Elizabeth's Secret Garden

Fruit and Spice Park, Miami, FL

2012-01-28T19:02:00.001-05:00

The Fruit and Spice park is unique place to visit in Miami with its wide variety of specimens located on 37-acres. The parks climate is of a tropical natural which allows the growth of over 500 varieties of fruits, spices, herbs, and nuts. My favorite thing about this park is that you can sample different fruits as a guide takes you on a tram through the area. Another bonus feature is the Mango Cafe where visitors can have lunch. You can visit their website at: http://www.fruitandspicepark.org/

The Annatto or “Lipstick tree” is a unique tropical species which has a purpose that makes it fun to come across. It was nice to see it again since it reminded me of my trip to Costa Rica in 2010 (pictures below). The Central and South American natives use the seeds to make a body paint and lipstick. In our modern day, it is more common to see it on product labels from natural food companies who use the reddish or yellowish powder to dye butter and cheese. This a good alternative for buyers who want to stay away from red dyes.

Inside the fuzzy red shell are the seeds which produce the red dye.

Many are familiar with the pineapple, but did you know that it is a member of the Bromeliaceae family which has about 2,877 different species! If you are interested in growing a pineapple as a house plant, the ornamental pineapple is a more attractive chose. Just like any plant, it needs proper and tender care. Pineapples prefer a sunny location, warm weather and moderate watering.

There are so many pineapple varieties to try. If you are partial to pineapples, feel free to exercise your creativity. In Costa Rica, I learned that their spiny leaves make a nice barrier to keep pest out of the garden.

The various herbs and spices each have a unique smell that makes the tour more pleasurable. The allspice (left) and lemon grass (right) have a powerful smell which thankfully is pleasant. You are probably familiar with allspice as a ingredient in cooking recipes.

This variety of passion flower produces edible fruit. Passion flower can be found in certain teas.

The different fruits, nuts, and other plants each have distinct characteristics such as smell and texture. At each stop along the way in the tram, visitors can get a closer look at the plants.

My brother is ready to “spice” things up a bit as I bring this tour to a close. It was so much fun sharing my pictures and experience with you! I look forward to sharing with you my next blog entry. Have a great week!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tip: Do not go by the internet prices on admission. Call to confirm the price.

Famous Structures D.C.

2012-01-12T16:51:00.001-05:00

The National Mall is one of the monuments that comes to mind when I visualize Washington D.C. Many more agree that this is a famous landmark and it becomes even more evident when you consider that as many as 24 million visit it each year!

The U.S. Capitol is probably on most visitors “top things to see” list. Yes, I’ve passed by it before, but this trip our family was fortunate enough to arrive just as a tour of the Capitol was starting! You can see the tour in one of my past entries. http://elizabethssecretgarden.blogspot.com/2011/11/standing-in-front-of-u.html

The National Archives and Records Administration deals with preserving and documenting historical records along with educating the public on the history behind many of the documents. This is where the documents we treasure most are held. (This was also one of the main buildings to be featured on the movie “National Treasure”). The most famous articles housed there are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, 1297 Magna Carta, and the Bill of Right. Though faded and old, I couldn’t help but be amazed as I took in the fact that the most famous of these, The Declaration of Independence, is more than 200 years old!

This monument stands in front of the Capitol and presents a scene from the Civil War. This statue assists the viewer in feeling the emotion of the bloody battle where brother fought against brother as each side fought for what they believed. The leader on this monument raises his spear as one of his soldiers falls alongside his horse. This monument helps to capture the drama played out in the Civil War.

This statue is the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial which is another monument proudly erected in front of the U.S. capitol. We owe much gratitude to this general who helped to win the Civil War.

On our way to the National Archives and Records Administration, our paths crossed the U.S. Navy Memorial which is dedicated to those who served in the Navy. The Lone Sailor Statue was crafted in 1990 by sculptor Stanley Bleifeld. The sailor stands upon a large world map named ‘Granite Sea’ which replicates the oceans of Sea.

These plaques are another part of memorial which pays tribute to sailors who served in the U.S. Navy. This memorial along with all the others, helps us remember the history and what was required to make our country a nation. May we never take for granted the lives that were sacrificed for our sake.

George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia

2011-12-25T13:56:00.001-05:00

The memorial is located in Alexandria, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. If not traveling by car, you can take the metro. The monument is dedicated to our first president, George Washington. It is 333 feet tall and overlooks the Potomac river. It was patterned after the Lighthouse of Alexandria. A 36 acre plot of land was originally purchase by Masons. The first cornerstone was laid in 1923. Its winter hours, October 1 through March 31, are 10:00am with closing at 4:00pm. On Sunday it is open 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

Website: http://gwmemorial.org/

This room is a replica of the Alexandria-Washington Replica Lodge as it was back in 1802. It is now a museum room where visitors can see original furniture and paintings from that time period.

This chair is one of the antique furniture pieces in the room.

As you enter the Masonic Memorial, several colorful stain glass windows embellish the walls. From Benjamin Franklin to General Lafayette, each window honors a famous person from our history. This window is of General Mordecai Gist in his uniform of the Baltimore Independent Cadets.

This mural depicts President George Washington as he receives a silver plate which is to become the Cornerstone of the United States Capitol at the Masonic Ceremony held under the influence of the Grand Lodge of Maryland.

Various monuments and even a wax statue honor George Washington who was our first president.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial also exhibits the Shriners Hospital for Children. This exhibit of fezzes (Shriners hats) is in the Shrine Theater where visitors can watch a video presentation which introduces the history of the Shriners of North America.

The Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 non-profit hospital which span across the United States. The resolution to establish the hospital system began in 1920 with the Imperial Session of the Shriners in Portland, Oregon. The first hospital was opened in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The hospital takes in children even when parents are unable to pay.

I enjoyed sharing this excursion with you and hope you have a chance in the future to visit The George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

National Air and Space Museum in D.C, “Prepare for Flight”

2011-12-16T18:39:00.001-05:00

The National Air and Space Museum has the largest historic collection of aircraft and spacecraft and in addition to that it is the second-most popular of the Smithsonian museums! It is easy to believe that the space reaches an area of 161,145 square feet when it is taken into account that full size aircraft are suspended from the ceiling and displayed on the floor level. This museum is a great place to brush up on aircraft history.

Wikepedia was helpful in supplying facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Air_and_Space_Museum

Also visit the official website: http://www.nasm.si.edu/

The interactive exhibits make a visit to the Air and Space museum more exciting. This exhibit allows visitors a glimpse of the inside of an aircraft.

The Spirit of St Louis hangs suspended from the ceiling of the National Air and Space Museum. The aerial view provides a different perspective. It can be viewed from both the first and second floors. Before our tour continues, I would like to uncover some history. The foremost fact that’s in most school textbooks is that The Spirit of St Louis was flown by Charles A. Lindbergh on May 20-21, 1927. He completed the first solo transatlantic flight in history! Even more impressive back in that day, is that it was accomplished in 33 hours and 30 minutes.

This beauty, known as the Boeing X-45A, is specifically designed for combat operations. My interest is not particularly in aircraft, but this swift-wing Boeing spiked aroused my curiosity. Its use is for combat so it carries two internal weapon bays in the fuselage. With the availability of more modern technology, new Boeings have been created such as the C version which has a greater fuel capacity to allow longer flight.

To end this section, I wanted to include this propelled vehicle that reminds me of the movie “Fly Away Home.” The movie is about a young girl who raises a flock of geese and leads them in a vehicle much like this through the migration route.

Exploring the Planets

Our solar system is what keeps our planets in motion. The sun is what keeps a gravitational hold on the planets to keep them in orbit. I do not believe this was an accident, but the result of a all powerful God who spoke and it was so.

This full-scale replica should help give you an idea of what Voyager 2 really looked like. It visited the realms of the outer planets including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. According to Wikipedia on December 15, 2011 of this year, it has been operating 34 years, 3 months, and 25 days!

The Viking program was the most expensive mission ever sent to Mars with a price tag of about 1 billion US dollars! “Its main purpose was to obtain high-resolution images of the Martian surface, characterize the the structure and composition of both the surface and atmosphere, and search for evidence that life on Mars exists” (Wikipedia Viking Program).

For the billions who will never set foot on the moon, the National Air and Space Museum gives the opportunity to feel part of space travel. Space travel has come a long way and the few that have lost their lives in those efforts, deserve to have their name down in the history books. Though they have not literally fought in battle for our country, they have fought the battle in discovering the secrets of what lies beyond our home planet, Earth. I hope you have enjoyed this tour and I look forward to sharing more entries with you in the future!

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, D.C.

2011-12-03T13:30:00.001-05:00

The National Gallery of Art was our next tour during our family journey in Washington D.C. It was created in 1937 for the people of the United States by a joint resolution of Congress. It was made possible through the gift of financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon. Now, join me, as I take you through this unique collection of sculptures.

The “Spider” by Louise Bourgeois, reminds me of a Daddy Long Leg on the prowl! Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about my paths crossing this large specimen. Only in the movies would I worry about that sort of occurrence.

This is my favorite sculpture and is called “Thinker on a Rock”. It was created by Barry Flanagon. It is a nice twist to the famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin called “The Thinker” which is located in Paris.

The Pavilion Cafe is becomingly placed amidst the sculpture garden. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, pizza, and beverages. It is a nice place to rest and relax while you get a bite to eat. As a bonus, you get to enjoy a view of the garden while you eat.

This unique tree appears as if it was taken out of a story book. Its leafless metal branches give the tree a whimsical look. I’m sure the birds enjoy perching on its branches. Now, you can say you have seen a metal tree!

A garden does not feel quite complete without a water feature. This one adds a pleasant touch to the sculpture garden.

This next sculpture is the “Four-sided Pyramid" by Sol LeWitt. This structure was constructed on site by the creator along with a team of engineers and stone masons.

This last sculpture I will share with you is more of a modern looking creation that made me think of a computer part as I walked by. The name though implies something else. The “Typewriter Eraser, Scale X” is by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen. Claes Oldenburg was a Swedish sculptor who is known for his public art that features large sculptures of objects that we see every day. His artistic partner was actually his late wife. This was a nice ending to our tour of the sculpture garden.

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tip: The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is located on the National Mall in Washington D.C. It is on the corner of Madison Dr. NW and 9th St. NW. Remember to bring your camera and sunglasses.

Exploring the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

2011-11-21T08:45:00.001-05:00

Standing in front of the U.S. Capitol was something I will never forget. This is where many of the most important decisions of country are made. I was excited we discovered that touring the Capitol is free! We made it just in time for the next tour. You can book your own tour at the link below.

http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/visit/book_a_tour/index.html

Upon approaching the U.S. Capitol, its extreme size becomes apparent. It has 540 rooms that are divided amongst five levels. Each floor is dedicated to a different purpose. First, the ground floor hosts the Congressional office. Going upwards to the second floor in the south wing is the chambers of the House of Representatives and in the north wing is the Senate. The third floor is where Congress goes when in session. The area where we were able to tour for free is known as the Rotunda which is under the dome in the center of the Capitol Building. Continuing below, you can view this level.

Here on the ceiling of the Rotunda is a large fresco painting called The Apotheosis of Washington. The rotunda is the tallest part of the Capitol reaching to heights of 180 feet 3 inches with a diameter 96 feet. The creator of this master piece was the Greek artist Constantino Brumidi. It was in Italy where he served as an artist for several aristocrats as he painted palaces and villas.

The next area to catch my attention was the “Frieze of American History.” As the name implies, it takes visitors through 19 scenes straight from our country’s exciting history. What appears to be carved stone is actually painted. This work was started by Brumidi who painted seven and a half scenes. After his death, Filippo Costaggini completed eight and half scenes followed by Allyn Cox who completed the frieze in 1951.

The rotunda also contains eight large historical paintings that measure 12 by 18 feet. This particular painting is most likely familiar to you. It is known as the Declaration of Independence. It was painted by Trumball who was commissioned in 1817 to orchestrate this famous masterpiece.

Discovering the Portrait Monument of these three famous women, who made women’s suffrage possible, came as a surprise to me. I had seen it in history books, but never face to face. We owe much gratitude to these ladies Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. Thanks to them, I will be able to vote in the next election!

The next part of the tour took us to a room where we were able to stand where some of our most revered presidents stood. To be able to put my feet where they would have sat or stood instilled in me a feeling I can’t express with words. The best I can say is that at that moment I was proud to be an American.

I took a deep breath as we made our way to the Library of Congress. Finally, after desiring to see for many years, I stepped through the passage way.

Here is a view looking down on the Great Hall Interior of the Library of Congress. The new Library of Congress was opened in 1897. This impressive space was designed after the Paris Opera House. Attention to detail is evident in the Great Hall. We did not step into the portion where the multitude of books are kept, but we did get a taste of the beauty of this structure.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of the U.S. Capitol. Please visit my blog again in the upcoming weeks to see more entries on my adventures in Washington D.C!

United States Botanic Garden, Washington D.C.

2011-11-05T13:22:00.001-04:00

When visiting Washington D.C, it can be difficult at times to decide what to visit. In future blog entries, I will allow you to experience the many sites we were privileged to see. I hope my pictures give you a sense of participating in my tours and helps you decide what exhibits and museums you may wish to visit in the future.

This blog entry will take you through the United States Botanic Garden. They are actively working in partnership with programs to conserve threatened plants. One of their goals is to educate visitors about plant conservation. The following picture will reveal how they have made their gardens sustainable and more eco-friendly.

