Papa’s World – Crepe Myrtles and Palm Trees!

Good day – growing up in Pa. and NYS. –

We had no Plam Trees or, as far as I can remember, crepe myrtles!

So, in 1999, we transferred to NVA. -I planted Crepe Myrtles in the yard of the last home we lived in before moving South!

On my hands and knees – because of rocks – I planted three of them.

They had the bright red color!

They survived the winters of the NVA and D.C. winters!

BUT – NO PLAM TREES!

Now fast forward to 2021 –

We made a choice and bought a lot in Cameron Woods Community –

On the mainland side of Ocean Isle Beach in N.C.

This is the construction of that house, and you can see the irrigation system –

And the bushes and small Crepe Myrtle on the corner of the house.

This one now towers over the corner of that porch and blooms WHITE!

There is also one on the other corner of the house.

As we moved in July of 2021-

We gradually had major landscaping completed.

We went to the nursery and picked out three palm trees ( short ones) –

And two Pink Crepe Myrtles!

The two Pink Crepe Myrtles in the back yard –

These trees are so tall, I need a step ladder to reach the lower branches to trim back in the late fall, early winter.

They have grown so fast, and so many pink flowers!

The ones on the corners in the house out front-

They have gotten tall, but do not flower as much as these do!

This was taken over a year ago, and today the white Crepe Myrtle is taller than the porch roof!

This is one of the three palm trees we selected.

And it sits directly in the center of the back yard.

I can not reach the top on a step ladder and will eventually be twelve to fifteen feet tall!

In the background, all of the trees are in a protected wetland and cannot be cut down.

Looking back on the right side of the house.

We have had all the landscaping done by a man called ANDY!

Today, we are in the maintenance mode of lawn care.

We sold all our outdoor lawn maintenance tools when we moved.

And today, we hire most of what needs to be done.

I still trim the small bushes and cut back the palm trees and the Crepe Myrtles.

I trim the live oak tree out front!

Eventually, I will have that done!

Thanks for reading my blogs-

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SITE- IT IS FREE!!!!

Papa’s World – Living in the South!

Palm tree in the back yard!

Growing up in Pa. and NYS. – A palm tree would not exist there.

Even when we moved to NVA!

But – in OIB – close to the borders of S.C. and N.C. – we have three!

This one is in the backyard.

One is about 50 feet away and toward the side.

The other is in the front left corner as you look at the front of the house!

We also have four Cepe Myrtles – two are white, and two are pink!

They all survive the winters here.

And last winter we had a very rare and freak snowstorm- 15 inches!

They say this only happens once every 40 or 50 years!

Three days later, it had melted and was gone!

We don’t even own a snow shovel! ( A good friend bought us one!!!!)

The two Crepe Myrtles –

Both Pink and I will say I like them better than the white ones!

The white ones are on the front corners of the house.

They were installed by the builder as part of the landscaping package!

The two pinks – Sherry and I picked out at a company that sells trees –

And we picked out the three palm trees.

We hired a landscaper named Andy to install them!

In fact, he did all of our stone borders around the house!

Since we were one of the first to landscape the lawn like this-

We allowed him to put up a sign, and he became very popular with the rest of the neighborhood!

Papa standing on the front porch –

But note the stone landscaping which Andy did!!!!

This goes completely around the house!

The builder supplied Straw, which in this part of N.C. – S.C. is big!

We did not like it ( Snakes love it!)

Then we tried for one year black mulch – ( Insects love that!!!)-

And then we did stone with a border of cement stones!

LOL – We got rid of the landline years ago!

For the third summer –

We are trying to grow lemons!

The first two years, we got a couple of them.

Then this Spring, Sherry found this self-watering tub on wheels.

We put it together and transplanted the lemon tree!

BINGO – it is now full of green to turn yellow lemons!

The other was root-bound –

All new Miracle-Gro grown soil –

There is an enclosed reservoir at the bottom with a sort of float device that tells when the water is low.

The roots go down to the water through perforated holes –

When that float is all the way down –

You just take the water hose and start watering until it comes back up!

That way, your plant always has water.

That and Miracle-Gro keep it healthy.

There are dozens and dozens of lemons on here now!

Guess a lot of LEMONADE is in our future!

Plus, this is all on wheels and can be moved whenever we want!

Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – LIVING IN THE SOUTH –

SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – A little golf with Bob and Pam!

Sherry – Papa – Pam and Bob!

We did manage while visiting them at a campground just outside the Villages-

To drive some minutes away and get in a round of golf!

This course is perhaps the most landscaped and beautiful course I have ever played on.

I forget the name – but they told us –

You just show up – no tee times.

And they start you when the tee opens up.

It is 18 holes – we only played the front nine.

Not long which suits my senior game just right.

