I managed to get a nice sunrise photo involving the “witch’s hat” on April 18, 2020. Well, it’s actually the signature steeple of the Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church here in North Naples in Southwest Florida. It was simply a magnificent sunrise! Oh, our children called it the “witch’s hat” when they were very young.
I just love to photograph the Headquarters branch of the Collier County Public Library. I’ve taken shots during the day; during the evening; and at night. Well, on Jan. 16, 2020, I got this shot of a hallway leading from west parking lot to the entrance. I hadn’t realized that this scene is reminiscent of a Stephen King movie, but now I do!
It was hot, hot, hot … here in Southwest Florida on June 27, 2020. I have an app on my iPhone that controls our pool system and it showed that the air temperature was 102 degrees, while the pool water temperature hit 91 degrees – and that’s just 9 degrees from the temperature at which we run the spa. Whew! The 102 degrees was two degrees higher than the previous high temperature that I posted in 2017.
My sister-in-law is both helpful and talented and she has been making masks in this age of coronavirus. I just picked up three additional re-usable masks – we sanitize them after each use – for myself, our son and his significant other. My sister-in-law is great with projects and crafts and now is literally a potential life-saver with her effort. Thank you so much, Sis! We have been wearing masks when we go out from our home here in Naples, Fla., and I got this shot April 20, 2020.
I’m going to describe sunrises such as this one as “molten lava.” Such a sunrise is so beautiful that it makes you drive out of your way to this this photo on Jan. 24, 2020, as you head to work. We’ve been blessed here in Naples, Fla., with many such sunrises over the years and their beauty is never under-appreciated.
I’m going to describe sunrises such as this one as “molten lava.” Such a sunrise is so beautiful that it makes you drive out of your way to this this photo on Jan. 24, 2020, as you head to work. We’ve been blessed here in Naples, Fla., with many such sunrises over the years and their beauty is never under-appreciated.
It’s time again to post a photo of the most beautiful and emotional plant at our home here in Naples, Fla. It is a “special hibiscus” and I’ve posted several photos of its blooms over the years of my blog. The hibiscus was a gift to me by my cousin and his wife after the death of my mother. I took it home to Naples in 2004 and 16 years later it continues to bloom. I have to prune it often, but it never fails to offer a special reminder. I got this shot on June 30, 2020.
Here’s another hibiscus bloom that’s making our patio such a treat these days. It is always such a joy to see the big blooms on the several hibiscus plants on the patio around our pool at our home here in Naples, Fla. I got this shot on June 21, 2020.
One our favorite visitors to the bird feeder outside our pool’s cage is a cardinal – and not just because St. Louis’ baseball team has that name. The cardinals that visit are visually a little better to see than even the blue jay(s) that visit daily. I got this shot in the late, late afternoon of April 17, 2020, at our home here in Naples, Fla. Note: This image appears a little “blurry” because of our cage screen.
March 2020
Your day just cannot start any better than when you can see a sunrise of this magnitude of beauty. I took a longer route to work so that I could photograph this sunrise on Oct. 15, 2019, near our home here in Naples, Fla. I photographed similar sunrises before, but such a sight is always impressive.
Even though we’re near January 1, we’re getting nice blooms on a couple of hibiscus plants at our home here in Naples, Fla. Here are the photos that I took on our patio on Dec. 26, 2019, of the blooms. Both plants were pruned back a little while ago and these are the first blooms as they have recovered.
As I get back to posting on my blog A Gator in Naples (I’ve just broken a short sabbatical today), I’m going to post a few photos that I posted on an ill-fated new blog. They work better here, anyway! This art-type shot is condensation on my car window here as I drove to work in Naples, Fla., on the morning of Dec. 30, 2019.
If you ever need any instruction on growing plants … take it from me: Ignore them. I put this succulent plant in a container and the left it alone at our home here in Naples, Fla. Since my neighbor lets her sprinkler system run every day (she’s on a well and doesn’t pay for water), I never had to do anything with its upkeep. Well, here’s a beautiful bloom from the plant. So, get a plant … re-pot it … and then ignore it. You’ll be amazed at the result!
