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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html

Friday, June 27, 2014

{Hollis Garden in Lakeland, Florida}

After our stay in Miami, we did travel to the central part of Florida, to Lakeland, a city with many lakes. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Lakeland Center which is very conveniently right in the center of this beautiful city. 
Only about half a mile away from our hotel is this lovely Botanic Garden, named Hollis Garden, which is situated within the historic Lake Mirror Park
Below you see lake Mirror viewed from Hollis Garden, which is on its southern shore.
The Swan is very much the Symbol for Lakeland and you find many statues and even more real swans, e.g. on Lake Morton, the largest lake and bird sanctuary in Lakeland.
There is even a link between the Queen of England and Lakeland's swans.
When swans had become extinct, because of alligators, people and dogs, one resident from Lakeland wrote the Queen of England for two swans from the Thames River.
In 1957, Lakeland received 2 swans from Queen Elizabeth.
Pieter sitting next to the water bowl in Hollis Garden.
Look at those absolute blue skies! We got so lucky these 9 days in Florida.
Flowers up close... taken with my iPad.
We did not have our Fuji camera as it got lost at the Hyatt House in Miami...

Tuscan gazebo, this is the water bowl that husband Pieter was sitting next to.
Please see the slide show from link below for far better impressions...


Related links:
Hollis Gardens, Lakeland, Florida | Far better images then shown from my iPad shots... 2:15 min video



44 comments:

  1. looks like a pretty place. sorry about the camera loss!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Theresa,
      Sad indeed and we just had discovered it the morning that we went to Hollis Garden for an early walk, right after opening time... Using the iPad is very hard with such bright sun!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  2. How terrible about your camera sweetie....
    Love the beautiful pic's the swans are just totally gorgeous ;-)

    Hugs~
    Mari

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Mari,
      Yes, that was a sad fact of this trip but what can we do? Somebody must have taken it and not returned to us... Sad that we lost the pictures with our dear friends in Miami.
      But we did enjoy all the swan symbols in Lakeland and the real swans on the big lakes. They are o regal and the story about Queen Elizabeth sending 2 swans down in 1957 is incredible.
      Hugs to you dear.
      Mariette

      Delete
  3. Dearest Mariette,
    what a wonderful Garden, thank you for showing!
    But - sad to hear that your camera got lost in the hotel!
    Love and hugs
    Claudia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      Oh, those gardens make one fall in love and who would not want to walk there...?
      Sad thing indeed about the camera but some people just are not honest.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  4. A lovely place, dear Mariette, and I can see why the naming of the lake is 'mirror'. It is a wonderful story of Queen Elizabeth and the swans. The flowers are such a pretty blue - like the blue skies above. Sorry about your camera and I hope your friends have photos to share with you, so you will have a remembrance. Hugs xo Karen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Karen,
      Those lakes are so beautiful and this Lake Mirror is great but Lake Morton, the bird sanctuary is even more so.
      Yes, the camera is a loss and no, our friends have no photos...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  5. Dearest Mariette,
    Pieter with your lucky in florida.
    you must just happinig few maniet ago.My camera has lost in before other country.
    It was so busy time that why I can't remember when was lost ?
    I had lots of my boy's with my husband and me. it was a long time of years ha ha
    Hugs and love to always!
    Michiko

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Michiko,
      Guess losing a camera will happen to each one of us at a given time. So sorry to hear it happened with you as will with so many fond memories of your boys and your husband with you. You never can go back... but memories live in your heart; also without photos.
      Hugs and love,
      Mariette

      Delete
  6. Io non ho avuto la fortuna di viaggiare molto, e queste foto mi fanno capire che ogni angolo di questo Mondo ha delle meraviglie da mostrare. Che posti magnifici Mariette, posti dove la bellezza di ogni cosa è travolgente. Un bacione. Paola

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carissima Paola,
      I luoghi che abbiamo visitato a Sarasota e anche qui a Lakeland, anche hanno un pocco di stile italiano; che naturalmente ci rende felici. Sì, c'è bellezza travolgente in diversi angoli del mondo...
      Baci,
      Mariette

      Delete
  7. Liebe Mariette,

    WUNDERSCHÖN!