The clear glass allows sunlight to radiate into conservatory. High-efficiency fans move with high velocity, but use minimal energy when compared with the traditional paddle fans. The flow of air helps to the plants healthy and vigorous.

Upon entering each exhibit, a sign displays the habitat. World Deserts, Medicinal plants, Orchids, Hawaii, Rare and Endangered Species are just a few or the many beautiful rooms.

The different exhibits host unique plants with their native habitats. the tropical flowers are a welcoming sight.

The water features dispersed throughout the gardens adds a tranquil feel and helps to add humidity to the climate.

Orchids are one of a kind. In their own way, they seem to enrapture the viewer. Is it the array of color, their graceful appearance, or just the multitude of names they instill in us awe? Maybe you just wonder what provoked such unusual names such as Beard orchid, Camel foot, and the Chicken foot orchid of Peru!

You don’t have to travel far to see desert cactus at the Botanic Gardens. No camels needed, but bringing a camera along is a good idea.

In the Medicinal Garden there is much to discover. You will learn about many plants and how they are used for healing. Click on the sign to read about the Castor Oil plant.

In another room are various displays that show different plants and their uses in supplements, vitamins, body products, and more.

Finally, we were able to see some of the technology that will help to make our homes and environment more sustainable. I thought it was pretty neat to put grass on the roof. Maybe one day we will be able to grow vegetables on our roofs!

Whether visiting in spring or winter this is great place to visit. I hope you enjoyed this tour and will consider visiting the United States Botanic Garden in the future.

My Body Green Natural Face and Body Lotion

2011-10-29T09:39:00.001-04:00

The handmade lotions are a blend of natural herbs, oils, emollients, and enzymes that help to balance the pH levels of skin. It leaves the skin feeling refreshed as it releases nutrients and antioxidants. My favorite is the peppermint because it leaves my skin with a cool feeling and tingling as well. You can purchase their products at http://mybodygreen.com/

My Body Green, founded by Edgar Guzman and Kevin Hutchinson specializes in natural lotions for the hands and body. They also sell Eco-lyzer and natural fertilizer which boosts the growth of plants and seedlings.

Eco-lyzer is sold in Naples at an environmental store located at the Gateway Center on Tamiami Trail.

Here I am with Edgar Guzman and beside us is his herb garden. He is growing a variety of plants like lemon grass and peppermint.

Here is the lab where experimenting takes place. They create new samples here. After trying out their lotions, I can testify that it leaves my skin feeling rejuvenated. It helps to stabilize the natural pH of the skin which heals it from damage caused by cuts, insects bites, and ultra violet rays. My whole family uses My Body Green lotion and has seen positive results. It sped up the healing process of insect bites and helped to heal cracked skin. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly which makes this lotion popular among people who are environmentally conscious.

Jatropha is a new ingredient that is being included in some of the lotions as an experiment. My mom, Kim Mann, hand delivered this bottle of Jatropha latex from Costa Rica to Edgar. The latex, derived from the Jatropha Curcas tree, is useful for speeding up the healing process.

Their newest experiment is creating soaps. My family is partnering with My Body Green to create natural soaps.

Click to view My Body Green products.

Experiencing the Naples Zoo Part 2

2011-10-15T12:35:00.001-04:00

The Primate Expedition Cruise is included in the admission. It is a guided tour that takes you through a series of Islands. I was able to see various monkeys, lemurs, and apes. The cruise lasts for fifteen to twenty minutes. All of the animals live happily and enjoy a daily array of food which you can see in the series of pictures below.

Website: http://www.napleszoo.com/

“Monkeys in Action”

Feeding time at the zoo is one of the best times to see the animals in action. It is often a competition amongst animals of who can collect the most the fastest. Some take more than others which I happened to catch one of the monkeys red handed. It was quite comical. You’ll see what I mean in the scenario below.

If this monkey thinks he is not being watched he’s in for a surprise! All eyes were on this clever “thief” as he committed his crime. With banana in mouth and hands he sneaks off to enjoy his prize.

Who would have guessed what an appetite monkeys really have? I think this picture is self explanatory of what happens when a monkey has too many bananas.

And there he goes until the next meal.

The White-handed gibbon is considered a lesser ape that weighs between 6 and 8 kg. They can be a light buff color or black with all the colors having white hands and feet hence the name. Gibbons are the most agile of all living primates, but obviously on the day of our visit, he was taking a break.

Another gibbon we were able to see was the Buff-cheeked gibbons. They were my favorite couple of monkeys. The darker one is the male and the lighter is the female. They sure have long arm, but they have no tails. I guess their arms make up for their lack of a tail. They do have very loud calls that they exhibited while I was watching them. It is for territorial reasons. The sound can travel for hundreds of yards in the forest.

Many animal names are obvious when it comes to their origin. This Black-handed spider monkey can have hands from tawny and reddish to almost black. These monkeys have prehensile tails while the gibbons do not. Their tails come in handy for swinging and picking up objects.

The zoo has a National Federation Backyard Habitat that they have preserved.

I found this White Peacock basking in the sun amidst the habitats at the zoo.

If I had to think of the two animals I would not want to meet in the wild, it would probably be the skunk and porcupine. The featured shows are in the Safari Canyon Open-Air Theater. Live wildlife footage is included on video screens for better viewing.

My favorite animal was the Two-toed Sloth. This was the first time I had experienced this animal up close. Their fur looks so soft. When he was first brought out, his arms were wrapped around one of the staff members. This is an incredible animal to be able to see. I have also been able to see and film a Three-toed sloth at the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Scripture of the Week

Genesis 1:21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Sneak Peek of Lego Land in Florida! October 8, 2011

2011-10-09T16:17:00.001-04:00

We went to the premier opening for AAA members on October 8th. The grand opening is on October 15, 2011. It is exciting to be among the first to visit the park and give you a sneak peek of what you have to look forward to if you are going as well.

The park is a 150-acre theme park for families and is located in Winter Haven. The have 50 rides, shows, and other attractions to be enjoyed by Lego lovers. As a kid, I loved playing with Lego bricks especially creating aliens and castles. There is something unique about Lego toys. There intrigue is the reason that 19 billons Lego elements are produced per year!

Miniland USA

The Lego creators have really outdone themselves! They have truly captured some of the most spectacular tourist spots in America. Washington D.C is one of my families favorite places to spend vacation. We went there recently which you can see in past entries. I hope you enjoy experiencing a tour of Miniland.

Watch my video of Miniland USA!

Yes, even the Whitehouse is built out of hundreds of bricks! And guess who is on the stairway, the Obama Family!

The Lincoln Memorial

The Jefferson Memorial

The Washington Monument

The Kennedy Space Center which is in our home state of sunny Florida.

Nice twist on Hollywood which became Legowood.

Lego families can spend the day playing mini golf.

Lego pirates sail the seas in a giant ship worthy of sailing the seas.

This is the world famous outdoor amphitheater in of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Places to Eat

Across from the Big Shop is the main restaurant.

There is also a coffee shop separate from the restaurant.

The pizza man is busy out front of the Fun Town Pizza and Pasta Buffet.

Get your official Lego Land Driver’s license!

Here we are at the Ford’s Driving School. This replica was built entirely out of Lego blocks! That took a long, long time.

Yes, I passed the drivers test! Sometimes I’m thankful I look like I’m 13 instead of 17.

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tip: Don’t forget to bring $12 for parking.

Exotic Animals at the Naples Zoo

2011-09-24T13:44:00.001-04:00

The Naples Zoo is housed in the famous Caribbean Gardens. The zoo is a wonderful family visiting spot. They have many exhibits displaying exotic animals as well as shows. http://www.napleszoo.com/

Macaws have a long lifespan living up to 60 to 80 years! They are large and colorful. When it comes to choosing a mate they will stay together for life. Their diet includes ripe and unripe nuts, seeds, fruit, and even insects.

Military Macaws are bright green with red at the front of their heads. They received their name because of their bright green color which quoted by experts “They look like they are ready to march in a parade.” This playful parrot flashed out his head feathers just as I shot the photo.

This pacing “spotted cat” known as the leopard can be a skilled man-eater. It can reach speeds over 60 km! There coats allow them to blend in with surrounding leaves as they approach their pray. They are nocturnal hunters and eat antelope, pigs, and deer.

These Gazelles are a friendly couple. They live from Northern Africa through India Semi-desert. The fact that they can go their whole lives without drinking show how well they have adapted to life in the desert.

The giraffe is the tallest animals in the world. The males can rise up to 19 feet tall and weigh between 2400 and 4250. The females are slightly shorter at 17 feet tall. The giraffe is one of my favorite animals at the zoo. They have around a 100 different plants they eat. When visitors feed the giraffes they quickly slurp up the foliage with their long tongues.

It is nap time for this African Crested Porcupine. This is one of the animals we were able to see at a show. It is the largest and the heaviest of the African rodents. When danger approaches, the porcupine raises its quills and spreads them our. The skills latch onto the skin like fishhooks and are not easy to remove. Fortunately for the porcupine, they do grow back.

The stripes on each zebra is unique as the variety of fingerprints on a human. An interesting fact is that there has been albino zebras in captivity!

The leopard tortoise can live up to 100 years! It is the fourth largest species in the world with adult reaching up to 18-inches. When threatened, they can retract their head and feet into their shell.

I hope you enjoyed my tour of the Naples Zoo. Following this entry, will be a continuation of the Zoo.

Scripture of the week

Songs of Songs 2:2 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is to come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C Part 3 “Birds”

2011-09-10T09:35:00.001-04:00

Flamingoes are well know for their beautiful pink color which actually is a result of their diet. They feed on algae, diatoms, and small crustaceans which are rich in carotene pigment. Not exactly appetizing, but amazingly for these birds it is what helped to produce the name flamingo which originated from the Latin word flamma, meaning ‘flame’.

Both mother and father Flamingoes share the responsibility in raising their baby. They work together to pile up mud for building the nest in which the mother Flamingo will lay a single egg. The parents take turns in incubating the egg. After the egg hatches the young chick will have either white or gray plumage like the chick above. I can imagine him crying, “Mama, feed me, feed me!”

Maybe you have thought of your own caption idea for the picture above. If you have I’d love to hear it. You may send me a comment and you may include your website.

This native cardinal appears to have a inquisitive look. I spotted it while looking at one of the bird exhibits.

Red-fan Parrots live in the Amazon Rainforest in the genus Deroptyus. The have exquisite neck feathers that can be raised to form an elaborate and colorful fan. It most likely is a defense device used when threatened. These tropical birds live in trees and stumps. They feed on fruits that are up in the Rainforest’s canopy.

White-faced Whistling Ducks include eight different species in their genus Dendrocygna. They make their home in Costa Rica southwards to Northern Argentina and Uruguay. They live in Southern Africa and south of the Sahara from Senegal to Ethiopia. They even live on the island of Madagacar which is 226,658 sq miles and is the fourth largest island in the world!

This is a Micronesian Kingfisher which sadly is extinct in the wild. As stated in the sign below it was originally found in Guam, Palau islands, and Micronesia. You can click the sign below to read it better.

By looking at the Pygmy Falcon’s beak you can tell he is a predator who preys on insects, reptiles and small animals. Animals, watch out for this falcon cause these birds have a rapid speed and dart through the air with quick bursts of energy.

The Red-crested Cardinal name’s origin is obvious. It has a beautifully colored head which is vibrant red. Despite their name, this species of cardinal is not closely related to true cardinals. Their natural habitat is subtropical and tropical dry shrub land.

Click to enlarge sign.

The Roseate Spoonbill like Flamingoes get their pink color from their diet. Their colors range from pale pink to bright magenta. This coloring though depends on the age and location.

The Keel-Billed Toucan is about 25 inches in length. It is a Latin American bird and is the national bird of Belize. The toucan’s bill may appear large, but is actually very light and spongy. The bill is green with a red tip and orange sides. It is a beautiful bird the photograph.

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips:

If you travel a lot and you’re ready to upgrade from your digital camera to a DSLR, I recommend the EOS Rebel T1i. It takes incredible pictures. I found mine for about $200 dollars cheaper than retail. The kit came with a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens and the larger lens photographed above.

Scripture for the week

Genesis 7:14-7:16

They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according its kind, everything with wings. Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.

Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C Part 2

2011-08-27T08:52:00.001-04:00

Gorillas make there home in Africa. Newborn gorillas weigh only about 3-4 pounds compared to 6-8 pounds of human babies. Gorillas can walk before they are nine months old. Until they can walk they ride on there mother’s backs piggy back style. Like human babies, they are mischievous and always anxious to explore.

Gorillas are herbivores and have a diet that consists of leaves, shoots, roots, vines, and fruits. Apparently though they also like paper bags! I guess we learn something knew every day.

Adult male gorillas are known as ‘silverbacks’ because of the distinctive silver colored hair on their backs. They are often referred to as the mountain gorilla. They average up to six feet talk compared to the females who are up the five feet tall. Silver backs are majestic and self sacrificing when it comes to protecting there group. Giving up life is a huge sacrifice for these gentle and shy animals.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/Facts/FactSheets/Gorillas/default.cfm

Lion Tamarins name derives from their impressive mane of hair. They are beautiful with their abundance of golden hair. It looks even more impressive when the light hits it. They are critically endangered due to Brazil’s Atlantic coastal rain forests disappearing from logging, agriculture, and industry. Part of the reason I write is to encourage others to protect the creation God has given us. Simple acts such as recycling, reusing, and buying eco friendly products can make a huge impact. One of my favorite sayings is “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Whenever I’m tempted to take the easy way, I remember that saying.

