Elkmont Ghost Town The Great Smoky Mountains

Have you been to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?  Straddling the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains are the highest mountains in the Eastern United States with sixteen peaks rising more than 6,000 feet. Part of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, the Smokeys are an ancient treasure over 300 million years old.   World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park. Today we’ll visit Elkmont Ghost Town, the remnants of a recreational community of the east Tennessee wealthy in early 20th century.

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The Rusty Pelican Restaurant, Key Biscayne, Florida

I moved to Miami back in the 1970’s. I felt like I was living in paradise with blue skies, beautiful beaches, and great food.  During my first year living in Miami, some of my friends took me to The Rusty Pelican for my birthday.  Located on Key Biscayne in the Miami Bay, this restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy all that contemporary Miami has to offer.

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A Beautiful Day in Miami

One of my favorite places in greater Miami is Key Biscayne. Key Biscayne is a Florida town on a barrier island across the Rickenbacker Causeway from Miami. (The causeway is named for WWI flying ace, Eddie Rickenbacker. He and his wife had a home in Miami toward the end of their lives.)  The view of Miami across the Miami Bay is always wonderful, but some days it’s incredible.  Today’s photo is one of the best.

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Welcome to Miami!

Back in my 20’s, I moved from Tennessee to Miami, Florida.  Miami is an international city filled with multiple cultures and of course beautiful weather.  I fell in love with Florida back then and lived in greater Miami and greater Ft. Lauderdale for many years.  I moved to the west coast of Florida back in 2008, but I love to go visit friends in South Florida.

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The Florida Botanical Gardens, A Tampa Bay Favorite

Quote on walk

Pinellas County Florida Botanical Gardens 
12520 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33774

For me one of the highlights of the Tampa Bay Area is the Florida Botanical Gardens. The Gardens is a Pinellas County learning experience as well as a beautifully exotic horticultural garden. It officially opened to the public on Dec. 2, 2000, and currently showcases 25 gardens and display areas with 10,000 plants on 150 acres.  Admission is free but a donation of $2.00 is suggested to help fund the maintenance of the gardens.  It is open Monday through Friday 7 am to 5 pm and is closed on weekends and on county holidays.  There are special hours of operation  for  the Christmas Light display which you can see here.

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Naples Botanical Garden, Amazing Landscape Architecture

Besides the silver sandy beaches, Naples, Florida is home to an opera, an orchestra, a beautiful art museum, and a world-class tropical garden.  Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre tropical  garden paradise that features the plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics between the latitudes of 26 degrees North & South.  Well designed and well-kept, it is a delight even for non-plant lovers. There are so many unique outdoor environments to explore on the sprawling campus with helpful free maps to guide you around.

 

 

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5 Steps For A Butterfly Garden, Help Our Pollinators #2

The flower doesn’t dream the bee. It blossoms and the bee comes.
– Mark Nepo

The 2nd of a two post series on pollinators. If you missed it,  catch up here: Part 1, Make Your Garden A Bee Haven.   Even though some of the plants and garden care are the same for butterflies and bees, I feel it’s important to consider their specific needs. Updated 6/23

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