Friday, Sarasota to Tampa area

April 1, Day 28, off to Marie Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota.

Today it is a bright nearly cloudless day. As we have already been here we thought it was a good place to walk. Turns out there were areas we did not remember and some new ones. Again we use the MN arboretum pass, otherwise another $17 each but would have been worth it anyhow.



Koi and Docent



We had a docent for the first half hour, she pointed out the damage the recent hurricane had done, because of a full year growth cycle it recovers fast.



Hindu Temple Guardian



This garden is noted for its large collection of epiphytes both living and dried for the future. These are orchids, bromeliads, cactus and ferns.



Epiphytes: Orchid and Spanish moss on a tree branch



We went to see the house adjacent given to the city by another women and it expands the whole garden.

On exhibit are carved Rainforest Masks of the Borucan Indians of Costa Rica. The wood is said to be balsam. This is the fourth year they have imported these through a member who originally brought them to the garden. The garden gives the Indians the number of masks they want for the exhibit and gives them money up front to do them. There were three Islanders early on showing how they carve them, takes about four days. As you can see, they are brightly colored, with local flora and fauna making up the mask. There were a number of masks of fierce looking men. I estimate a 125 or so masks with all but six or so not advance purchased.  Three levels of cost, around $225, 450, and 1,500. If there had been an orchid one left I would have considered it. But as last time, two years ago, there were none left.

The garden in front of the house had flowers and paths to meander.



Blosson six inches long

 We walked through a small garden and a lady said that we should try the fruit of this Jaboticaba tree from Brazil noted as the most desirable because of the taste of the berry - not the one alongside this. The fruit grows on the trunk and limbs of the tree, has a bitter black skin, sweet inside and a nut to spit. 



Selby Café for lunch. Shirleen’s chicken wrap and my jambalaya soup were a nice lunch under a banyan tree. As we walked to the bench I noticed a small purse draped over the back of it. So, again, happened in North Mankato a couple months ago, I turned it in to the café. I imagine the lady appreciated having it found.



Orchids for sale




Orchid blossom



Orchid blossom



As I was waiting for Shirleen to read a plack, I spotted something dropping from a palm tree. I went to look up from where the material dropped.


Eastern Screech Owl

 There was an owl, small, eight inches tall. I watched it move to three different spots on the palm. One lady with a Nikkon came by I mentioned it was there and she said she was taking pictures but would look. Well she started, her husband an accomplished photographer and others starting taking pictures, snap, snap it goes.










Ringling bought St. Armand’s Key name for President Harding, Harding circle. It has a central shopping and central park with boulevards filled with statues.

You can find it by taking Ringling Ave. west. Again this island was bought and given to the city by Ringling. We had a nice walk around this immense round about that has many plaques of Ringling Brothers employees. Shirleen found my favorite, Emmett Kelly.



Emmett Kelly







Shops and outside eating abounds.

We travel up these keys and found it relaxing.











We turn towards highway 75 and notice a DeSoto National Park.
After many wrong turns we got there at 2 minutes to 5 but were able to get the National Park stamp for our book. This park does not require money to get into, different?

Dinner at a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s for sliced beef sandwiches, a nice break. We do laundry tonight. jerr

Thursday, Sarasota Florida

March 31, Day 27

It turned out we could take pictures anywhere we wanted on the complex, but without a flash.

John and Mabel Ringling gave the state this mansion and museum with its art in the 1930’s. http://www.ringling.org/

On the way to the house we went through the rose garden, three people pruning the roses.


Shirleen's favorite



Many statues place around the garden.

We toured the mansion, the Ca' d’Zan., fashioned after the homes in Venice Italy. Again it is one of those gigantic brick mansion overlooking the bay. The different part about this house was the glass in the windows. It was black glass, clear, then it was painted a see through pastel color. Had we had sunshine, not a tornado watch, it would have danced onto the marble floor. There is a self guide tour we paid for the docent guide. Turned out one of the poorer one we have had. We had wanted to go to the third and fourth floor but because of the weather and the outside steps to the tower, we could not go this time.

The secret garden is to the right of the house with the grave sights behind it.



Wall way stone with rose petals



Many of Peter Paul Rubens large paintings, we viewed four of them and all in one big room. Massive! It was good to have a docent gives us a tour of the six gallery’s of John’s personal purchases.