Click to enlarge.

I’m not quite sure what these creature are, but they look aggressive with their devious expressions.

Red Ruffed Lemurs are endangered as is a theme with many animals in the zoo. It is so sad that people treat nature as if it has enough to use carelessly which is not the case. It is such a precious resource which when gone cannot be brought back. But when properly cared for can regenerate and recover. This is the bright side. Try buying local food, products with less packaging, and remember to recycle. Isn’t it worth it? If I encourage just I few to take action, it was worth while.

Click to enlarge and read.

I hope you enjoyed this blog entry. Please check next week to see more of the animals and exotic birds. Future blog entries will include and inside peek in the Capital, Library of Congress, gardens, and monuments. Have a great week!

Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington D.C

2011-08-20T12:26:00.001-04:00

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is free and open every day of the year, except December 25. There are a variety of exhibits which you can view below. The Smithsonian’s Zoo was my favorite part of our trip and I highly recommend visiting it. Besides the outdoor exhibits, there are also more that are open throughout the day and have air-conditioning. This includes the Reptile Discovery Center, Invertebrate Exhibit, Small Mammal House, Bird House, and Amazonia.

In the picture is my brother Joshua and my sister Andrea. I am blessed to have them and for all the adventures we get to go and that I can now share with you!

Visit their website at the following link: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

I didn't know there was such a thing as a Sloth Bear until we visited the zoo. Despite their name, they are not related to sloths. They live in the forests of South Asia. Sloth Bears are very shaggy and usually emerge at night to search for a meal of insects and fresh food.

Learn more at: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/sloth-bear/

I decided to take a photograph of this mother Sloth bear because she seems to be in a majestic position with her had held up high. Also you will notice her cub riding on her back. It is a great example of the motherly relationship between mothers and their children.

Clouded Leopards live in Southern China, Taiwan, Himalayas, and down into the Peninsula of Malaysia. They labeled vulnerable on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Animals. The cause for them being endangered is because of deforestation, poaching, and habitat destruction.

Discover more cool facts at: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsiaTrail/CloudedLeopard/factsheet.cfm

After patiently waiting, the panda finally awoke from its slumber. The activities currently threatening this beloved animal are farming, forest clearing, and other development. Despite their cute appearance they are dangerous like any other bear in the wild. I believe it is worth the effort to preserve the wildlife and habitats God created. There is a way to maintain the fragile balance of nature while still having space for our food and shelter. Simple things like recycling, reusing, purchasing organic products, and even starting your own garden can help. Just imagine what a huge impact we could make if we all went the extra mile to make a difference!

Information on the National Zoo site: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/PandaFacts/default.cfm

This elephant is being playful since it has an audience! I like the pose captured in my photograph. It is sad to note though that these endangered in the wild with only 30,000 left in the forests of south and southeast Asia. Poaching remains a major problem in the conservation of elephants. When going on international trips, you can help buy not buying ivory as souvenirs or any other endangered animals product.

Facts: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsianElephants/default.cfm

Poaching problem:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/elephants/poaching.html

This tiger must be waiting for lunch. It is a Sumatran tiger with a roar to match its size!

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GreatCats/default.cfm

Nearby is the lion exhibit. As you can see they are a bit lazy during the heat of the day. Lions tend to hunt early morning and night for that very reason. Lions sure get the good life at the National Zoo. Wouldn't be nice if we could all relax most of the day? Female lions are in some ways like humans because they take care of meal time by hunting for the pack. The males do help when it comes to bringing down large prey. The lion exhibit made me think of the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her friends say, “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!”

Nap time!

Zebras are always a thrill to see at zoos. There stripes add a whimsical feel. Animals of the Savannah were the last exhibits we saw. We had such a great time! Thank you Smithsonian’s National Zoo for the chance to tour the zoo. Keep a lookout for part two with more exhibits from the zoo. Thank you also to all my regular blog visits and kind comments from fans. Thanks to all of you, I currently have about 26,731 blog visitors since April 2009!

Seminole County Nursery and Farm

2011-07-30T08:16:00.001-04:00

South Seminole Nursery and Farm sits on ten acres of land in the heart of Central Florida. My favorite part of the farm is the fact that it is environmentally friendly. For organic gardeners and farmers that is an important characteristic. Why settle for chemical pesticides when you can purchase organically grown plants that are safe for consumption. Another plus is that the nursery sells organic vegetables, fruit, and honey from bees at the farm! The food ranges from pineapple to corn and even local seminole pumpkins. I rely on South Seminole Nursery and Farm for most of my plants because of the variety they have and that they are organically grown.

Website: http://sseminolefarmandnursery.com

This is the future gift and snack store. It will even be air conditioned for those who want to cool off after shopping for plants. It will be opening most likely in October. My book and hand made bracelets will be featured in the store!

Flowers and Fruit at the Nursery

Long-tailed skipper

Thank you for reading my entry on South Seminole farm and nursery.

Address: 2010 Lake Dr, Casselberry, FL 32707

The Simple Living Institute and the Econ Farm’s Garden

2011-07-16T07:51:00.001-04:00

Tia Meer is the Simple Living Institute’s organization president. Tia and her husband on an environmentally friendly home located on the Econlockhatchee River, between UCF and Christmas. It is known as the Econ Farm, but without the barn animals you would normally imagine seeing. They do grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs though and own their own business called Homegrown Delights. In the blog entry before this one, I showed their compost class where we built a compost pile.

The plants start out under a canopy as seedlings. They have there own irrigation system.

Through the productivity of this rain barrel, the Meers collect water for irrigation. A pipe line connects the barrel to a second one to avoid it over flowing.

The composting toilet made with planks, reminds me of the decades old one at my Grandpa’s farm.

There are so many possibilities when it comes to gardening. This lettuce bed is kept irrigated through the use of a pipe sticking out of the side where water collects.

This cauliflower has a head!

Beans and tomatoes grow up a trellis made simply with sticks and strings.

Even Styrofoam gains new life at the farm. Anyone care for a strawberry from the sustainable berry patch?

To learn more about the Econ Farm and events at the Simple Living Institute please visit their website, http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org

Simple Living Institute Composting class at the Econ Farm

2011-06-18T08:57:00.001-04:00

Simple Living Institute website: http://www.simplelivinginstitute.org

This is the screen that serves as a filter to remove larger debris from the pile.

The first two layers are the brown and green layers. This is composed of dead leaves such as palm leaves or even straw. The green layer is more like lettuce greens.

The middle layer is known as the orange layer where fruit is dumped. The middle is best to keep animals from discovering it.

The soil layer contains many microorganisms that help hold moisture.

On top goes another brown layer.

Another fruit layer.

Layer of dirt.

Water helps aid the pile by speeding up the decomposition process.

Wood ashes, oyster shells, or chicken poop can be added to the pile to act as a catalyst in speeding up the composting process.

Elizabeth’s Eco Tips: When it comes to making containers for seed starting, juice or milk containers can be a treasure worth keeping. First, cut off a panel in the front of the carton. Then in the bottom, either use a knife to poke drainage holes or unscrew the lid so you can begin filling the container with dirt and plant.

Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica Bull Event 2011

2011-05-27T15:21:00.001-04:00

I was able to experience my first Bull event this past March. I captured some of the excitement with my HD video camera and wanted to share it with you.

This is the Nuevo Arenal arena used annually for the festival.

This is one of the cowboys who uses his lasso to steer the Bull back into the gate after each ride.

From our doorstop, we were able to watch our neighbors practice during the weeks that lead up to the event. They were a little camera shy at first, but enjoyed the exposure!

Lucky Bug Gallery and B&B in Costa Rica

2011-05-20T15:33:00.001-04:00

The Lucky Bug B&B, restaurant, and art gallery is one of my favorite stops on the main road to Nuevo Arenal. http://luckybugcr.net/

The Lucky Bug Gallery offers a variety of handmade arts, crafts, decorative ceramics, and paintings. For more info visit http://luckybugcr.net/

The Restaurante Caballo Negro has an astonishing array of international vegetarian dishes made with organic ingredients. Many German favorites are also on the menu. http://luckybugcr.net/

Collared Aracari

The Bed & Breakfast is housed in the backdrop of the lake. http://luckybugcr.net/

The dining patio overlooks a private lake where the tropical birds such as toucans, aricaris, tanagers, woodpackers, hummingbirds, and magpie jays regularly feast at the feeders. This hummer I captured in action as it hovered to sip the sweet liquid in the feeder.

Hand Made Recycled Plastic Bag Pattern

2011-05-16T10:10:00.001-04:00

In Costa Rica, this bag came in handy because it is waterproof. I wanted to share the pattern I created so others could learn how to make one by recycling plastic bags.

Supplies: 40 plastic bags, 6 bread bags, size 7 knitting needles, Scissors, pen, and ruler Note: Use bags from different stores for variety of color. For example bags from Home Depot create the brown stripes on the bag.

First, cut off both handles to make the top of the bag even. Then cut the trim off the bottom that holds the bag together.

Next fold up the plastic bag so it will be easier to cut.

Make marks one and a half inches apart across the bag.

Now cut on the lines you made. They should look like little rectangles.

When you unroll them, they should be loops. Now you are ready to make your "plastic yarn".

Take two loops and pull the right loop through the left loop a little.

Now grab the other end of the right loop and put it through the hole you made before.

When you pull, it will make a knot between the two loops. Gently pull until the knot is completely tight.

To continue making
your "yarn" longer, unroll another loop. Then place the left loop over the new loop and continue to follow the exact steps as you did above.

Each loop you add will make your yarn longer. When you run out of loops you will need to cut up another bag. It will take 20 bags to knit the first half of the bag. Your yarn will become very long so I suggest rolling it into a ball to avoid a tangle of plastic. Wrapping the plastic around a finished toilet paper roll might work well.

When you have enough plastic you can start knitting. Using your size 7 needles cast on forty stitches. You are welcome to add more if you want a bigger bag. Continue knitting until your material measures ten inches. Now you can cast off. After you make more plastic yarn you will be ready to start the other half of your bag. Make sure it is the same size as your first half. When you finish both halves you will need to sew them together.

Making Handles From Bread Bags

After you sew the bag together, you will need handles. I use six long bread bags to make my two handles.

I start out by cutting on the seam that runs down each side of the bread bag. When you are finished, the bag will be long enough to braid. Cut open two more bread bags so you will have a total of three for making the first handle.

After tying three bags together, you can start braiding. When finished, tie another knot at the end. Now take three more bags, cut them all apart, and braid them for your second handle. When you have made your two handles you will be ready to sew them onto your plastic bag. I use rug thread or crochet string to sew the handles to the bag.

If you would like to purchase one already finished please e-mail me at elizabeth@flmann.com . The labor is intensive with weeks of work so please e-mail to discuss the price and how to buy. Thanks! The money goes towards my travel expenses.

Technorati Tags: Knitted Recycled Plastic Bag Pattern

Gloria’s Jungle Animal Rescue CR

2011-05-13T13:57:00.001-04:00

Jo Jo is a white faced capuchin who is part of the animal rescue. He likes to eat fruits, vegetables, and seeds.

My friend, Gloria who started the animal rescue is a zoologist living in the tropical paradise of Costa Rica. She has the medical expertise to work with both domestic and wild animals. When Gloria arrived to Nuevo Arenal in 2000 there were no veterinarians in the community. When she learned that some people in the area were being inhumane in their treatment of street animals by poisoning them for population control, she took over and started a low cost spraying and neutering operation.

Learn more at Gloria’s Jungle Animal Rescue and see how you can make a difference for innocent animals who need treatment. http://www.gloriasjar.com/?page_id=8

Gloria has been working with parrots for about 25 years. Above are the cages the rescued birds call home. The custom designed cages are easy to clean when necessary. Basically a spray from the hose does the job. You can find Gloria on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001174449802 . She has a lot of info and photos there. She is also the author of many articles for welovecostarica.com : http://tinyurl.com/3c6tkxw

Above is a blue and gold macaw. They are found in the wild in Brazil. His name is "Pasha". He was "raised in captivity" as a baby bird to be sold as a pet. Thankfully they breed well in captivity and are thus far plentiful. Gloria has had him since he was 9 weeks old.

The little brown-hooded parrot is "Nikki". She was almost killed by children with slingshots. It took a major effort (almost 2 months) to save her severely fractured wing. She has her beautiful wing, now completely well, but will never fly because the bones were too damaged.

This is "Lorita", a Red Loried Amazon. She most likely was a pet that escaped because she could talk, but evidently suffered a broken leg which had healed a bit crooked. Other than that, she is completely healthy and happy like all Gloria’s parrots.

Costa Rica Flower Album

View Full Album

Oropendola nests last one season. They look much like woven baskets swaying in the wind. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oropendola

Though this screen has been replaced many times, Gloria’s Golden Retriever always finds a way to be one with nature!

Elizabeth’s Secret Garden: When around caged animals do not stand too close unless they have no arms!

Nuevo Arenal CR Community Playground

2011-05-08T15:34:00.001-04:00

The town of Nuevo Arenal does not have a community playground for the children to play, so I decided to make a difference.

My family has a non-profit called SHAPE International. We are raising $3000 to provide the children with a playground. SHAPE International will match all donations that come in for the play ground!! No amount is too small.

Below, I am teaching English. I lived in Nuevo Arenal for seven weeks and volunteered in the school.

This is the playground at the school where I volunteered. We want to provide the children with a better place where they can play with swings, a see saw and a slide.

