Betty in the Wild: the Deep South

There is, of course, no such thing as a deep south in either the UK or the Netherlands.  However, Betty would certainly find much of interest in Sarasota, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia.

Sarah Ann loves arranging flowers, for instance.   A handsome clump of
Spanish moss can add unexpected, New-World flair
to an heirloom Delft vase-ful of tulips or whatever.

Sarasota's Marie Selby Botanical Gardens might help an old-fashioned English girl lose her distrust of vulgar Americans.  Or maybe not - are orchids vulgar?

Maybe purple generally is vulgar.  It is certainly neither pink nor clerical gray.

I understand that they would not wish to live there, but Florida can certainly make a great place to visit, say if the Scottish winters start to feel a bit daunting.  Maybe I'm just thinking that, though, because I was in Sarasota back in October, and now I'm back in DC, where the second segment of a good-size snowstorm is dropping another 4-6 inches of snow on the driveway I just cleared of approximately 14 inches.  My Florida friend is testy because the upcoming holiday means the beaches are crowded with tourists.

Ha ha to her come spring, though, when I get back out into the garden as she ducks back into the air-conditioning and mosquito screens.

Personally, I'd prefer not to garden with mangroves, but I suspect Hugo and the Mrs.
are up for anything.

As we all know, touring, whether in Avignon or along the Gulf coast, is exhausting, and requires a nice pick-me-up in the mid-afternoon.

Tea at Selby gardens.  Really, paper cups were all they had.  Oh, woe.
But the menu of loose-leaf teas available was a skosh insane with the variety.

Savannah, Georgia, is famously eccentric in ways that might not appeal to everyone, but it also has proud traditions that would surely earn the Van Elvens's approbation.

For instance, birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts.

Birthplace of the Methodist church, or something like that.
Sure, Methodism isn't CofE, but it's pretty well-mannered.

By the way, that last one's for you, Betty JoDee.  Mwah.