Beach Bums

The clouds around this bird look like bird wings to me, can you see this?

Shorts and t shirts are still my attire but that will change soon enough as I begin my journey north later this week.  I got lucky these last couple of weeks in  Florida it has been unseasonably warm with gentle breezes, temperatures in the low 80's. 

Shrimp Fleet FMB

I spent most of last week painting the exterior of my sisters new house, got to earn my keep somehow.  It really was easy painting since the house is single story.  I do not mind as I am able to get some exercise and be outdoors, a bit of trim left to do and I can head home with a clear conscious.

Christmas Decorations on FMB Noodle & Flip Flop Trees

A girlfriend from Boston arrived last Thursday and two girlfriends from St. Pete came down to spend the weekend, we had a ball.  With the beautiful weather beach cruising was a must and we went to one of my favorite old haunts Fort Meyers Beach on Saturday and Santibel & Captivia on Sunday where I was once a licensed landscaper.  In the early 90's I used to winter in Florida and worked for a couple of landscapers as well as independently.

We got chased off Fort Meyers Beach when this short intense storm popped up

As usual there were lots of interesting subjects to photograph.  Avian life still beats strong on the beaches despite the tourists and eco-risks.  As far as tourist traffic goes it was easy on/easy off both the islands, after Christmas that will be a different story when the snowbirds flock back south.

Me and the Girls

We went swimming in mother ocean, strolled for shells, ate some tasty fish tacos, swallowed crisp pinot, saw a rainbow and listened to three local bands all and all a lovely weekend.

Ibis feeding

A large flock of pelicans at Blind Pass between Santibel and Captivia Islands

Cruising The Bay Bay

Florida has been great, warm sunny days, open window nights, lots of sit down family meals with nephew, new great nephew, wife/mother of nephews, sister and bro-in law, so nice not to be eating out of my lap or in the car.  Settling into a new  house and neighborhood I am going out looking for the public library in the morning a bit old fashioned but I still enjoy holding a book in my hands and find it makes a great sun shield while reading outside.

A quintessential Florida experience is a tour of the back bay in a small boat, you are guaranteed to see wildlife, suck in the sea air and might get lucky enough to see some dancing dolphins.  You can rent a large variety of vessels, captain yourself or pay for a tour with a local guide.  Up and down the coast nearly every marina provides these services making Florida's waterways accessible for all who desire.

We rented a 24' deck boat out of Monroe Marina on Pine Island, the new digs are only 10 minutes off Pine Island, after getting a bucket of grilled KFC , we hooked up with Florida nephew Ken and his wife Kate for a day of water touring.  The weatherman had predicted sunny skies with moderate wind but instead it was cool with a steady breeze of 10 to 12 knots gusting to 20.  With the wind blowing a steady chop  2' white caps were  prevalent on the intercoastal waterway.

Motoring out of the marina down the channel Kenny immediately spotted an osprey munching on a mullet perched high up on the branch of a swaying pine.  We aimed for Tween Waters and pushed through the rough and chilly intercoastal until  we could  slow down, cruising the channels eating chicken, gawking at mansions and animal watching.

It is really cool that you can intimately and easily engage with nature in many ways in Florida.

Wrapping Up Turkey Day

On The Road Again

Wow it has been twenty days since I have posted on my blog.   I have been in transition driving alone from Indiana to Florida with Internet capabilities limited  to my cellphone, then there was Thanksgiving, meeting my new great nephew Winston from Seattle and helping my sister and her husband refresh their new home before assisting them with them relocation, busy, busy, busy.  Well the new digs finally have a high speed connection and it is time to catch up.

Back row:  nephew Tana, bro-in law David, husband Bruce, nephews Kenny & Leo, middle sister Mary holding great nephew Winston, sister Cass, me, Leo's wife Marcy, Kenny's wife Kate and bro-in law Jim


At 6:00 am I took Bruce to the airport so he could get back north to be at work Monday, we still have a crew working finishing up a large snap cut staircase contracted rather last minute but the weather has been very good for landscaping in northeast Indiana.  Bruce flew down for the family Thanksgiving while I drove since I am staying much longer.  This year was a big change for us because we came to FL and dined with several members of my immediate family for the first time in over 25 years, rather special although we still missed those absent.

Laying out new boxwood hedge

The crew finished the last landscaping job I had lined up for this season, the landscape installation was the result of our fertilization contract.  The before pictures of this house are on my blog post of October 30th, we finished up the day before I left for Florida.

