Tropical Spring

Fifty three degrees yesterday had me believing that spring was only ten days away but the winter storm currently blowing whiteout conditions has made me a skeptic again.  My morning dog walk was fine heading south down the road with the wind behind the return trip I was Helen Keller,  by the time I got home I had a half inch of snow glued to my frontside.  I don't move often but you can take my word my next location will be south of the Mason Dixon line hopefully zone 9 or higher.

It is obvious that I returned home to soon from Florida I have not been called back to work yet a bit perplexing, this is the first time in nearly thirty years that I am not frantically gearing up for landscaping season at this time of year.  Since selling my business last year I find adaptability key just trying to adjust being an employee, not having all the worries of an owner, very interesting.

This miserable weather made me yearn for the tropics so I surfed around through my photos and was cheered immediately looking back on some of the first pictures I took in St. Lucia, West Indies in 2007 the year I stayed there for four months during winter.  That was a wonderful time that I got to share with my sister Cass and nephew Leo, it was where Leo met his now wife Marcy.  Thinking it was seven years ago is amazing as well seems like only yesterday.

Living in such a cool place like St. Lucia made me want to share it with my family and friends hence Islandscapes was born, with lots of help from Leo on the computer education.  That was the year I got my first digital camera these photos were shot with that camera a little $ 100.00 Fugi slide. 

Best Tour Ever

I have been to St. Lucia several more times since I took these pictures but that trip remains very special for me a spectacular time of adventure with people I greatly love, meeting lots of new people, discovering a wonderful island.  When it is cold outside there is nothing like a dose of palm trees.

Wouldn't it be nice to retire to a tropical paradise?  Definitely for this woman. Winter wonderland can cease I am ready to smell the earth in my hands again.

Finding Spring

It might be snowing outside but indoors you will find Home and Garden Expositions across the country and indeed even the world, one of the largest is the Manchester Flower & Garden Show in the UK. I started my expo going with the annual show in Fort Wayne, IN since it is less than an hours drive from home. Having been a participant in several shows as a guest speaker and exhibitor I know what it takes to put on a good display, especially those landscapers who go all out hauling in tons of soil, mulch, plants, pavers and segmented retaining walls, whew what a hassle. It takes months of planning just to get some plants that are blooming , so hats off to all of those who take the time to bring us some spring.

Next weekend the big flower show at the Navy Pier in Chicago takes place and later this month Indianapolis blooms with their annual event, I hope to make both those shows, only time will tell.
The predominant paver and block featured in Fort Wayne was Belgard which is manufactured in several locations in the Midwest. I have not used this product but I saw several unique colors and liked some of the paver textures and shapes as well , so you might see some installations later this summer.

A wide assortment of home improvement products, health care, entertainment and maintenance
services were available and vendors displayed their wares with creativity and enthusiasm. I bought some polymer beads in assorted colors which are mere specks until you add water which hydrates them into something like marbles, very colorful and even better when you add the little 100 hour led light that brings out the shine. Sweet to add to a vase of flowers. My other big purchase was a one of a kind flower pot hanger that holds up to a 12", 90 pound pot by the lip. I love the fact that the every day entrepreneur/inventor can still make and market a product through a venue like the home shows