These are some of the children in the local school who will be playing on the new play set. My sister Andrea (standing in photo) enjoyed meeting the children.

Above is the site of the future playground. This area is located in the center of town and has been donated by the community to build a play ground (picture below) for all the children in the area.

The children of Nuevo Arenal are always smiling and happy. They spend most of their days outside playing and walking freely around town. There are so many students that half of them come in the morning to classes and the other half come in the afternoon.

Please join me to make a difference for my new friends in Nuevo by contributing to the fundraiser for a new play set.

Thank you,

Elizabeth Mann

Howler Monkeys from Costa Rica

2011-04-23T18:45:00.001-04:00

This Howler monkey decided to take a snooze in a large tree near our rental in Costa Rica.

Howler monkeys received their name because of the loud vocal calls they release. Usually they are loudest from dawn to dusk and as a group can be heard up to 3 miles away. They are also the biggest of the New World monkeys. When it comes time to “monkey around”, they use their prehensile tails for gripping and climbing.

Once the Howler awoke, I was able to capture its expression with my new telephoto lens.

My YouTube Howler Monkey Video

This is a Golden Trumpet flower.

This Canna Lily is grown as a roadside, garden ornamental, and cultivated species in Costa Rica.

Weeping Bottlebrush

Common Tody Flycatcher

This species of creature is my brother!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tip: When traveling with a camera you need to protect it from moisture. You can do so by purchasing silica gel pack for your camera bag at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/3bwxsrd

Businesses and Self-Employment in Nuevo Arenal, CR

2011-04-15T19:33:00.001-04:00

While in Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica February 14 – April 3, I have begun to truly appreciate and love the small town. Though it is not extravagant or large, the local people and community make it a truly special place that draws you in and makes you grow to love it for the sense of acceptance and friendliness that is present. Living among local residents of Costa Rica, shopping where they shop, and practicing some Spanish along the way has been a unique and learning experience. Now, I would like to allow you to experience the town of Nuevo Arenal by sharing pictures of some local businesses and individuals who are self-employed.

This is the center of town where many of the businesses are located. There are bakeries, supermarkets, a vegetable market, restaurants, and even a hair salon.

Above are the two supermarkets we have in town. We waited a month for the new Super Mas to open up across the street from our other supermarket option called Super Compro. For us, the opening of a new supermarket was one of the most exciting events of the month! When we got back from our church service and discovered it was finally open, we ran home to change and promptly returned. Me and my family were like kids in a candy store! We were so excited to learn they sold peanut butter and products from Bioland (Health food brand in Costa Rica).

For a more pleasurable and tranquil shopping experience, we walk down the street and browse through these smaller shops. There’s a store that sells clothing, another shop with a variety of plastics for the kitchen, and a food market on this strip of town.

The Computer and More shop was a life saver for us when we first arrived to Nuevo Arenal! Stan and Michael were a source of knowledge and a tremendous help when it came to figuring out how to get our internet chip set up and other technical computer problems we were clueless on how to fix.

The latest arrival is a sewing shop! I think it makes a nice addition to the town.

Other services available include our local post office (we sent 3 postcards at their office), the National Bank, and a gasoline station. The ICE building is where you set up all utilities, internet and phone. First you visit the Ice Building, then you go to the grocery store to prepay if not resident and then back to ICE if you need help activating your service. .

The man pictured right posed for a photo in front of his “mobile vegetable stand”.

Local self-employed individuals also play an important part in the community. Fresh vegetables and fruits arrive either by truck or foot. Often the individuals go to each door step to offer forth their produce. My favorite is the egg selling man who comes through weekly yelling “Huevos!” (Spanish for eggs). We also have a lady who walks by daily with her basket selling pastries she bakes fresh.

Two other jobs I find interesting is a local man who carries pots for sale on his head and the lawn cutting service who uses a weed whacker instead of a mower to cut the grass! In Costa Rica, daily life is full of surprises and some of them are quite comical like the man with pots on his head who posed for me while I stood at the window of our rental!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: When shopping in Costa Rica, it is handy to brush up on some simple Spanish phrases. The Ticos (citizens of Costa Rica) are eager and understanding when it comes to communicating. Even if your Spanish is not very good, don’t be afraid to try. They will help and correct you if you mess up which is part of the joy in learning! Remember that hand motions and facial language are useful when it comes to getting your point across. My mom knows only about 5 Spanish words, yet she has managed to pay all our bills and purchase our food through pointing, body language and assistance from local Americans in the community.

Rio Frio Macadamia Nut Farm Processing Plant, CR Part 2

2011-04-08T18:08:00.001-04:00

Above is Michelle Cloutier next to a macadamia nut tree. Michelle and her husband are owners of the Rio Frio Macadamia Nut Farm.

In the previous entry, I shared pictures and information on how macadamia nut trees are grown at the Rio Frio Macadamia Nut Farm. Getting the nuts to reach maturity and the quality desired requires careful pruning along with the arrival of cooler weather in the months of January and February. Then its harvest time for those nuts that have developed properly and escaped the jaws of hungry squirrels, worms, and diseases.

When harvest season arrives, the farm hires one family (3 women, 3 men, and Michelle’s sister in law, Virginia) to pick up nuts around the whole farm every 7-10 days or so. Collection of nuts during harvest season is required on a weekly basis since it occurs during rainy seasons. During the months of September and October, the whole family works about 3 days each week.

The processing plant is where the nuts are husked, washed, and dried before going to an additional room for final weighing and packaging.

After harvesting, it is time for the journey to be continued at the processing plant. The husking process (removal of outer shell) is fascinating to watch because of the unique machinery required. Also interesting to discover are the different stages that have to take place between the development on a tree to finally getting packaged. The shortest time from beginning of harvest to completion would be about 10 days. The nuts are picked one day, husked the next and then 8 days of drying in a large Brock bin. The nuts are then processed and packaged the following day.

With a flip of a switch, the husker machine begins rotation. The rapid action helps to crack the hard outer layer of the macadamia nut. Above is a nut whose husk has been completely removed. The nut still must go through the washing and drying steps before it is ready for shipping.

The inedible outer husks are dispelled out the side of the processing plant from a metal shoot. The husks are recycled by being used in mulching for landscaping and gardens!

After the outer husk is removed, the nuts go into a large Brock bin (silo used for storing corn). Inside, the nuts are blown with dry air to lower their moisture content so they can be safely held. Above, are the dryers which are powered by propane gas.

Next, the nuts are transported to the processing room. For processing there are about 20 women and 2 regular men workers that participate. Last year, they worked with just a few women 2 days each in February and March. Starting in June, they had the entire crew work about 3 days, in August about 6, September 8 days, and November about 12 days. Last year, they processed the equivalent of about 12 tons of nuts (weight in husk) in September and another 12 tons in November.

These women are sorting through nuts.

Above, is the sorter where nuts are able to be sorted by size. They fall through the various wholes.

The Rio Frio Macadamia Nut Farm started exporting nuts in 1992 and has exported to the US and even to Europe up until 2000. But, ever since then, they have been able to sell their nuts in the country. They sell small boxes that have been packaged at the farm for distribution to souvenir shops in the Arenal/Tilaran area. The bulk of their nuts are sold in 25 lb. bags to commercial users in San Jose who either repackage, chocolate coat, roast and put in granola or candy.

Now they are ready to eat and enjoy!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: When touring a farm in Costa Rica, always protect your hands, legs, and feet. Produce on the farm attracts scorpions, large spiders, bats, mice, squirrels, birds, which then attracts snakes including Boa Constrictors!

Rio Frio Macadamia Nut Farm, Costa Rica Part 1

2011-04-03T08:36:00.001-04:00

I recently toured the Rio Frio Macadamia Farm in Nuevo Arenal, CR. One of the owners, Michelle Cloutier, was kind enough to give me a private tour. Michelle studied forestry at the University of Tennessee. With her experience in growing trees, she came to Costa Rica as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1980.

Rio Frio Macadamia Farm is a small part of a bigger farm that a USA company owned in the 60’s and early 70’s to raise beef cattle. The government of Costa Rica expropriated most of the farm to create the Arenal Lake and reservoir; this left about 270 acres of land which was no longer big enough to interest them with the cattle project so they sold the farm to another American, Robert Case who started the macadamia nut project. Michelle and her husband now own and operate the farm. Michelle has been part of the project for 28 years.

Left photo shows nursery bags that are being prepared for starting seedlings.

The farm has 2,000 trees of different ages expanding across 40 acres of land. New trees are started from seed and once they reach a reasonable height, they are grafted with a branch (budwood) from a mature tree to insure more productivity and quality.

Here is a closer view of a grafted macadamia nut tree. The scion wood is the term used for the branch that is cut off an adult tree and grafted to a young tree when about pencil thick. You can see that the union is starting to take place where the green shoots are emerging.

Pictured to the left are some macadamia nut flowers in blossom. The next photo shows a mature nut held up beside a flower stalk that has just started to develop tiny green nuts after loosing its blossoms.

For the macadamia nut trees to flower in Costa Rica, it requires the arrival of cooler weather in the months of January and February. (Most of the macadamia nuts are grown in C.R. at elevations over 1200 ft. since the temperatures are cooler there).On average each little bunch of flowers has over 200 blossoms, but only about 2-10 nuts mature on each bunch. After pollination, tiny green nuts begin developing which will eventually (7 mo. later) mature into the larger green husked, brown shelled nuts. Once they reach full size, they will fall on their own. The nuts are then harvested from the ground. The farm averages about 10 kilos of nuts per mature tree which converted to weight in pounds would be 22 pounds in green husks.

Macadamia nuts in green husked stage.

My blog entry for next week will be on the processing plant at the Rio Frio Macadamia Nut Farm. I look forward to sharing the different phases that occur between harvesting and packaging the nuts! If you would like to contact Michelle directly her e-mail address is michelleclou@gmail.com .

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: To roast raw macadamia nuts, cook at 350 degrees for ten minutes.

If you want to get really fancy, you could try making macadamia nut brittle like they have in Costa Rica!

Arenal Festival Costa Rica 2011

2011-03-25T09:09:00.001-04:00

The Arenal Festival in Nuevo Arenal is a big celebration that is held yearly. This year the event was held March 17 – 21. As the event approached, I began to notice more action around town. Posters began going up, the road was paved down to the arena, and community areas were cleaned.

Vendors were set up outside the Arena serving food, drinks, and merchandise to purchase.

On Sunday, March 20 the city hosted a horse parade. For the parade, horses arrived many different ways. To bring the hundreds of horses into town it took multiple trucks, individual horse trailers, and those who chose to arrive by horseback.

My favorite was the horse that looked like a spotted Dalmatian!

The parade started organizing around 1 p.m. and for the next three hours riders enjoyed the day showing off their horsemanship.

This man took advantage of the opportunity by selling cowboy hats.

Just as I thought the festivities were starting to lessen, a large group of dancing horses began to congregate in front of our house! It was exciting to view the conclusion of the parade right from our porch. We were able to watch them for an hour as they sat on their horses and socialized.

They even had their own private band on wheels!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips:

In Costa Rica, currency is called colones.

$10,000 = $20.00

$5,000= $10.00

$2,000= $4.00

$1,000=$2.00

Hint: Colones x 2 = American dollars.

Vuelta al Lago Bike Event Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

2011-03-18T08:49:00.001-04:00

While living in Nuevo Arenal, my family and I experienced one of the most important events that passes through Arenal annually. It was the Vuelta al Lago mountain bike event which translates to “Around the Lake”. This year was the 20th year and annually it continues to attract riders from around the world. A friend of ours in Arenal, said that about 2,500 registered for the event this year.

The length of the event was 2 days with March 5 as the starting day. The bike circuit is 175 kilometers to ride around Lake Arenal. Many of the roads are gravel and steep which is difficult even for motorized vehicles to ride. Bikers who know the terrain come prepared with their hybrid and mountain bikes. Once the riders were geared up, they left Tilaran at 9 a.m. on March 5 and rode to Central Park La Fortuna. The following day bikers returned to Tilaran by taking the highway on the east side of Lake Arenal. The highway took the bikers right through Nuevo Arenal. I was ready with my camera as they came around the lake.

For the town of Nuevo Arenal, the event caused a lot of commotion with all the bikers passing, buses, locals watching, and even the transit patrol came for safety.

When lunch came around, these riders converted the local bus stop into their soda (Spanish for diner) hut!

Transportation Options in Costa Rica

Besides traveling by bicycle, people of Costa Rica have different ways to get to their destination. The majority of our neighbors as well as ourselves, use walking as their form of transportation. I thought it would be fun to share some other modes of transportation we have around town.

In Costa Rica, it is not unusual to see Ticos (natives of Costa Rica) ride through town on horseback. The white horse is one of my favorites to watch as it showcases its fancy walking steps.

Travel by motorcycle is another popular way to travel. I should know since they zoom past our home throughout the day! Motorcycles are now a familiar occurrence, but what I didn’t expect to see was a driver leading a horse as it sped by!

When it comes to vehicles, some citizens have a more festive approach. These gas powered carts blend in with the tropical atmosphere of Costa Rica with their elaborate paintings. I wouldn’t mind taking one of them for a ride, though I prefer to walk.

For children, a four wheeler is the more exciting option when it comes to getting around! Children start riding four wheelers at a very early age.

When the travel distance is farther, a private or public bus is one of the more sensible options, but many choose to own their own private automobile. This antique Land Rover has seen many years in Costa Rica!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: When a local water line broke, we had to be creative in finding a way to purify our water. We paired together a Tico coffee maker with an electric one to create a water purification system. First, we heated the water in our electric coffee maker and then strained in through the cloth coffee liner to remove the debris. This is a useful skill to apply when necessary.

