Everglades, here we come!

After a lovely 5 day stay in Naples we are now on our way to the Everglades (one of my favourite places in the US). I have been told that I have used up over 75% of my monthly allotment of data due to all the photos I am downloading. Therefore, this is a written blog and I will only publish extra special photos until 3rd May when I get back my monthly allowance.
I had to eat humble pie the other day. I have been showing Gary how to tie certain knots (remembered from my Girl Guide/Scout days) - wow, over 45 years ago - where did the time go to? Anyway, Gary has been very slow to learn and I became impatient with him last week so snatched a rope away from him and did the knot myself. I threw the rope to Gary, who was on a pier and lo and behold my knot gave way and the rope fell and sunk beneath the water. You should have seen Gary's face - he looked liked the cat that got the cream. You should have seen mine!!!! That was the last time I complained about Gary's knot making. I spent half an hour that afternoon throwing a grappling tool tied (very well) to a rope into the water and dragging it backwards and forwards. Gary said I would never recover the rope but I did. I had to brag to him but as he said if I had tied a good knot originally I would not have had to go "fishing" for my rope. Several people stopped to ask me what I was doing and were disappointed with my reply. I think they thought I had a new way of catching mullet!!!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Naples. I took over 300 photos. Thank-goodness I have a digital camera otherwise we would be bankrupt from developing all my films. Naples was a very exclusive resort. Many, many beautiful, expensive homes. The town had a 5th Avenue and it matched the one in New York as it was full of expensive shops, lovely side walk restaurants and lots of people. I got to shop at Walmart instead of shopping on 5th Avenue!!! 
Our friend, Alan is joining us on the 29th May and will stay with us until 15th June. We are looking forward to his visit.
We will be out of touch with all forms of communication when we enter the Everglades so I will not be able to do my blog. I hope to be back on line at the beginning of next week (minus photos).
So, have a great week.

Naples

HAPPY EASTER!

We had a nice journey from Sanibel Island to Naples with the exception of a thunderstorm. We could see the storm approaching but could do nothing about it. Luckily, there were many high buildings around for the lightening to hit, if it wanted to.

We had intended staying near The Rookery Reserve but on the Intracoastal Waterway we came across an Osprey floundering in the water. I thought he may have caught a fish too big for him to carry or release and it was dragging the bird under. The Osprey attempted to do the butterfly strokes with his wings in the water but you could tell he was in trouble.
Johneys to the Rescue
I got poor Gary to launch the dinghy and row as close as possible to the Osprey. I jumped out of the dinghy into 4 feet of water and squishy mud and walked slowly towards the bird talking gently to him. By now, he was in the mangroves and going nowhere. I had brought with me a towel to put around him to prevent him from biting me with his mighty beak. I walked up behind him and put the towel over his wings and grabbed him. He put up a little fight and then settled down as I carried him back to the boat.

Yes, I know I am going grey. I thought if I had a hairstyle that matched the bird, he would not be as afraid!!!!!!
On board the boat I used the radio to ask for help in knowing what to do with this poor Osprey. After several phone calls and transfers it was agreed that we would turn the boat around and head into Naples where a volunteer from the Conservancy Society would pick up the injured bird and take him to the Society for help. The Osprey stayed quietly in my arms for the journey and even allowed me to stroke his head feathers gently. All the while, I am talking to him to keep him calm. We met Ray (volunteer) and he took the bird from us promising to let us know how it progressed. Unfortunately, it died two days later. Ray wrote and told us it had broken its leg and foot a long while ago and because of that it had been unable to catch its food to eat. He said it was in its last days when we rescued it. I felt so bad. I had hoped we had saved its life. I even gave it a name - Oscar!!

Once at Naples we decided to stay several days as the weather forecast had said thunderstorms and strong winds were entering the area. I had looked at things to do in Naples and decided we could find plenty to occupy ourselves.
The first thing we decided to do was to visit Henry Ford's and Thomas Edison's winter homes in Fort Myers - yes, finally some manly thing to do beside gardens and wild life sanctuaries.
We had a lovely day touring both estates and learning about both men who were very goods friends - they had to be as they lived next door to each other. I did not realise that Ford worked for Edison at one time. Not only did we see the houses, labs and grounds but we also got to see a Mustang Car Show. Mustang is celebrating its 50th year and, of course Mustangs are made by Ford.

You can see the Mustangs reflected in the Model T's wind shield.

We visited the labs and office where Edison and Ford tried to find a substitute plant for rubber. WW1 was starting and the price of rubber was escalating. Edison travelled abroad and brought back 17,000 different plants to see if they could produce rubber. He found out that Goldenrod was the best choice.

The Goldenrod can be seen on the right side of the photo. I know they did not have "Miracle Grow" in those days so whatever made the Goldenrod grow so tall should have been patented. Talking of patents, Edison applied for a patent for inventions every year for 65 years of his life.

                                                 Edison's Labs

                                                   Edison's house

                                                     Ford's house

Ford's wife, Mina (pronounced My-na) requested a Moon Garden, a garden that would reflect the full moon.

                    A calculator. Eat your heart out Texas Instruments!!

         Light bulbs dating from the 1880s in an "Electrolier" light fixture.

                                                  Phonographs

Movie camera

Edison standing next to the contiguous United State's largest banyan tree. I think the statue looks more like Jimmy Stewart than Edison. The tree was a 4ft x 2 inch cutting when given to Edison in 1925 by Harvey Firestone, the tyre magnet (yet another good friend of Edison's). The tree now measures 1 acre in diameter and has 350 roots.
Today we went to the Naples Botanical Gardens and they were absolutely smashing. Even Gary enjoyed himself.

We saw lovely flowers, ponds, reflections, mosaics, locusts, snakes and Lego Sculptures.

                                                  Orchid display.

 

I was lucky enough to peek inside a very large bromeliad type plant to see a toad hiding inside the leaves. He did not appear to be too awake.

The next photo is a collection of epiphytes (air plants).

The next photo shows an unusual way of displaying various succulents.

I must have seen at least 3 snakes, all the same variety unless I was seeing the same one over and over.

I know Spring is in the air but if this little fella was in the mood for love, he was going to be very disappointed!!

These locusts were on some kind of palm and boy, where they having a bean feast or should I say a palm feast?

This little bird appears "ruffled" at having his photo taken!!

The following photos are of some of the Lego displays-

Of course, no blog would be complete without flower or bird photos, now would it?

                  These little water lilies were no more than an inch across.
There were a couple of trees that were of interest to me. The first one is where we get "The Old Spice" fragrance from.

I did not notice a lot of women hanging around it!! I, however do like Old Spice (the original flavour). It reminds me of my Dad when I smell it.

These two trees had their own protection. And I thought the Monkey Puzzle Tree was the only tree a monkey could not climb.

Finally, a photo of me, myself and I standing next to a Queen's Vine.

I hope you have enjoyed my Easter Day blog and that everyone had a day as enjoyable as mine.