Welcome New Floridians
This site started on the Tenth Anniversary of our moving to Florida. Ten years came and went pretty quickly. We have learned a lot in those years and have made some mistakes along the way. Our goal is to try to help new Florida residents, and those thinking about relocating here, profit from our experience.
The articles are set up with a variety of categories, so you can look for whatever interests you. We are open to suggestions to improve the site and will try to answer any questions asked.
Our Articles
Another day, another gator.
Most new Floridians find alligators fascinating. I have lived in Florida for over twelve years and I still love to see them in the wild. When the night time temperatures dip, and the gators need to warm up, there are many opportunities to take photos of the critters....
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Bright Red
The sky was an unbelievable red on this night. We were heading out of our neighborhood and stopped by the local pond to make a quick photo of this sunset. Ponds and lakes in communities are more than pretty views in Florida, their main purpose is explained in this...
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Sanderling
I think this is a Sanderling. I am sure this is a Sandpiper of some sort. This group of birds are often refereed to as “Peeps” because they are hard to identify.They are found running along the beach, searching for food at the water’s edge. Fun birds...
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Vietnam Memorial
The traveling version of the Vietnam Memorial was in Englewood, FL last weekend. It is every bit as moving as the full size wall in DC. I planned to photograph the wall at night. There was a full moon that night and I thought there would be less people around after...
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Soaking Up Some Rays
Humans aren’t the only animals who enjoy sunbathing. In the case of alligators, it is a matter of survival. As the temperature drops in the Florida winter, alligators spend a part of the day warming up their blood in the sun. For photographers, it is a great...
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Common Moorhen
Teaching Jr to Swim I photographed this mother and young Moorhen while visiting the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. This bird is sometimes called a Swamp Chicken. It is not a duck, it’s a member of the rail family. The feet are more like those of a chicken....
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Be Careful
Beware of Pine Needles As we have written before, many Florida homes have a lanai. If you are not familiar with the term, you can lean about a lanai here. Most lanais have a screened roof. If a pine tree is in the vicinity, it is certain that the pine needles will...
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Best Tree Ever
A gin and tonic tree. This would be almost as popular as a money tree! A few years ago, friends gave us a small potted lime tree. We planted it in the back yard, watered, fertilized it and waited. It is now about 4 feet tall. It took about 3 years to start producing...
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Romantic Sunset
There was a storm brewing from the East as the sunset. A couple stopped at a perfect spot for this photo.
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Forty-Five Years
On this date in 1967, a pretty young girl was crazy enough to marry me. Thankfully she has been crazy enough to stay with me ever since. It’s been a wonderful journey; we’re looking forward to many more crazy years together. FOG sez: Thanks Mrs....
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Ringling Museum
John Ringling was the Circus King in the early part of the 20th century. He owned the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus and his other investments made him a very wealthy man. He purchased a large amount of land in Sarasota Florida in 1911 and...
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Orchids
If you enjoy orchids, you will be happy to learn that they are quite easy to grow in Florida. The combination of warm, humid conditions and the temperature changes in the winter months, provides great conditions for orchids. Be warned, you may soon find the hobby...
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