Florida in July

I took four grandchildren and a daughter–in-law to Florida for one week in the middle of July. The idea sounded great – we’d do some swimming in the pool, go to Busch Garden for rides, go to a water park and to the beach. And that’s what we did except the effective air temperature when you added the humidity was always over 100 and hit a high of 113 degrees. The kids didn’t seem to mind it but it sure sapped the energy out of me.

The pool was a great hit. They swam in it during the day and the hit was a night swim with the underwater lights on

I mentioned that it was humid and with the humidity came rain. This is our car parking area flooded. I took the garden tractor out to mow the lawns and got stuck in the back yard. Everyone had to come help push it out.

But they liked the pool.

This is one ride at Busch Gardens – they all seemed to have 30 – 60 minute waits – But Wendy and Kylie went on them all. Can you pick out Wendy and Kylie's feet - they are in one of those cars.

This is the peak of the summer and everything was in bloom. These are the Mexican Blue Bells.

This is a Bromeliad – just blooms once a year.

The Cactus we bought at a yard sale, a couple of years ago, was only a foot tall then. Now it has grown so much it collapsed. I replanted the two pieces that broke off – look on the bright side – now we have three cacti.

Several of the Citrus trees have fruit which will be ripening when we get down there in the fall.

The Citrus also have a problem called Citrus Leaf Miners. It’s a moth that lays its eggs on the new growth and as larva that eat the inside of the Citrus leaves. Got a spray and have now treated them – the heck with organic gardening.

When I was out pruning and spraying the citrus, I must have stepped in a red ant nest. They hurt when they bite but worst is the itching for the next week.

The bananas trees just keep on growing.

Oh, did I mention the kids liked the pool.