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.

​There's a small string of nurseries along 776 between Englewood & Venice. We passed them almost daily during our stay. Of course, they all peaked our interest but one nursery really stood out. We had to stop in for a visit!

We were not disappointed. This nursery is awesome! Chock full of beautiful flowers, trees & shrubbery -  all neatly organized & very well marked. Friendly staff buzzed about the nursery like bees. It was obvious from their smiles and cheerful greetings they enjoyed their work. 

​The first area we walked through reminded me of home. Gulf Breeze has a nice selection of familiar plants. (Annuals or houseplants in our neck of the woods.)

Check out the classification on the New Guinea Impatiens. I did a double take too!
PERENNIALS!
(So jealous!)

We arrived in Englewood with the Monarch Butterfly migration. The nursery was full of them. Although we tried, neither of us caught one on camera. They were too quick fluttering from flower to flower. I'm sure they were hungry after such a long flight and there were so many blossoms to choose from!

I did manage to capture a shot of this big bug. Anyone know what it is?

There's also a natural area at the back of the property We found several cool birds just hanging out there. It was beautiful. Yes, even this snake-a-phobe can appreciate the beauty of the Florida swamp. I just do it from a distance!  :D

Friends, if you find yourself in the Englewood/Venice area you must visit to Gulf Breeze Garden Center. Whether you're planning a garden or not, it is well worth the walkabout. You'll be inspired.