Catarata De La Fortuna Waterfall in Costa Rica

2011-03-11T08:06:00.001-05:00

The picture to the right is the main entrance building for La Fortuna Waterfall. There is a gift shop, information center, and restrooms as well. Admission into the Ecological Reserve is around $10 per person. The money goes to a local non-profit who reinvests it for maintaining the reserve surrounding the La Fortuna Waterfall.

After becoming accustomed to living in Nuevo Arenal, my mom, siblings, and I decided to venture out of town on a trip to La Fortuna. We had high hopes for this trip since we were anticipating getting to see the La Fortuna Waterfall and find peanut butter for my brother Joshua. To reach La Fortuna it required of us taking multiple forms of transportation. First, we rode on the public bus for an hour passing over several narrow bridges, bumps, and even a washed out road. The travel from Nuevo Arenal to La Fortuna cost 2,000 colones ($4) per person, so a round trip for my family was $32. After reaching town, we went to the Arenal Evergreen Information Center who called us a taxi service for driving up to the La Fortuna Waterfall. The taxi charge was $7 and the driver dropped us right at the park’s entrance (A taxi back to town is another $7). I recommend taking a taxi to the falls because the walk is uphill and an 1 1/2 hour walk from town. You will need to preserve your energy for climbing down to the falls!

Another option for reaching La Fortuna waterfall is to travel horseback! Above is the “horse parking” station.

Learn more here: http://www.arenal.net/tour/horseback-ride-to-la-fortuna-waterfall/

A covered bridge leads to the stairway that goes down to La Fortuna Waterfall. It was the first bridge we crossed after paying admission. From the bridge is a beautiful view of the surrounding rainforest.

My brother, Joshua stayed on the lookout for wildlife with his binoculars as we made our way down (right photo).

The stairs down to the La Fortuna Waterfall is a strenuous workout, but worth it! They are also steep so we had to stay alert. The climb down took us 20 minutes descending about 400 steep steps . The amount for us was longer since we stopped to enjoy the surrounding rainforest and allow other people to pass us by who were coming back up. Imagining seeing the waterfall and hearing from those who had continued to motivate us to reach the last steps.

Wildlife in rainforests hide very well, but we did find a strange stick bug (photo above) and saw a Two-Toed Sloth huddled up in a tree. The sloth looked like a teddy bear!

With the last steps conquered, we reached the falls! There before us was La Fortuna as it dropped an astonishing 230 feet before plunging into the natural springs below. The waterfall’s flow is fed by the Tenois river, then travels through the Arenal mountain range before it cascades over a forested canyon side.

Further downstream is a relaxing swimming hole that is surrounded by tropical rainforest. The water from the falls rushes and curves over a multitude of rocks to arrive at another natural pool.

The spring water is chilly compared to the water of nearby hot springs. Wading in the spring is relaxing after the rigorous decent of stairs so be sure to bring bathing suits! The water is crystal clear and fish are visible as they pass by.

We passed a stand selling coconut water!

After viewing the waterfall, we began our climb back up the stairway. Getting back up took more effort then down since gravity was against us. To get back to the town of La Fortuna, we decided to travel by foot instead of using the taxi service. Our journey took about an hour and thirty minutes across the gravel path. We were thankful for our hiking boots, snacks, and water bottles! To entertain ourselves, we looked for butterflies, flowers, and birds along the road. Mom even found a giant leaf to shade by brother from the sun.

Along the roadside were many butterflies! I captured a picture of the Banded Peacock which you can enjoy above. We were also blessed with a beautiful view of Arenal Volcano as we walked back to town!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: When visiting La Fortuna Waterfall remember to wear good hiking shoes, pack water bottles, snacks, camera, and swimming suits. When you exit there are shower and changing rooms.

Living in Nuevo Arenal, Part 2

2011-03-04T08:01:00.001-05:00

The town of Nuevo Arenal where my family and I are staying offers a spectacular view of the Arenal Volcono right from our sidewalk! With the closing of rainy season, we have been able to enjoy a clearer view of Arenal Volcano’s peak along with its striking conical shape. One of our recent adventures was traveling to La Fortuna where we were able to see a close view of the volcano (picture above), shop in town, and visit the Catarata La Fortuna Waterfall. I will share our adventure along with pictures in a future blog entry.

Since the Arenal Volcano is such an important landmark to the local area, I decided to learn more about its history. It was interesting to learn that Arenal is the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica and one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world! The largest recorded eruption in Arenal’s history occurred in 1968. This explosion happened abruptly after being inactive for 400 years and destroyed the small town of Tabacion as well as the original Arenal town. Since the 1968 eruption, Arenal has continued to erupt on a daily basis.

Learn more about the Arenal Volcano: http://www.costarica.com/places-to-see/volcanoes/arenal-volcano/

Everyday we enjoy walking into town to get our fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and bread. The small town of Nuevo Arenal offers a selection of souvenir shops, mini markets, a grocery store, gas station, restaurants, cabanas (rooms for rent), and banking services. Now that the rainy season has ended, we can better enjoy the outside. The breeze here is so refreshing and the sunshine gives us our daily dose of vitamin D. In town we have a nice time meeting locals and many Americans living in the area.

My favorite daily stop is the local farmers market.

The local bakery is my mom’s and sister’s favorite place to shop. Everyday they buy fresh bread and pastries.

My mom discovered that the grocery store does not sell spaghetti sauce in a jar to put on our eggplant. She made it from scratch by using tomatoes from the farmers market, onions, a box of tomato sauce, and oregano. We also added sautéed zucchini on top as well. My mom substituted rice for noodles on my dish because I’m on a gluten and sugar free diet.

Most people have an alarm system or bars on the windows, but we have neither. Here my mom is stringing up our “cow bell” alarm system. With a little bit of creativity anything is possible.

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: For internet access in Costa Rica we purchased what we call our “blue stick”. This little stick contains a chip that is our key when it comes to communicating with the outside world. If you are not a resident or corporation you have to prepay at the grocery store. The fastest costs 10,000 colones which in American money would be $20.

Update:
Because we were unaware the blue chip on our pre-paid plan is limited access, we used up our $20 dollars in 7 days!

Living in Nuevo Arenal, CR Part 1

2011-02-25T09:15:00.001-05:00

The picture above is a view of the Arenal Lake from our backdoor.

Our plane landed safely in San Jose, Costa Rica at 12:50 Costa Rica time! We gained an hour upon entering the country which was nice. It took about 3 1/2 hours of driving to reach the town of Nuevo Arenal where my mom, siblings, and I are staying. Our van shuttle service was Eagle Tours La Fortuna San Carlos solarenal@racsa.co.cr . They picked us up at the airport and dropped us off at the house we are renting. A shuttle service was necessary to haul the four of us, our 4 rolling back packs, and 5 LARGE suitcases.

Here, my mom and I are off to our first shopping experience in Nuevo Arenal. We set off prepared in our rubber boots, rain coats, and polka dotted shopping bag which has wheels! On our daily excursions to the supermarket, we always carry along our rain jackets in a backpack since the rain storms here are unpredictable and occur randomly during rainy season.

This rainbow appeared amidst one of our daily rain storms.

The location at which we are staying has a lot of humidity which provides the perfect opportunity for mold to grow. Our first day in Arenal was spent cleaning up our rental home. After purchasing rubber gloves and cleaner, we were prepared to tackle what lay ahead. To keep us going and provide inspiration, we played a Josh Groban music CD that we had brought along with us. It took about eight hours of us all working to make our rental livable. We had to do a thorough floor sweeping, mopping, and wipe out the mold covered refrigerator which was quite an adventure! To make the task of cleaning the refrigerator bearable, I turned my sleeping mask into a nose cover. Black spots lined the walls and shelves so it took elbow grease from my mom, sister, and me to get the job done. It was a relief to get it cleaned to a usable condition.

Walking to the grocery store has become our daily form of exercise. The photos above are of the “largest” supermarket that is in Nuevo Arenal. It is quite an adjustment from the grocery stores we have in the US and the selection is more limited. This is a bit challenging since my brother and I our on special diets, but we put our creativity to use by preparing a variety of vegetable dishes, chicken, beans, rice, and corn tortillas. We are looking forward to the Wal-mart grocery store that will be arriving in two weeks.

To compensate for the lack of an operating stove, we purchased an electric skillet for fifty dollars. It has become one of our survival tools for preparing our daily meals. It works great for cooking eggs in the morning and sautéing our vegetables & meat for dinner. My mom uses a skillet often at our home in the Florida, so when we arrived to Costa Rica and were in need of a way to prepare food she knew what we could use! The photo to the right depicts the contraption we found for cooking rice in the microwave. It works wonders and gets the job done without having to use a stove. We are so thankful the microwave works!

Here is my Costa Rican dinner we prepared by using our electric skillet and microwavable rice cooker. The corn tortillas, vegetables, and rice were delicious!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: In Lake Arenal, you can use American money for purchases.

Butterfly Conservatory in Arenal, Costa Rica

2011-02-18T20:36:00.001-05:00

The Butterfly Conservatory is situated in the beautiful habitat that surrounds the Arenal Volcano and lake. The Butterfly Conservatory is a Rainforest Regeneration Project that is working towards restoring the native species around Arenal volcano and preserving the ecosystem that is essential for their survival. They believe that education of visitors and locals is an important step in the process of regenerating our rainforests and its biological diversity.

The Butterfly Conservatory demonstrates different strategies that can be applied in the process of preserving our rainforests. They have their own laboratories, reproduction greenhouses, exotic frog habitats, plant nurseries, botanical gardens, orchid atrium, and even organic composting! All of these exhibits serve as a source of education as they are studied by students, tourists, and scientists from around the world.

Website: http://butterflyconservatory.org/

Click on the link below to watch the Youtube video I created of the Arenal Butterfly Conservatory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCBpQ1vZmTY

Preserved specimens give a glimpse into the rich butterfly and insect diversity that inhabit Costa Rica.

Crawling insects, hairy spiders, and flying bugs all make their home in the area surrounding Arenal. It is great observing them behind glass, but meeting up with one this insects while they are still alive is another story!

Along the garden trails and rainforest river walk is a spectacular display of ornamental and medicinal plants. They each are unique and many burst with color. The red flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds.

Host and nectar plants are propagated to provide food for hungry caterpillars and nectar sipping butterflies.

Reproduction nurseries provide a site for rearing caterpillars into butterflies.

Butterfly Photos

Malachite butterfly

Heliconius Doris Red

Julia Butterfly

Isabella Butterfly

This species looks like a leaf! This camouflage comes to use in the rainforest when predators are around.

Frog Exhibit

The exotic frog exhibit provides an environment that is similar to their natural habitat in the wild.

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: For a travel friendly stay up the road from the Butterfly Conservatory, I recommend Essence Arenal http://www.essencearenal.com/

Elizabeth’s Secret Garden Living in Arenal, Costa Rica

2011-02-11T07:34:00.002-05:00

Come follow me to Arenal, Costa Rica for my 3 month adventure. My plane lands in San Jose on Feb. 14th. I will be living with my mom and siblings in a small village near Arenal Volcano. The village overlooks Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano pictured below measures about 5,358 feet and is estimated to be less than 7,000 years old. It is considered Costa Rica’s most active volcano.

My future blog entries in Costa Rica will start on February 18, 2011. I will document my adventurous explorations, photographs of exotic wildlife, and starting an agricultural project for SHAPE International http://www.shapeinternational.org/ . I will also be blogging about people I meet, community service projects, and daily living in Costa Rica.

Below is a preview with some photographs along with a video that depicts the adventures of Costa Rica. I encourage you to become a follower and check in weekly for updates.

“Elizabeth’s Secret Garden” has been published!

Here I am holding the Plaza Spanish Textbook containing my article which showcases my blog!

My article I wrote for The Costa Rica News about my eco stay in the jungles of Costa Rica http://thecostaricanews.com/elizabeths-secret-garden-stays-eco-in-costa-rica-jungles/2385 has been published.

My column and blog entry was selected by Cengage Learning to be published in their latest “Plazas”, Spanish college textbook http://tinyurl.com/6j26ne2 . Authors: Robert Hershberger, Susan Navey Davis, Guiomar Borrs A.

To read my original blog entry click on the following link. http://elizabethssecretgarden.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-first-day-in-costa-rica.html

Come visit me in Costa Rica!

“Elizabeth’s Secret Garden” has a new page on Facebook! Please click the “Like” button.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeths-Secret-Garden/200110980006101?v=wall

Community Garden of Lakes Park in Lee County, FL

2011-02-03T08:23:00.001-05:00

Community Gardens are beginning to gain popularity as individuals discover the joy that comes from growing your own fresh produce. Each plot of earth provides the opportunity for gardeners to express themselves as they nurture a patch of vegetables, cultivate flowers, or experiment with the pleasant aromas of herbs. Community gardens provide exercise, nutritious foods, strengthen community bonds, and promote environmental awareness to those who actively participate. The sustainable use of space can turn vacant lots into productive gardens that inspire others to take steps toward nutritious and healthy living.

My father and I had the opportunity to see the Community Garden of Lakes Park thanks to Extension Agent, Roy Beckford. The Community Garden of Lakes Park is a vision that has begun to take shape through the efforts and partnership between The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation and Lee County Parks & Recreation. The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation’s ultimate goal is to restore Lakes Park into a native Florida wildlife area. They have begun to layout this vision and develop a master plan. The Community Garden is part of this master plan and is one of the first steps in establishing the Lakes Park Botanic Garden.

