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.
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.
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.
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...
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
Hollis Gardens, Lakeland, Florida | Far better images then shown from my iPad shots... 2:15 min video
looks like a pretty place. sorry about the camera loss!
ReplyDeleteDearest Theresa,
DeleteSad 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
How terrible about your camera sweetie....
ReplyDeleteLove the beautiful pic's the swans are just totally gorgeous ;-)
Hugs~
Mari
Dearest Mari,
DeleteYes, 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
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful Garden, thank you for showing!
But - sad to hear that your camera got lost in the hotel!
Love and hugs
Claudia
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteOh, 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
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
ReplyDeleteDearest Karen,
DeleteThose 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
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeletePieter 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
Dearest Michiko,
DeleteGuess 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
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
ReplyDeleteCarissima Paola,
DeleteI 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
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteWUNDERSCHÖN!
Sonnige Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa es war traumhaft schön!
Liebe sonnige Grüsse,
Mariette
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.
ReplyDeleteBeste Marianne,
DeleteJa, 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
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.
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds great! and Pieter looks relaxed... enjoy hugs and blessings, Celia M. (HHL)
Dearest Celia,
DeleteNo, 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
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletedie Geschichte mit den Schwänen ist sehr schön und interessant.
Der Garten muss bezaubernd sein.
Einen schönen Tag wünscht dir
Irmi
Liebe Irmi,
DeleteJa, 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
Dear Marette,what a fantastic place!!Beautiful garden!Wonderful pictures!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your camera got lost .Have a lovely day!!Hugs!!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteOh, 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
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.
ReplyDeleteYour 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
Dearest Daphne,
DeleteYes, 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
What a pity your camera got lost!!!!! I am sorry about this, dear Mariette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut 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!!
Dearest Marie-Anne,
DeleteSure 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
lieve Mariette ,
ReplyDeleteWat 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
Lieve Nieneke,
DeleteJa, 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
Lieve Mariette,
ReplyDeleteEen 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
Lieve Ger,
DeleteJa 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
This is such a lovely place! Those swan statues are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhen 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!
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteLakeland 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
Interesting this story about the 2 swans, I really enjoyed this post!
ReplyDeleteHow 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! :)
Dearest Noushka,
DeleteThe 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
I'm so pleased you have been away on holidays. The gardens look very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHugs Kay
Dearest Kay,
DeleteYes, 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
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.
ReplyDeleteFABBY
Dearest Fabby,
DeleteOh, 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
Beautiful place. Sorry about the camera loss. Hopefully it can be found and returned.
ReplyDeleteDearest Daniela,
DeleteIt 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
What a connection -- the swan story is very interesting. Looks like a wonderful trip, Have a lovely weekend, Tammy.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteOh 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
Oh, wonderful story about 2 swans; I'll skip writing my special feeling swans (haha, you'll already know).
ReplyDeleteYes, 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*
Dearest Miyako,
DeleteThe 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