Wow! Your day can’t start off any better than when the sky looks like this when you walk out to your car to go to work. I enjoyed this spectacular sunrise on March 2, 20202, from our driveway here in Naples, Fla.
Wow! Your day can’t start off any better than when the sky looks like this when you walk out to your car to go to work. I enjoyed this spectacular sunrise on March 2, 20202, from our driveway here in Naples, Fla.
I saw this cloud build up from just looking neat to a wonderful shot as night fell here in Naples, Fla., on Aug. 22, 2019. I was running errands when I got each shot.
I saw this cloud build up from just looking neat to a wonderful shot as night fell here in Naples, Fla., on Aug. 22, 2019. I was running errands when I got each shot.
Well, every year for the past 24 years we’ve enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner with family at the Da Ru Ma Japanese steakhouse here in Naples, Fla. So, here’s the blaze as the chef started his presentation for dinner on Dec. 24, 2019. The other photos show fire coming out of the blazing onion that’s a signature of the cooking at the table.
Well, every year for the past 24 years we’ve enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner with family at the Da Ru Ma Japanese steakhouse here in Naples, Fla. on Dec. 24, 2019. This photo shows fire coming out of the blazing onion that’s a signature of the cooking at the table.
Well, every year for the past 24 years we’ve enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner with family at the Da Ru Ma Japanese steakhouse here in Naples, Fla. on Dec. 24, 2019. This photo shows fire coming out of the blazing onion that’s a signature of the cooking at the table.
A red-sky-at-night moment is almost always beautiful, but becomes even more so when there’s a moon visible, too. Here’s a shot of the current (as of Dec. 3, 2019, when I got this shot) first quarter moon high in the late afternoon sky above our house here in Naples, Fla. I got the shot as I returned home from work.
I always enjoy a hibiscus bloom. Here’s a beautiful one with drops of water after my morning soaking of the patio plants on Oct. 12, 2019, at hour home in Naples. The hibiscus offers wonderful blooms at all times throughout the year here in Southwest Florida. It’s easy for upkeep and you don’t have to be an expert to keep one in decent form.
I’m always ready to take a photo and then post it of a blazing sunset (or sunrise) in one of my car’s mirrors. Here’s the view I got running an errand on the early evening of Sept. 30, 2019, near our home here in Naples, Fla.
A visit to the Headquarters branch of the Collier County Public Library near our home here in Naples, Fla., offered this nice view of the setting sun’s rays on the arch and the flagpole. I got the shot Sept. 24, 2019.
I’m again posting a photograph I took at the Headquarters branch of the Collier County Public Library. As library buildings go, this one offers an almost unending buffet of photo opportunities. I’ve photographed shadows formed from arches in the mission-style architecture before, but never from this walkway. I got this shot Nov. 23, 2019, after a visit.
If you follow my blog, then you’re probably tired of seeing my posts of sunrise photos. Well, I’m not tired of them and here’s the latest sunrise that gave me a visual treat. I photographed this sunrise on Aug. 10, 2019, as I ran an early morning errand. Nice!
If you follow my blog, then you’re probably tired of seeing my posts of sunrise photos. Well, I’m not tired of them and here’s the latest sunrise that gave me a visual treat. I photographed this sunrise on Aug. 10, 2019, as I ran an early morning errand. Nice!
I’m posting this photo of the sunrise on Aug. 16, 2019, at our home here in Naples, Fla., because of its beauty. It was a great way to start my Friday and there’s hope that the weekend that is so new as this item is posted, starts off just as well.
I’m posting this photo of the sunrise on Aug. 16, 2019, at our home here in Naples, Fla., because of its beauty. It was a great way to start my Friday and there’s hope that the weekend that is so new as this item is posted, starts off just as well.
Although the precipitation is not from Hurricane Dorian, we continue to be deluged with rain each day here in Southwest Florida. I got this shot while stopped at a red light near our home in Naples on Sept. 2, 2019. Favorite descriptions of this downpour would be “gullywasher” or the more Southern “frog strangler.” It would be nice to see the rain ease up a bit.
