GARDENING: LOUISIANA BAYOU - SO. CALIFORNIA TROPICAL PARADISE

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtLzsVUy7eY4p0VeSUDeVS8f_85-vh0ZNs5vIIRhl5h-9HZDS0gtcXpSvt4bjHkDPDTMDJz1QAGWBUabkkfPvWgvzx08FfMmaNen4vIA854Zc6zn0c-CF1s3Wbd1C13cJf7gm8xyDVY4/s1600/eden+roses%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtLzsVUy7eY4p0VeSUDeVS8f_85-vh0ZNs5vIIRhl5h-9HZDS0gtcXpSvt4bjHkDPDTMDJz1QAGWBUabkkfPvWgvzx08FfMmaNen4vIA854Zc6zn0c-CF1s3Wbd1C13cJf7gm8xyDVY4/s320/eden+roses%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">..</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">IN THE AFTERMATH OF KATRINA</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">My husband went to Louisiana to do some relief work in the area.  We'd never visited the South, so after his job was completed, we joined him.  It was an beautiful trip and an amazing adventure.  We actually stayed at a haunted plantation, and had an encounter with the ghost . . . but that is a story for another time...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA was so devastated by Katrina, and this gulf coast is once again threatened by disaster with the BP oil spill gushing thousands of barrels of crude a day into the waters there - I wanted to share my photos of this unique area with you.  It may be a long time before it looks like this again, although I am praying that the oil can be stopped, contained and removed and that it will never reach these shores.  The ecosystem in the bayous and swamps and the entire gulf coast are in danger and so many rely on these waters for a living.  </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrDgq8BxRK1wAVdv_92OE3jwjtAIyFUTQbkJvgFkUgBMPX1PKw0aPFglW41pONz4VJ_tQTxTRje8K_aMR_QQO7_THhv6HXWZK9cp-GD2wPeAtFM4B9JL6Q7o4TgYU7qDaRTj5t3TvIow/s1600/IMG_2210+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrDgq8BxRK1wAVdv_92OE3jwjtAIyFUTQbkJvgFkUgBMPX1PKw0aPFglW41pONz4VJ_tQTxTRje8K_aMR_QQO7_THhv6HXWZK9cp-GD2wPeAtFM4B9JL6Q7o4TgYU7qDaRTj5t3TvIow/s640/IMG_2210+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cypress Trees and Spanish Moss - Swamp off of Lake St. Martin, Lousisiana</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">..</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW2HUa8zZYEjIhFcqp5XXpwmyrDh7V2xVDq35SKy-WtdRg8AiSYDGSo7jZ8oviXi6IKza0AzJ4r4WbArSuRobteFmiaqsaWkadXcdo1h1RSh_6ZGZEg90N2M-vu4lg4Osi9nUVyG3Xtk/s1600/IMG_2209%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW2HUa8zZYEjIhFcqp5XXpwmyrDh7V2xVDq35SKy-WtdRg8AiSYDGSo7jZ8oviXi6IKza0AzJ4r4WbArSuRobteFmiaqsaWkadXcdo1h1RSh_6ZGZEg90N2M-vu4lg4Osi9nUVyG3Xtk/s320/IMG_2209%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;">snowy egret flying over bayou area<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEIPQp_9SVN1GyjjQN5oYIt10KVSkDsYHbYmj_dkCICMa2IhlWeSEHvFQ0D9Awr1XI4Jr0EgmeR513Qprv0j8XS3XzKFZnHwwrwlq1KbyFMvKAFvAXF1Kum6mt3-nmI-rKoZL43RZsrQ/s1600/IMG_2211+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEIPQp_9SVN1GyjjQN5oYIt10KVSkDsYHbYmj_dkCICMa2IhlWeSEHvFQ0D9Awr1XI4Jr0EgmeR513Qprv0j8XS3XzKFZnHwwrwlq1KbyFMvKAFvAXF1Kum6mt3-nmI-rKoZL43RZsrQ/s640/IMG_2211+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake St. Martin.  We saw over 20 gators this day, as well as hundreds of water birds and some box turtles.