A week ago, my pictures in the post called "Close to Home" were from a couple of nature walks we tagged on to routine shopping excursions. This week, all of my pictures were taken even closer to home -- right here at Upriver RV Resort, where our "Canal Cottage" is located.
Because we travel back and forth, I don't grow flowers myself, so these beautiful hibiscus are all growing in neighboring yards. But I have to say I'm becoming more and more tempted to buy an outdoor potted plant or two. Nearly all of our neighbors here in Florida are snowbirds too -- living here only part of the year. I will let you know if and when I succumb to temptation and buy a plant.
One reason we have stayed close to home this week is the weather. It has rained (hard) on and off, accompanied by lightning and thunder. On Saturday evening, a tornado touched down in the next town to us (Cape Coral) and there was quite a bit of damage. We were at a show here in the recreation center at the park. It's a metal building -- and you could hear the thunder and hard rain. (I felt a little sorry for the entertainer, having to compete with the elements -- and the fact that people kept going in and out. Some were worried about their dogs left at home, so they went back to their units to check on them.) There was no damage here in the park or even, as far as I know, anywhere in Fort Myers.
In Oregon, we are used to steady downpours, but when it rains here in Southwest Florida it pours down in walls. And often, a few hours after the storm begins, the sun comes out and the sky is blue (in Oregon, rainy days usually mean long-lasting gray skies). We really need more words for rain.
These are a few of the park models on another street here at Upriver. The brightly-colored doors and windows are new this season. And I am sort of in love with them. They brighten things up and seem very appropriate to Florida.
THIS POST is LINKED TO: OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY (thank you to Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy, Gattina, Arija, and Jenn) and to MOSAIC MONDAY (thank you to Judith).
Thank you, Sallie for this visit of your neighborhood ! It's the problem when we have two homes : the flowers ! I knew that a few years ago and travel with my plants in the car... At this time of the year (and just with one home !) the are un my study, just behind the big window : outside : snow, sun and...cold. Have a nice week !
Posted by: Annie | January 16, 2016 at 08:01 AM
I need to mail myself down there as I need sun to get over this bug I have had for the past month....
Posted by: Ramblingwoods | January 14, 2016 at 03:44 PM
DOn't they look lovely?!
Posted by: JennJilks | January 14, 2016 at 03:43 PM
Hibiscus is a wonderful plant but hard to keep alive at home. I think it should stay outdoors :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep | January 13, 2016 at 01:39 PM
Those flowers are gorgeous. I guess all that rain helps. I'm not a green thumb so prefer to enjoy what nature and others plant. Love the colored door accents. What color for you?
http://geogypsie.com/fun-drive-town-new-laptop/
Posted by: Gaelyn | January 12, 2016 at 06:10 PM
The hibiscus blooms are gorgeous!! Weather is so strange in these days. And the coloured doors are so pretty!
Warm greetings of january!
Posted by: Alexa T | January 12, 2016 at 02:06 PM
Oh dear, I had heard there was a tornado warning for Cape Coral, wonder how the house we have rented for February fared?
I think you should buy a potted plant, it will bring you gratification in the nurturing and surely a neighbour will water it if you can't be around.
Posted by: Judith @ Lavender Cottage | January 12, 2016 at 09:57 AM
Those colourful doors are a sweet sprinkling of the personalities from within each home and that is quite charming. There was a place in Boca Raton area that had fun colours, called the Charleston Place, or something like that. It has been many years, but was also fun like these. Take care~
Posted by: Mary Howell Cromer | January 12, 2016 at 09:50 AM
Looks lovely and warm and tropical!
Posted by: Lady Fi | January 12, 2016 at 04:52 AM
Glad you were OK through it all. I like the colorful doors, too! And I have to agree that we need more words for rain. Any time it rains here, it very rarely lasts very long as opposed to Chicago or Topeka where it could rain for days on end. It's still a bit weird to see.
Posted by: bettyl-NZ | January 11, 2016 at 10:51 PM
oh lovely Hibiscus, I miss these, we have lots of them growing up north :-)
Posted by: Amy | January 11, 2016 at 10:02 PM
I love those doors! I have a little collection of photos of doors I love, mostly around here. I'm surprised I haven't been stopped by the police. hehehe
The flowers are gorgeous, Sallie. They look like hibiscus and are so bright and cheerful.
Posted by: Penny | January 11, 2016 at 07:00 PM
Those hibiscus are absolutely amazing! I am really enjoying your flowers.
Posted by: Eden Hills | January 11, 2016 at 06:34 PM
Your Florida rain is like our Colorado rain - it's either sunny or pouring from buckets, nothing in between.