Community Garden info: http://lakesparkenrichmentfoundation.org/community_gardens.php

The Community Garden is comprised of 69 ‘4 x 8’ raised beds which are each rented out for a yearly fee of $50. All proceeds are received by the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation and then reinvested back into Lakes Park. Most of the beds are ground level, but as shown above, some are raised higher to make it more accessible. Each bed is numbered to make identification easier.

Each gardener seizes the chance to experiment with different gardening techniques in their own raised bed. The designs vary with each different individual and their preferred style of design. The above photos demonstrate the application of square foot gardening which makes use of space by planting intensively in 1 x 1 square foot plots.

Each raised bed is unique and provides a palate for the enthusiastic gardener to cultivate an array of plants. Though each bed is different, they are all planned with care.

Whoever planted this bed loves tomatoes!

The eggplant above looks so tasty and those marigolds would make wonderful cut flowers.

The community garden takes the garden clippings and composts them into natural fertilizer.

Gardeners exercise their creativity in finding new and unique ways to conserve moisture. This gardener has woven scraps of cardboard and then covered it with rocks to create mulching.

This white powder is diatomaceous earth which is actually ground fossils of diatoms that were harvested from fresh water! It is commonly used in organic gardening for killing pests. The powder works by puncturing the exoskeleton of soft-bodied insects which results in dehydration and death.

Community gardens provide the connection to nature that many of us long to experience as we deal with the stress of living in the city. Gardening can become therapeutic for many who indulge in the activity. Gardening also provides the chance to enjoy God’s creation. While touring the area, the bird above captured my eye and now as I look back at the picture it brings a Bible passage to mind which has brought me comfort in the past and present. I hope it brings peace to you as you read it below.

Mathew 7:26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for you heavenly father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

The Butterfly Estates Eco-Attraction in Fort Myers, FL

2011-01-28T08:21:00.001-05:00

The Butterfly Estates in Fort Myers, FL is striving towards making a positive difference in our environment as we face habitat loss, increasing species extinction, and the harmful effects of pollution. They believe that the fragile condition of butterflies and their state of well-being serve as warnings of an unhealthy environment. The Butterfly Estates partners with earth-friendly organizations and is involved with providing public awareness about our environment and ways to make more sustainable choices.

The Butterfly Estates is helping in the effort of preserving native butterflies in South Florida. One of the ways they promote butterfly awareness is by providing an educational butterfly guide (link below) for teachers to use when leading school excursions through the conservatory. The Butterfly Estates encourage visitors to start their own backyard butterfly garden and hope that their garden design will help visitors when planning their garden. Many of the butterfly host and nectar plants are labeled to provide easy identification.

The Butterfly Estates Teachers’ Guide:

http://thebutterflyestates.com/public/Conservatory_Teachers.pdf

In the lobby, developing larva are displayed for children and adults to observe. You can even take time to experience a butterfly release at the conservatory. Special events are held in the conservatory with an appointment. More information can be found on their website. http://thebutterflyestates.com

The amount of butterflies present in the conservatory tends to change with the seasons and food availability. They raise about ten different common species native to South Florida. Butterfly favorites such as the Monarch and Queen gracefully land on exotic nectar plants as classical music plays in the background. It comes to no surprise that they find a thrill in dancing to the soft music which adds a special touch to the peaceful surroundings. Cascading waterfalls and relaxing benches add to the tranquility.

The 3,614 square foot glass conservatory has become the perfect habitat for the developing Queen caterpillar and chrysalis above.

Exotic flowers are not shy when it comes to displaying their vibrant colors! Oranges, reds, pinks, and whites all work together to fill the conservatory with a host of colors.

The garden outside is just as pleasant. Visitors can enjoy Florida’s warm weather as they relax on a bench or stop by the southern style veranda restaurant. The butterfly conservatory has multiple attractions such as the Flutterby’s Cafe’, Mother Nature’s gift shop, Caterpillars Ice Cream Shop, and Fudge Factory.

The Fudge Factory and Caterpillars Ice Cream Shop are both delicious homemade treats. We jumped on the opportunity when offered a free sample of fudge!

Our last stop was the Mother Nature’s gift shop which sells a variety of items including framed art (with butterflies of course!), winged jewelry, and butterfly displays. This was a great conclusion to our visit to The Butterfly Estates.

Website: http://thebutterflyestates.com

Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, FL

2011-01-21T08:31:00.001-05:00

Thomas Edison was an American inventor, businessman, and scientist. According to Wikipedia he holds more than 1,093 patents to his name! He had great intelligence and invented the phonograph, motion picture camera and electrical light bulb. When Edison wanted to create a winter retreat to escape the cold winters of his home base in New Jersey, he decided upon a property along the Caloosahatchee river. To create his winter retreat, Edison created a sketch that included elaborate homes, exotic gardens, maintenance shop, and laboratory. (The Edison estate is in the picture below to the left behind the row of quilts.)

One of the highlight events during October at the Edison and Ford Estates was the Estates Clothesline Quilt Show. Each quilt was unique and had a story to tell. My favorite was the quilt that looked like a face! The designer of this quilt had a sense of humor and great imagination.

I even got to meet Mr Edison, his wife, and Henry Ford! They looked really young for their age! In the background, several antique Ford automobiles were displayed on the lawn for visitors to see.

This is the Henry Ford Winter retreat that was purchased in 1916 to provide a place for him to vacation with Thomas Edison. This property was called “The Mangoes” due to the abundance of mango trees.

Inside Ford’s Estate

Inside Edison’s Estate

The view from the estates includes the relaxing waters of Caloosahatchee river.

The Moonlight Garden was designed by Ellen Biddle-Shipman for Mina Edison in 1929 and is located behind his office.

The Ford’s Caretaker’s cottage has been restored and turned into the Estate’s gift shop.

The Edison’s botanical gardens contain thousands of plants from around the world. Edison used the different tropical plants in many of his experiments. He studied plants for their industrial purposes and his research also included the search for a plant that produced latex to solve the “rubber crisis” of the time.

The educational experience is taken a step further inside the Edison and Ford Museum. The museum features a collection of inventions and artifacts inside its air conditioned premises. The seven different galleries inside the museum are each a different category that takes visitors through history.

For more information on tours: http://www.efwefla.org/

Tour of Echo’s Global Farm in Fort Myers, FL

2011-01-14T08:27:00.001-05:00

Echo is a non-profit inter-denominational Christian organization that is working towards fighting hunger and improving the lives of poor. Their vision is to honor God through sustainable hunger solutions. They are accomplishing this by providing access to ECHO documents, supplying seeds, and teaching appropriate agricultural techniques to farmers in poor countries who are living in difficult growing climates. http://www.echonet.org/

ECHO works in 180 different countries. Their main office and demonstration farm is located in North Fort Myers, Florida. To provide education and training, ECHO has an internship program and teaches workshops. They host an annual conference for networking. Echo earns income through their bookstore and nursery. For running the demonstration farm, ECHO has 30 permanent staff and 200 volunteers who are currently involved. Echo also accepts donations for use in operating their mission.

The photo to the left is the plant nursery which showcases a variety of plants available for purchase. Pictured to the right is the fruit cart lined with a selection of tropical fruits including star fruit, papaya, and others.

The Global Village demonstration farm at ECHO simulates different climates including hot humid lowlands, tropical highlands, tropical monsoon, semi-arid tropics, and an urban garden setting. The ECHO farm is located on 50 acres of land.

ECHO has integrated tropical sheep, goats, Naked Neck Turken chickens (looks like a turkey due to its “naked neck”), ducks, tilapia, and rabbits into its Global farm. The ducks and tilapia are raised in the same environment. Ducks are reared in a wooden complex that is raised over water (pictured left). The duck’s waste produces growth of phytoplankton and algae in the lake. The tilapia then feed on the algae.

For an insecticide in foreign countries, the leaves of the Neem tree are soaked in water and then used as a pest repellant on plants. The leaves can also be used to prevent tooth decay. Seeds can be ground to create oil used for healing skin disease. Neem can be purchased through the internet or at a Home Depot store in the US.

Worms are reared in various containers ranging from plastic bins to old rubber tires. Worm tea and casting provide nutrients that can be applied to crops. Extra worms can be used for fishing in poor countries.

In rainy climates, raised beds can be incorporated to supply drainage and improve the soil’s fertility.

Vines such as cucumbers and beans are provided additional support through the use of sticks and branches. These supplies are readily available in foreign countries.

Water availability can be a problem in the dry climates of some countries. To solve this a bucket drip irrigation system can be set up. It can be elaborate or simple depending on the supplies available.

In the urban garden demonstration, rooftop gardening is applied to make use of space.

A variety of containers were put to use in the demonstration farm. Ranging from rubber tires to plastic bins.

Mulching can become an exciting experience when old items regained new life. Plastic bags, pine cones, pop cans, and pebbles were all incorporated for mulching.

For more about tour hours go to http://www.echonet.org/content/tours

Micro Green Production at Herban Gardens in Fort Myers, FL

2011-01-07T08:33:00.001-05:00

Herban Gardens in Fort Myers, FL is operated by Ken Ryan in his very own backyard. The landscape is covered with trays filled with various micro greens that he hand packages for restaurants. The micro greens receive special attention to insure they retain their full flavor and vigor. The greens are popular for use as garnishes on salads and have a lot of nutrition packaged in their tiny leaves.

Micro greens are very colorful making them a popular choice for fine dining restaurants.

Micro greens need low humidity and good air circulation to thrive. The shade cloth above provides protection from the harsh Florida sun to give the greens a chance to survive. Micro greens can be harvested in as little as 4 to 14 days depending on the growing conditions and plant species. Micro greens criteria include greens, lettuces, and herbs harvested when quite young. This harvest usually occurs after the plants have produced their first true set of leaves.

Micro greens are sown very close together. The seeds can be scattered 1/8 to 1/4 inches apart. When they are ready to harvest, The greens are snipped at soil level. Then it is off to the restaurant and onto the consumer’s table.

Special thanks to Ken Ryan for giving a tour of Herban Gardens.

The Royal Tila Tilapia Farm in Punta Gorda, FL

2010-12-31T09:46:00.001-05:00

The Royal Tila tilapia farm was established in 2008 by Francis Dames. This sustainable fish farm in Punta Gorda, FL is an example of how businesses can put a stop to overfishing and make a profit at the same time. The year round operation is in the process of being certified organic and 100% green. This efficiency without the use of chemicals is possible through the process of aquaponics. Aquaponics is a process that uses the relationship of plants and fish together to filter out plant wastes and reduce toxicity. The wastes are then sold to be used as natural fertilizer.

The 7,000 gallon tanks above are part of the farm’s expansion project to help produce more fish to fulfill buyer’s demands. The fish that have reached preferably 1 1/2 pounds, are then shipped out live or fresh on ice.

The tilapia fish are fed algae based protein feed which is quickly renewed and replenished. The fish are raised without the use of chemicals so they are thus healthier for consumption. The biggest buyers of the farm’s fish are from NY and Houston. The demands for sustainable fish continue to grow as consumers learn more about the effects of overfishing on our oceans.

This fascinating system is part of the water filtration process that removes fish wastes. The cleaned water is then pumped back into the fish pools for reuse. This process reduces the need for harmful chemicals to clean the water.

This photo shows a closer view of the wastes that have been removed by the filter system. What once caused water pollution, can now be turned into a useful organic fertilizer.

Visit the Royal Tila website at http://www.royaltila.com/

Special thanks to Jorge L. Pang for giving a tour of the Royal Tila tilapia farm.

Want to learn more about how you can help in stopping overfishing? Please visit Seafood Watch’s website for ideas. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx

The articles in the links below shine light on a major problem that is hardly discussed; fishing “bycatch“. Bycatch means the commercial fishing boat unintentionally catches other types of fish while fishing for a particular species. These other fish typically die and are thrown away, resulting in a large amount of waste. This is the main reason that fish caught in the wild are not always the best alternative.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bycatch

http://news.mongabay.com/2005/1201-oceana.html

Hydroponically Grown Produce at Rabbit Run Farm Fort Myers, FL

2010-12-17T09:42:00.001-05:00

Denise S. Muir is the proud owner of Rabbit Run Farm in Fort Myers, Florida. She is living out her vision of growing organic vegetables and fruits in a way that is quite unique. Her produce is not grown in the usual fashion, but is grown hydroponically without the need for soil. The plants grown hydroponically use a tenth the water of an average farm.

The rows of heirloom vegetables, strawberries, and tropical fruits are grown by using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. The nutrients are fed directly to the roots causing the plants to grow more quickly. Plants grown hydroponically can grow in gravel, sand, water, or even air!

Rabbit Run Farm currently has 30,000 plants on 1/2 acre, but still has 5 more acres for future expansion! The produce grown is sold to local restaurants and consumers who what healthy and organically grown food.

Seedlings get a head start in their own greenhouse setup. They are protected from harsh weather and are given the nutrients they need.

In need of a salad? Rabbit Run Farm grows a variety of blends including summer lettuce, arugula, Red Sails lettuce, and Swiss Chard. No need to worry about pesticides because the farm uses organic pest control methods.

Rabbit Run Farm also specializes in strawberries. It must be so much fun to pick all the fruit as they ripen. Row after row of strawberries are displayed just waiting to be picked.