We did a fair amount of transplanting the existing material, reused the block edging, created a new bed around the lamp post, installed a boxwood hedge, some colorful accent plants and created a modern, clean and easy care landscape.  Since our clients are older they were anxious to reduce the time they had to fuss in the yard, the are very pleased with the new look.

Another of our last projects was a small timber planter to replace an existing on at Clay's restaurant near the MI/IN state line, we have done work for Clay's in the past.  We try to patronize  business's that do business with us so we took the crew to Clay's for lunch a couple of weeks ago.

Clay's Restaurant Planter

Yum, yum a hot lunch at Clay's

Lake James Again & Dog Walking

Bruce designed and sold this job, Ryan installed the stone walls, Doug and Bruce P were on the snap cut steps.  I came in at the end for the landscape design having never seen the house.  The homeowners Judy and Dale are lovely,  Judy has spoiled the men with daily sweets cookies, brownies and popcicles.  After site assessment and conversation we came up with a design saving some of the original plants and installing new, I also added a third stone terrace out of stones which were all the same size to extend the planting bed.

Judy did not think there was time for landscaping so she is especially happy that we have progressed.  We installed a pretty little dwarf weeping beech which unfortunately has a nasty grub at the top of the leader so it snapped off after being bumped.  Now we have to find a replacement for the beech or wait until spring and try to secure another.  I stumbled upon some decent tulip bulbs so I decided to drop 100 in a bed where we intend to plant annuals, much to my delight turns out tulips are Dale's favorite flower.

Walking the two wanna be labs this morning was especially beautiful, clear, crisp, not another soul around for the entire hour.  We walked in a newly harvested soybean field in addition to our normal stroll down the road.  A deer jumped out and darted back into the brush, jets left their early morning vapor trails in the sky, neighbors cats bathed in the first rays of sunshine, combines loomed behind the next row of beans and clouds of dense smoke hung in the river it was a typical walk with the pack. 

When I travel I think I miss the pack the most, the unconditional love, tail beatings, the three of us howling full out while Baxter the cat shrinks into the furniture and sneaking up on the pack finding two cats and two dogs curled up next to each other on the couch.  I had intended on getting travel size dogs but the rescue of these behemoths was our destiny so I will miss them again soon as I head off to Florida next weekend.

The Big Chill

This is definitely not the Caribbean, as you guessed I am back home in Indiana and the temperature has dropped.  It is a bit early but I find myself with wearing four layers including Carhart bibs, hat, gloves and fuzzy waterproof boots.  While I lost a few pounds working at Ladera I am now wearing 15 pounds of extra clothing.  Today we are experiencing the winds brought our way by hurricane Sandy after she pounded the east coast she sent the winds whirling in the Midwest and we got our first sleet and snow today, the temperature with wind chill is a balmy 25f.

Some of the work I have done since coming home includes adding these tall (6') junipers to this new landscape we did this summer.  The junipers help bring down the height of the house and ground it.

One of the last jobs of the season for me will be the renovation of this landscaping on Snow Lake.  The shrubs were put in by the homeowner when the home was built and they are anxious for a new look.  We will be adding some trees, rearranging and transplanting some of the old shrubs and adding some new plants.  Hopefully we will start this week and finish up next week before the snow starts flying.

Sandhill Cranes

Wildlife is another of my passions, while in college I was headed toward a degree in ethology (animal behavior) but circumstance changed my major.  I am always excited to observe, photograph and commune with animals so I was especially pleased when I found out that less than an hour north from my home is a Sandhill Crane migration route where people can view these great birds for a few days each October.  The location is near Battle Creek, MI at park made possible by local Kiwanas club.  It is a wonderful experience and I would recommend everyone who loves nature see this site.

Serendipity

Coconuts Used To Edge Walk Sprouting

Sometimes I feel like I have been working at the top of the world, never growing complacent, always taking time to glance down in the harbor trying to memorize the sea,  listening to the frogs and birds,  fascinated by the clouds from gauze like wisps to racing thunderheads, I inhale the sites and sounds that are Ladera and try to imprint them forever in my brain.  I am so lucky to return here to ply my trade, given the opportunity to style and refine what is already a brilliant display of color and form.

White Begonia Named "Bread & Cheese"

Certainly Ladera and St. Lucia are a photographers dream and I was seldom without my camera, looking all the tourist as I hung out past the safety of the railing to snap a picture or cajoled a worker into standing still long enough for me to capture their image.  Each trip I have made to this romantic paradise has taught me lessons in life, landscaping, the human spirit.

