For the third year in a row, the rare ghost orchid has made an appearance at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Believe it or not, this unique opportunity is drawing visitors from all over the country. Visitors are up 51% for the month of July and that is great for business at the Audubon run park.

Named for the illusion that it is floating in midair, the ghost orchid typically blooms between June and September. For visitors to Southwest Florida, catching a glimpse of this elusive orchid usually means wading through the swamp in places like the Fakahatchee Strand. Having them show up in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, with its boardwalk and telescopes, is indeed a very fortunate treat for people to see this rare and beautiful flower.

Tags: living, parks, SW Florida

In its annual survey of beaches and lake getaways, Health Magazine recently awarded Bonita Springs with a top ten ranking as the seventh healthiest beach in the country. A combination of sugary sand, clean water and miles of area parks helped Bonita Beach get the ranking.

According to the judges, Bonita Beach has the best sand anywhere. And, if you have kids, it is a fabulous place to let them swim in the calm, warm Gulf waters, or search for seashells as the tides roll in and out.

Pretty good recommendation for our little piece of paradise! Thanks Health magazine.

Tags: living, SW Florida

According to a report from the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), Florida is both a great place to live and work. Naturally, those of us who reside in the Sunshine State already know this to be true. But for many of the folks outside of our wonderful state who might be unaware, here are some interesting things to consider.

Business Climate:

• Florida is the fourth most populous state in the United States, with a large and diverse population.
• The state’s Legislature has made it a priority to not only encourage new businesses and industries to come to Florida, but to provide the kind of supportive climate that entrepreneurs and businesses need to succeed and prosper. Florida Among Top 5 States for Best Business Climate

Tags: Florida, living

I just wanted to apologize to everyone (especially to my clients and friends) for having been away for such a very long period of time. What started out as well deserved break (in my opinion) from 18 straight months of creating my blogs and working on the website (right before last Christmas), turned unexpectedly into a lengthy and unwanted hiatus.

Tags: living, SW Florida

According to Money Magazine, Collier County in Southwest Florida ranks fourth on its list as one of the best places to live for having a long life. The magazine surveys various regions and identifies areas where residents have some of the longest life expectancies in the country.

Home to the City of Naples, Collier is the largest county (land wise) in the state. Fortunately for its residents, roughly 80% of it is devoted to nature preserves, state parks and recreation areas. In its survey results, Money stated “Collier County is the picture of Florida Leisure” and “almost any kind of water-related activity or exercise is readily available.”

Tags: Florida, living

The deadlines for registering to vote in Florida are drawing nearer. Especially for the August 26th Florida primary elections. Residents intending to vote in that primary have only until Monday, July 28th to complete the voter registration process. Those who want to vote in the general election on November 4th have more time as that deadline isn’t until Monday October 6th.

And, if you have moved, you need to contact your Supervisor of Elections as both Federal and State laws require you to vote in your precinct of residence. If you simply moved within the same county, you may provide a signed, written notice, call or send an e-mail to your Supervisor of Elections. However, if you’ve moved to another Florida county, use the Florida Voter Registration Application to change your address. You can obtain a Florida Voter Registration Application online by visiting http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration.

Tags: Florida, living

One of the great things about living in Southwest Florida is being able to enjoy all its wonderful surroundings. However, problems tend to arise when we humans infringe on the natural flow of things. Thankfully, most folks who live here take their responsibility to protect our environment seriously so when things start to get out of hand, they are usually corrected quickly and accordingly. To that end, there’s a new rule from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about feeding pelicans. Simply put, “don’t do it.”

Tags: living, SW Florida