Everywhere you look is fantastic landscaping.

Flowers – shrubs – huge rocks and mulch.

Fountains and lakes full of greenery.

And the rough is great!

The story I was told –

A landscaper decided to develop land he had –

And put in an 18-hole golf course –

No tee times –

Not too expensive –

And use his landscaping experience-

to turn it into –

A lush – shrub – flower-filled oasis

with tons of water and water features!

AND A ISLAND GREEN that I hit in the middle and it rolled off into a sand trap.

I was amazed after being told by Bob and Pam-

just how beautiful it was.

And we just showed up around 2pm.-

and checked in and got right on!

And it was affordable.

A nice pro shop and they served food!

A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS!

A rock formation and a waterfall!

Fairways and roughs looked professionally groomed!

The greens were awesome and fast!

Spanish moss hanging from the trees-

Small and large palm trees throughout the course

and this was just the front nine!

Pam is ready to tee off –

Note how well-groomed the other parts of the course are!

Sherry already hit and I am waiting!

Notice how groomed the tee box is!

All the shrubs that I saw were all trimmed throughout the course.

An extraordinary amount of labor to make it so perfect!

There did not seem to be any leaves – dead branches –

or clippings on the course anywhere.

This was by far the best-kept course I have ever played on!

I wish I could remember the name –

It is somewhere around the Villages and Summerfield.

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – “KEEPER” of the PLANTS!

It has been three-plus years since we moved into our new home in Cameron Woods Community!

We now live less than eight miles from the border of N.C. and S.C. in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

In every home we have lived in – we have done our own plantings – except here – the TREES!

We have had three small palm trees and two Crepe Myrtles planted –

We have kept all the bushes that came with the house except for three.

All the landscaping small stones – edging and large border bricks we had installed.

The rest – with Sherry picking them out – I installed myself.

At 75 years old – my days of digging by hand for planting trees have ended!

But – I still am the one who daily maintains the bushes – eight rose bushes –

numerous flowering bushes that come back each year.

Since Sherry had her Compound Fracture of her LI Vertrabrea –

It has become my sole duty to water – and move the flowers in and off the front porch daily –

because we have some very hungry DEER!

They have munched the neighbor to little stubs of once glorious flowers and plants!

I have sprayed all the bushes and plants and parts of our Tower Garden

( YES THEY ATE THE LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF THE CUCUMBERS AND TOMATOES)

With deer and Rabbit repellent – and they ate them anyway.

So now – in the morning I move all the moveable pots off the covered front porch –

back onto the flower beds and at night move them back onto the porch –

Keep your fingers crossed that the Deer will not come onto the porch!

With the Tower Garden – we have a Winter covering – that looks like a shiny metal blanket –

that allows Sun and Rain through – I cover in the late afternoon and take off in the morning!

So far = at this writing – I write way ahead – this has worked.

Sherry has come up with the nick-name of “KEEPER OF THE PLANTS” for me.

Here is a picture of me after I had moved all the plants back to their spots before church-

on Father’s Day!

Usually, these pots are full of bright colors – but at this time they are green as the Deer ate all the colors of flowers!

We decided not to buy more new plants – they are expensive-

And to nurse them back with Miricle Grow which I have been doing – the Deep Green –

tells me they are healthy –

Now – time will tell – the whole neighborhood has been hit by this small herd of Deer.

They even jumped several fenced-in yards – munching the plants.

So – as the “KEEPER OF THE PLANTS” I shall continue my daily regime –

And keep my sanity of golfing and hitting that perfect shot that brings me back time after time!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – “KEEPER OF THE PLANTS” livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – enjoying a sunny day at Tanger outlets

A day just shopping and watching – sitting in the sun – drinking a coffee – watching people!

Being retired – when Sherry asks – “Do you want to go shopping”?

I jump up and say “WHEN & WHERE”!

I know I am going to like just waiting and watching people!

Shoes – shorts – shirt – no problems!

We drove about 20 minutes down rte. 17 – to Tanger Outlets!

Every store imaginable – my favorite shoe store – Sketchers!

And a Starbucks – for a sipping coffee!

Who would of known one year ago – I would be sitting outside

in November – sun – warmth – 75 degrees –

Palm trees and Christmas decorations!

Christmas tree decorated among the Palms!

For your information – I love warm weather

I am not a fan of ice – and snow and cold!

I gave my snow shovel away!

Red bows – garlands – lights – and Christmas songs playing – this is my type of holiday!

Someday I would like to share this with our family – holidays in the Sun!

Palm tree= warm sunshine – Christmas tree – red bows – people watching – Holidays in the South!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

Sherry – Christmas music playing

MY BLOG SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Click on LIKE:

Click on SUBSCRIBE:

It is all FREE!