My trips to Florida are always about fruit hunting. From my first tropical fruit hunting experience, mango weekends, or a fruit stop prior to our PR trips.
2005 - My very first tropical fruit hunting experience. I contacted Eric LaBrum, of the Rare Fruit & Vegetable Council of Broward County, right out of the blue one day looking for mangosteen plants. I had noticed they were available from their plant sale listing and thought I'd give him a try. The plants didn't work out but we got to talking and long story short here, he invited me down for an upcoming tour of Bill Whitman's garden.
My wife and I visited Fairchild Gardens, Fairchild's Kampong, Fruit & Spice Park, and of course Whitman. It was a great first adventure.
2005 - My very first tropical fruit hunting experience. I contacted Eric LaBrum, of the Rare Fruit & Vegetable Council of Broward County, right out of the blue one day looking for mangosteen plants. I had noticed they were available from their plant sale listing and thought I'd give him a try. The plants didn't work out but we got to talking and long story short here, he invited me down for an upcoming tour of Bill Whitman's garden.
My wife and I visited Fairchild Gardens, Fairchild's Kampong, Fruit & Spice Park, and of course Whitman. It was a great first adventure.
2008 - Gerry Grunsfeld from New York, my wife, and I flew down to Florida one weekend to meet up with Sheehan and Warren for the first time. Sheehan drove us around Excalibur Nursery and Warren took us to the Fruit & Spice Park and Fairchild Gardens.
2011 - I flew down on Sunday prior to most of us leaving for our PR trip the next morning. Spent the afternoon with Harry Hausman and crashed at Warren's place. Flying into Florida, spending the day visiting and eating fruit, then flying out with the gang became a PR ritual.
2012 - Day before PR again. Bunch of us visited Harry, Noel Ramos, and Patrick Brooks. Ate a lot of fruit and PJ's wife fixed us a wonderful lunch. John, Robert, and I stayed in a hotel in Ft Lauderdale this time around. We'd be meeting up with the gang very early in the morning.
2013 - June trip for mangos. That's right. I flew down for just a weekend just for mangos. I personally do not believe any place in the world can rival Florida mangos. Gerry flew down on Sunday, just one day. We both filled our suitcases with mangos...after tossing some clothes to make room!
I stayed with Warren this weekend and we made the most of it. Fruit & Spice Park, Fairchild Gardens, Harrys, Patricks, and Zills. What an amazing weekend.
Note....don't look for my 2013 day before PR trip to Florida gallery because I freaking lost it! Not idea what the hell happened to those pics. Oh well.
I stayed with Warren this weekend and we made the most of it. Fruit & Spice Park, Fairchild Gardens, Harrys, Patricks, and Zills. What an amazing weekend.
Note....don't look for my 2013 day before PR trip to Florida gallery because I freaking lost it! Not idea what the hell happened to those pics. Oh well.
