Tropical Gardening

We strolled the grounds of the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford houses in Fort Myers, Florida, today. The only way we could do that was to get out of town and the cold and blustery Northeast. And we did!

Edison's garden plan included an allee of Royal palms between the houses and the river.

The trees and shrubs were all labeled--and may not be familiar to a Northern gardener like me.

The breezes were wonderfully cool and gentle so you could linger to read the signs

and enjoy the unfamiliar plants in the shade or in the sun.

The orchids grow and bloom on the trees

exhibiting the air plants that they are.

The banyan tree seems a strange creature, not a plant at all.

The huge Mysore fig has sprawling roots

that the geckos love.

Can you spy two?

Upper right and lower left (tail).

My favorite area was the Moonlight Garden with its pool that reflects the moon.

Many of the plants blooming now in February were also white,

but the hedge around it was red bougainvillea.

It was very lovely to stroll in a garden again after a long winter,

especially when it reminds me of my great-grandmother's garden.

In simplicity and gentility, not plant material!