OK, OK, OK! Beautiful sunsets continue each day here in Southwest Florida. I was running an early evening errand on Aug. 11, 2019, when I got this shot near our home here in Naples with the new phone holder I bought so that I don’t break the new Florida law about texting while driving (although I wouldn’t be texting to take a photo). I know you’re tired of my posts of these sunsets, but I’m sure not tired of enjoying and photographing them.
You don’t have to face a sunrise to enjoy one! Here’s a look at an exceptional reflection on a cloud on the morning of Aug. 14, 2019. I’m facing west to take the photo and the reflection looks like an explosion has occurred in the distance. I got the shot near our home here in Naples, Fla.
You don’t have to face a sunrise to enjoy one! I took one facing west on Aug. 14, 2019, but here’s one I took facing east at our home here in Naples, Fla.
The series of beautiful sunsets and sunrises just rolls along. I got this one yesterday evening (Aug. 14, 2019) as I ran an errand near our home in Naples. The spectacular visuals of mornings and evenings in Southwest Florida never become tiresome.
Yesterday, I posted two photos to show the beauty of a sunrise. However, I only need one photo today to show the beauty of the sunrise that greeted the weekend on Aug. 17, 2019. I got the shot near our home here in Naples, Fla., as I ran some early errands.
It appears as if the early evening thunderstorm here in Naples, Fla., on Aug. 19, 2019, was going to land on my neighbor’s roof! I first saw the cloud bank as I drove home from an errand and then it appeared to settle across the street.
It appears as if the early evening thunderstorm here in Naples, Fla., on Aug. 19, 2019, was going to land on my neighbor’s roof! I first saw the cloud bank as I drove home from an errand and then it appeared to settle across the street.
The rain continues morning into evening here in Naples in Southwest Florida. Toss out the usual late afternoon shower that cools things off a bit, we’ve had day-after-day of rain morning and evening. Sigh. Well, I’m sure someone is asking, “Who’ll Stop the Rain?” – or at least remember the John Fogerty song that he sang for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Who knows? Here is a photo of the clouds near dusk on Aug. 18, 2019, near our home in Naples.
More rain! We just keep getting showers throughout each day here in Southwest Florida. I got this shot of storm clouds near our home in Naples on the afternoon of Aug. 25, 2019. We’re used to rain most afternoons, but it has been a long, wet summer.
More rain! We just keep getting showers throughout each day here in Southwest Florida. I got this shot of storm clouds near our home in Naples on the afternoon of Aug. 25, 2019. We’re used to rain most afternoons, but it has been a long, wet summer.
It was less of a rainy day on Aug. 24, 2019, here in Naples, Fla., than had been forecast. A tropical system passing to the east of us didn’t dump as much as we had been getting in recent weeks! Here’s a shot of some dark clouds that I got while stopped for a red light as I ran an errand near our home.
The phrase “Red sky at morning” means everyone take warning now in Florida as Hurricane Dorian takes aim at our peninsula. Here are photos of beautiful clouds reflecting the sunrise on Aug. 28, 2019, here in Naples, Fla. I got the shots with my newly-installed iPhone bracket.
The phrase “Red sky at morning” means everyone take warning now in Florida as Hurricane Dorian takes aim at our peninsula. Here are photos of beautiful clouds reflecting the sunrise on Aug. 28, 2019, here in Naples, Fla. I got the shots with my newly-installed iPhone bracket. And, no, that isn’t a law enforcement vehicle in my rear-view mirror … it’s the sun that’s illuminating the clouds!
The phrase “Red sky at morning” means everyone take warning now in Florida as Hurricane Dorian takes aim at our peninsula. Here are photos of beautiful clouds reflecting the sunrise on Aug. 28, 2019, here in Naples, Fla. I got the shots with my newly-installed iPhone bracket.
Well, the forecast track of Hurricane Dorian looks to keep it away from us here in Southwest Florida, but it doesn’t mean that the rain has stopped – and it’s not from the storm! Here are beads of rain water on emerging orchid blooms on our patio on Aug. 31, 2019, in Naples.