I’m a big fan of eggplant so for me it was exciting to see new heirloom varieties that I’ve never encountered before. They ranged from long slender white eggplants to round purple ones with a dash of white on the skin.

It was not hard to see that Denise Muir loves to grow tomatoes. She grows 15 varieties of cherry tomatoes, various heirloom tomatoes, and even a variety called the Black Zebra tomato which is pictured above to the left.

As the tour came to a conclusion, it was exciting to see the bees that flourish at Rabbit Run Farm. They do their part by pollinating the produce and in return provide Denise Muir with sweet, local honey. That sound like a good deal!

Special thanks to Denise Muir for the tour of Rabbit Run Farm. To learn more visit her website at http://www.rabbitrunfarmllc.com/

Seneca Falls Historical Society Museum in Seneca Falls, NY

2010-12-10T08:45:00.001-05:00

The mansion above is now the site of the Seneca Falls Historical Society Museum. It is located at 55 Cayuga Street in Seneca Falls. This 23 room mansion actually began as a one room wooden structure. It was Ellen Partridge who purchased the home in 1880 and renovated it to the current Queen Anne style. The Victorian home was purchased by the Becker family in 1890 who lived in it until Florence Becker sold it to the Seneca Falls Historical Society in 1962.

Above are two structures that are visible in the mansion's backyard. To the left is the Seth Thomas clock that at one time sat upon the Hoskins Block as the town clock. To the right is the original Gothic Revival tool shed.

The mansion is furnished with original items that were owned by the Partridge and Becker families as well as reproduced decorations that would have been used during the time period. The drawing room pictured above was used by the family for special occasions.

My favorite article in the house was the china tea set that at one time was located in the White House. It had been purchased during the Monroe administration, but then was given to Judge Sackett by the Secretary of State William Seward.

The dining room was decorated in the Tudor style. It was once the area where the family would have enjoyed meals together and discussed events that had occurred during their day. The photo the the right depicts the fireplace which is decorated with a sunflower motif that was commonly used for decoration throughout the house.

The kitchen would have been the scene of much activity. I can only imagine how many hours the house servants must have spent in the kitchen as they prepared each meal. The main attraction and heart of the kitchen would have been the cast iron stove above. It had 6 burners and a side tank for a supply of hot water. What I found most interesting was that the tiles by the stove had worn of their pattern due to the servants walking over them so much.

To the left is ice box which probably would have been kept separate from the kitchen since it was so hot in there. The gadget to the right is an old fashioned coffee grinder which was also used during the time period.

The Butler’s Pantry was located near the dining room. It was where final preparations for food would have taken place. The pantry’s features included a copper sink and marble counter top. The pantry also served as storage for china, silver, and glassware. From here the dishes received finishing touches right before being served to the family.

Website: http://www.sfhistoricalsociety.org/index.php

Homes of Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton in NY

2010-12-03T14:43:00.001-05:00

While traveling to New York, I was able to experience a variety of history. Seneca Falls was one historical city I was particularly eager to visit because it is full of history including the site where women’s rights became active. Before visiting, I readily absorbed information from our public library to prepare myself for what we would see. As soon as we stepped out the door of our vehicle, my eyes were drawn to the sign above which marks the site of the first convention for women’s rights. It was held July 19-20, 1848.

There was a lot that led up to this important convention. Like the formation of any house or structure, there has to be a foundation leading up to the completion. Two influential women that eventually called together the convention at Seneca Falls were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott They had met at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London as delegates. Eight years later, they gathered women together at Seneca Falls. The Seneca County Courier announced the convention on July 14, 1848 as a “Convention to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women.”

In 1847-1862, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her family lived in Seneca Falls, New York. The home became a National Historic landmark in 1965. Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote the Declaration of Sentiments declaring women’s rights. I find it interesting that this document was modeled after the Declaration of Independence. The document proclaimed that “all men and women were created equal.”

I got to stand on the porch of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s home!

A river located across from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s house was the site of another women’s rights convention. The river now is occupied by a lock system. I was fascinated by the series of channels and it was my first time seeing a lock in real life.

Rochester, New York is the location of the Susan B. Anthony house which now is a museum filled with photos, memorabilia, and pieces from the Anthony family furnishings. It is open for tours Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m with the last tour at 4 p.m. For more info you can visit their website http://susanbanthonyhouse.org/ . Photography inside is not allowed so you will just have to imagine the interior for now.

This home was where Susan B. Anthony wrote, organized, and planned various details during her work for women’s suffrage. In the parlor Susan would have met with other famous reformers including Elizabeth Cady Stanton who formed a partnership and strong friendship with Susan B. Anthony. Together the two women formed the National Women's Suffrage Association. They spent 20 years speaking at suffrage societies across America and made a huge impact on the women’s rights movement.

“Elizabeth’s Secret Garden” Walks to Canada

2010-11-29T10:57:00.001-05:00

In the last entry, I shared with you my experience at Niagara Falls. My journey did not end there though! My dad, sister, and me were filled with enthusiasm as we crossed the Rainbow Bridge which was our gateway into Canada. We did not use an automobile, but made the transit by foot.

I shall give two words of caution in case you also decide to make the same journey. First, check the weather forecast for that day before crossing the long bridge by bike or foot. (It looked clear when we started, but an hour later it started to sprinkle.) Second, make sure to bring change. It is currently $0.50 each way for pedestrians or those traveling by bike. We missed this important information and found ourselves lacking a quarter to reenter the USA! Thankfully there was a store nearby where we were able to get change.

The beautiful Rainbow Bridge was our key into Canada. We bypassed all the traffic by using our feet! The construction of Rainbow Bridge started on May of 1940 and was opened on November 1, 1941. The bridge abutments are 50 feet above water to avoid damage from ice in the winter.

Welcome to Canada! Just grab your passport and push the door that says ‘Canada’ open. After approval from the authorities, you are free to pass into the country.

Above to the left is a Canadian mountie and to the right is a double decker bus.

My visit to Canada was an unique experience and a chance to learn more about the country’s history. I learned that Canada is the second largest country in the world! It consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The current population of Canada in November of 2010 posted by Wikipedia is 34,600,000. The two official languages spoken in Canada are English and French.

We had a great view of ‘Horseshoe Falls’ from the Canadian side. The water is so pretty with its greenish hue! The falls are a great source of hydroelectric power. The hydroelectric power produced in Canada is sold to the United States.

When we spotted the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory, we just had to take a look. We shared some laughs as my dad picked up a giant 5 pound chocolate bar and pretended to take a bite.

In the photo above stands Elizabeth Mann writer of “Elizabeth’s Secret Garden” in front of The Secret Garden Restaurant. I can just imagine that posted in a travel magazine! Who would of guessed that there was a Secret Garden Restaurant in Canada? http://www.secretgardenrestaurant.net/online/index.cfm It is a great place to stop while visiting Niagara Falls in Canada.

Niagara Falls State Park in New York

2010-11-19T09:59:00.001-05:00

Niagara Falls State Park is located in the city of Niagara Falls in New York. It is the oldest state park in the United States. It was first established in 1885 as the Niagara Reservation and later became a national historic landmark. The park offers food, recreation, hiking trails, fishing, movie theater, gift shop, and a museum.

The state park contains the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and part of the Canadian Falls. The water from Niagara is used by both the United States and Canada for drinking, fishing, industrial cooling, and hydroelectric power generation. With 3,160 tons of water flowing over the falls every second, it is no great wonder that the falls are harnessed for energy! The falls are capable of producing over 4 million kilowatts of electricity.

The Prospect Point Park Observation Tower on the left is one of the options for viewing the falls. It is 282 ft. tall and has 8 million visitors annually. The Maid of the Mist boat tour, pictured on the right, is available for anyone who is adventurous. Ponchos are a must unless you want to be soaked! The boat tour closes in late October, but reopens in May depending on the presence of ice. http://www.maidofthemist.com/en/

The American Falls are 70-100 ft. (21-30 m) high depending if boulders are present at the base of the falls. The height is small compared to the width which is 1,060 ft. (320 m). Looking over the falls, I noticed that the water’s hue is a bit greenish. This is not a mysterious happenstance, but occurs through the process of salts and minerals dissolving from the fall’s power and thus being swept away unmercifully.

We walked to the top of the falls to get a better view. The walk up the stairway was a bit slippery and mist spewed forth from the grand waters (This is when a poncho would really comes in handy). When my heart beat quickened and the water’s thundering noise consumed my ears, that is when I realized how small I am and how huge God is! To gaze over God’s creation and see how He designed it to perform in a synchronized fashion, helps me to place my trust in God even when trials and difficulties seem to be unconquerable.

Bible Verse to Ponder: Jeremiah 17: 7-8

Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge in Georgia

2010-11-12T10:38:00.001-05:00

Amicalola Falls State Park is one of Georgia’s most popular state parks. The dazzling 729-foot waterfall has helped the park to become one of Georgia’s Seven Natural Wonders. It is no surprise that the Cherokee Indians named this waterfall Amicalola which means “Tumbling Waters”. After a powerful rain storm, water pours over the falls edge in a continuous stream. The falls tumble and weave through the hardwood forests until it descends over the ledge at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The forests surrounding the falls include 2,050 acres owned by the park.

The park includes more than eight miles of trails plus an Approach Trail that leads to the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail. Each trail varies in difficulty and length to provide for the different desires of hikers. We decided upon the shorter West Ridge Falls Access Trail (0.3 miles) to view the falls. For the more ambitious, their is a set of two staircases with 604 steps that escalade to the top of the falls.

The West Ridge Falls Access Trail is made up of ground industrial tires. That is great for the planet and easy on the knees. The path can easily be repaired by adding more rubber. (Click on the sign above to enlarge.)

You never know what you will discover when hiking in the woods. We saw this old pick-up truck that had crashed among trees! It remains a mystery until this day. It may have been a truck from the 1940’s that was speeding in attempt to get away from the police or it might have been smuggling moonshine. It is fun just imagining the possibilities!

Amicalola Falls offers a variety of accommodations. http://galodges.com/ You can stay in a cottage, campground, or the lodge which has modern conveniences including internet connection. The lodge also has the Maple Restaurant that overlooks the Appalachian Mountains and serves country buffet style food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We stayed in the lodge and reserved the loft bedroom. The room had a bird’s eye view of the mountains.

After dinner at the Maple Restaurant, we decided to go out on another hiking expedition. We were in for a surprise when my brother spotted a Luna Moth resting on the ground! Luna moths are nocturnal creatures so it was exciting to see one when it was still light outside. It is also interesting to know that Luna moths are rarely seen due to their very brief (1 week) adult lives. I will never forget this special encounter.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Butterfly Fest at University of Florida in Gainesville

2010-11-05T08:18:00.001-04:00

ButterflyFest is a yearly festival hosted by the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, Florida, which is home to the incredible Butterfly Rainforest exhibit. This year’s event was October 23-24, 2010. Next years festival will be October 22-23, 2011. Learn more at there website. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflyfest/

ButterflyFest is a free event that is dedicated to increasing awareness of Florida’s butterflies. The festival had many fun activities and vendors. The Festival had food vendors, nature books for sale, local honey, butterfly art and jewelry, and even a plant sale. In addition to all these activities, the festival invited speakers including Chip Taylor from Monarch Watch. For a fee, several different workshops were offered this year.

The plant sale was a lot of fun. It was hard to choose which plant to buy! The butterflies and bees led the way and I finally chose Echinacea (photo to right). It is a great herb to have because it boosts immunity and fights infection. The photo to the left is Blanket Flower which is a native wildflower.

Both butterfly host and nectar plants were sold at the plant sale. The right photo is wild lime, food plant for the Giant Swallowtail. The photo to the left is Anise Hyssop which is valued by many species due to its nectar value.

Inside, the McGuire Center’s public exhibit showcases thousands of preserved and photographed species of moths and butterflies. It has every specimen imaginable from the largest of all moth species to the shimmering winged Blue Morpho.

This table inside showcased different species of butterflies and moths in stages ranging from egg to caterpillar and even an emerged Polyphemus moth.

At ButterflyFest, I was able to meet the artist and author Mindy Lighthipe who I am friends with on Facebook. She specializes in watercolors with botanical and natural science themes. Her paintings were showcased at the Florida Museum of Natural History during ButterflyFest. I was amazed by the intricate details exhibited in her paintings of plants and butterflies. She uses live specimens, her own photography, and microscope dissections as a reference for painting. Lighthipe lives in New Jersey and runs an art school called Studio 16.

Mindy Lighthipe’s website: http://www.studio16online.com/

Mindy Lighthipe recently published a children’s book called Mother Monarch. It is about an adult female Monarch who faces various struggles during her quest for a milkweed plant to lay eggs on. The book is beautifully illustrated with her own watercolor paintings. Mindy Lighthipe was signing books at ButterflyFest and she signed mine as well. http://mothermonarch.blogspot.com/

A Tour of “Elizabeth’s Secret Garden” in Florida

2010-10-28T09:33:00.001-04:00

My gardening journey began when I started growing butterfly host and nectar plants in a garden box that my family had built in Thanksgiving of 2008. My interest in gardening and butterflies began to grow as we toured gardens around the United States and Costa Rica. As my plant collection continued to grow, we eventually dug up a site in our backyard for me to use as an experimental garden. The garden measures 8 feet wide by 32 feet long. In my new garden, I am able to study various plants and practice different organic gardening methods.

Herbs are an exciting addition to my “Secret Garden”. They are not only decorative, but also serve as a source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Herbs can be used as a garnish on your favorite dish or to make soothing herbal teas. My favorite teas I make by using lemon grass and peppermint from my garden.