</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX-L8JueACE6KLyrPDAQ3PNoKUkDayry_c3djky1gABTemkSpqFYY-MQSHuJs-EgfMmLApEebHMUNrovuZ_ocAJx-7qygx1l6ce3U2lEs1o_2RsWa3_fLxwBSu0OI4DxDdjJfpZVkyTs/s1600/Swamp+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX-L8JueACE6KLyrPDAQ3PNoKUkDayry_c3djky1gABTemkSpqFYY-MQSHuJs-EgfMmLApEebHMUNrovuZ_ocAJx-7qygx1l6ce3U2lEs1o_2RsWa3_fLxwBSu0OI4DxDdjJfpZVkyTs/s640/Swamp+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swamp off of Lake St. Martin.  Our guide was Cajun and had built this boat himself.  It seated 12 in swivel seats - but we were his only customers that day.  He was able to take us deep into the swamp area, and promised us there would be NO mosquitoes. </td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNdSPE2_1Py88LwzwlD7TLNiLvrafuwl-bSiasyVSxP_Z3QztTsoDU7narBVpegZRC-AEJ-JO4bIqhUpkNIcEaHn3K_oZhKuUtK420a7DUsZogZRTMKEBX5y-F2UoF7Y61jAP0lW5CkA/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNdSPE2_1Py88LwzwlD7TLNiLvrafuwl-bSiasyVSxP_Z3QztTsoDU7narBVpegZRC-AEJ-JO4bIqhUpkNIcEaHn3K_oZhKuUtK420a7DUsZogZRTMKEBX5y-F2UoF7Y61jAP0lW5CkA/s640/IMG_2068.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This green stuff is not slime - it is a tiny tiny plant that covers the top of the water in this swamp and is so dense it does not allow mosquito eggs to hatch.  There really were NO mosquitoes, as promised!</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2cXxo99FcuqyhOD2bGIVSCvJx_hgLsTB5ZpvBwdulcwhvE0G8qbAsI0MGCPtPhQYQrb-pWFpnaljOj7ZKgKT9mOJzp-A719vN9sI_Zxlpe4ae9VMzcOuWBJf3nmZVmgHwC3UyRGcP7I/s1600/IMG_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2cXxo99FcuqyhOD2bGIVSCvJx_hgLsTB5ZpvBwdulcwhvE0G8qbAsI0MGCPtPhQYQrb-pWFpnaljOj7ZKgKT9mOJzp-A719vN9sI_Zxlpe4ae9VMzcOuWBJf3nmZVmgHwC3UyRGcP7I/s640/IMG_2218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During our visit to the South we also toured Natchez, Mississippi.  There were beautiful antebellum homes everywhere, surrounded by giant sprawling oak trees dripping with spanish moss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGN_QmDN6HlCYEl-pVqL6U4wReAWUshUJ8Ecub0RTdKV3tJDV3TfJrJJP2JuxMFp2IcQOt8Al7Sk1Vbg1hJAdKCUPBf9NGlRacTZt0EYPbMLlFmK3SKVObOE2CA69LlQV3kRG46m6dqE/s1600/antebellumhome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGN_QmDN6HlCYEl-pVqL6U4wReAWUshUJ8Ecub0RTdKV3tJDV3TfJrJJP2JuxMFp2IcQOt8Al7Sk1Vbg1hJAdKCUPBf9NGlRacTZt0EYPbMLlFmK3SKVObOE2CA69LlQV3kRG46m6dqE/s640/antebellumhome.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49qN8wP_E6ghf7UAaWResitenN2Tv7BPxSS_hesVdJ6GHj98exAbrT4dv_Vnd9QDoXQqZhoKPaAjLWMRMTyK0hTLkdaTTtkjOJqkoPwkxPx9znQckj28WjGT9oTt3xnIHUn6ALRg6mZc/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49qN8wP_E6ghf7UAaWResitenN2Tv7BPxSS_hesVdJ6GHj98exAbrT4dv_Vnd9QDoXQqZhoKPaAjLWMRMTyK0hTLkdaTTtkjOJqkoPwkxPx9znQckj28WjGT9oTt3xnIHUn6ALRg6mZc/s640/IMG_2204.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to Nathez, we visited St. Francisville, LA - also famous for its lovely antebellum homes.</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhZMfKbjIYVGuQqAmRZLNeicf5FBP8_ClNj_Q9u2cEMj38nB994UAJB8vNGG1tdQXawe2FeBdW_kE48shn8Gnx4Tx35JBKPPyxs7vXw87x7-64UYFQikpKOwrNPOZsUHdtuvn9Y47kh4/s1600/IMG_2207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhZMfKbjIYVGuQqAmRZLNeicf5FBP8_ClNj_Q9u2cEMj38nB994UAJB8vNGG1tdQXawe2FeBdW_kE48shn8Gnx4Tx35JBKPPyxs7vXw87x7-64UYFQikpKOwrNPOZsUHdtuvn9Y47kh4/s640/IMG_2207.