Today’s collection of photos are some of my favorites from past posts on summer gardens. Enjoy!
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Double Rainbow Sky
Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time to capture one of nature’s displays. One of my favorite is a rainbow in the sky. This particular day the sky had a second lighter rainbow, a double rainbow sky.
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Modern Tropical Inspiration
What is Modern Tropical Decor?
Recently I read an article at Decoist, Modern Beachy: Modern Tropical Decor on the Rise. I am very eclectic in my arrangements and decorations in my home. Since I’ve lived in Florida most of my life, I love rustic, coastal elements, but do I love Modern Tropical? What is it?.
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Summer Nectarine Salad With Cucumbers & Tomatoes
For gardeners, summer can be a time of never-ending cucumbers and tomatoes. Even if you don’t grow your own, the supermarkets and farmer’s markets are loaded with summer produce. Here’s a tasty salad that goes great with grilled chicken or fish and is oh so easy to make. Use cucumbers with heirloom tomatoes, but even grape or cherry tomatoes work well too.
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Vinca or Periwinkle In The Early Morning
Most mornings I walk in the yard between 8 and 9 am. Summer in Florida is really hot and I like to get out before the heat and humidity are in the 90’s. Our heat index is in the 100’s. Today’s photos are of the periwinkle (vinca) which are thriving in the hot, humid weather. I have both purple and white flowers.
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8 Ways to Make Your Garden Relaxing
This summer has been incredibly hot for many of us. The weather has been extreme in many locations. I’m praying that when fall comes, we’ll all have cooler temperatures and rain in the dry areas. It’s the rainy season in Florida, and we’ve had rain luckily. With the heat index in the 100’s F and 92% humidity, I don’t spend much time outside right now. I’m thinking of cooler weather when relaxing in the garden is a perfect end to the day. Unfortunately, sometimes our gardens are not as relaxing as we would like them to be. If your yard is cluttered with outdoor structures, furniture, and children’s play equipment then it’s harder to relax. The backyard is a versatile space that can tantalize you with beautiful images and invite you to spend time out there. Here are a few ideas to create your garden sanctuary.
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How To Cook With Spices
Whether you’re looking to make the best use of fresh meat or you’re trying to create fast and filling meals, let’s discuss how to use spices. Spices come from the bark, buds, fruit, roots, seeds or stems of various plants or trees. (An herb, on the other hand, is from the leafy parts of plants that do not have woody stems.) Both can lose flavor quickly. Here are a few seasoning rules and tips that you should try to make a part of your cooking repertoire.
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Tropical Double Red Hibiscus
A hibiscus flower usually has five petals (a single hibiscus). Thanks to modern cultivation techniques, some varieties can produce flowers with more than five petals – called “double hibiscus” – in a dazzling array of colors, sizes, and shapes.

My tropical red hibiscus in the front yard produces not only an occasional single hibiscus but also gorgeous double hibiscus flowers – it looks ruffled!
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