Most of the orchids in this pictures have been 'planted' in the trees, usually they are snowbird purchases that are left behind and added to the collection. This is one of those gardens where you have to remember to look up...

Joan spotted this spider web; it was a great test of the borrowed camera. The spider is about the size of a nickel and was about six feet away.

Joan also spotted this small lizard that was regrowing a new tail.

The gardens include an area for hybrid Hibiscus plants. Here are a few samples.

Next is a Phalaenopsis orchid with some genetic issues: some of the flowers are lacking colour pigments. Pretty and interesting, but not breeding material.

Linda's friend Mary Lou reminded me that the name for this plant is 'Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow'.  The flowers change colours as they age from yellow, to white, to blue [violet?].  It is almost always in bloom. Quite a show.

Again, more hibiscus hybrids.

Next to one of the buildings was this crop of bananas. The gardeners that maintain these gardens harvest the fruit and have it available at the registration desk.  Linda gave us a very large Avocado that was harvested on the property. But I digress...

And more pictures of different flowers found on the property.

 Linda gave us these two white Dendrobium orchids to enjoy since she will be flying home later today.

And lastly, here is Joan working on a puzzle, a favourite snowbird pastime. Sometimes, luck steps in and save the moment. While getting out of the car and changing to flip flops to go to the beach at Linda's, Joan noticed a puzzle piece on the bottom of her sandals. It eventually found its place in the puzzle...