We’ve always had a special place in our hearts for the Florida Botanical Gardens, visiting countless times over the years with family and friends. After moving back to the area last year, I finally had the opportunity to give back by joining the volunteer program.
Now in my second year as a volunteer, it’s deeply rewarding to work alongside other volunteers who share the same passion and to watch the gardens flourish, knowing I’ve played a small part in their care. Each season brings new lessons—about plants, gardening techniques, and the quiet dedication required to keep this hidden gem thriving.
Walking through the gardens, you’ll encounter winding paths shaded by towering oaks, vibrant flower beds bursting with color, and serene waters reflecting the sky, teeming with wildlife. Hidden nooks and charming benches invite you to pause and soak in the beauty, while meandering trails reveal native plants, butterfly gardens, and fragrant herb beds. Every corner offers something new to discover, making each visit a fresh and enchanting experience.
Light Bulb Clerodendrum, a spectacular flowering shrub
Here are a few photos I took just days before a cold snap rolled in — 39°F this morning! I’m hoping the sudden chill didn’t cause too much damage to the plants and flowers.
Volunteers at work
Can you smell the lavender already?
Giant milkweed
Quintessential Florida scenery
The Florida Botanical Gardens is dog-friendly, so your leashed furry companions are welcome to explore and enjoy the gardens with you. This hidden gem is slowly being discovered—and it likely won’t stay hidden for long. Of course, being a “hidden gem” is a double-edged sword: you want others to experience its beauty, but not at the expense of crowded paths, trampled plants, or worse—the audacity of people stealing them!
Click here to see hours and upcoming events at the Florida Botanical Garden.
Well… sort of. It still feels like summer here in West Central Florida, with daytime temps lingering in the mid-90s °F. Thankfully, the early mornings and evenings have started to cool down, dipping into the low 70s, which feels great.
This past weekend, St. Pete hosted a Free Museum Day, with eight local museums participating. You can check out the full list here.
The Imagine Museum offered free admission for two days instead of just one. We decided to skip the Saturday crowds and visit on Sunday instead—and it turned out to be a lovely day.
The Imagine Museum offers a truly breathtaking collection of contemporary glass art. Featuring works by artists from around the globe, the museum showcases a wide range of styles, techniques, and creative expressions in glass. We were amazed by the artistry and innovation on display — as you can see in the photos below.
Before our visit, the only glass artist we were familiar with was Dale Chihuly. During our time at the museum, we learned a little more about him and his mentor, Lino Tagliapietra — a Venetian glass master whose influence can be seen in the exquisite glass boats that seem to float from the ceiling at the museum's entrance. These delicate, gondola-like forms are a stunning tribute to Venice’s rich glassblowing heritage and set the tone for the incredible experience that awaits inside.
glass boats hanging in the ceiling greet you at the entrance
Japanese glass art
Venetian glass
Chihuly's signature blown glass
Amazing number of Buddha heads
Next time you’re headed to the popular Clearwater Beach, consider making a quick detour to nearby St. Pete for an arts fix — the city is packed with amazing museums, including the Dali Museum and the Florida Holocaust Museum, just to name a couple. If you’re a fan of glass art, you’re in for a treat: the Imagine Museum and the Chihuly Collection are both must-visits. They’re just a few blocks apart, so it’s easy to see both in one trip.
Fun fact: the Chihuly Collection is less than a mile from downtown St. Pete, and you can either walk or hop on the free Looper Trolley to get there.
Hurricane Helene, a category 4 storm, unleashed its fury Thursday, causing significant damages. It made landfall near Perry, Florida late that night, leaving tremendous destruction in its wake. The Florida Gulf coast - Bradenton, Longboat Key, Anna Maria, the Tampa Bay area, Cedar Key, Steinhatchee - bear the brunt of it. This morning reports are coming in with pictures of historic flooding and landslides in the foothills of TN and NC. It is heartbreaking to see so much devastation. CNN mentioned that at least 45 people were killed across five states. You can read more here.
To add insult to injury, many beaches and homes were rebuilt just last year! Storm surges are the scariest, as you can see in these videos below. The first is of Cedar Key, the second on Steinhatchee. We never stopped at Steinhatchee, but many cruisers, especially those who do the Great Loop, stop there as they cruise from Mobile Bay to Florida.
Just last week we were in the Florida Panhandle and had driven to Apalachicola for lunch, stopping at Mexico Beach. Hurricane Michael, a category 5 storm, had devastated the area back in 2018. We were happy to see the rebuilding of the small town coming together nicely. Beaches were restored with the planting of sea oats to protect the dunes from future storms and erosion.
At Apalachicola, we ambled around town to find many businesses closed, likely due to Covid. Our favorite place, The Seafood Grill, is now a different restaurant. We settled for Hole in the Wall where we had fabulous fried oysters and shrimp.
Fried oysters and hush puppies
Our next stop was St George Island State Park. Dr Beach selected this beach to be number 1 beach in America last year, and we are not surprised. Miles of undeveloped beaches with fine white sand beckoned us to swim in the inviting warm waters of the Gulf. A yellow flag was flying indicating medium hazard; the slight breeze felt wonderful. Visions of the Cape Cod National Seashore danced in my mind when I saw the wind swept dunes.
Sand dunes
Nice facilities with restrooms, showers and pavilions for picnics
Cape St George Light
During our vacation in Panama City Beach, we ate at a popular restaurant called Schooners, a popular spot to watch and celebrate the sunset. When we turned onto the street where Schooners is located, this was what greeted us.
Shocking is an understatement. OMG, what happened here? We later learned that it was a tornado's doing. Which is even scarier because you never know where it's going to hit.
View from the beach
Schooners
No doubt lives have been changed. We pray people are safe and hope for the best.
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