Sandcranes out for a walk in a Punta Gorda Neighborhood

Actually a familiar sight in Punta Gorda where sandcranes tend to move into a neighborhood in twos... sometimes with babe in tow.  

Hidden Punta Gorda Garden

Lovely Home Garden niche in Historic Downtown on Dolly St. in Punta Gorda.  

Merry Christmas -- One of Punta Gorda Kiwanis Christmas Cards at Laishley Park

This card was one of the winners this year of Christmas Card Lane at Laishley in Punta Gorda. 

Painting of Punta Gorda Train Station from "Building a Community" Mural

Part of the Mural donated by the Desguin Family depicts Punta Gorda Depot.  Entire mural called "Building a Community" is on the wall of the Self-Storage Company at Taylor and 41 North.  

Let It Snow -- Punta Gorda's Version -- Sailboat in the PGI Lighted Boat Parade

 Sailboat in Rim Parade in PGI  (Photo by S.Miskell)

Reflections -- Wild Birds Catch Their Images in Punta Gorda Stream

Orchids in Bloom in Punta Gorda Garden

Bougainvilla in Full Bloom

Vintage Corvette Filled with Socks for Kids at At Kiwanis "Fill the Truck" Car Show

Corvette filled with Socks for Kids at Local Fundraiser

Unusual Christmas Window Decor at Fishville

Rare Antique "Rockne" Car in Punta Gorda Parking Lot

This "32" Rockne was spotted in a Punta Gorda parking lot.  The car was made by Studebaker in an agreement with the famed football coach Knute Rockne who died in a plane crash before the car hit the assembly line. It was according to record a good car/truck that fell victim to the depression in 1933 -- so only a few were made 1932 and 1933 models. According to the Studebaker Club registry only about 185 whole Rocknes, plus some parts of others, have been identified and registered in 15 countries.

Punta Gorda Cottage at Christmas

Historic cottage on Dolly Street in Downtown Punta Gorda decorated with natural ornamentation by the Garden Club. 

Christmas Cactus in Bloom in Punta Gorda Garden

When the comfortable chill comes into the air the Christmas Cactus comes into bloom in Punta Gorda 

Punta Gorda City Council Ride In Christmas Parade

Members of Punta Gorda City Council at Punta Gorda Christmas Parade include from left Charles Wallace, Carolyn Freeland, Rachel Keesling, and Mayor Bill Albers 

Decorated Fairy Houses in Cuban Laurel Tree

Punta Gorda Garden Club decorated these tiny fairy houses with natural cuttings and placed them in this Cuban laurel for the Holly Days House and Garden Tour 

Santa Claus Arrives in Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda Lamp Post in Holiday Finery

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and all through the town,
No feet numb with frostbite were tromping around.
No blue-tinted noses were covered with snow,
Punta Gorda is a place Jack Frost fears to go-- (Modifed from Poem by Katbird) 

Off the Dock -- Men Fish in a Canal near a Dock in Punta Gorda Isles

You don't need to go far to catch in the canals of Punta Gorda Isles 

Sun Art Gallery Decked out for the Holidays

The Sun Art Gallery on Sullivan Street fested up for the Holiday Season.  

The Old Sacred Heart Catholic Church

The Old Sacred Heart Church -- largely destroyed during Hurricane Charley.  What remains in now the Sacred Heart Church Parish Hall.   

At the Punta Gorda Farmer's Market

Vegetable Stand at the Downtown Saturday Farmer's Market in Punta Gorda. "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food" (Hippocrates)

Out for a Walk -- White Heron in Gilchrist Park

Heron taking a walk in Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda 

Christmas Tree at Hector House

Christmas Tree at Hector House in Punta Gorda

Pastry Case at Hendricks Food Vault Thanksgiving Eve

Pastry Case at Henricks Food Vault with pies and other delectables by Nancy.   

Enjoying the Sunset

Small sea gull watches the sunset from Fishermen's Village 

Lemon Tree Very Pretty -- With Lemons as Large as Grapefruit

Lemons as big as grapefruit adorn this Punta Gorda Meyer Lemon Tree.... Frequently seen in Punta Gorda gardens and side lawns. From this you can also spot a tiny window to the canal front.   

Fishermen's Village Festival of Lights Kick's Off

Lights go on in Fishermen's Village to start the Holiday Season.  As many Punta Gordans go away on Thanksgiving weekend it was a good idea to start the season the week before.  

Punta Gorda Christmas Tree Waits for Lights

Punta Gorda Christmas Tree before its official lighting taken from the top of the Wyvern.  

Sun Rises in the Mist behind the Palms

Gavel is Passed to New Mayor of Punta Gorda Bill Albers Today

Bill Albers became the new mayor of Punta Gorda today at City Council Meeting in Punta Gorda 

Boat on Charlotte Harbor Painting -- a Section of "Fishing Tales" Punta Gorda Mural

This sailboat on Charlotte Harbor painting is a section of the beautiful "Fishing Tales" Punta Gorda Historic Mural on the side of the building at 401 E. Olympia Ave.   

Christmas Tree Palm in Downtown Punta Gorda goes into Christmas Mode

The Christmas palm is an exotic palm that produces clusters of bright red fruit every year around the holidays.  Originally from Manila, there are many around the city and in home landscapes of PGI.   

For Sunday -- St. Mary's Primative Baptist Church

St. Mary's Primative Baptist Church on Mary Street, Issac Thomas, Pastor.  

Outside Fireplace at Dean's South of the Border

Dean had just lit this fireplace outside his restaurant on a November morning with a bit of chill in the air

For Veteran's Day -- The Kiwanis Veterans Garden Mural "Lest We Forget"

At the Entrance to Laishley Park this mural originally adorned the old Punta Gorda post office which was torn down.  The new one was dedicated on November 11, 2005.  The artist was Liz Hutchinson.   

A Quick Flight to Napoli from Punta Gorda at Limoncello's

 Joe Spinella singing at Trattoria Limoncello last night at Night in Napoli in Punta Gorda 

Beautiful Blooming Hibiscus Bush at Punta Gorda History Park

Model Plane on the Ceiling of Sky View Cafe at Punta Gorda Airport

Student Art Show at ArtSensation 11

Picnic at Ponce at Sunset

It's Being to Look a Lot Like Punta Gorda Christmas

Punta Gorda Downtown Last Night 

Fright Night in Victorian Punta Gorda

One of the many frightening decorations amongst the palms in Punta Gorda last night.   

The Ghost of Marshall John Bowman (1857-1903)-- Killed in Punta Gorda -- As Reenacted by Frank Desquin

Frank Desquin as Marshall Bowman in the Charlotte Historical Society's The Tales of Indian Spring Cemetery -- A Hauntingly Historical Walking Tour

Sunset View from Laishley Marina In Punta Gorda

Lost Dogs Perform at Dean's South on Monday Night

Another Lovely Twilight in Downtown Punta Gorda

Mustard Serving A Hot Dog at Chicago Big Ds

Usually served on, Mustard serves hot dogs at Big Ds

New Section of the MURT -- Multiple Use Recreational Trail -- Opened along Shreve in Punta Gorda

New bicycle, walking path section along Shreve opened -- part of the Ring around the City of Punta Gorda 

Love this kinda of sign -- I guess 5 o'clock somewhere works here

Larry's Last Day -- Larry Friedman Retires from Punta Gorda City Council

Larry Friedman, Punta Gorda City Councilman, listens to Mayor Goldberg read through a list of his accomplishments on the Council.   Larry Friedman officially ends his tenure on the Council in two weeks, but since this was the last day he will actually sit on Council he was honored today.  Thanks Larry for your service to Punta Gorda.