A Special Magnolia Tree

Unfortunately, I won't live long enough to see this tree become the majestic magnolia it will some day be, but I am happy to be one of the contributors that made it's planting in Craig Park on Spring Bayou possible.

Woman's Club Magnolia

As each new President takes office, she chooses a pet project and creates a program to raise the funds to make it happen.  The Woman's Club Magnolia was the project chosen by Sue Chisholm Jones, who served the 2010-2011 term.  I was the Recording Secretary on the Board that year and absolutely loved her choice of project.  Sue was also very active in the Garden Club so this was a "no brainer" when it came to expressing a president's interests.

The City of Tarpon Springs is designated as "Tree USA" city by the Arbor Day Association and has strict regulations re the removal of healthy trees.  Citizens and Developers wanting to take down tree must have city approval to do so and must either replace trees or pay for a tree to be planted somewhere else in the city.

In addition to those regs, the city instituted a "Gift Tree Program" a few years ago.  Sue used the GIFT TREE PROGRAM to make this happen and she brought it to her Board to ask us to help choose the site and the type of tree.  It was decided to plant a magnolia tree in Craig Park near the site of the home of one of our club's founders in 1892.  Our tree is doing very well and you can see from this picture that I took earlier this week that she (of course, it's a "she") is healthy and looking quite lovely on the banks of Spring Bayou close to our recreation center.

I took a few other photos while we were at the park on Tuesday.  This tree is one of my favorite old oaks.

It was badly damaged by the "No Name" storm of March 1993, but managed to survive losing half it's size and has grown even lovelier during the past 21 years.  That storm was the worst we have experienced since moving to Florida.  I hope we never see anything as bad.

And I have a new cover photo for my FB page from this group of pictures:

I took that as I was leaving the park.  But my favorite picture of the day?  This one.

It says it all for me.  The waters and trees around Tarpon Springs feed my soul and sights like that of a child and his mother spending tranquil hours together in our park warm my heart.

Life is good.

First azalea bloom of the Spring

I am happy to report that Spring isn't far off for Tarpon Springs! My proof is a little damaged by the cold, but still bright and beautiful and a reminder that our real Spring is just a couple of weeks away!

A Beau Update

When I downloaded the photos from our walk yesterday, I found photos of Beau that I had taken on Christmas Day and earlier this week after his groomer had spiffed him up.

The Christmas photos are of him with his Christmas present -- a box of gourmet doggy treats:

Wow! What's this?

Open it, please.

Smells good...makes me salivate.

Hmmmm...it's different.

Yum!  Just the right amount of CRUNCH!

More, please!

They were a BIG hit.  Now we have to find more for him.

Lee put a neckerchief with a hearts design on Beau this time around.

It lasted about...two minutes.

It's so hard to believe that Beau is over 12 now.  Some days he seems that old.  Other days he is as perky as a puppy.

Maybe the same could be said of us?