Many herbs have beneficial medicinal properties. Echinacea (photo to the left) has been found to boost the immune system and fight of infection. Echinacea’s healing properties can be unleashed by making teas with its leaves, seeds, or roots. Another popular herb is peppermint which makes a wonderful tea as well. It has many health benefits which includes treatment for nausea, improves digestion, fights bad breath, clears congestion, relieves coughing, controls mild asthma, and fights stress. After learning the many health benefits and flavors that herbs produce, I decided to expand my herb collection. I now grow basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, sweet marjoram, peppermint, Echinacea, oregano, stevia (great sugar substitute for diabetics.), lemon grass, and parsley.

How to make peppermint tea:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5239471_make-using-fresh-peppermint-leaves.html

Arrow points to the “pollen basket” that collects on bumble bee’s legs. Bees use this “basket” to collect pollen and carry it back to the hive or its shelter.

Besides herbs, I have also intertwined flowers to attract pollinators and have planted host plants for butterflies to lay eggs on. Bumble bees are especially attracted to the Porterweed blossoms in my garden as you can see in the photo above. The various flowers are useful in attracting bees to my garden so they will pollinate my vegetables and fruits. After the bumble bees visit the Porterweed, they fly right over to my eggplant and pollinate it. Maybe that is why I have been getting such big eggplants!

Honey bees are also popular visitors to my garden. Honey bees are declining rapidly at 30% each year and need our help. Planting native plants and not using pesticides is an important step in helping honey bees. Above you can see a honey bee using its proboscis to collect dew drops from my Cassia tree. I planted the Cassia tree because it’s a native and also the host plant for the Cloudless and Orange-barred Sulphur. In November it becomes covered in yellow flowers and becomes an attractive focal point.

Vegetables

This year, I decided to try my skills in vegetable production. In the past I have tried growing vegetables in containers, but it was not a complete success. This time, all my vegetables are planted in the ground and receive water through a drip irrigation system. The problem with pots was that I kept forgetting to water them and they dried out to fast. With my drip irrigation system I use a timer that is dependable and sends water straight to the roots.

In the pictures above, you can see my zucchini is thriving, but not without incoming struggles. First, came the caterpillars that killed two plants out of six. I finally conquered them with a solution of water and natural liquid soap plus some help from my powerful fingers. Next came powdery mildew problems. To prevent It from spreading, I mixed together 1 gallon water, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and one tablespoon of environmentally safe dishwashing liquid. I used a large spray bottle to spray it on the top and bottom of leaves.

This year I am growing Beefsteak tomatoes. They grow into quite strange forms and can weigh a pound when fully grown. This year, I planted 6 tomato plants to be sure I would have some to pick. I don’t think I’ll have to worry about not having enough tomatoes this year. We are going to have tomatoes coming out of our ears!

Cucumbers are a lot of fun to grow and eat. I pick mine at about six inches in length to keep my cucumber plant productive. If you let the cucumbers get too old and turn yellow, the plant will stop producing.

Fruits

I starting growing Seminole pumpkins this summer and by fall they had four large pumpkins maturing on the vine. To the left you can see two male flowers side by side. The photo to the right is of a pumpkin with the female flower still attached. The bees did their part by caring pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. I did have problems with the fruits falling off before maturity and had caterpillars chew holes on the leaves, but I still was able to get four healthy pumpkins total from my two plants. To keep the pumpkins from rotting, I placed a sheet of doubled window screening underneath the pumpkins.

Here is one pumpkin sitting on a window screen bag I created.

I am also growing lemons this year and strawberries. The strawberries don’t have any fruit yet, but you can see that the lemon tree is producing in the picture above.

I learned that eggplant is actually a fruit! I thought it was a vegetable, but found myself in error after looking it up on the internet. I have picked 14 eggplants so far. Twelve came from my largest plant the other two came off a smaller plant that is a bit crowded from being planted by a bean plant. I wondered if I am setting a world’s record for the most eggplants produced by one plant! A helpful tip is that eggplants are best picked when the skin is shiny and before it turns dull in color. Don’t wait until they get big like in the grocery store, pick them young when they are the tastiest and tender. Your taste buds and the plant will thank you for picking them younger. (Larger, seedy fruits and vegetables triggers the plant to stop producing because once the plant creates seeds its job is done. Trick your plant by picking fruit and vegetables when they are small.)

Gardening is a great source of exercise, benefits pollinators, and provides mouth watering produce. With so much eggplant we have had to become creative! Look above and you will see our eggplant pizza creation. I hope you have enjoyed a tour of my garden and I look forward to sharing more of my adventures and discoveries with you in the future!

Bible Verse to Ponder: Ezekiel 17:24

“And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”

If God can sustain nature and give it life, imagine how much more He will care for us!

Long & Scott Farm in Zellwood, Florida

2010-10-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

Photo above shows my dad and me standing with the owner.

Long & Scott farm in Zellwood, Florida is a great trip for the family this fall season. The farm offers hay rides, group farm tours, fishing for kids, and the popular Corn Maze. At the market and garden shop there is a variety of locally grown crops to choose from including the popular Zellwood Sweet Corn. Pumpkins are now in season and are sold at the market. Local eggs, jellies, and home made butter by the Amish is available for purchase. You can check out prices and schedules at their website, http://longandscottfarms.com/

When stopping by Scott’s Country Market don’t forget to grab a bag of Zellwood Sweet Corn. There was enough corn in our bag to feed us and a few of our neighbors!

Pumpkins and other seasonal decorations are being sold for the fall season.

Taking a hay ride on the Sweet Corn Express is just one of the many attractions at the farm. It is open on the weekends and takes a 15 to 20 minute ride around part of the farm.

Sliding down this 60 foot slide is a memorable experience. This is the first farm I’ve visited that had a slide!

Posing with the Zellwood mascot.

Every fall in the months of October and November, Scott’s Corn Maze opens. Each year the maze is a different themed design created out of 12 foot tall corn stalks. This year’s them is “Fresh from Florida”. The corn maze is a work of art that becomes an adventure as visitors try to find their way through the maze. Getting lost is just part of the fun.

Visitors can purchase tickets to either the six acre Corn Maze or the half-acre Mini Corn Maze depending on how long you wish to spend conquering the maze. The maze is educational and interactive with questions to answer by finding clues among the corn. See the maze at the following link http://longandscottfarms.com/maze_adventures.html

“Elizabeth’s Secret Garden” hopes everyone enjoys this fall season and has a Happy Harvest.

Carter Caves Resort State Park in Olive Hill, Kentucky

2010-10-15T13:57:00.001-04:00

Carter Caves State Park is 30 miles west of Ashland. The park was established on July 31, 1946 when 945 acres were donated to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the purpose of founding a state park. The park is home to more than 20 caverns. Two of these caves are open to the public for tours. Other attractions include a nine-hole golf course, horseback riding, canoe trips, hiking, a pool, miniature golf, camp ground and picnic areas.

Our grandparents took us to an airstream rally that was held at Carter Caves State Park. We camped out first class in the airstream trailer while our grandparents had a separate retreat in their B-van. The campground has 89 campsites with utilities and a dump station. The campers staying in tents got drenched by the rain while we were cozy in our traveling home. We popped popcorn and each had our own book to read. When it stopped raining, we were ready for our hiking expeditions.

Carter Caves has several natural brides. Smokey bridge is the largest natural bridge in Kentucky. It has become a landmark in the area and is on Kentucky postcards sold at the park. The natural bridge supports a paved highway overhead. It is quite large and we had fun listening to our echoing voices inside. The path leading to the bridge starts by the welcome center. It is less than 1/2 mile long.

As we proceeded closer to the archway, we noticed it became cooler and there was a pleasant breeze. Along the path flows a stream. Moist areas provided sites for butterflies to “puddle” and extract minerals. I saw multiple Tiger Swallowtail butterflies (left) and Red-spotted purple butterflies (right). Both of these butterflies prefer woodland habitats where their food plants grow. If you look closely, you might notice that the Tiger Swallowtail is feeding on a soiled diaper. Its amazing how nature can sometimes benefit from our trash and wasteful behaviors.

Along the Rockhouse trail we crossed more bridges and found a couple natural waterfalls cascading off the side of rocks. The large rock formation is how this trail got its name. Our rubber boots came in handy for hiking the trails.

Above you can see another picture of a natural bridge.

Can you spot the moth in this picture? It took me awhile to find it on the viewfinder that is on my camera. That is camouflage at its best.

I was so very excited to go on my first canoe trip on the Smokey Lake. For years I had wanted to canoe so it was a dream come true. We almost missed out because our first trip was canceled due to a thunderstorm. You can imagine my disappointment, but God was good and provided clear weather the second day long enough for us to canoe. As each canoe slid into the lake, the passengers held their breath. One couple was terrified as the canoe swayed back and forth upon entry into the lake. For a minute we though it might tip over! Getting back out of the canoe was another story.

The Cascade Cave and X-Cave are the two caves open for tours. The X-Cave is the most popular. We purchased a package which included a tour of the X-Cave and Cascade Cave. The X-Cave received its name from the shapes of its passages. The Cascade Cave has a 30 foot high waterfall inside which explains why they named it Cascade Cave.

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tip’s: To go on the canoe and cave tours, you will need to make a reservation at the Welcome Center.

Tour of the CEHMM Algae Biorefinery in Artesia, NM

2010-10-07T13:29:00.001-04:00

Executive director Doug Lynn standing by one of his algae test ponds. He uses this to test different species of algae.

The CEHMM facility (Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management) is an algae biorefinery located in Artesia, NM. On April 19, 2010 CEHMM became the world’s first fully integrated algae refinery with the ability to operate at more than 1,000 gallons per day throughput. For perspective, consider that one outdoor hot tub that seats two adults takes about 200 gallons to fill, so 1,000 gallons would fill approximately five of those hot tubs.

Algae can produce up to 300 times more oil per acre than other conventional crops such as soybeans, jatropha, grapeseed, or palm. Algae is very productive due to its ability to produce several crops in a short time frame. This is fairly easy to understand considering how fast algae can overpopulate a pond or pool if left untreated! Though it seems a nuisance to communities or pool owners, for biofuel producers it could be the answer to our high dependence on foreign fossil fuel.

Website: http://cehmm.org/

This is an old paddlewheel algae pond that was used in the original National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) algae program that ended in 1996. The current green energy project at CEHMM is opening new doors for developing clean and renewable sources for energy. Biofuels such as algae could lower our dependence on foreign oil supplies and preserve our environment by reducing the outflow of hazardous materials that occurs in the petroleum industry.

New Mexico has been identified as an ideal place for algae propagation because of its plentiful sunlight, warm temperatures, and little topographic relief. During the winter months, The solar panel above was used as an experimental pond warmer.

CEHMM is researching biofuel production in the areas of prorogation, harvesting, and extracting oil from the brine (species that tolerates water saturated with salt) and freshwater algae. The algae tank above is used to grow experimental algae species. If the results are promising, the algae is moved to a larger, swimming pool sized tank.

This is one of the large CEHMM algae ponds. The water is kept agitated by a paddle wheel so that the algae will grow throughout the whole pond. The algae usually takes a couple of weeks to grow and will multiply rapidly once it’s started. Algae requires only sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients to complete the processes of photosynthesis necessary for the production of bio-oils. Due to the algae’s quick production and growth in areas not suitable for other agricultural crops, algae stands as a very possible answer in our quest for renewable energy.

Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, GA

2010-10-01T12:44:00.001-04:00

The Wild Animal Safari is an unique experience. We were all stimulated with excitement as we tried to visualize driving through a safari in our own vehicle. We have a few hoof marks as proof of our tour! For those who don’t want to drive through in their own vehicle, you can rent a Zebra Van (7 or 15 passengers) or take the guided tour bus (seasonal). After purchasing your tickets and getting some animal treats, the adventure is ready to begin. So buckle your seat belts and prepare to get slobbered!

The park is 200 acres with 3 1/2 miles of paved road. Along the way you can expect to see a variety of exotic and native animals. Just be sure not to feed the ostrich and zebras cause they do bite. Most of the animals are friendly and are use to being fed by humans. Giraffes might even walk up to your car to get a treat. You can also expect to see rhinos, tigers, bison, and camels. Note: Animals in the cat family and those on the wilder side are kept behind bars.

We were surprised when we passed an American bison laying on the side of the path. It was huge! Oh, and even better was our shock when a Texas Longhorn began to sway its head by our car. My mom and brother were wailing as it just barely missed us. Thankfully we made it past and now laugh at our experience.

Another comical occurrence was watching a pot-belly pig run towards our car on its stubby little legs! I’ve never seen a pig run so fast. I still laugh sometimes when I think about it. We had to throw treats our the window since it couldn’t reach. There was one big pig though that managed to reach our window by putting two of its hooves on our window sill. It was quite a feat for a pig.

We also went through the walk-about which was like that of a typical zoo setting. You can see primates, kangaroos, black bears, alligators, and more.

My favorite animal was the peacock that wandered around the exhibits. It jumped into the bunny exhibit to snatch some food. I thought that was quite amusing. The picture to the right is Patagonian Cavy. They are large rodents that are common in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina, but also inhabits other parts of South America such as Paraguay. They feed on grass and other plants in the wild.

Before leaving, you can stop at the gift shop for some souvenirs and they also have the Safari Cafe where they sell fast foods. Below is my video of our tour of the Wildlife Animal Safari.