Repotting my orchids

This weekend was a chamber of commerce weekend in Miami, the weather was fantastic. The temperature was in the mid-seventies during the day, and sunny with a nice breeze blowing from the ocean.  This is the reason we love South Florida in the winter and why we put up with our summers.

It was a perfect weekend for gardening, but with weather like this who wants to stay home gardening? My family and I took full advantage of some of the activities going on in the area. Yesterday was the Chocolate Festival at Fairchild gardens; today we visited a U-pick farm and collected fresh vegetables, and tonight we are going out to dinner with friends to dine al fresco.

I could not let the weekend passed by without doing a bit of gardening. My collection of orchids was in desperate need of some attention.  I fertilized and repotted the entire collection; hopefully is not too late for more winter blooms.



This picture was taken with my I-Phone, my Nikon 3100 camera is not working, I have no idea what’s wrong.  I think I have to buy a new battery.

Good day for picnic

Today was a good day for a picnic, and my family I decided to visit the Deering State, a county park in South Miami Dade facing Biscayne Bay.  The Deering state is the former home of one of Miami’s early prominent families.  The home was built in the early 1900, and the grounds cover over 400 acres of enviromental and archeological lands.  The site was purchased  by the state and county when the Deering family put it up for sale, a tremendous asset for our community.

We had a bonus, two manatees were visiting the park also.

As long as!!!

I’m starting 2013 with a major project to the front garden and the house.  I commented a few weeks ago that my Queen palm is sick and I need to cut it down.

My wife suggested yesterday that “As long as” we are cutting the palm why don’t we pressure clean the roof of the house.

I responded that “As long as” we are pressure cleaning the roof, why don’t we paint the driveway

And “As long as” we are making changes to the house, I should change some of the plants.

 

These Ti plants are old and overgrown.

Too many Bromeliads in this corner, time to mix it up.

I don’t know what to do here, but I don’t like the way it looks

 

Goodbye Christmas

Today was a good day to cocoon in the garden.  The weather was a perfect sunny day with temperatures in the mid-seventies.  A great day to be out on the town, but South Florida is hosting the college football national championship on Monday night, and Miami is full of visitors.  Fans of the University of Alabama and Notre Dame have taken over our city; great for the local economy, but not much fun for the locals.  I am big fan of college football, but I have no dog in this fight.  I will be watching the game on TV (tickets are going for $1000 in the upper deck) and rooting for the Irish.



Today I took down the Christmas decorations.  What a relief they are all pack in the garage, until next year.

 

This Papaya is ready to be pick tomorrow.

 

The Monarchs are coming back for the winter.  Today I counted three flying around in my back garden.