The "paintings" on my last post are just graffiti on the dam wall; even the graffiti is pretty in Colorado :)
Posted by: Al | January 11, 2016 at 06:05 PM
The hibiscus are such pretty tropical colors. I have friends who live in Cape Coral ~I'll have to check up on them!
Posted by: Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti | January 11, 2016 at 05:50 PM
the colors in those hibiscus blooms are so pretty. When I lived in Southern California it was fun to see all the varieties! It's great that you are taking the time to walk about...
Posted by: ellen b | January 11, 2016 at 03:29 PM
Your floral macro shots are delightful and excellent! I too love the colorful doors on the cottages ~ Glad you are having fun despite the weather ~ We had a wild and wooly Sunday here with rain and major winds ~ Glad to be inside warm and cozy ~
Wishing you a Happy Week ~ ^_^
Posted by: artmusedog and carol | January 11, 2016 at 02:45 PM
Beautiful flowers, colorful doors and a great post as always!! Ah, and you are right about Oregon and raining daily it is!! We did have a brief break yesterday, complete with blue, blue skies and lots of sunshine!!! But the clouds, the gray, the rain are all back today!! Always good to see your post and photos!! I hope you have a great new week!! Enjoy!
Posted by: sylviakirk | January 11, 2016 at 02:41 PM
A hibiscus plant would be fun to have, you can always take it back with you since you now have an apartment! I really like the bright door colors!
Posted by: Sondra-SC | January 11, 2016 at 02:10 PM
I wonder how long you will hold out before you become an hibiscus grower.
Posted by: fun60 | January 11, 2016 at 12:57 PM
Very lovely hibiscus flowers.
Posted by: Rajesh | January 11, 2016 at 10:58 AM
Hibiscus is one of my favorite flowers. I think you should buy one. :)
Posted by: Halcyon | January 11, 2016 at 10:55 AM
You REALLY need a plant! Those cottage colors are wonderful - very happy and uplifting. Sun is shining here but so cold, I haven't ventured outside.
Posted by: Barb | January 11, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Those flowers would look right at home around here and the rain storms are definitely the kind we get around here too. I like the pretty painted doors on the different houses. Great photos.
Posted by: Mick | January 11, 2016 at 10:23 AM
Wonderful colorful doorways and love those tropical hibiscus!
Posted by: Donna@Gardens Eye View | January 11, 2016 at 09:54 AM
So beautiful hibiscus. There in Finland they are pot plants inside the house. At the moment I don't have any but would surely love a striking yellow one!
Posted by: helmiriitta10 | January 11, 2016 at 06:59 AM
I like the colorful doors. You would really enjoy Boca Raton and all the colorful houses and other buildings! We had a couple of hibiscus plants here in Ocala at our first house - they, like every other plant in this part of the world, tended to grow into trees if left untended. Not only were they beautiful but they were hardy enough to deal with our occasion cold temps.
Posted by: Lowell | January 11, 2016 at 06:17 AM
Oh, how clever painting the doors! They remind me of a small town/island in Venice where the doors were all brightly coloured. Lovely like flowers! Also, I totally agree there needs to be more words for “rain” or at least to express the many ranges and moods these spattering downpours from heaven can produce. When things get too extreme it is scary. I am glad you are all were okay. :)
Posted by: Penelope Puddlisms | January 11, 2016 at 05:18 AM
The hibiscus are beautiful and I love the colours on the houses. Glad you didn't get any damage from the storm.
Posted by: diane | January 11, 2016 at 03:31 AM
Hello Sallie, the flowers are gorgeous and I like all the colorful doors at Upriver. I heard about the Cape Coral tornado, I am glad you were safe! Lovely images and mosaics. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!
Posted by: Eileen | January 11, 2016 at 03:27 AM
Beautiful hibiscus blooms, so showy and striking. The coloured doors are very pretty.
Posted by: nancy chan | January 11, 2016 at 03:26 AM
Lovely! In the UK Midlands, we are promised a COLD spell! The tops of my fuschias were full of buds, while the lower dead leaves were still there! I had to cut them down. A mild December has fooled birds and plants...
Posted by: Hazel | January 10, 2016 at 11:02 PM
Sorry to hear about the tornado but glad you were okay. Those hibiscus are gorgeous! The park models are pretty with all the different colored shutters and doors.
Wishing you a great week,
Denise
New blog addy :
http://anenglishgirlrambles2016.blogspot.com
Posted by: DeniseinVA | January 10, 2016 at 07:06 PM
sweet little place and love hibiscus. they don't winter here and i attempted to bring pots inside one year but that didn't work well either. i read about the tornado touch-down. *sigh* glad you were okay!
Posted by: TexWisGirl | January 10, 2016 at 06:19 PM