Bands on the Beach

The Gulf of Mexico was beautiful as the crowd gathered for Bands on the Beach.


Smiling couples listen to Southern Breeze tonight.


And children played in the sand at Casino Beach.


Beach chairs or blankets, it doesn't matter. Just chill out and enjoy a wonderful evening on Pensacola Beach.


There's plenty of room for you on Tuesday night's Bands on the Beach.


You could be relaxing just like this!


Or spending quality time with the family and making wonderful memories.



Mom sways to the music with her little one.

Picky eaters

One of the special treats of living along the Gulf Coast is watching the migration of monarch butterflies. When I started building a butterfly garden in my yard, milkweed plants were among the very first I added. Milkweed is the host plant of monarchs, which means it is the plant on which monarch butterflies lay their eggs and the only plant which monarch caterpillars eat! So obviously it is a very important part of a monarch butterfly life cycle.


It's very cool to watch a monarch caterpillar lunching in your butterfly garden.


These caterpillars really chow down and can quickly make their way through the plant.

Bottlebrush bloom

"A beautiful blossom is a fleeting thing
It stays for a moment and then takes wing:
With special rays we catch it ere flight
So all may enjoy the beautiful sight.

~~ Albert Richards, Floral Radiographs: The Secret Garden

Tomatoes!

Looks like I'll be having all my neighbors over for tomato sandwiches in a few weeks. My Better Boy tomato plant is loaded with blooms and small tomatoes.

I give credit for the lush plant and its many blooms to the mushroom compost sold (and made) at The Garden Gate in Gulf Breeze. I used it in both my container plants and those in my butterfly garden this year and everything is looking better than ever.

Sago palms

As I walked through my yard today I noticed changes in my sago palms. The photo above is of a male sago. A cone will eventually break through and grow up to 20" or so tall.


This sago, which I believe to be female, is send out a new fronds.


Sago are not really palms. They are actually in the cycad family. They are beautiful plants that do very well on the island.

Driftwood

There was quite a bit of driftwood washed up on shore tonight. I don't think I've ever seen this much and I wonder where it came from. There were both branches and planks. Oh the stories we could weave...

Bands on the Beach

It was a beautiful evening for Bands on the Beach.


A bit of tush-huggin' music brings a couple to the dance floor.

Mr. Big performed a very nice variety of music for the crowd.


I bet she going to show the kids back home what they're missing.


You're so right, kiddo; Bands on the Beach is Numero Uno!


Ms. Harley Davidson came prepared with a little fruit and cheese. Oooh, that looks good.


Ahhh, look, I found some lovebugs at the concert.


What a great way to end the day on Pensacola Beach.

Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier

What a beautiful evening with the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier in the background. Our sand is snow white and the Gulf of Mexico is emerald green and turquoise. The only thing missing is this photo is ... YOU!

Castles by the sea

It's always fun to stumbled upon a sandcastle or other sand sculpture.


But one thing that many people are unaware of is that it is very important to fill in deep holes like this before you leave the beach. The sea turtle nesting season has begun and holes like this could trap or injure a female sea turtle when she comes ashore.

Click here for more information on how you can help save our sea turtles!

Settin' sail

"The winds of grace blow all the time. All we need to do is set our sails."

~~ Ramakrishna

Sailing a little

"Who is staring at the sea is already sailing a little."

~~ Paul Carvel

Bands on the Beach

We had a great kick-off for our 2008 Bands on the Beach summer concert series tonight. The U.S. Navy Band from New Orleans performed to an enthusiastic crowd.


Every branch of the military seemed to be represented in the audience tonight.


Military brass.


The crowd stands during the National Anthem.


Eight-week old Olivia Lauren McGrath had been so excited at the prospect of attending her first Bands on the Beach concert that she promptly fell asleep during the first song.


A night to enjoy on Pensacola Beach.


Adorable munchkin clapping with glee!


Happy memories being made.


And at last, one of the highlights of the evening, we have the unveiling of the United States Coast Guard pelican, 'Salty'. This is a first look! The formal unveiling will take place in Pensacola tomorrow at Plaza De Luna.

Bands on the Beach begins!

Just a reminder to locals (and our visitors) that Bands on the Beach kicks off its 2008 summer concert season this evening at Casino Beach, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

May is Military Appreciation Month on the beach, so it is even more exciting to open the series with the U.S. Navy Band (New Orleans). The U.S. Coast Guard pelican will be also be unveiled.

Bring your beach chairs or a blanket, cooler (no glass on the beach, please), and even some snacks. Then kick back and enjoy Bands on the Beach!

Shades of blue

The surf has settled down again and our beautiful colors are back.


Look at the clarity of Gulf waters along Pensacola Beach!

Faux Hummingbirds!

Ah ha! Now I have documented proof of who's drinking up all my hummingbird nectar -- and it isn't hummingbirds!

I have three hummingbird feeders located around my patio, on the opposite side of the house as my finch feeders. A couple of weeks ago I started noticing a lot of finch activity around my patio and less presence of hummingbirds. It took a while to catch them in the act, but it looks as though these little purple finches have a sweet tooth/beak.

Has anyone else ever seen finches at their hummingbird feeders?

Pensacola Crawfish Festival

Did you make it to the Pensacola Crawfish Festival this weekend? If not, look at what you missed!


Grandpa shows off his platter of crawfish, but this little fella isn't so sure if they are for eatin' or playin'.



Welcome to the festival!


Fish and chips and crabs...


Or a filet of fish and a crab cake...


I think he's carrying about six pounds of crawfish.


Now THIS is more my style...I love the chips.


Activities for the kids are always included...


Hadley J Castille and The Sharecroppers provided Cajun music. The entertainment line-up at Pensacola festivals is always first rate.


First on the dance floor and admired by all.

Sunday at the beach

The storms have cleared out, but the water remains a bit murky from all the surf action. Seaweed is scattered here and there along the beach as a result of high tides. It's still the place we want to be on a Sunday afternoon, watching the waves and chilling out like these two locals.

Ahhhhhh....life is good.

A path for walking

"Never have a path for walking on less than three feet wide."

~~ Martin Hoyles

Sunny days

It looks like the storms are behind us and we have a couple of beautiful days ahead.

The lifeguard station

An unmanned lifeguard station at Park East.