Painting found in an Italian church bought $250 now worth $125K

 She gave insight to the method and meaning of different parts of the painting. Shirleen even found a Rembrandt among the many painters. The setting for his paintings were in highly decorated rooms not the normal white walled cubes.

Another exhibit was a jade collection, these I could take pictures of, as you see I did.



Angie, this is your Peony fern

 Another exhibit was etched and engraved pictures of flowers which were then painted.

Lunch was on the museum grounds, Shirleen had the Asolo,

a plate of grapes, strawberries, blueberry’s, dried apricots, blue cheese, cheddar cheese, brie cheese and a white hard cheese; I the Caprese Panini, fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes and basil on brioche, pressed and served with a cup of portabella mushroom soup with bacon and duck accompanied by a lettuce salad,

Howard Tibbals he has been building the layout for 50 years. He named it Howard Bros. Circus because John Ringling did not leave him use his name.

One usually thinks of a circus as the lion tamer or trapeze artist. I had always wanted to buy the HO scale circus layout but didn’t. This then fits my dreams. What I learned was much. There were about 1,200 people who worked the one day stand. In came the circus, unload each flatbed from a train about 150 wagons. This all takes a bunch of people working together. You have to have a food tent, prepare meals for all these people three times a day, - they had a video of a man flipping pancakes, looked like they speeded up the video but I guess not, who fixes broken wagon wheels, feeds the animals, cares for the sick people and animals, who cuts the peoples hair, who fixes the motors when they need repair, who puts up tents, spreads the sawdust – what have I forgot about a town on wheels. Well this layout has them all. 12,000 could be seated within the big tent. He built each seat in the tent and each chair folds like its big counterpart. It is said that within one of the railcars there is a man with a ledger and cash register with bills in it, all carved out of wood. Each of these figures were hand carved by Howard and he is still adding items.

There was much to view in the museum, old costumes, hand bills, posters and memorabilia.

It is thundering and lightning; I go and get the car for Shirleen, as the umbrella was safely in the car, so there was only one of us to get wet. jerr

Wednesday, Venice Florida

March 30, Day 26 starts out with trying to find Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve and the Veterans Memorial.

It is tucked besides the bay next to the bridge going toward Ft. Meyers. You drive through residential areas to get there. This is a minimal trail, no guides or literature. An overhead map outlines where you will walk. A little over a mile wall.

The city takes care of the area and Kiwanis have provided benches to sit on and look at the scenery. Again we walk among stands of mangrove. Looking at this picture imagine that these are actually stick people from another world, slow walking but eventually take over the earth!

Along the way are placards that talk about your viewing area, nice touch.

We did not see much wildlife one white egret

and some fiddler crabs mucking around in the mud, a couple lizards and







our friendly crab out for a walk.

Close to the highway is a reproduction of the Iwo Jima statue in DC. It is a state of being relocated and repaired. Alongside is a statue to the Gulf War participants.

A lone black anchor sits on a black granite slab with a brass plate thanking all submarine sailors. The anchor is from the Gato class sub this preceded the Balboa class that the Blackfin was, it was my first boat. These are WWII subs, slow, sneaky and shallow diving, easy targets.

We start north and stop at the Portofino Waterfront Dining at Port Charlotte. We ate there once before but opted to eat there again because there is not much around and it is time. Shirleen had a great tasting steakburger with fried onions with fries; I the Grouper Crococante (fried fish) with vegetables and fries. Off to the Venice area.

We meander through the outback avoiding highways but back roads. Always a nice slower run to look at the local environment, these are real people housing. You can see areas where there was an area where housing started but stopped to a halt, probably due to the economy. Many houses for sale in all the areas we have drove through in southern Florida.

We decided to stay in Venice. Across from Café Italia where we had a quick dinner with wine, Shirleen a bruschetta and I pomodoro pasta with fresh tomatoes topped off with a couple of so-so meatballs. jerr

Tuesday, March 29, Day 25, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island

We started our day visiting Sanibel Island, a barrier island.

We then went to the Sanibel Moorings botanical garden. This is a large motel with walkways which are between the individual units with the beach in front of it and across the street is more of their units along the dock side.

