Karen Nichols

These are stressful days. With the enconny and housing market still in the doldrums and job security or finding a job at all a major issue, vacations are more important than ever. Even a couple of days on a Florida beach to totally relax . . . . . I've always been an avid reader, although these days, I don't read as much I would like. I'm busy and my other interests, such as painting and writing, interfere with this most basic pleasure.

One day last month, I was out shopping and happened to come upon this most beautiful looking book. I briefly scanned through the pages and was amazed to see the unbelievable art contained in the book; yet, the inside cover advised that this was indeed a novel. I purchased the book and could not put it down. I then learned that this was a trilogy and ordered the other two of the series on Amazon.

The first book of the series is subtitled, "An Extraordinary Correspondence." Extraordinary doesn't even begin to describe the thought-provoking postcards and letters that reveal the story of Griffin Moss, an English artist, and Sabine Strohem, the woman who can "see" his paintings even though she lives an ocean away from him. Griffin eventually becomes unable to handle the relationship, questioning whether Sabine even exists, and disappears. From the formalness of their first postcards to the revealing intimacy of their final letters, Bantock's art gives the reader a delightfully tactile tour of their developing relationship. Bantock's art is amazing; his style ranges from looser "nature" prints for Sabine's postcards to precise, whimsical oil and acrylic paintings for Griffin's correspondence.

These books were written in the early 1990's. Where have I been? I need to take more vacations to read.

It was rather a feeling than a voice, and the feeling said: Go there and you will be happy.

I grew up in the suburbs of Massachusetts, 20 miles or so north of Boston, the North Shore. The next town over was Salem, home to the witches. The North Shore is beautiful in all four seasons, particulary fall, but summer is short, sometimes non-existeant, the same for spring, and winter is long and all consuming. I never liked the cold, even as a child.

When I was no longer a child, I had a feeling and the feeling said: Go there and you will be happy. The feeling brought me to Florida.

A strong wind was blowing over the island and the algae blew in so it looked more I was walking along an ocean of green grass.

My field of dreams is tropical and green and located on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. This is where the feeling led me.

For a dream vacation, feel free to contact me.

By The Sea Rentals

239-849-3064

Bythesearentals@aol.com

Nestled in the midst of colorful tropical gardens is a sweet beach cottage on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. I love cottages. Beach cottages, mountain cottages, country cottages. Perhaps because cottages are inherently romantic and often out of the way.

The cottage below is a studio, sleeps 3, full kitchen. There are glimpses of the bay from the deck. Short walk to beach and restaurants and shops. Very Private. For the artist, naturalist or vacationer seeking a relaxing place to come to after a day at the beach.

Summer Rate: $375 Weekly

By The Sea Rentals

239-849-3064

Bythesearentals@aol.com

Realtor, if there is conferate jasmine present on the property filtering the air with the power of it sultry bloom, you will sell that house in April.

A true Florida garden contains confederate jasmine. A true Florida gardener waits all year for April, the month the Confederate jasmine deems fit to bloom.

Warm spring-summer Florida April nights, the moon hanging so low you can almost touch the sweet scent of confederate jasmine fill the air on these lazy Southern evenings.

Confederate Jasmine is hardy in zone 8 where it thrives in moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Partial shade is a great location for best growth and flowering although it will grow in full sun or shade. It has an aggressive nature, but is not difficult to control.

Pruning is a practice that Confederate Jasmine benefits from and can be used to keep it in good shape. Since it blooms on last year's growth, wait until after flowering (April-May) to trim. Hedge shears may be used. Trimmings can be used to start new Confederate Jasmine plants. June and July are reported to be the best times for propagation, but it may root most any time of the year.

Below are photos of one of my Conferate Jasmine in my Fort Myers Beach garden. I was fortunate enough to obtain a new area of Jasmine in front of my garden from a trimming of my prized Jasmine vine on the right side. It's not easy to do, and I have failed before, but not this time.

the new area of jasmine draping the mailbox . . . .

taken from a jasmine vine on the right side of the house.

These flowers also are blooming in my yard in April. They are not Jasmine. There is no scent to them. Their bloom is a cold beauty, and they are toxic. They are Oleander. Make sure to keep your pooch away from them.

The Color of Beaches

A Thousand Beaches

And only One Sunset

Highlighting

Pure Pearl Floridian sand

New England's Brown crystalline dirt

Tourists in winter painfully Pink

President of South Africa

President of America

Both Amazingly Black,

Purple streaks in the sky

Give way to night

A sultry sultry darkness,

I smell the ocean's greenness

The White Jasmine an April memory.