Sexy Pink Heliconia

Pink Hibiscus

 The environment at Ladera is a complete 360 from my Midwest roots and intimate little landscape company.  There are well over 120 workers at the resort and landscaping is one of the minor elements of the hotel business.  In addition Ladera is not like other hotels or resorts it is more self contained whether it is building furniture in the wood shop, fabricating slip covers  in the sewing center or mixing yards and yards of cement by hand this is not your run of the mill resort.

Last Day With Landscaping Crew From Left Ray, Kerran, Me, Bartholomew, Darius

Walking the grounds each morning I am greeted by workers with smiles and wishes for a good day.  I am complemented on my hard work even the  simple pruning of a plant.  We work at separate tasks for a common goal, with pride and a sense of accomplishment of being a small piece in the big wheel of a world famous five star resort.

Landscape Crew Trading Seeds Like Baseball Cards

New Planting Around Sign At Road

Champions of Ladera

These are some of the extroidinary people who have contributed their talents, sweat, brains and bruan to complete the extensive lists of repairs, renovations and brand new concepts during the past 25 days at Ladera Resort.  What a crew, what effort, tons and tons of work done, literally, congratualations, for those who continue to complete Paradise Ridge we are breathless from its beauty.

And The Winner Is........

Removing three very large boulders was the second step in the renovation of the car park, first step was transplanting the large and numerous bougainvillea.

Ladera Resort, Everyday Working

We each do our jobs 12 days until Ladera Reopens so much to do, so much has been done.

Another Amazing Week

This is what has been happening the past few days. 

No Work Today

Preview of Paradise

Ladera's Annual Closure

One Of The Many Pool Renovations

A Toothbrush Is Used To Clean The Cracks & Crevices

Wow there is so much going on I hardly know where to begin.  32 suites many of them multi-level, multi-room, with splash pools, bathrooms kitchenettes, 15 acres, greenhouses, storage buildings, spa, fitness center, restaurant, bar and infinity pool all being meticulously scrutinized by a team of A personalities.   Dedicated craftsman, trade workers, service workers, gardeners even accountants leave no stone unturned as we build, buff and polish our way to Ladera perfection.  Once a year closure takes place at Ladera Resort in St. Lucia and it just boggles the mind to see the amount of work that is being done.

Stripping And Staining All Exterior Wood Surfaces Is A Huge Annual Job

In addition to the yearly maintenance construction of the much anticipated Paradise Ridge suites is gearing up for December completion. These spectacular new rooms  afford both an ocean view and jungle view at the same time as you can see through each unit.  The construction supervisor Eustace, (Tace) is producing an architectural and engineering marvel especially once you understand the difficulty of the daunting task of building in the Caribbean and on this particular challenging site.  With  experience guiding him he follows the barest of blueprints as he picks his way across the ridge erecting structures few others could manage.  I will feature the Paradise Ridge villas soon.

New Flatwork Replaces Old Stepping Stones In Front Of Reception

While some Ladera employees enjoy vacation during closure many continue to work often at tasks that are not their regular jobs.  Outside workers from many of the trades are also employed for everything from flatwork to painting to gardening.  The coordinated effort is amazing.  Two years ago I came down to work after hurricane Tomas hit St. Lucia and was surprised by the effort of the staff, now I realize they transform the place yearly, constantly upgrading and improving.

Ray And Kerran Trimming The Ocean Side

I hope I can keep up with the energetic staff.  Today, Sunday I have the afternoon to chill and enjoy my view with a room for tomorrow begins the long work week.  We are carefully monitoring a storm brewing in the Caribbean which if it comes will force us to work inside on the many interior gardens and potted plants.

How About This For A Cozy Place To Chill On A Sunday Afternoon, My Room X3

I will be here for thirty days and will have the opportunity to document the fruits of the labor and love that is poured into keeping Ladera one of the most beautiful places on earth.  With jackhammers pounding, weed whackers whirling, paint brushes twirling, carvers chiseling and cutlasses slicing all things are made to look new and fresh getting ready for high tourist season this winter.

Boniface Carves A Support Post At The Pavillion

St. Lucia Videos

Here is a great link to several videos featuring St. Lucia, Ladera Resort and some of the talented people who inhabit this island.  This should give you a pretty good feel for where I am at and why I love it so much.  Enjoy.



http://www.youtube.com/user/tomscott3/videos