TROPICAL Flowers - ART - Veggies at the FARMERS MARKET in Gulfport, FL - Photo Essay

Yesterday was fun!

Even though - the day started out with grey skies and drizzling rain and me feeling kind of yucky. Not really in the mood for a day out with my girlfriends.

Well, the weather improved and my spirits lifted along with the sunshine and blue skies. 

First stop - Jackie's house, the ladies were already taking a tour of her garden. 

I managed a couple of quick shots of her gorgeous purple orchids before we took off.

When we arrived in Gulfport we found to our delight that there was a small Tuesday Morning Market in full swing.

This booth is set up right by a square of shops and businesses, so the post with the massage sign is for real.

We took a stroll admiring the jewelry booth, crafts, art glass and natural remedies booths.

Below - center:

'You Look Marvellous' - maybe I should have bought that mirror:)

I really wanted to purchase a loaf of the delicious smelling fresh apple cinnamon bread at the bakery booth, but alas every time we came by, the line was at least six people deep.

We were all hungry so we asked for a recommendation for a bite to eat and ended up having lunch at the 'Water Witch', one of the oldest buildings in Gulfport, about a hundred years old.

We walked past pretty tropical blooms everywhere.

Typically "Old Florida".

Yellow bougainvillea growing along an old home.

Purple Mexican petunias on the corner of a home.

Picture perfect - background and all.

Eye candy pure!

The owner of the 'Water Witch' cafe and restaurant grows all her own herbs.

The food was fresh and inspired!

We ate out on the porch overlooking the bay.

Butterflies love Zinnias

 and

 this one visited every one of the zinnias in the flower boxes.

The butterfly wasn't at all interested

in this pretty pink climber on the porch.

Fortified with fresh food, we headed back.

But wait, I have to take a photograph of this hot tropical.

Flaming orange - double hibiscus.

Past the cool artwork

on the back door

of one of the shops.

So - which one is your favorite? The colors in the picture above or below?

For me it is a toss up. I really liked the colors of the mural wall at the band stand. But I also like the exuberance of the colors above and the geometry within. 

Turquoise, azure, pink ....

We were on a schedule so we never went to the Orchid nursery we had originally made the trip to Gulfport for. It turned out to be in a different part of Gulfport.

It felt like a mini-vacation get-a-way...........:) an attitude adjustment.....:)

I hope you have enjoyed our little outing - it was my pleasure to have you along!

All images taken by Rose H. with an Olympus D-540 digital camera on 9-30-2008.

copyright 2008 Rose H.