Living the Dream in Retirement
We’ve had a very warm spring so far with lots of rain and I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to buy plants to add to my garden of 2026.
If you know you know. 🌺🌹🌸
I bought 5 new perennials – Delphinium, Bleeding Heart, Champagne Bubbles Iceland Poppy, Columbine and Dianthus. After a heavy rainstorm last night I got them in the ground this morning while it was cool and damp. It felt good to put my hands in the dirt.
The next time you see these beauties they will be in full bloom, stay tuned…
While in Vegas I had the opportunity to go to the festive 32nd Annual Holiday Cactus Garden Lights. I’ve been to the cactus garden during daytime on a prior visit to Ethel M Chocolates and a few years ago, tried to attend this event only to arrive during a power outage.
This year, no power outage and an unseasonably mild December evening allowing us to stroll through the lovely, lighted cactus garden with Christmas music playing…..
Recently I visited this incredible place on a perfect fall day. These photos are of a few (of many) bronze sculptures that reside there. It’s an experience in every season and a true gem in Michigan.
It’s impossible for me to pass by natural beauty and not photograph it and so it was while off-ship on my New England/Halifax cruise.
This day fell midway through our cruise, sunny and still much warmer than we’d anticipated. As the Captain navigated the inside passage, we had the privilege of viewing the pure beauty of Glacier Bay. As we sailed, the ship made several very slow 360 degree turns so everyone had a chance to see the passage from all angles. While you can view from the open top deck, I found it too crowded. Instead I happily returned to my cabin to enjoy a few glasses of Prosecco on my balcony while taking it all in. It was a zen kind of day full of sunshine, blue sky, sparkling sea and glaciers. In a word, perfect!
Whatever we expected of the weather in Alaska was completely different than our experience. Having packed layers, waterproof jackets and footwear, gloves, hats…..you get it. That said, the week we spent there was sunny, warm and perfect for enjoying the beauty around us and the flowers were thriving.
My trip to Tennessee was an experience in Forest Bathing at my cabin, totally surrounded by the woods. The air smells fresh and clean, birds were singing from daybreak to sunset. In this setting I breathe differently, deeper. It’s a peaceful place to connect with nature.
Those who’ve followed my blog won’t be surprised to see my photos of flowers. Aruba’s consistent blue sky and sun make these vibrant beauties pop! I couldn’t resist capturing a few images.
Having been a lifelong resident of Michigan, I’ve traveled all over the state but had never visited this amazing park until recently. With 158 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens featuring over 200 sculptures, we walked for hours enjoying the fall colors, capturing photos of the beauty along the way.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened in April 1995 after 13 years of planning and fundraising by the West Michigan Horticultural Society. In 1990, Fred & Lena Meijer were asked by Betsy Borre for their support, and they embraced the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture & sculpture. The original vision has turned into a top cultural destination in the Midwest, known internationally for the quality of the art and gardens. Excerpt from Meijer gardens.org
