World's Largest Marine Supply Store

Boasting 30,000 square feet of indoor space and 10 acres of outdoor,  it is easy to see why Marine Connection Liquidators is the largest marine supply store in the world.  It is certainly Steve's favorite place to shop.  It is located in Fort Pierce about 45 minutes from Stuart.  

Steve is in need of boat supplies for his latest project. (If you missed my post on the Boston Whaler project, you can read about that here.)  Need supplies for your Everglades, Mako, Wellcraft, Pursuit or Sailfish--this is the place for you.  

I am going to brag about myself in this post.  Someone (I won't name names) once told me that you should toot your own horn because no one is going to toot it for you.  So today I am tooting my own horn about being a fabulous wife who accompanies her husband to marine supply stores.  

The shopping trip  role reversal that occurs on a visit to Marine Connection is astonishing.  Steve meanders down each aisle.  He has a list in hand but makes sure to walk down each aisle to see if there is anything else out there he needs.  Oh--and he has a second list.  Why two lists?  His friend--I will just call him Mc-- is also a boat enthusiast.  Steve enjoys this shopping experience so much that he volunteers to take care of Mc's shopping list.  Hmmm--is this a new business endeavor?  Doesn't everyone need a personal shopper for all boating needs? 

I buzz through each aisle looking for interesting photo opportunities while Steve starts checking off his lists.  

I head out side for some shots

  That's me--waiting patiently (tooting my horn again)

I suggested to the owner that he should put in a few chairs for manicures and pedicures.  I predict sales would expand exponentially.  The woman sitting next to me agreed.  

The Happy Shopper 

Joy

Hello Again!!!

Hello!  I hope you remember me....


I haven't been writing on the blog because the internet at the marina is abysmal.  I got caught up for a while after a visit to the library--but I fell behind again.  


The marina is small just a few regular daily residents.  Many of the boats have started clearing out headed north or to the Bahamas.  We have spent a great deal of time exploring the surrounding communities and finding places to play pickle ball. 

I enjoy walking through the neighborhood to get in my goal of 10,000 steps a day my Fitbit. The homes are beautiful--its fun to imagine living in one of these coastal retreats.  I have most enjoyed the flowers--Can you name any of these? 

The most beautiful are the orchids 

Joy

Beautiful Gibbs Gardens

A highlight of our visit to Gibbs Gardens was the the sculptures of the Gibbs grandchildren around the pond reminiscent of Norman Rockwell paintings.  

The manor house sits on the highest point of the property and offers a great view of the North Georgia Mountains.  There are seven terraces of gardens at the house and around the pool.  

I highly encourage a trip to visit these gardens--maybe a trip in the fall should be added to the calendar?  

Joy

Where is Gibbs Gardens?

Gibbs Gardens is in Ball Ground, Georgia.  It is about ninety minutes from Bold Springs. Upon the advice of Ed Springer, we took off for Cherokee County.  The gardens are a part of the private residential estate of Jim Gibbs and his wife.   It is one of the largest residential estate gardens in America.  

After graduating from the University of Georgia, Gibbs started a landscape company in Atlanta.  He spend six years looking for property to build a world class garden.  He designed 24 ponds, 32 bridge crossings over the wandering streams and 19 waterfalls. There are 16 total gardens including three feature gardens--Manor House, Japanese and Waterlily.  Jim took thirty years developing the gardens which have been open since 2012.  

Paths twist and twirl through multiple fields of over 20 million daffodils in more than 100 different varieties.  These range in color from yellow,  gold, orange, pink blush, white and cream.  Gibbs gardens offers a tram service through these gardens for those who aren't up to walking the 220 acres. The season for daffodils normally lasts from mid March to the first or second week of April.  This year, our tram driver told us--the flowers bloomed earlier than usual. Most were gone by our visit, but enough remained to indicate that spring has indeed arrived!

Crepe Myrtle all trimmed standing tall at attention like soldiers

Delicate green leaves--love that color

I was quite taken by these curly spikey growths but clueless as to their name...any ideas? 


Joy