A Luncheon & Benefits of the Summer

Ibis in my pine tree

Two weeks ago I received an invitation to attend a luncheon given by Pauline Stabile. I hesitated at first, thinking that I shouldn't take the time away from work.  (For those of you who don't know what I do, and think that I am merely a "lady of leisure", I assure you, that concept could not be further from the truth.  I sell & design sign & display systems.) But I finally decided to take a time-out from business and go to the luncheon.

Pauline is a fabulous cook!  She treated the women who attended to home-cooked items, & made "from scratch" baked desserts.  The luncheon had a good turnout with lively conversations, & I came away thinking about what really nice women live here in Forest Villas.

Thanks again, Pauline.  It was a delightful way to spend a few hours during the summer!

Summer Rain & Heat

Now for one of the best benefits of the hot & wet summers down here.   Here are 2 pictures of the same Royal Poinciana tree that was planted in the Nature Preserve Area between my villa & the Simone's villa in 2009. Look at the difference in the size of the tree.  The first picture was taken in June 2010, the second July 2011.

Tree in June of 2010

The only disappointment is that the tree didn't bloom this year.  Early in the spring, Andy Simone & I thought the tree might not make it after the cold winter. But it rallied in May, & has been full & lush ever since.  

In the next few years, I expect the tree to spread to almost the full distance between the two villas.  The trees grow to 40 feet in height & 60 feet in width.

If you travel through the older portions of Fort Myers proper, you'll see ancient Royal Poinciana trees usually placed on the west side of many of the older homes. These trees were considered natural "air conditioning" for homes.  They provide dappled shade, and do well in hurricanes & wind storms due to their broad yet lacey growth pattern.  The trees bloom May - June, & can have either yellow or red-orange blossoms.  

Old Royal Poinciana in Fort Myers

And for a bit more comment on trees close to me.  Here is a picture of the Live Oak tree that my roofmates, Paul & Sandy, planted in their backyard back in 2006, & another picture of the tree today.

The Live Oak is that small tree on the far left of the picture

The Live Oak is that big tree on the far left of the picture

Really remarkable growth when you have pictures to compare.  The first picture was taken about 6 months after Hurricane Wilma blew through, so you can also see how the pine tree flourished after the damage of the storm.


Paul tells me that he always has little live oaks in his nature preserve area sprouting from the acorns the trees drop.  He's offering the small Live Oak saplings to anyone willing to do the transplant.  These trees would be great sun buffers for those villas exposed to that intense western light in the late afternoons & for those owners looking to put more "FOREST" into the Forest Villas.


Wishing you a great week!  bj

This is my personal blog NOT affiliated with the FVHOA