Sunday afternoon at Leu Gardens

Our local botanical garden in Orlando is open but its Leu House Museum is closed due to Covid-19.

It is real quiet on this hot Sunday afternoon. We hear insects, see some butterflies and at the lookout by lake Rowena the turtles and fish move around lazily in the water. All other critters are on their afternoon nap time.

Dreaming of cruising

"To dream of cruising represents a relaxed approach to a negative situation. Cruising through problems with ease". Or so the smart websites tell you.

Paradise in Pinellas County

Instead of working in our back yard, we decided to visit the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, FL. Never been there even though it is not that far away from Myrtle Glen.

The Nordkapp, the most northern point of our journey

The weather was cold, rainy, and very cloudy when we passed by the North Cape. That day we had opted for the bird safari and not a trip to the Nordkapp, and I do not regret it. 

Bird watching day at the Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve

Today is bird safari day

Gannet colony

A visit to the most northern Botanical Garden in the world

September 15, 2020 - This post is backdated to the actual visiting date of June 13, 2019. Since covid-19 does not let us travel, I am 'traveling' through my previous trips and decided to add some of those pictures to my blog.

When I plan vacations, I check first for the gardens in that area and a visit to this most northern Botanical Garden was on my wish list.

Sommarøy, the Summer Island

Instead of taking a tour of the town Tromsø we signed up for a bus tour to visit a traditional Norwegian fishing village on the island Sommarøy.

Blue Noses

The Highlight of the Sea Day between Geiranger and Tromso was the crossing of the Arctic Circle. There is no darkness just twilight this far north in June.

A day in Geiranger, Norway

Our ship, Serenade of the Seas, was inching into the long winding Geirangerfjord towards the little town Geiranger before 5 am. Nights are very short in Norway this time of year, sunrise was at 3:45 am and sunset happens close to midnight.

Thought for the Weekend

When the winds of change blow,
some people build walls
while others build windmills

[Chinese proverb]

An offshore wind farm close to Copenhagen

Middelgrunden - 20 wind turbines in the North Sea

Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen

We spent the morning of the third day wandering around in Freetown Christiania.

Everyone knows this one, the iconic mural of Christiania

In Copenhagen - visiting the little Mermaid

Since we cannot travel due to Covid-19, I am digging through my travel memories. 

Day two in Copenhagen (this post is back dated to June 2019)

The Hop on Hop off bus is so nice to have day tickets for. We sat on the very top in the very front and had an amazing tour of Copenhagen. It was overcast with sprinkles on and off, but overall a nice day for sightseeing.

In Copenhagen - The King's Garden

Close to the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens is the 400 year old King's Garden, one of Copenhagen's most visited parks. But back in the early years it was reserved for the king and royal court only. It opened to the public in 1771.

The mixed borders were inspired by English flower borders and are 240 meters long with stunning flower displays from early spring through autumn.

A glimpse into the Botanical Gardens of Copenhagen

No traveling. All through 2020.  An entire year. And who knows how the next year will be, most likely no traveling for us either. So lately, to keep my spirits up I am looking at pictures of my favorite trips reliving the good times.

One of our travels started in Copenhagen, in June of 2019. (This post is back-dated!)

Our Hotel - stunning orchid display, waterfront area, room with a view

Fairy doors at Leu Gardens

Fairy doors, how adorable!

Mayflowers in Mom's garden

I love the typical spring flowers, daffodils, tulips, snowdrops, and then the late spring flowers, lilac, lily-of-the-valley, quince... none of them will grow in my gardening zone.

Quince

Zone Envy! A well known phenomenon amongst gardeners.  I have to be content admiring the beloved spring flowers in my mom's garden. 

So nice to celebrate Mother's Day in her garden.

And a few more flowers

March 25, 2018 - 14th Garden Tour, Mt. Dora Florida

This year's theme was Container Gardening.

DeLand

On Saturday we visited the DeLand for their Wildflower Festival.  The university town DeLand is an old Florida town with a very pretty town center. We enjoyed the cute shops, had a great tasting pizza and homemade ice cream and, even though I did not buy any plants, I got rid of my money buying local honey products.

CocoCay

Cruising again on the Majesty of the Seas, this time for a long weekend to the Bahamas to celebrate hubby's birthday. 

Chacchoben Ruins

Chacchoben (meaning red corn) was the biggest Pre-Columbian city found in the Los Lagos region.