The Many Lakes of Lakeland, Florida

 

 

When you drive around Lakeland, you pass lots of lakes. The City of Lakeland says that there are a total of 38 named lakes within City limits, as well as numerous smaller lakes. Sizes among the 38 named lakes range from 2.5 acres (Lake Blanton) to 2,272 acres (Lake Parker) of which 17 are natural and 21 are man-made. Lake Parker is the large lake behind my condo development. Today I’m sharing a few photos of another lake I passed in my drives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kayaking at Kensington Metro Park, Michigan

 

 

Today’s photos are courtesy of Heather. My nephew James & his wife Heather went kayaking this last weekend at Kensington Metro Park, Milford, Michigan. Surrounding Kent Lake, the park covers 4,543 acres. It has wooded hilly terrain and surrounds 1,200-acre Kent Lake.

 

It’s a beautiful day in Michigan. Let’s go kayaking on Kent Lake with James & Heather.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After the kayaking, Heather and James visited the Kensington Park Farm Center. There is a 150-year-old restored barn and lots of farm animals. Heather loved visiting the kid section with the little goats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sunset in the Trees

 

Sometimes life gives us presents. We're in the right place at the right time. A colorful sunset in the trees was such a present. Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last White Amaryllis & Oaks Against The Blue Sky

 

 

 

 It's mid-April here in central Florida, and I've been enjoying my potted white amaryllis for the last two weeks. These are the last few flowers today.  My red amaryllis is just starting to get buds. I'm hopeful in two weeks, I'll be in love with the flowers.

 

 

 

 

 Now, let's enjoy beautiful blue skies and gorgeous, old oak trees against the skies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Golden Trumpet Tree & Early Amaryllis Flowers

 

 

 Today I'm sharing more photos of the Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia). Close to my home are several golden trumpets but no pink ones. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The azaleas at the condo have finished blooming. Here is a shot from the balcony taken last week. 

 

 

 

Although most people think they normally bloom in the winter, the red amaryllis bulbs at Christmas are forced bulbs. Amaryllis are tropical plants that will flower in late winter or spring when planted in the ground. We plant them in Florida and they flower in April, May. 

 

For those of you who visited last year, you may remember I bought two amaryllis bulbs to pot and grow here at the condo. I had them by my front door until they had finished blooming last spring and went dormant.  I kept the two pots on my balcony until the beginning of March. I moved them back by the front door for part full sun exposure.  They like bright sunlight.  One pot has had glorious blooms for the last week.  The 2nd one is just waking up (so to speak), and I expect buds and flowers in another month. I hope you enjoy the mostly white flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It's Spring in Central Florida With Trumpet Trees & Azaleas in Bloom

 

 

Tabebuia, commonly known as trumpet trees, are spectacular tropical flowering trees known for their explosive, often leafless, spring blooms in shades of pink, yellow, or white. Primarily native to Central/South America, these trees reach 20–50 feet tall and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.

 It's spring in central Florida with pink and yellow tabebuia or trumpet trees in blooms.  For a brief time, the blossoms appear like magic. I can never get enough of blossoming trees. I just want to drive and hunt for them.  

 

 

 

 Here at the condo, the garden in the center of our wrapped condo building has azaleas in bloom. 

 

 

 

 

 

 I hope you are enjoying spring in all its new life wherever you are.

 

  

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