Brown or tea colored water is typically due to organic decay somewhere in the system but I've found that it remains after the original source is removed. The solution I have found is to place Activated Carbon (AC) in the ponds filtration system where the discolored water flows through it. Color and odor molecules attach to the surface of the AC and clearer water is the result. There are several types of AC being sold such as the compressed uniform pellets found in Aquarium supplies. I have found it is more economical to use the bagged AC for African Violets. Water clarity is vastly improved, becoming almost 'sharp' and extremely clear. There are several opinions about which form of AC is best to use. Since it eventually becomes degraded and must be replaced you will have a chance to compare. Sandy

Thanks for looking everyone! Bananatree94, Thanks for the IDs. You were definitely right on all those bird ID's and possibly the orchid ID too (I'm not sure since I dont know much about orchids!). Apparently Disney does protect their orchids, so they might have been given extra protection, but they were at least 25 feet above the ground, so I dont see how protection would be a very easy thing to accomplish! Someone ID'ed the Jubaea x Butia as a Syaragus x Butia, so it probably is just a very Butia looking Mule palm. Either way, its nice to see some palm hybrids on the property! Lzrddr, I think you might be right about that White Elephant Palm being potted. It does look like there is enough bare room underneath it for it to fit a pot. I did here that White Elephant Palms are somewhat frost tolerant and since the palm in this pic was in deep shade, its possible that it has not seen much of a frost even after last winters low temperature of 28F. Usually Orlando winters are above freezing, but they have not been so lucky with the past 2! Im sure that the Red Sealing Wax palm has to be potted up because even with heat, I dont see how they could survive last years Brutal winter. They can barely handle temperatures in the 40s! Jim, the plants definitely were one of my favorite about Disney! I was happy to see someone else taking pictures of plants so I didn't feel too alone, but plant lovers were definitely the minority! And I could definitely see why you thought the monkey's escaped, lol, the wire definitely looks like a telephone wire! -Alex

I didn't know a cowbird was an egret. That's interesting, who'd a thought? They got ripped off on looks. Hey Mara, remember when I was feeling sorry for cowbirds when you were having to deal with them, building those cages and things and we got testy (well, probably it was mostly me getting emotional)? I still think they found an interesting, even if its rather sloppy, solution for raising their young while on the move, fine and dandy back in the day of the huge buffalo herds but they really got the short end of the stick and are now hated by so many because of the songbird plight, just because they are doing what they have always done. Its not unlike armadillo's defense against threats or predator's---run and appear like they are attacking, then bam, they plow right into moving cars and get run over. We see the poor things all over the highways here, sometimes by the hundreds it seems. I think of both as victims of modernity and loss of habitat. Horned toads and possums came up with a better plan of action--- play dead. "Nah, he's not dead, he's just playin' possum". klem, my sister is plagued by those Kites every year. That is one mean bird and they are deadly serious about their territory. They don't just send out warnings, its for real. Kamakazi.

I apologize for my comment earlier because I should have elaborated. Yes you are correct, I do think it is more the style I don’t care for. Normally, the larger format size tile is not used as a kitchen backsplash. I also have seen tons of photos of showers walls and bathroom floors done with that size porcelain tile in that same shiny faux marble, so that is why I said it looked more like it fit better in a bathroom setting. It certainly would not hurt anything to bring home samples of a REAL marble in a subway size. I think your granite splotches read pretty ”quiet”. I am not seeing a little marble veining or color variation looking hideously busy with your Antique Brown granite. From a distance especially it looks like a solid dark brown. Here is a Calacatta Gold 2x8” tile from Tilebar to show you. They have it in honed or polished. I tried to color over your cabinets the white heron color. I realize this one below is not with the new White Heron paint color but might give you an idea on the scale of the tile size. I just used the ”see it in my room” feature on the tilebar website. I saw a few others on Tilebar’s website you could try as well. But, It might be more difficult then it seems finding a tile to match the white heron. It looks to be in the green/yellow family so it will make certain ‘white’ tiles look pink next to it. I don’t know if your granite has any of the little iridescent blue mica flecks in it, but if it did this one might be pretty and more unique then a plain off white subway. Of course it is definitely not for you if you are someone who is a little scared of adding color in something more permanent then a throw rug or hand towel. I am obsessed with handmade blue pottery, so I think this would be so pretty! They have the white pearl version too. Anyways, just wanted to follow up, because I realized my other comment might have sounded kinda rude. I didn’t mean to. 🙁