January 2020

It had been ages since we’d seen our friends Phyllis and John, but as is often the case with great friendships, it felt like we picked up right where we left off years ago.

We spent time catching up and exploring their neighborhood, including a lovely visit to Naples Botanical Garden. A bonus was that Phyllis’ sister Lucretia and her husband George joined us. We giggled, explored the gardens, had a yummy lunch at the garden cafe, and enjoyed the winter warmth and blue skies of south Florida.

The Naples Botanical Garden is a collection of themed gardens, laid out for strolling and discovery. Something intriguing waited at every turn. Around one corner, we found the Asian Garden complete with temple designed for reflection, around another, we saw vegetables planted in between palms.

One path opened onto a broad lake vista with grasses and swooping birds, another led to a Water Garden full of blooming lilies.

Orchids are everywhere. They cling to and grow on tree branches, rock outcroppings, sides of water fountains and walls, dripping from tree limbs, dancing in midair like colorful birds. They seemed so exotic to us Northerners who pamper our houseplant orchids, searching for the best windowsill for them to survive, and then celebrating with parental pride when they rebloom. Seems like everyone grows orchids here.

One of the most striking gardens was the Kapnick Brazilian Garden crowned by a large waterfall and mosaic mural. The garden is a tribute to Roberto Burle Marx, the visionary Brazilian landscape designer.

A tie-in memory for me was that Marx designed the Cascade Garden at Longwood Gardens, an indoor garden with water features, tropical plants and masses of bromeliads. I had the good fortune to meet him at an event to celebrate that Garden’s grand opening in 1992. However, without the winter warmth of Rio or Florida, Longwood’s tropicals were coaxed along by heating cables beneath the soil. I used to bask in the steamy warmth of this garden, especially on frigid winter days.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this special garden and would enjoy a return trip to see parts I’m sure we missed. (And another lunch of shrimp seviche would be fine, too)

Back at John and Phyllis’ home, we relaxed by the pool on their lanai, a covered and screen patio that is an extension of the house. Floridians try to live outdside in the winter and inside during summer -almost the reverse of our former lifestyle in PA.

We enjoyed such good company and Phyllis’ great cooking. (Remember: it’s not called spaghetti sauce! It’s GRAVY!)

Now that we’re retired and more free to travel, we hope to see them more frequently. Thanks for the warm hospitality!