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy-m59htVfo9MvMctixz_2Fe3vToeZ3tdxRiseqwI00N2Sa3gldOuRYW2sHnpdqhcBUYXO6P5B9PB_x1OgRUfanphJxiJVKDzXOhhaPM1KclRdlwP9RITYPfcP12oSJgtIpvWGosz2eQ/s1600/IMG_2060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy-m59htVfo9MvMctixz_2Fe3vToeZ3tdxRiseqwI00N2Sa3gldOuRYW2sHnpdqhcBUYXO6P5B9PB_x1OgRUfanphJxiJVKDzXOhhaPM1KclRdlwP9RITYPfcP12oSJgtIpvWGosz2eQ/s640/IMG_2060.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water hyacinth in one of the swamps in LA</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNILohNX2qOzEnZ5Ywft39aYfWcywqSoVFFIeEhJukVKmKg9vvB8bb3f5Z02JcYjE5KXb0ZBGedK5JjdZ0_qYXNJOz1l202HbsJJJvdsG4OU_NxQyAzcNLPxLmTRpniAaos8PKhu7W9k/s1600/IMG_2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNILohNX2qOzEnZ5Ywft39aYfWcywqSoVFFIeEhJukVKmKg9vvB8bb3f5Z02JcYjE5KXb0ZBGedK5JjdZ0_qYXNJOz1l202HbsJJJvdsG4OU_NxQyAzcNLPxLmTRpniAaos8PKhu7W9k/s640/IMG_2217.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">note the wrought iron work on the house in the background - amazing homes!</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu2n232MoBOuWQ89C8e66m_l8qaZt9503RUMsev7G3k-pb6has0wZzAklagcNX0H5m9RWe53rGesy-b2J7Kyh0Vx5QWtlYuef3eA__Ge5xGreIyYIL1hCPkOnM48FbpxFyUfBqjW5oaw/s1600/IMG_2230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu2n232MoBOuWQ89C8e66m_l8qaZt9503RUMsev7G3k-pb6has0wZzAklagcNX0H5m9RWe53rGesy-b2J7Kyh0Vx5QWtlYuef3eA__Ge5xGreIyYIL1hCPkOnM48FbpxFyUfBqjW5oaw/s640/IMG_2230.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this house was one of my favorite and we were able to tour it</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjOdJJ-NvJtDl20nidvOKqZIwsGBqirqoSzpD3xOWPC9dtVYLcJ5thxQqTw_5jCDL78IUP1Uju86kfLq_my2f_f5fUZ5e-i1MzMhh2uSn98Q5QpcZPITGNSxka2azRrKvuTLdVwkmTM8/s1600/IMG_2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjOdJJ-NvJtDl20nidvOKqZIwsGBqirqoSzpD3xOWPC9dtVYLcJ5thxQqTw_5jCDL78IUP1Uju86kfLq_my2f_f5fUZ5e-i1MzMhh2uSn98Q5QpcZPITGNSxka2azRrKvuTLdVwkmTM8/s400/IMG_2213.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKFOLsq4rleYbK1DTKCIOArsaxblDm6xSqvui22wbZ8Kifh9U_I_KvuKwE90q6HJGT7N7hgfsNdJmYPtlLRHYkdJrK3pmCRJ0uUHrm_TA1IJ3mQgn7gtvqzGFcw-JDc9oVjMi5sV2jzw/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKFOLsq4rleYbK1DTKCIOArsaxblDm6xSqvui22wbZ8Kifh9U_I_KvuKwE90q6HJGT7N7hgfsNdJmYPtlLRHYkdJrK3pmCRJ0uUHrm_TA1IJ3mQgn7gtvqzGFcw-JDc9oVjMi5sV2jzw/s640/IMG_2216.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the grounds were lovely, too - all shaded by the enormous spreading oaks and dotted with statuary<br /><br />ahem... the one in the back is mine - hamming for the camera<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><strong>WELCOME TO ALANA'S GARDEN</strong></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">in beautiful Southern California </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4ygk4MrnJiOa2-u42_NafThlLzDj2ZrHwzXG3U6mtSSHKY5jbVKKPRz48sqNuLclscB5vWK8jVuqsKPSL1-bljZ3TZV2ZJiu_Nnx3WHsjbKdruHoKJQwMcVkvaqHGNaO6k8jlCFwJuc/s1600/ad+mixed+shrubs%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4ygk4MrnJiOa2-u42_NafThlLzDj2ZrHwzXG3U6mtSSHKY5jbVKKPRz48sqNuLclscB5vWK8jVuqsKPSL1-bljZ3TZV2ZJiu_Nnx3WHsjbKdruHoKJQwMcVkvaqHGNaO6k8jlCFwJuc/s320/ad+mixed+shrubs%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2009/05/great-outdoors-alanas-new-resort.html"><img border="0" height="468" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kmBXbZJr5FMxVz3NSMioTFmbBc4CncM8YvP1yw5I_YMtkPGSayklL9CuaiiQQYzlCARkOJS8mcsO6BqxA1CwZGDyUeaWOYp5WrK4uKHWYKpJlYhIRO7QzdlgLOJPgOKyp5Xt6bkAPjw/s640/ad+gate.