North vs South: Tropical Garden Gems

Something that a tropical garden has that we cannot reproduce here in the north is Spanish moss. An image of beautiful Spanish moss hanging from majestic trees is iconic of South U.S. gardens. It is a Tillandsia, like air plants,  and is related to pineapples.  It does not live 'off' the trees that it lives in, so is of no harm.  In the first picture, it is hanging in a grove of Crepe Myrtles at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Garden in Savannah.  In the second picture are all the elements we associate with Spanish moss - the large, overhanging trees with the stately house in the background.

Canada's Star Aligns

CBC is having fun today reporting that Justin Trudeau has taken over the first spot as the sexiest politician in the world according to the UK Mirror newspaper.  It picked up these quotes from well-known national reporters in other countries: "In Canada Justin Trudeau's Liberals elected on a platform of sorry I lost my train of thought he's just so handsome." "For real though, congrats Canada on your hot grown-up-Howarts-student Prime Minister." In the Daily Mail article, they include a Youtube video of the 'time Justin Trudeau stripped for charity". And this quote from Richard Nixon in 1972: 'Tonight we'll dispense with the formalities. I'd like to toast the future prime minister of Canada: to Justin Pierre Trudeau,' said Nixon during a state dinner in Ottawa hosted by Pierre Trudeau. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3280490/Justin-Trudeau-named-Canada-s-new-prime-minister.html#ixzz3pCTMtgTq With the pictures in the article of him with his father in world-famous places with world-famous people, it is pretty impressive.  So I guess with star power like that, some starry flowers are matching pictures for the day.

Florida's Jungle Gardens

Jungle Garden

Jungle Garden      We wouldn't want to leave Florida without Flamingos and Parrots. This is the Sarasota Jungle Garden and it is a wonderful display of subtropical forest set amongst meandering paths that display birds and other animals.  As with the rescue aquarium, the source of the animal or bird is indicated, and most of the reptiles came to the Jungle Garden when 'got too big to take care of' or 'owner was moving'. This was the case for most of the Parrots too - I can imagine they can get too much to take care of - they want a lot of attention and can be very loud.  One of the unusual residents was a breed of rabbit known as the Belgium rabbit.  It was found nearby  - either lost or rejected. What an unusual pet to lose or reject: this is the largest breed of rabbit and weighs between 20 and 40 pounds. I don't think Baxter would be in charge of this guy.