Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
Reaching for what I think is a blue plastic bag in the shoreline wrack, Juana yells, “Stop!” She spots what I don’t, which are a mass of stinging tentacles. It’s not a bag. It’s a Portuguese Man-of-War—a nasty, stinging jellyfish. These seemingly benign floaters come in on the tide and wind resting on the shoreline […]
It seems no matter where you travel in the Keys, it is hard not to bump into or spot an orchid. These epiphytes hang effortlessly on trees, fences, strings and anything their often-exposed roots can grab. I am jealous that we have had little luck up North keeping the ones we purchase alive and healthy. […]
One of the great things about being in Florida this time of year is that strawberries are fresh out of the fields and available in farmer’s markets. I love to gorge myself on perfectly ripe, red and juicy berries. I can’t get enough. But to my surprise and shock, I recently spotted white strawberries that […]
Walking along the beach yesterday, I spot a strange looking stone. Picking it up, its lightness surprises me for its size and I soon realize that I have found a pumice stone. It is riddled with tiny holes that give its smooth surface appearance a rough edge. Perfect for a bit of exfoliating. These stones […]
Floridians seem to be more playful with their mailboxes than us Northerners and Keys residents appear to amp that up a notch or two. Here is a collection of some of the more interesting mailboxes/posts that I have found in my daily bicycle trips around Upper and Lower Matecombe in Islamorada.
The most obvious fruit to forage in the Florida Keys are coconuts. This Pacific invader is one of many plants that have taken their place in the landscape as part of the tropical vibe. In fact, they and their palm tree relatives take the place of the bags of grass and leaves that non-composting Northerners […]
A bicycle ride yesterday reminded me that I am not the only migrant looking for a nicer place to spend the season. Tucked behind a communications tower I find an abandoned boat half-filled with water. On the port bow is written ‘protegida’, which means protected. On the starboard side, ‘por dios’ is written, which means […]
While one may think that coconuts are the only things to forage in the Keys, there are lots of other options. The other day Juana and I stumbled upon some desert purslane nestled next to some wind-blown palm fronts and a stone-like sponge. Differing slightly by shape and taste, this wild succulent is just like […]
Juana and I, like a pair of elderly migrating birds, have made our way South (way South) to the Florida Keys to warm our bodies and souls. With the exception of the past few years, we have been coming to the Keys to vacation for over 20 years. The tiny apartment we rent is on […]
Dried flower prints and bookmarks has always been a winning arrow in my quill of horticultural therapy activities. It is one of the few classes that I can do in Winter that surprises my clients with floral color and beauty.