I’ve posted many photos of the Desert Rose plants on our patio here in Naples, Fla. Well, the latest crop of blooms is at peak and here’s a … well, peek at them. I got this shot on the bright Sunday afternoon of Sept. 1, 2019.
I’ve posted many photos of the Desert Rose plants on our patio here in Naples, Fla. Well, the latest crop of blooms is at peak and here’s a … well, peek at them. I got this shot on the bright Sunday afternoon of Sept. 1, 2019.
I went to our nearby Sam’s Club store here in Naples, Fla., on the evening of Sept. 4, 2019, and took this nice photo of the dying sunset. Wow. Hurricane Dorian missed us; the weather forecast is nice in the short term; and all’s well in our part of the world. Of course, there’s another potential storm threat on our way (no, not Gabrielle, but the one coming off Africa), but that’s Florida in September!
Here in Southwest Florida we just: 1) were missed by a major hurricane; 2) another could threaten in 10 days or so; 3) it’s still officially summer; and 4) it’s hot. So, why am I seeing a lighted Christmas tree at our local Sam’s Club store? Unfortunately, I believe we all know the answer to the question. I got the shot on the evening of Sept. 4, 2019.
I post photos of sunrises and sunsets but also some shots of the moon. Here’s a really neat view from outside our home here in Naples, Fla., on Sept. 11, 2019. The nearly full moon in the sky illuminated a broken cloud cover. Really a nice view!
Nighttime work offers a chance for a nice photo of contrasts. Here’s a shot I got stopped at a red light near our home in Naples, Fla., on Sept. 12, 2019. The photo isn’t only interesting for the contrast, but also funny since FPL should be burying electrical lines in South Florida because of storms – instead, it appears they’re re-doing poles. Actually, I don’t know if they’re upgrading a pole or preparing to bury lines, but given the company’s long history of lack of innovation and frequent power outages from just summer rainstorms, my money is on FPL not doing the most efficient thing.
I was driving the same direction, but this is one of photos taken at sunrise and sunset. I was looking at an outstanding sunset about when I got this shot. Both photos were taken on the same road near our home here in Naples, Fla., on Sept. 22, 2019.
I was driving the same direction, but this photo was taken at sunrise. My mirrors were filled with the rising sun later. Both photos were taken on the same road near our home here in Naples, Fla., on Sept. 22, 2019.
It’s too bad that power lines had to ruin this view, but I can’t resist posting the photo since the sunset was beautiful. It was a cloudy early evening when I got this shot at the Headquarters branch of the Collier County Public Library near our home here in Naples on on Oct. 9, 2019. The setting sun was behind me and these clouds were reflecting its beauty.
Your day just cannot start any better than when you can see a sunrise of this magnitude of beauty. I took a longer route to work so that I could photograph this sunrise on Oct. 15, 2019, near our home here in Naples, Fla. I photographed similar sunrises before, but such a sight is always impressive.
Another “red sky” morning and I just cannot resist posting it on my blog. I got this shot just after 7 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2019, near our home here in Naples, Fla. I’ve posted more beautiful photos of such a “red sky” morning, but they are all truly exceptional and photos never do them complete justice.
Another “red sky” morning and I just cannot resist posting it on my blog. I got this shot just after 7 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2019, near our home here in Naples, Fla. I’ve posted more beautiful photos of such a “red sky” morning, but they are all truly exceptional and photos never do them complete justice.
Another “red sky” morning and I just cannot resist posting it on my blog. I got this shot just after 7 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2019, near our home here in Naples, Fla. I’ve posted more beautiful photos of such a “red sky” morning, but they are all truly exceptional and photos never do them complete justice.
Today’s the day after Halloween 2019 and I have to post this since only six people saw it. I had a total of six trick-or-treaters visit our home here in Naples, Fla., on Halloween (Oct. 31, for the record). I wore my usual “Jason” mask and was ready to hand out candy. Sigh. Too bad Halloween appears to be on the decline!
I’ve featured beautiful images of the sky over Naples, Fla., for the past two days … and now it is three! When I went out to go to work on the morning of Dec. 5, 2019, this is the sight that greeted me. You just can’t have a bad day when one starts off with a sunrise and contrail this wonderful!
