This is Florida, too.

My daughter and I visited several local gardens on the 2012 Florida Native Plants Tour this afternoon. Every one had gaillardia growing, several had raised beds of (not-native) vegetables, and one surrounded a stunning chlorine-free pool.

Hannah made a friend on the Florida Native Plants Tour.

Let me tell you, it was hot as hell outside and the wind was so happy that it blew our car between lanes on the Eau Gallie Causeway. But there were lots of earthy folks about, one of whom is a lovely friend already, and one of whom gave us a butterfly weed and one of the many gaillardia plants sprouting up through his mulch paths (his three friendly daughters all have floral names).

Some days I love the Florida that I grew up in.