Here in Broward County, home of Fort Lauderdale what does everyone do when they want to beat the sun?  They go to Sawgrass Mills, probably the second largest tourist attraction behind Disney World in Florida.  Today we went there twice.  I will not bore you with details except for the one here in the picture.  It was an auspicious return to the shopping mecca.  Just as we were about to get out of the car, 3 light green birds flew across our way.  Could they have been freed parakeets wanting to take a breather?  Then around the corner I spotted these birds of paradise.  Yes, I’ve seen these tufted blue and orange tropical beauties in the store and have used them

Bird of Paradise

 for arrangements but I always assumed they would be a towering specimen on the plant.  Instead they were almost hiding from me.  Worth the while to make a second trip back to Sawgrass, so was the Crate and Barrel outlet!