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a welcoming entry</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkG8kwKLQh7l61-qCLVyk7pZry6lHmkpkUZvpnzA4cMK9OqmvFtWWqAmPuNy4-OSAw4tNwonwZuz5RlRrDfiV4Af-dFNdWpUWVdNim8KGXlcKY158tyCIlY5N9fPkxOALJLPOvb9FWEk/s640/ad+courtyard1.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">plantings in her courtyard garden include impatiens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="566" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j5KPPdqBt74Rjnjp5F9ab-cEUCaP_7IBdx1U64bxWGW_ExZOCOe1XL5v6uNqV1XNn8Zr4p7N_nZL51X37l33NU7HMktTvASuLLNKe5oZopN8TVBon4PuNLBjpWKDVYMYblogjuEGbI4/s640/ad+alstromeria.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">peruvian lily (alstroemeria)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="502" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-Yzc2I5VP-b3tgYETvsfjwjjyDj7127Z7k-IJmMtlrSd9_w8Fx6gURMbQIyL7Kxgz1jNTXrlTLSJ_QmrEtmqvCHtkU_tqATfLNybXC7PdTa1O0H9JoEnSswSSjCDxLI7wiEuQnmGA5E/s640/ad+fourthofjuly+rose.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a climbing rose named Fourth of July</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnkVUQSs944eum1mSLD6dUagqYoeBgMYT2pdV-_F_JqERfjGnTkYSJVyEVDSyFIqCOBy-ZVSe71UUlqIYndT6KRZg-wMmCTxC8x9iDPhyeG0PZbSk_HSuafU4ApHbDdTxzk951Mz70Hw/s640/ad+curved+deck.jpg" width="474" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But her backyard has a completely different feel (see the transformation from tract home to beautiful outdoor living space <a href="http://yournestdesign.blogspot.com/2009/05/great-outdoors-alanas-new-resort.html">here</a> )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPsKVog-cLiN7pKF34iPSYnwwAEzMKioohv-8MbrgXvPZ8561XwPxCqKEfwfEVzEf35f_33ilisojA8CQREqG9n5_XJ2Gp5u6p2rQgnNLKAyM1860nQfkJeBdT9t-gTF_rDeiAYUSYi0/s1600/ad+veranda+curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPsKVog-cLiN7pKF34iPSYnwwAEzMKioohv-8MbrgXvPZ8561XwPxCqKEfwfEVzEf35f_33ilisojA8CQREqG9n5_XJ2Gp5u6p2rQgnNLKAyM1860nQfkJeBdT9t-gTF_rDeiAYUSYi0/s640/ad+veranda+curtains.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">because even though it has this beautiful veranda complete with cozy seating, privacy curtains, a fireplace, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg249KmTS0I7zFDOJ4IOEygEy1LnZL3M4BTTtZ8o57cpXkAdQG6IOdzqFz4PpSsXe0lbN2owNawzTEpfECix7Qghyphenhyphen5F8h51Om9h-x0IlSUCXNB02d2q5waNgu68HzH09oDhoVI0TLDbzbI/s1600/ad+birdbath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg249KmTS0I7zFDOJ4IOEygEy1LnZL3M4BTTtZ8o57cpXkAdQG6IOdzqFz4PpSsXe0lbN2owNawzTEpfECix7Qghyphenhyphen5F8h51Om9h-x0IlSUCXNB02d2q5waNgu68HzH09oDhoVI0TLDbzbI/s640/ad+birdbath.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and lush plantings and accents,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oqNjwqgFwIzjMHmrY3a06q_0-iUf3-qpcOnc3TH4lMmcHJ0owNsoU4in6qNyzK55hec3jOZNapXPhz_PG0yCLJGYJedVf2PyeFwNH3yBShp2iFP9fLa8qKOSz09UgN1g5PkP0Su3ok0/s1600/ad+fern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oqNjwqgFwIzjMHmrY3a06q_0-iUf3-qpcOnc3TH4lMmcHJ0owNsoU4in6qNyzK55hec3jOZNapXPhz_PG0yCLJGYJedVf2PyeFwNH3yBShp2iFP9fLa8qKOSz09UgN1g5PkP0Su3ok0/s640/ad+fern.