April 10, 2011

Hemingway house garden



On a city street on the Southern side of Key West is the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum.  The famous author lived here in the 1930's with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer.  He wrote some of his novels here, but within the decade, he left with his third wife for the Spanish Civil War. Perhaps this home should be called the Pauline Pfeiffer House as she lived there until her death in 1951.

The house and garden are on a city street, surrounded by a tall mossy stone wall.  The two story house with green shutters and wide veranda is surrounded by a tropical garden.




The house is a tidy square in full sun, but wild tropical gardens could be seen from the veranda.   In the distance is the lighthouse.  



I recognized some plants as full grown specimens of houseplants from the 1970's.  This photo shows croton, scheflera, euphorbia and ferns.



Outside, paths meandering throughout the garden invite visitors to explore.

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The palms and vines grow enthusiastically beside every pathway.  Even in winter, the shade of the foliage is appreciated.





A surprising bloom is on a banana tree, its fruit clustered at the base of the flower.



At the end of one pathway is a pet cemetary for the resident six-toed cats, descendants from the Hemingway family cats.




Beloved pets are sorely missed when they are gone.