Vacation Beach Pictures

As much as I hate to spend too much time away from the garden when I have free time-- I very much enjoyed our trip to South West Florida. It was the perfect amount of warmth, sun, and chill vibes that I needed to break away from the day to day grind.

Some of the beautiful pictures I captured were of sunny blue sky's, hot white sandy beaches, and salty spatoons.

I have been working a lot and also going to school for my Master's degree, so as soon as my semester ended-- I took a trip to several beautiful beaches: Venice beach (South Jettys), Englewood Beach (Blind Pass), Boca Grande, and Siesta Key (Sarasota). 

Below are pictures from siesta key...

Here are pictures of Boca Grande

Here is Venice beach,  also known as South Jettys. This beach was full of seaweed sargassum. It felt very dirty because of the algae. I felt like I was drinking and wearing brown watery plant matter. 

But I love Venice Beach because it always has the most sea life of the other beaches I typically visit. Last year, I saw dolphins for the first and a live crab for the first time here at Venice beach. This year I watched a quick crab side step walk along the shire line.

Last but not least: Englewood Beach, or Blind Pass, is my favorite beach. There are so many beautiful Hollywood looking beach houses on this island...

Spring flowers blooming in February & March

The colors of Spring: pink, purple, yellow, white, and baby blue... In all their colorful glory, the Crocuses, hyacinths, magnolias and much more blooming this February and March...

Crocuses

So many shapes and size Spring flowers, too! At the end of winter, you feel blessed by these warm days and colorful flowers. It's a privilege to have such beauty in my life! 

Hyacinths

I have a Cactus blooming in March indoors. This was the cactus in early March, just budding out...

The cactus after a couple weeks of budding...

Here is the cactus today, finally bloomed out!

The other have been well taken care of this bitter winter. At this point, I have so many houseplants, they're in nearly every room of my apartment. 

Made a coconut coir tree for my monstera plant, and need to make at least 2 more! I had to start cutting back my big monstera plant; so, I propagated my cuttings in water for 2 to 3 weeks, and potted in some soil mix of perlite, peat moss, coconut coir, cactus soil mix, and vermiculite. 

When there have been warmer days this Spring-- I have brought the houseplants outside for some fresh air and sunlight.

Pansies & daffodils to be planted outside

Magnolia

Flowering tree, maybe ornamental pear

When I see a Flowering tree while I'm driving, I do have a habit of stopping and taking a picture as well!

Magnolia

Lilly from my Valentine's bouquet