Author: Trella Hemmerly Haldeman Romine

Saturday, April 5, 1986
Mary and I went comet viewing from 4:30 to 5:30. Has moved to right from Thursday and moon not bothersome until about 5:15.

At 9:15 left from Beach House Motel for Corkscrew swamp. Stopped at Szabo’s Nursery- marvelous selection. Found liseanther plants in bud and bloom! Also bought Jasmine and bougainvillea and gerbera daisies. Into Sanctuary at 10:20 out at 2:00. Met group related to Paul and Avenel Spiegel Bechtle in Marion. Photographed wood stork on nest, alligators, anole, iris. Picnic in Pine Grove watching quails, red-bellied woodpecker, Red Wings and bronze blackbirds, cardinal, blue jay. Back past Buckley Wholesale Bedding Plants on Route 31. Acres of bloom.
Bought groceries at Spring Shopping Center.

Friday, April 4, 1986
Mary’s 67th birthday. Gave her a photo album and a perfect olive shell I found at Sanibel. Bought lunch and dinner for both her and Kenny. His birthday is April 23rd- he will be 72.

To Sanibel Island Ding Darling Preserve- excellent birding about 20 species. 2 Ospreys on 2 nests. Lunch at Coconut Grove- had quiche. Walked beach and went to tip of island to see lighthouse. Could see water tower at Bonita Beach from there. Dinner at Morrison’s- bed early.

Thursday, April 3, 1986
Diagram of Scorpio constellation with Halley’s Comet at bottom

Up at 3:30 to go comet viewing with Mary and Ken. Up the road about a mile to New Ppass pulled off side and Mary set up telescope still having trouble focusing camera through telescope not enough light. Halley’s Comet a fuzzy spot. no tail discernible. back to motel at 5:30 left at 6:30 for Shark Valley. skeins of geese in Sky had to wait for 8:30 opening at 9:00 train ride. watched wood stork shade water to scare up feed. glossy ibis, Roseate spoonbill, white ibis, black and turkey vulture, greed., coot, cormorant, anhinga, little blue heron. Also white phase. On down to Coot Bay but not like it was in ’60s- only birds on picture board. Bought Papaya at market near Homestead. Home at 7:55- 360 mi.

Wednesday, April 2, 1986
Beautiful morning on beach after breakfast in room. Saw 3 men in dory let out net and drew in sheepshead, etc. Snowy Egret, red breasted merganser, gulls, pelicans on beach. P.M. drove to Naples through Pelican Bay- Vanderbilt and Naples millionaire’s homes. Landscaping outstanding. Stopped at Nature Conservancy and at Pohler’s. Missed Bill and Louise but Bill’s sister Annabelle and Leonard Young showed us their garden. Ate at Hospitality Cafeteria between 4:00 and 5:00 to get 15% discount. Back to Beach House to watch sunset. To bed by 8:30.

Tuesday, April 1, 1986
Luncheonette at Newark People’s Express- Fare $129- hot dog $1.85 Sprite 75 cents on plane snack tray $3.

David took me to Port Columbus to catch 10:30 People’s Express to Newark. He left me about 9:45 as he had 11:00 appointment in Cincinnati. In to Newark 11:35 take off 12:50 landing. Crowded terminal but not difficult to find my gate and I got enter #95 so no windows seat but could see Gulf coastlines. Leave Newark 3:04 take off- 5:23 landing Fort Myers. 37 minutes early but waited at top of escalator and Mary and Ken soon showed up. To Mrs Appleton’s buffet for dinner $5.25 but too full to appreciate it. Out at 7:15 dark. Down Route 41 to Bonita Beach Drive and Hickory Drive to Beach House Motel. Real nice two room plus Kitchen and Bath and view of the gulf. Mary has lots planned for next 7 days.

Monday, March 31, 1986
Showed Howard the seedlings in greenhouse that will need special care. Tomatoes just breaking through. Scillas in full bloom in woods. Spent most of the day sorting through papers in my room. Wrote condensed minutes and introduction of David for John Rayner to read.

In to exchange People’s Express ticket $30 cheaper than when I bought it. Also took income tax back to Dave Sheely to redo. David arrived about 5:00 and brought Rax sandwiches out for supper on deck. Room at library full and hot! Ball soundtrack [sic]

Sunday, March 30, 1986
78 sunny
Talked to Karen and she unloaded about trial of Neiheiser- new evidence will be filed in Civil Court civil suit.*

Made ham and eggs for Howard for breakfast- walked in the woods.

Slept all afternoon no energy or motivation.

Frustrated trying to record Katherine Hepburn movie from tv.

Reading Life of Washington Irving- have had several volumes ever since I bought them at an auction about 1940.

Saturday, March 29, 1986
Temperature 86 sunny windy

Planted peas, radishes, lettuce and parsley in terrace bed along walk by greenhouse. Will give Howard something to see while I’m gone. Also hauled flood loess* up to garage and mixed soil for transplanting.
Found envelope from David Zsido buried underneath “After 40 Years”- had sent him material on Huber and Osgood. Sent pictures of 1911 Huber tractor and pre-1931 Osgood shovel. He sent story he wrote on three brothers (Gallic?) who owned Osgood and built road to their house with it. Kass called about 5:30- within $500 of last year.

[* actually silt – loess is wind blown silt]

Friday, March 28, 1986
Kass called last night and said only 50 orders for today so I wouldn’t need to come to work. First time in 40 years I haven’t worked on Good Friday. Cleaned frozen plants and Nifty pots out of greenhouse. Seeds I planted about 2 weeks ago are sprouting. In at 11:00 to pick up income tax from Dave Sheeley- have to pay over $4,000 Federal and $300 state tax this year due to selling houses and having to pay income tax on part of social security. Took dwarf Iris to Mary Jordan who has been ill with flu. Better today. Home and transplanted tulip and daff bulbs from front bank into terrace beds. Ruth Mosher called- has been in Florida two weeks.

Thursday, March 27, 1986
45° sunny
With down coat on went to woods. Picked up trash bag full of cans, plastic, bottles off bank by road. Planted seeds across road. Good thing I checked- Pines and Spruces planted last fall. Roots had heaved.

Sent letters to Barb Shepherd and Pat Dugan with award winners from their regions in 1985 so they can be recognized at regular meetings while I am gone.

Should have cleaned up and sorted papers but didn’t. Broccoli, pinks and Shasta daisies are up.