Hello All
Real Name-- Jean
age: I'll never so "50" again
Hobbies-gardening (indoor & out), quilting, water sports, traveling
Pets: 3 cats - all rescued from somewhere. I see a couple dogs in the retirement future!!!!

DH & I are both retired Army. Next year we both plan to "retire" again and move to our house in FL. We bought it 3 years ago and every time we go down to check on it, it's harder to head back to MD. A very nice family is currently renting it and I get gardening rights whenever I'm down. Then she attempts to keep the plants living.

Hetty, this must all seem familiar to you here in Fl. Just as flat as Holland, We went visiting and have friends there in Rotterdam. Love the shopping in Amsterdam, Only place where they know what a sturfian is - can't spell it though! Madeleine

Hi its John from Apopka. Moved down from Iowa to get involved with landscape and nursery business 21 years ago. My Aunts and Uncles were farmers and Dad was a hobby gardener. I think my dutch blood causes me to love plants, and my boyish spirit enjoys getting my hands dirty. My creative side enjoys photography. I have worked in plant nurseries for many years, but now I work with computers in an office cubicle as a hospital administrator. Kitty and I have stayed married for 31 years by the grace of God. We have 4 kids now in their 20s and one grand daughter who plans to stay with us for the summer. I'm a member of Florida Native Plant Society.

Hi John
You certainly live in a great area for plants. Lots of growers and nurseries in your area. I have a friend in Apopka and have been to Waikiva (sp?) Springs a few times. I too work in a hospital for the VA doing insurance billing for the pharmacy dept. At the end of the year, the VA is consolidating all the insurance and billing units into one large unit at Orlando. Since I can't afford to relocate at the moment, I will be placed in another position at the hospital but I have no idea where at this time. Perhaps since you are into Florida Native Plants, you could possibly help me build up the Florida Native Plants Database I started,
http://cubits.org/FLGARDEN/db/...

Jan,

Is that going to be 'progress' for the VA? My DH goes to them.

Hap

That's how they're trying to justify it. Less than 5% of the experienced employees plan to relocate so they will be hiring 95% new, mostly inexperienced people to do billing and collections so I anticipate revenue suffering for awhile but as it's the government, they will make up for it elsewhere till it catches up. In the meantime they have to create about 50 new positions for the employees not relocating (Just my VA. There are about 5 major VA's involved in the Orlando consolidation) They justified that by downgrading us to lower grade levels. Several people are retiring early or taking a $25,000 buyout instead.

Ah, the government and their wisdom. Haven't they heard of the internet?

Hap

Howdy
I'm semi-retired Boilermaker who loves Coleus, Brugs and Geraniums, which bloom year round.
I also play duplicate Bridge and collect fabric.
I have deeply missed hearing from and about my FL gardening friends.
Sidney

Hi Sidney
I thought about doing a name change too when I came over but I thought since some of us are getting to a certain age, we didn't need any added confusion.
(Actually, I was afraid if someone addressed me by a new name that I'd forget to answer!)

Well I was flying under the radar to a degree.
I just didn't want any grief.
Sidney

Hugs, Sidney!

Hugs back Nancy,
Please be aware there is some serious Credit/Debit compromising going on right now.
Check your accts at least twice a day.
They hit 2 of mine.
Vintage Vantage is always the initial charge.
Sidney

Sidney,

I don't understand....please email me.

Thanks

Glad to see you here, Sydney. I have missed you! I remember meeting you at Mollymacs roundup.
Lorine

Hi Rene,
About the time I was going to send a note saying how pretty a picture you take, it disappeared.
Yes, Molly has great RUs. I loved seeing Nancy there too.
Sidney

Sorry, Sugar, no more long trips. That last one almost killed me. I'm already starting to worry about going to West Palm on the 24th. UGH!!!

Yes, Hap, the road is hard for me too anymore.
It was still great seeing you.
Sidney

Hi Rene, Passed through Wachula again going down to Bonita at Easter, also visited Naples - where all the grass grows straight and nice and tide- it does not encroach on any space it shouldn't!

I've been living and gardening in Florida for about 26 yrs. (originally from England). Seemama and I have been email friends for a few years now; but have yet to meet ! Shameful -- Kissimmee isn't that far away from me (I live on the east coast - on the barrier island). I'd been a widow for a few years, then met my present husband (also originally from England) about 6 yrs. ago and got married to him 7 months ago. I have two sons in their 40's and my husband has 3 children in the UK -- all in their 40's also. He has 4 grandchildren (all boys) and I have a grandson and grandaughter. We have a female Shih Tzu who bosses everyone, including my son's female boxer who spends the day with us while he's at work.

I love container gardening for vegetables, herbs and, of course, my flowers.

Hi,

I'm from Rochester, NY 25 years ago and I have family in England.

Here is My baby, Archibald, aka, Archie