Wow! Ten minutes to showtime at the Silverspot Cinema here in Naples, Fla., and I was the only person in the theater on Dec. 14, 2019. Could have had my choice, but I already had my chosen seat from the online purchase. It “filled up” with eight more people for the 10:10 a.m. showing of “Jumanji: The Next Level.”
It was a beautiful sunrise on Dec. 12, 2019, here in Naples, Fla. However, the day turned dreary by later afternoon and we got some much-needed rain. Too bad, rain! The day remained beautiful because of the gorgeous start to the day!
You want a radish? I’ve got a radish for you! I enjoy radishes and here an example of a huge one from a bunch I bought recently at Walmart, which has bunches for just 88 cents. Although I’m not claiming this as a great photo, I do have to note here that I took the photo Dec. 9, 2019, at our home here in Naples, Fla. I was just impressed with the size of the radish and wanted to share it.
Even though we’re near January 1, we’re getting nice blooms on a couple of hibiscus plants at our home here in Naples, Fla. Here are the photos that I took on our patio on Dec. 26, 2019, of the blooms. Both plants were pruned back a little while ago and these are the first blooms as they have recovered.
It was an overcast morning on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, as I arrived at work here in Naples, Fla. As I walked in, I noticed that even the ants thought it was a dreary way to start the day. Well, things looked up because we wound up with a partly-sunny afternoon and a better forecast for the weekend!
Let me qualify today’s post by noting that we love our Publix (the Strand near our home in Naples, Fla.). However, I also love radishes and so today I’m giving props to Walmart for its extraordinary pricing of bunched radishes. The price at Walmart is a neat 88 cents … while at Publix the same kind of bunch is nearly twice the same price. We’ll always shop with our Publix, but you just can’t beat Walmart for the price on radishes! I got the shot of the Publix price on Dec. 21, 2019, while I got the Walmart price photo on Dec. 29, 2019.
Let me qualify today’s post by noting that we love our Publix (the Strand near our home in Naples, Fla.). However, I also love radishes and so today I’m giving props to Walmart for its extraordinary pricing of bunched radishes. The price at Walmart is a neat 88 cents … while at Publix the same kind of bunch is nearly twice the same price. We’ll always shop with our Publix, but you just can’t beat Walmart for the price on radishes! I got the shot of the Publix price on Dec. 21, 2019, while I got the Walmart price photo on Dec. 29, 2019.
Clouds offer an endless supply of beauty. They frame sunrises and sunsets and they make interesting shapes in the sky that we enjoy each day. Well, here’s a beautiful spread of clouds over our hometown of Naples, Fla., that I photographed as I headed to the driving range on Feb. 9, 2020.
I had to prune this hibiscus way, way back a couple of months ago, but it is now recovered and turning out wonderful blooms. My photo is OK, but the color to your natural vision is even more impressive. I got this shot with my iPhone on our patio here in Naples, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2020 … I guess it’s a Valentine’s bloom!
I got to do early voting at the Headquarters branch of the Collier County Public Library on March 7, 2020. I also noticed that the HQ Library branch had out hand sanitizer – and I’m evaluating that it is because of caution about COVID-19, or, as it’s better known, the “Corona Virus.” Wow! A double treat on a beautiful Saturday here in Naples, Fla.
I got to do early voting at the Headquarters branch of the Collier County Public Library on March 7, 2020. I also noticed that the HQ Library branch had out hand sanitizer – and I’m evaluating that it is because of caution about COVID-19, or, as it’s better known, the “Corona Virus.” Wow! A double treat on a beautiful Saturday here in Naples, Fla.
Here’s a view of a speed-limit sign in our neighborhood in Naples, Fla., and it has a bush growing up through the post (which is conveniently ventilated to assist the process). I’ve photographed and posted before an image of a bush growing out the top of this post, but I can’t tell if someone hit it with Roundup since last summer. I took this photograph March 7, 2020, and you can compare it what it looked like on June 22, 2019 (click this link). I’ve also posted an even earlier photo. As I noted before, here’s proof that, like in the “Jurassic Park” movie franchise, the statement “nature finds a way” continues to be proven true.