This garden is different because of it not being an area that is within a garden setting but a commercial business.

Throughout these units are well signed plants and trees.

As we were going through the dockside area we stopped in front of a tree, large in size, few leaves and looking like it was on its last leg. A lady, Bette, came to her porch and started telling us about the Shaving Brush Tree. She was a semi-tour leader for this area. The blossom within 20 minutes goes from a bud to flower. She brought out some pictures and I asked if I could take a picture of her with the tree and Shirleen. She was a delight to visit with!




Hybrid Hibiscus

 

Orchids



We then drove up the line; this is a nicely designed island. There are no semaphores, no buildings over 45 feet – for a two story with a park under area. The designed quietness is a pleasure to experience, I can see why this becomes an island retreat. Nice quiet beaches, seashell hunters abound.

We ate at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grill with a couple of rum drinks, Shirleen’s Sanibel Sunset with Blackbeard spiced rum and coconut Jack rum with a splash of amaretto, fresh squeezed Florida orange juice, pineapple juice and grenadine, I Doc’s special with lime, sugar and mint – refreshing.

The spinach salad was loaded with bleu cheese, spiced pecan, granny smith apples, caramelized onions and a smoked bacon dressing and I finally had a Cuban sandwich, ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese and a pickle on a  pressed and warmed bun.

I was wearing my Banff shirt and an older couple walked over to us and asked if we lived there? I said visited, he said they were married 55 years ago and had honeymooned there, both had a smile on their face as I am sure many happy memories flooded forth.

Touring the “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge was next on the agenda. We take the tram again was the way to go for us. Andrew our tour leader, closing in on 80, and a pleasure to be with,


Andrew with hat

  was a birder himself, he was able to tell us what birds we were looking at, history of the island and its original people - the native Calusa Indians who were the first-known residents of the island. The interesting point about these Indians was that they were all over 6 foot tall with some 7 footers. Famous explorer Juan Ponce de Leon five foot four inches found these giants with their boat 4 foot wide, 30 to 40 feet long, big enough to carry these big Indians. He was also believed to have discovered Sanibel Island – which he named “Santa Isybella” after Queen Isabella -- in 1513. We went to a boardwalk where had it not rained the day before we could have seen the mangroves exude the salt from its end leaf area, some were able to find some salt left on some of the leaves.

This is what a new mangrove looks like, it looks like a nut, the root is coming out of the bottom and will detach itself from the branch and can float for a year beofre it will die if it does not to\ake root.The mangroves are cleaned by little crabs that look like spiders and the size of a quarter. Before the 2004 hurricane, the trees were crawling with these, but they have not rebounded as fast as one would expect. Again the three types of mangroves, black, red and white, the leaves produced the colors for the Indian clothing and paintings.

Again we were able to see an alligator, a couple feet off the tram. An interesting point was a group of white pelicans with black underwings which were out in the lowlands. These are supposed to migrated by this time, but were determined to be young ones liking the warm weather.

These pelicans can be sighted in Minnesota. I have spotted them high in the sky travelling in a tight formation.

We have an hour before the Seashell museum closes, off to it. This museum is really nice, not like the one postings ago. The displays are done well, here are some pictures.



Sea Shell Art

 We thought we would take in the sunset – known as the greenflash. This is where at the last minute of the sunset when it just about sinks into the gulf there is a wavelength that flashes green. The gulf having no islands in the way, allow one to see this flash, if it is not a red sunset or cloudy, like ours. Far north on Captiva Island was where we decided to try and catch it. We have time to eat at the Greenflash Restaurant. Shirleen had some nice delicate coconut shrimp, cauliflower and broccoli with a au gratin potato; I a pan seared scallop with a light lime sauce with spinach and spaetzles – a different form, looked like the were sliced thin like a coin and boiled in water then fried in butter.

Shirleen mailed the grand daughters, Danielle and Abby, in the northern most mailbox on Captiva Island.

As we could not get to the only parking lot at the tip of Captiva we went to the church by the Sea and its cemetery. Well no parking permitted, so we visited the old cemetery,

this one goes back to the turn of the century to recent burials. Marked with seashells even on some of the old graves indicates visitors make an effort to remember.

Got to our room at 8:30pm, pooped out so I waited to write-up the days activities. A great day!! jerr