Summer Garden

The days are long and hot, but some of the plants in my flower beds love it.

One of the benefits of a xeriscape garden.

BLUE DAZE

These Blue Daze have been in pots for 2 years,
and are really root-bound.
But they keep on keeping on!

DURANTA/BRAZILIAN SKY FLOWER

This tall guy has been showing off with beautiful purple flowers
since early spring.

These waxy golden berries set after the flowers drop.

Butterflies and bees love this Brazilian Sky Flower.

TECOMA STANS/YELLOW BELLS/ESPERANZA

The yellow pops.

Yellow Bells

HIBISCUS

This Hibiscus' peachy double flower is dreamy.

 

 

LANTANA

The spicy smell of Lantana always reminds me of
my Grandfather Kenney Voelkel's garden.

My grandfather's Lantana were pink and yellow like these.

My favorite color is "Dallas Red."
This one is training into a tree instead of a ground-hugger.

Dallas Red Lantana

 

 

MOSS ROSE

A plant with soft, succulent foliage
and bright--almost neon--blooms.

TEXAS SAGE

Sort of a badge of Texas citizenship

Sage blooms after it rains.
A floral hooray!

See the bee?
He was happy.

Grey-green foliage with soft lavender colored blooms.

STELLA D'ORO DAY LILLY

Blooms last only a day, but this repeat bloomer
keeps the blooms coming from spring to frost.

SUNFLOWERS

New to my garden this year,
Giant Sunflowers were supposed to reach 10' or more.
These are more like 4' tall,
and they make me smile.

Galveston Getaway: The Galvez

Celebrating 100 years, The Galvez opened its gracious doors to Steve and me

for a mid-week Galveston, TX getaway in April.

Just 90 minutes from our door to the Gulf of Mexico,

across Galveston Bay on the Causeway,

and there we were.

 

I grabbed my camera to explore.

Want to come along?



Tuesday Afternoon

Welcome

Front Desk

Brass and Classic

Bathing Beauties



The Back Door

Bernardo de Galvez
watches over the entrance to The Spa

Butterfly Iris



Bird of Paradise

Palm in Bloom

Island Icons



Oleanders Are So Galveston



Pink Oleander



Oleander in White

Murdoch's Souveniers
Across Seawall Blvd. from The Galvez, Murdoch's was built on a long pier extending out into the Gulf.
As a barefoot child in the '50's, I walked Murdoch's old wood floors--
worn smooth from sandy tourists' feet and insistent Gulf breezes.
Rebuilt after a devastaing direct hit from Hurricane Ike in 2008,
Murdoch's welcomes yet another generation of wide-eyed beach lovers,
eager to explore giant shells and other magical gifts from the sea. 

The Galvez
Plans for this hotel were in the works in the late 1890's.
The Great Storm of 1900 decimated Galveston Island.
(fascinating read: A Weekend in September, Weems)
Within 4 years, the SeaWall was completed;
by 1910, the grade of the Gulf side of part of the island
was raised 17 feet--remarkable!
The $1million Hotel Galvez opened shortly thereafter.

April Grey Gulf and Sky

The Galvez
on Galveston Island, TX

Restaurant at The Galvez

Honeysuckle Pillar



Peace

Respite from Gulf Breezes





The Galvez
April, 2013



Poolside



Grey Flight

Just Add Sun, Please!



Bird of Paradise

Show-Off!

Overhead

Carpet with Border

Emerge



Breathtaking



Hibiscus



Gentle Filters



Palm I

Palm II



Lobby Echoes

Sculpted Sails

Did you enjoy our walk around The Galvez?  It's definitely a place filled with histories.  I can almost hear the conversations of flappers, celebrities, and families whose summer residence was this hotel.  Was that fleeting scent the smooth cigar smoke and mellow whiskey of gamblers and presidents?  How many have experienced this intoxicating honeysuckle and the hot-crisp scent of freshly starched white linen tablecloths?

One hundred years, and still a gracious, quiet, elegant hostess.