IN FLORIDA 93 



of the sisters there sprawls a moon vine that has reached out 

 along the ground and up some of the other trees and threatens 

 to dispute with their occupants for possession. Here is a mag- 

 nificent Oriental Ficus, F. nymphaefolia, one of the most superb 

 trees I have ever seen with great, nearly round leaves, a foot wide 

 and thirteen inches long that look exactly as though they had 

 just been varnished. Along the road are two species of Hamelia, 

 one of them a native, both having reddish leaves and clusters of 

 handsome orange red flowers; there are Poincianas, Brunfelsias, 

 Clerodendrons and Catesbaeas, the latter with very long, yellow 

 tubular blossoms, and all of these in the glory of full bloom. 

 And this almost overpowering fragrance comes from a night- 

 blooming jasmine which is still exhaling its odor. 



Here near the forks of the road is a clump of bananas twenty- 

 five feet across and nearly as high. This is one of the few orna- 

 mental species which do well for me (Musa rhodochlamys), a 

 more erect grower than the common fruiting species. Speaking 

 of the banana Kingsley says, "As for the plant no mere words 

 can picture the simple grandeur and grace of a form which startles 

 me whenever I look steadily at it." I wonder why so few people 

 cultivate these glorious plants? This cluster is in a sheltered 

 place and no words can describe the immense, almost entire leaves 

 or their wonderful effect against the morning sky. 



Around me on every side is a sea of vegetation, a varied and 

 variegated panorama of fadeless green, and the sun, which has 

 now risen above the hammock, lights it up with wonderful effect. 

 It is a scene of peace and harmony and beauty, a home in which 

 a man may well be content to live, to enjoy nature and end his 

 days. 