I don’t know if it’s the same blue jay, but one has been feeding for some months at our bird feeder beside our pool enclosure. I was working on the plants on the patio of our home here in Naples, Fla., on the quiet afternoon of March 15, 2020, when I took its photo. Here’s a better rendering of a blue jay at our bird feeder – certainly better than the one I posted nearly two years ago.
I don’t know if it’s the same blue jay, but one has been feeding for some months at our bird feeder beside our pool enclosure. I was working on the plants on the patio of our home here in Naples, Fla., on the quiet afternoon of March 15, 2020, when I took its photo. Here’s a better rendering of a blue jay at our bird feeder – certainly better than the one I posted nearly two years ago.
I’ll be posting photos of tabebuia trees over the next couple of weeks. The tabebuia is my all-time favorite tree: It is without peer when in bloom … and the blooming of tabebuias always marks the time for The Masters golf tournament – except this year of 2020 and the coronavirus scare. Here’s a tabebuia tree in the Naples Walk shopping center area. I got the photo on March 17, 2020, near our home here in Naples, Fla.
Yesterday, I posted a photo of an orchid bloom on our patio here in Naples, Fla. With the coronavirus alert, my choice of subjects to photograph for my blog is limited. So, now I’m posting a photo taken yesterday, March 29, 2020, of a different bloom – this one from one of the two Desert Rose plants on our patio.
With the coronavirus alert in full force, it’s difficult to get photos for my blog. However, there are always some nice blooms on the plants on our patio here in Naples, Fla. I got this shot of some very beautiful orchids on March 28, 2020. Stay safe, everyone!
Well, it was the first day of stay-in-place for those of us in Florida on Friday, April 3, 2020. Thankfully, a beautiful line of clouds made my morning as I went out to bring in the recycle bin from the curb. I got this shot on that Friday morning at our home here in Naples, Fla.
Here’s my latest photo of a bloom on our patio. With the coronavirus alert and Florida under a stay-at-home order, I’m having to photograph things around the house (or what I can grab when we head out for essentials). This is the latest bloom on a special orchid – one given to me by our son and his girlfriend. I have posted photos of its blooms before, but it’s blooming again and here it is! I got this shot April 4, 2020, at our home here in Naples.
Well, the coronavirus alert is in force and Florida has a stay-at-home order in place. However, you can go to the supermarket! One thing I noticed while visiting our favorite Publix store here in Naples, Fla., on April 7, 2020, is that while many things are back in stock after a rush of panic-buying in the past two weeks, the paper aisle doesn’t have any paper towels or toilet paper. It’s a stark reminder that we’re still in the grip of a problem.
A crew from Collier County is doing maintenance on the stormwater ditch between our community and our neighbors’ development here in Naples, Fla. Well, as you can see, the workers are close to having the correct “social distance” that we need as the coronavirus alert continues. I tried to make the photo a little more interesting than some guys doing tree work, so I shot it through the slats of our back bedroom window on April 20, 2020.
I’ve been posting photos of blooms on our patio and here are two together today! This one is of the multiple blooms on a very special orchid. I got both shots on April 15, 2020, at our home here in Naples, Fla.
I’m back to shooting sunrise photos and here’s another that involves the sunrise and the Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church. I got this shot on April 22, 2020, as I drove to drop off our Census form at the post office. We’re still being careful about going out except for necessary errands here in Naples, Fla.
Condensation is always something neat to see in a photograph. I’ve posted my best-ever condensation photo (click here to see it) and although this one isn’t in the same league, it is a nice image. I got the shot April 19, 2020, while stopped at a traffic signal near our home in Naples, Fla., after making a trip to the supermarket.
I went to the Coco River U.S. Post Office near our home here in Naples, Fla., before dawn on April 25, 2020, to mail a few envelopes and buy some stamps. Because of the coronavirus alert, I chose the time so no one would be at the post office. I did get this nice photo of the flagpole and the light illuminating it.
