Jason & I are both rockhounds. We have been since childhood. When a trip to the stone yard to obtain materials for a new patio & walkway project came up, I was in that truck! I never miss a chance to visit the stone supplier's yard. It's one of my favorite places. A paradise for rockhounds, as you're about to see. 

​The supply yard is huge! Stacks, bins, pallets & piles of stone are neatly organized by type & size. We were after flagstone but that didn't stop me from wandering around the yard to admire all of the beautiful stone options available. 

I love all the colors found in the small, smooth river stones (above) as well as the larger field stone (below). If you haven't guess already, when it comes to stone I'm all about the pretty colors, sparkles & flash.

​Our supplier also had several small plastic bins full of mixed small boulders perfect for those looking for a handful of colorful accent stones to add to their landscaping. The greens, rose & cream tones in the mixed bin were so pretty.

My camera didn't do this stone slab justice at all. It shined so brightly it caught my attention from across the yard. It looks boring gray in the photo but it sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight.

This turquoise stone was my absolute favorite. I've been brainstorming how to incorporate some into my own gardens ever since. Despite its name, turquoise stone is not real turquoise. True turquoise & turquoise landscaping stone are both natural stone however, their chemical compositions are completely different. This turquoise landscaping stone is actually a type of quartz.

Stone is a versatile material that can improve the appearance & value of your property. Retaining walls, walkways, patios & steppers add beauty & function to underutilized areas. Outcroppings & boulders add interest to lackluster landscapes. Drain & pea stone can be used to improve drainage. When combined with a few well-placed small boulders, unsightly drainage areas can be transformed into aesthetically pleasing dry river beds. We've shared a few examples of our stone projects below.

It was a 1/2 mile walk from the house we rented to Manasota Beach. The streets of our quiet subdivision were narrow & sandy. Much like our northern two-tracks. A short, sandy walking trail at the end of our street connected the subdivision to Manasota Beach Road. From there, it was a short hop over the draw bridge to the key and Manasota Beach Park.

The drawbridge takes you over Lemon Bay onto the key. Manasota Beach offers free parking to guests to the right of the drawbridge. There is also parking for boat trailers accessing Lemon Bay complete with boat & kayak launches on the left. 

Informational signage greets you as you enter the park. We're both history & nature buffs so we enjoy learning all we can about an area. Florida does a great job with their signage and all of the parks we visited were clean & well kept. But it was the sidewalks at Manasota Beach that really grabbed our attention. Look at all those shark teeth embedded in the concrete. All found on Manasota Key. AMAZING!!

A wooden boardwalk leads to a short sandy path to the beach. It was just off this path that we spotted our first Gopher Land Tortoise.  Gopher tortoise are protected so if you see one - Do Not Disturb!

All of the beaches on Manasota Key are beautiful. Manasota Beach is no exception. We visited from mid-November to mid-December & were easily able to find parking at all of the beaches on the key. Peak season begins after Christmas so plan to arrive early to secure parking.

The sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico are spectacular. People gather on every beach near sunset to watch the amazing show. And as the sun dips below the horizon they applaud. The whole beach erupts into cheers. Groups of strangers called together for a few moments every day with no other purpose than to admire & appreciate Mother Nature. It's really something to experience.

We enjoyed fabulous weather for the entirety of our stay. High 70's to mid 80's every day with warm, salty gulf breezes & cool nights for restful sleep. I can't think of a better way to end our fun-filled days than a beautiful sunset...