Old Route 41

Old Route 41 runs through the City of Bonita Springs.  The City leaders upgraded it from a rickety old local road to an attractively landscaped street that might -- they hope -- stimulate economic development.  They even installed a traffic circle that the locals are struggling to figure out. 

Setting the Pace

This sculpture by Colorado artist Jane DeDecker sits in Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.

Everglades Wonder Gardens

The Everglades Wonder Gardens is an "Old Florida"-style attraction that has been on life support for a decade or more.  The City of Bonita Springs stepped in two years ago, provided funding 

to rescue it, turned it into a nonprofit and hired a new executive director.

The Wonder Gardens was clobbered by Hurricane Irma.  But, with more help from the City and 200 volunteers, fifty truckloads of fallen trees and debris were removed from the park.  

The park opened again last week.  Today's post is linked to Monday Mural.

Doctors Pass

Damage to roofs and pool cages and uprooted trees, along with the debris piles, are the most visible damage from Hurricane Irma.  But, in many cases the storm redistributed beach sand.  Friends on Sanibel have had their beach doubled in depth, receiving sand lost by Captiva.

Doctors Pass is at a vulnerable location in Naples, where Moorings Bay joins the Gulf of Mexico.  Collier County has approved a $2 million project to rebuild and extend a jetty and replace the 

beach sand that was lost.  The project has already begun and will take four months.

Sunset

This is the sunset that led to the afterglow I showed yesterday.

Gulls and pelicans roost on the further pilings.

Afterglow

The pilings on Naples Beach at Third Street South are a good spot to view the afterglow

that follows a sunset.  Weekend Reflections.

Two Greeters

The Baker Museum at Artis-Naples suffered water damage in Hurricane Irma.  It will be closed all season.  Greeters are posted at the courtyard entrance to steer visitors to the parts of Artis-Naples
that are still open.  I was there for the changing of the guard.

Sally Ann is proudly in her 80s.  Originally from Buffalo, NY, she has 11 children (not a typo).  After the last child left home, Sally Ann went back to college, got her degree and became a teacher.

She lives now in Florida because New York winters are too cold.  Sally Ann is an avid kayaker.

Caroline is a high school senior.  This is her first job.  She plays saxophone in the high school band and likes working here so she can see the concerts for free.  Caroline plans to go
to college next year, maybe the University of Florida.

My laptop is back.  The operating system was re-installed and it has a new battery.  Whew!