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this garden is really all about</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9TDCeKm73S819TGWqbZS9K9FwywAUDLY2NClV2ZhIxqzDi6Gx5T1QYECuKwYk-UBVqV-me2Qsb01FYB9ufrihceR7y9HvymNFyWoI0hE1sriBXW8iRXEaRM9Y5jCebc7wtqy-jXmqmw/s1600/ad+waterfall+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9TDCeKm73S819TGWqbZS9K9FwywAUDLY2NClV2ZhIxqzDi6Gx5T1QYECuKwYk-UBVqV-me2Qsb01FYB9ufrihceR7y9HvymNFyWoI0hE1sriBXW8iRXEaRM9Y5jCebc7wtqy-jXmqmw/s640/ad+waterfall+pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the pool!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_0FQYnX0cnt1cQLDd7RuP33VYAHjJB_aIJJYNQjSJinoxbIeKxuHqjt685p45ppidxgT414hWtTRj59pJ0SFD87jeBx-CMfm3qsyXAc25lPXedNQmu-T7KSVz_ECFOGA6LaZnezgB-o/s1600/ad+blue+saltwater+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_0FQYnX0cnt1cQLDd7RuP33VYAHjJB_aIJJYNQjSJinoxbIeKxuHqjt685p45ppidxgT414hWtTRj59pJ0SFD87jeBx-CMfm3qsyXAc25lPXedNQmu-T7KSVz_ECFOGA6LaZnezgB-o/s640/ad+blue+saltwater+pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and that dictates what is planted here - no petals, or small leaves to clog the filter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEVo7ajKf9L06JQ28S3c_qB79hWmLa3nVZ0G0JiU7bm3Z3Vu7q5b0-FPsJGggd_8aQ523UTOD1QoX9eahWN28gMhsMckdY9QnSjtqqAHwwJSQh1NK9A8qB4y0SrMTppgeDDR6xa7zn0A/s1600/ad+tropicals3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEVo7ajKf9L06JQ28S3c_qB79hWmLa3nVZ0G0JiU7bm3Z3Vu7q5b0-FPsJGggd_8aQ523UTOD1QoX9eahWN28gMhsMckdY9QnSjtqqAHwwJSQh1NK9A8qB4y0SrMTppgeDDR6xa7zn0A/s640/ad+tropicals3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this back yard is all tropicals</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAk1Qap5ugza9fax0RrAy4e2XQ3nfZToFj1HOYnDLbvWpCVMBuowmjxUXLdGP5UI2VNUzCJBkp90tpnG2YRJd43WMReLkldLTQYi6T8xdFmtTX97DOTkKdh_sLbZ3SxHu35K5bnswMbM/s1600/ad+tropicals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAk1Qap5ugza9fax0RrAy4e2XQ3nfZToFj1HOYnDLbvWpCVMBuowmjxUXLdGP5UI2VNUzCJBkp90tpnG2YRJd43WMReLkldLTQYi6T8xdFmtTX97DOTkKdh_sLbZ3SxHu35K5bnswMbM/s640/ad+tropicals.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with big beautiful leaves</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgVoVe8scyWItzEc6TPKZPvKYywcLyWRP42aagN_SEahbhrkB15Yy1PPH2CfwUpxvH_DYL0-k8uKgdDc61wAADlqPze8DQrSefILc6DEFsOzQsWtbRr2ULGf6ZAB1SSBIVLRx1edbHl0/s1600/ad+tropicals2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgVoVe8scyWItzEc6TPKZPvKYywcLyWRP42aagN_SEahbhrkB15Yy1PPH2CfwUpxvH_DYL0-k8uKgdDc61wAADlqPze8DQrSefILc6DEFsOzQsWtbRr2ULGf6ZAB1SSBIVLRx1edbHl0/s640/ad+tropicals2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>that create a private oasis for Alana and her family <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">How beautiful is that?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>STAY TUNED FOR MORE OF THE TOUR</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>TOMORROW!</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>

GARDENING: LOUISIANA BAYOU - SO. CALIFORNIA TROPICAL PARADISE

.. IN THE AFTERMATH OF KATRINA My husband went to Louisiana to do some relief work in the area.  We'd never visited the South, so after ...

Read more »