    Sonnige Grüße
    Elisabeth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      Ja es war traumhaft schön!
      Liebe sonnige Grüsse,
      Mariette

      Delete
  8. Ja die blauwe luchten herinner ik me ook nog van Florida, zo blauw zie je ze niet overal, hoewel we hier een aardige poging doen de laatste tijd. Maar meestal zit er toch wel een wit wolkje tussen zo nu en dan, maar we mogen niet klagen, we hebben prachtig weer, al weken lang.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beste Marianne,
      Ja, jullie hebben heel zeker een uitzonderlijke lente en zomer in 2014. Voor nederlandse begrippen al heel zeker. Florida is niet altijd zo mooi als dat wij het deze trip ervaren hebben. Het wordt veel geplaagd door orkanen en zwaar onweer met wervelstormen. Dus we boften een keer en genoten volop van dit prachtige weer, vooral als je de natuur in gaat om te wandelen.
      Geniet ook van jullie zomer en van de oranje sfeer i.v.m. de wereld cup!
      Liefs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  9. Oh my dearest Mariette ... sorry to hear about your camera... hopefully the photos of your trip had been downloaded ... sending a prayer to the angels that someone finds it and it is returned to you.

    Your trip sounds great! and Pieter looks relaxed... enjoy hugs and blessings, Celia M. (HHL)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Celia,
      No, we had not downloaded our photos... the address was on the camera but dishonest people don't bother!
      We had a lovely trip, one of the best we ever made to Florida and Pieter could relax after so much hard work. But he started right away with putting tiles in our garage when we got back home... So we need another escape!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  10. Liebe Mariette,
    die Geschichte mit den Schwänen ist sehr schön und interessant.
    Der Garten muss bezaubernd sein.
    Einen schönen Tag wünscht dir
    Irmi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liebe Irmi,
      Ja, die Schwänen bedeuten sehr viel für diese schöne Stadt. Es gibt da soviel schönes zu besichtigen und auch Kulturelles. Aber wir gehen bestimmt öfters hin!
      Liebe Grüsse,
      Mariette

      Delete
  11. Dear Marette,what a fantastic place!!Beautiful garden!Wonderful pictures!
    I'm so sorry for your camera got lost .Have a lovely day!!Hugs!!
    Dimi...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Dimi,
      Oh, this is a lovely city with so many dreamy lakes and gardens. Thank you for your visit and yes, sad loss but we cannot change that.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  12. Good Afternoon Mariette, I was sorry to hear that you lost your camera whilst on holiday. You never know maybe someone will find it and return it to you..... I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
    Your trip sounds wonderful, and I loved the story about the swans. They are such beautiful creatures.
    Hollis Gardens is such a beautiful place and I loved seeing the blue skies without a cloud in the sky.
    Have a wonderful day today.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Daphne,
      Yes, one would never guess that a city in Central Florida would have such a connection with Queen Elizabeth through 2 swans received in 1957...
      It sure is lovely out there; we missed our good camera but still enjoyed it. No, the camera did not get returned and management had no mention of a camera found.
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

      Delete
  13. What a pity your camera got lost!!!!! I am sorry about this, dear Mariette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    But the photos you took with your iPad are perfect! They show the beauty of this place and I am glad that you enjoyed it so much!
    Many hugs!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Marie-Anne,
      Sure I was glad for having my iPad, even though it was hard with this bright sun to capture photos. We did enjoy it and took it all in personally and we will be back!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  14. lieve Mariette ,
    Wat vervelend om te horen dat je camera verloren hebt ...ook om dat je foto's bent kwijd geraakt,,,
    erg jammer ...je hebt toch nog mooie foto's kunnen maken met je iPad..
    De tuinen zien er prachtig uit ...
    veel liefs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lieve Nieneke,
      Ja, vervelend is het en het personeel van zo'n hotel is ook niet allemaal betrouwbaar... daar kan management ook niks aan doen.
      We hebben nog wat mooie foto's inderdaad en alleen jammer dat er van onze vrienden geen foto's zijn... We hadden zo'n leuke tijd samen!
      Die tuinen daar zou je dagen kunnen ronddwalen, ook rond de vele meren met de watervogels. Een heel bijzondere stad en altijd met een fijn klimaat.
      Liefs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  15. Lieve Mariette,

    Een prachtige plek om bij dit fantastische mooie weer te wandelen en te genieten van al dit fraais.
    Prachtig verhaal dat Koningin Elizabeth destijds 2 zwanen geschonken heeft in ruil voor het geld door gulle gevers bij elkaar gebracht(als ik het goed begrijp)Wel heel jammer om te lezen dat enkele jaren terug er veel zwaneneieren niet veilig waren voor dieven en de nesten leeg geroofd werden.
    En wat een triest bericht dat jullie fotocamera zoek is,de camera is te vervangen maar de gemaakte foto's ben je helaas tot nu toe kwijt,of zouden er toch nog eerlijke mensen zijn en wanneer je zo slim bent geweest om foto van telefoonnummer te maken zodat de vinder de eigenaar van camera kan achterhalen.

