The trip was scheduled for 8:00 a.m.
We arrived early morning at this beautiful small town of Crystal River. Just across the dive center we had breakfast in open air enjoying the view of Kings Bay.

At 8:00 we were still the only two people for manatee tour and they suggested us to rent a pontoon boat and make the trip ourselves.
So we did – my husband was the captain and i was helping with the map.
We were boating around Kings Bay along Buzzard Island around Banana Island where is the Big Spring or King Spring and we made a stop to look for manatees.
There were few of them around but too shy to come closer.

Then we drove the boat back and under a bridge on the way to “Tree Sisters Spring”

We made our second stop and we took a bath in refreshing pure cold spring water.
Back on the boat we got warm again on the sun.
We had beautiful weather and made gorgeous pictures of water sights – an example how happy life in nature could be.
More pictures of our Crystal River boat trip

Orchid growers from around the state came to show and sell these exotic tropical beauties – thousands of gorgeous orchid plants, different species, colors and variations to please the taste of every orchid lover.

Doors for visitors opened at 10 a.m. and after one hour about half of the orchids were already sold.
Prices were very reasonable for such elite quality and every body could get priceless professional advice and information about the particular orchid they buy and how to care for. Suitable fertilizers and soil were also offered.

Hundreds of people came to buy or just to enjoy the show

For no additional cost lectures were provided by professionals. After the shopping some of the earliest visitors were already taking sits in the cozy atmosphere of the shady Oak Pavilion just relaxing and waiting to learn more about repotting and mounting orchids and different orchid cultures – Cattleya, Oncidium, Vanda, Phalaenopsis.

Orchids sensual beauty have fascinated people for centuries as symbols of love, beauty and luxury.

These are the best exotic natural flower decoration for our house, room, office, patio, balcony and a delightful gem to integrate into our garden.

Click to see our collection of pictures Exotic Orchids, Orchid flowers wallpapers, check also our Orchid flower greeting cards and Mother’s Day Cards with orchids.

It is spring time and the few kapok trees in St Peterburg are full of blossom.

These rare exotic tropical trees are really spectacular with their huge beautiful red flowers. The leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals are born between January and March before the green leaves develop. The flowers mature into small husks containing fibres, similar to cotton.

Kapok tree with only flowers in spring:

Huge bright red beautiful flowers:

See more exotic kapok tree pictures.

Mother Nature is blossoming in spring flowers now!

Enjoy and have a beautiful spring time!

When I first visited Sunken Gardens I was really surprised of how a tiny piece of natural beauty could be maintained amidst the large city’s concrete environment. Situated just minutes away from downtown Saint Petersburg on 1825 4th Street N., it is open for the public every day of the week.

The 100 year old garden accommodates more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers from different parts of the world among brooklets and cascading waterfalls.

Huge exotic palm trees

Lush bushes

Every spring here took place the famous Orchid Festival, well organized with lectures, demonstrations, musical entertainment and show thousands of gorgeous orchids.

With its peaceful atmosphere Sunken Gardens is an ideal place for some special events as well as educational programs and workshops.

More information can be found at the city’s official website Sunken Gardens

We moved to Florida in the early spring of year 2002 and the first destination to check out was Tampa. Since we loved to have beaches nearby and the city of Tampa seemed to have pretty much ocean water around. The next morning after our arrival I bought a detailed map of the city and for my big surprise I did not find beaches almost anywhere on Tampa Bay. So, that was the end of our search for a new place to live in here.

This is how we went on south and stopped in Sarasota – nice and clean city with some of the finest beaches.

During the winter of 2002/2003 while watching the weather forecast on the TV one thing caught my attention. Anytime the temperature showed for Saint Petersburg, which is 40 miles north of Sarasota, was up to several degrees higher than in Sarasota.

Then we decided to take a day or two and visit Saint Petersburg.
…. and we ended up in one one of the most beautiful places in Florida to make it our new home.

Saint Petersburg is situated at the southern part of Pinellas Peninsula, on Florida West Coast.
St.Pete Google map

Surrounded by the waters of Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico the city has 244 miles shoreline and intracoastal waterways.

This perfect location also determines the very specific climate conditions – constant breeze cooling down the land summertime and mild winter.

The name Sunshine City comes from one very impressive record in Guinness World Record Book – most consecutive days of sunshine – 768 days that began in 1967.

With its many parks and some of the nicest beaches Saint Petersburg is an ideal place for sport and outdoor recreation.

Some information can be found at the city’s web site St. Pete

Topic to be continued on this blog with facts, information and photos from our home city – Saint Petersburg.

God bless

• Sunny days all year around,
• warm mild climate,
• fresh breeze
• and the song of many birds.
• Many beaches with very fine white like sugar sand
• and warm clear sea water with a nice turquoise color.

The most beautiful flowers blossoming for many months – like Hibiscus, Plumeria tree, Orchid tree, Oleanders, Gardenias and huge variety of many other flowers.

There are many tropical jungle parks in Florida with rare birds and animals – like huge alligators, pink flamingos.

One of the natural wonders of Florida are Florida’s springs with the purest, crystal clear water and rich exotic flora and fauna – ideal for canoing, boating, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Florida is a real tropical paradise!