    Lieve groet,Ger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lieve Ger,
      Ja een pracht plek voor een ochtend wandeling; daar kun je van genieten!
      Koningin Elizabeth schonk destijds die 2 zwanen en het vervoer moest betaald worden door de mensen zelf. Maar de gulle gevers dat had te doen met het 60-jarig jubileum, ze wilden geld voor de straat party inzamelen om de vele nazaten van die 2 zwanen te vieren tijdens een diamanten jubileum.
      Ja, destijds in 1954 waren ze bijna uitgeroeid door de kaaimannen, honden en mensen en daarom schreef die ene mevrouw een brief aan de koningin. Maar enkele jaren geleden verdwenen er inderdaad zo'n 40 zwanen eieren, met een marktwaarde van $ 300 per stuk. Er zullen altijd van dat soort mensen zijn die géén respect hebben voor de natuur, niet eens voor watervogels in zo'n prachtig natuur reservaat. Jámmer!
      De camera is door minder eerlijke mensen (vermoedelijk van het personeel) meegenomen en die stoorden zich niet aan de adres sticker die erop zat... Kon makkelijk aan management worden afgegeven. Jámmer, die foto's zijn weg.
      Lieve groetjes,
      Mariette

      Delete
  16. This is such a lovely place! Those swan statues are beautiful.
    When I lived in Orlando, FL, I loved that there were many lakes in the area.
    It's too bad you lost your camera in Miami. But you iPad took very good pictures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Tamago,
      Lakeland is an incredible city and so full of beauty and cultural riches.
      Yes, the lost camera is a bad thing but what can we do? Got some iPad shots to live with and we will be back together with our friends!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  17. Interesting this story about the 2 swans, I really enjoyed this post!
    How strange you "lost" your camera....
    I remember 35 years ago when we where in Cape Canaveral we took quite a few photos of a rocket brought in to take off the following day but all of our films had curiously disappeared when we left our hotel in Florida... The gang must still be a work!!!
    Enjoy your weekend! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Noushka,
      The swan story is indeed a very special one! Lovely sanctuary for big water birds and great for photography, aside from this Hollis Garden there are many places in Lakeland for photo options.
      Not strange for losing a camera, that can happen to anyone!
      Too bad you lost all your films at that time... and such a rocket is not a daily event that you can go back to and capture again...
      C'est la vie!
      Hugs and happy weekend.
      Mariette

      Delete
  18. I'm so pleased you have been away on holidays. The gardens look very beautiful.
    Hugs Kay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Kay,
      Yes, this was a lovely 9-day vacation and much needed!
      Lovely weather all the time and we saw lots of special things, mainly outdoors.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  19. Thank you for sharing the story of the two swans dear Mariette, you are always such an interesting bloggy friend, I always look forward to all your posts and your comments, as I love learning something new every time! I love Flo. and I'm so happy you went on your vacation already, wish I could go again this year. We're planning a NYC, (my home town) trip next year for our 40th. anniversary. We are still checking Brazil and Holland for the world cup, they are the best candidates, lol! Have a great weekend dear.
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Fabby,
      Oh, I know how much you too love Florida! As much as we get a chance to get away, we love to drive there. Such stories make a city I guess, very special with all their swan symbols and royal connection to Queen Elizabeth.
      We'll see what the Dutch will end up with for the World Cup!
      Sending you hugs and wishing you a lovely weekend.
      Mariette

      Delete
  20. Beautiful place. Sorry about the camera loss. Hopefully it can be found and returned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Daniela,
      It was a lovely place and we will keep going back there; not only because of our dear friends, but also because of so much beauty in this city.
      Forget about this camera ever turning up; thieves don't intend to return goods...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  21. What a connection -- the swan story is very interesting. Looks like a wonderful trip, Have a lovely weekend, Tammy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Tammy,
      Oh certainly this swan story is very unique and interesting. It was a wonderful trip of 9 days; we so much enjoyed it!
      You too a lovely new week since today was your day off.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  22. Oh, wonderful story about 2 swans; I'll skip writing my special feeling swans (haha, you'll already know).
    Yes, Hollis Garden is really beautiful, Mariette. Beautiful gazebo and flowers♡♡♡
    So sorry about the camera;

    Sending you lots of love and hugs to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Miyako,
      The entire city of Lakeland is full of swans, statues and living swans but they are peacefully in their sanctuary.
      Sure, the camera loss + photos of our visit with dear friends was a very sad fact. Some people just are not honest and what can we do?
      Hugs and love from your friend in Georgia, USA.
      Mariette

      Delete

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...

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MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

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