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Here we are again. We don’t exactly know each tree by their name, but we know we are among friends. The arching branches provide shade for our late morning breakfast. A breeze by itself makes no sound, but when it rustles pine needles above our heads it gives the impression of waves breaking along the shore of our souls.
No matter how ingenious humans become, reproducing the aroma of a pine forest for our living room, the laundry, a car, the bathroom (!) is just not possible. When you are in an actual forest, aroma is only one of a complex set of sensations combining to create an experience. Pine scent is just fine where it is, thank you very much.
On this bright Spring day, Gini and I wandered slowly and re-discovered the miracles of this season of renewal and growth. How amazing that “green” can come in so many different subtle shades! Green is highlighted by a nearly infinite array of additional colors as buds, leaves, flowers, fruits and canopies decorate the landscape.
Blooming flora means a fresh supply of food for insects, birds and animals of the fields and woods. It is one thing to enjoy the beauty of a flower, but when one looks closer we discover a nectar-gatherer who will visit another bloom, carrying with it the life-continuing pollen necessary for a plant’s survival. In the distance is another flower being attended by another would-be pollinator but the busy bug is snapped up by a Great Crested Flycatcher. The Circle of Life is non-discriminatory and it is quick.
Our exploration lasted for a morning. Our memories will remain forever.
One day, I shall stop apologizing for including so many images in these posts. Simply scroll quickly and perhaps linger if you find something agreeable.
Dozens of Prairie or Savanna Iris (Iris savannarum) were on display today. Just one example shows why we love this flower.
A shy Common Ground Dove peeks at us from her perch in a holly tree.
While admiring the lovely blooms of a Nuttall’s Thistle (Cirsium nuttallii), we were being admired by a lovely Eastern Leaf-footed Bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus).
Lingering in the Sunshine State can be a good thing. Unless you need to be in Virginia checking your dating service and real estate listings for suitable nest sites. We forgive this Savannah Sparrow for procrastinating and will look forward to seeing him again in the fall.
Roads are for racing. This North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) knows that. Fortunately, 1/1250th of a second was enough to capture an image before it disappeared into the grass.
Another Spring-breaker who needs to get its rump up north. We are already noticing a lot fewer Yellow-rumped Warblers than just a week ago.
One of my all-time favorite flowers. Perhaps it’s the incongruity of its common name with its actual species. Nah, the Carolina Desert-chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) is just plain beautiful.
This Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is likely a resident rather than migrant. The northern visitors usually travel in groups and this one was all alone while it scooped up bugs among the branches.
When you are small enough, the spines of the thistle are not much of a problem. This Spotless Lady Beetle (Cycloneda sanguinea) has no issues with navigating among the pointy things.
This lovely flower is new to us. Sparse blooms on a spindly stem over three feet tall, a Bahaman Aster (Symphyotrichum bahamense) really stood out against the backdrop of the pine forest and palmetto understory.
Another favorite threw itself in front of us and begged to be photographed. Several patches of Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) kept us entertained for awhile.
Unique foliage. Uncommonly beautiful. Fourpetal St. Johnswort (Hypericum tetrapetalum) punctuated the woods in several places.
A female Downy Woodpecker hopped along an oak tree branch in search of brunch.
Spring has sprung and butterflies have magically appeared everywhere. This Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) is gathering minerals from the damp mud.
Small. Yellow. Gorgeous. Common Yellow Stargrass (Hypoxis curtissii) would be completely overlooked if not for those bright blooms.
One might also overlook the Yellow-throated Warbler, if it weren’t for that bright yellow throat. And the contrasting black and white plumage. Oh, and that wonderful Spring song.
Red, black, white – the combination certainly gets one’s attention among brown and green foliage. In attempting to find a naval connection for the name of the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterfly, I discovered in the late 18th century it was called the Red Admirable. Makes more sense to me.
Wiry stems with smallish yellow flowers are beginning to become abundant. Each year, large patches of Leavenworth’s Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii) brighten the countryside.
With basal leaves resembling that of some oak trees, Oakleaf Fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius) is very common in our area. Although the blooms are short-lived, plants continue to produce well into the fall. Flowers range from white to pink to purple.
Florida’s most widespread species of small sulphur butterflies, the Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa) is somewhat helpful for this elderly photographer in that it tends to fly in straight lines as opposed to the zig-zag patterns preferred by its relatives. Perching once in awhile is also extremely appreciated.
There are 30 species of Ludwigia listed for Florida, many of which are not native to the state. With its non-native sounding common name, turns out that the Mexican Primrose-Willow (Ludwigia octovalvis) is actually a native species. A very attractive one at that.
It’s difficult to believe a bird with yellow, orange, blue and green could be so hard to discern among leaves and branches. Once seen, we really appreciate the beauty of the Northern Parula. When it sings, our appreciation increases.
Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) is a shrubby tree which can grow to nearly 20 feet tall. It is also called Small-leaf Arrowood. The plant’s common name honors Thomas Walter (1740-89), English-born planter of South Carolina, who described this species in his Flora Caroliniana. Each Spring, we’re treated to profuse blooms of creamy flowers with yellow centers.
Anyone with a fear of spiders needs to spend some time with a jumping spider. Their appearance, fearless curiousity and downright cuddly nature may just be a cure for arachnophobia. I mean, come on, just look at that face! We appreciate the patience of this little Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius), one of our favorite models.
Our outing today was absolutely exhilarating. At this special season, a visit with Nature is truly as Mary Oliver describes: “… one of the forever gifts …”. We hope you are able to appreciate the gift of Spring, or for those even further south than us, Autumn. Nature has gifts for us to relish in every season.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
*“Come with me into the woods where spring is
advancing, as it does, no matter what,
not being singular or particular, but one
of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.”
― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs: Poems
The sound of nature can be incredibly silent.
We scanned in all directions and saw no sign of human existence.
We strained to listen in all directions and heard no sound made by a human being. No traffic noise. No sirens. No electronic emissions disguised as “music”. No one yelling at someone.
The wet prairie of sawgrass, reeds, palm trees and cypress trees awakened gradually as the sun rose higher. Barred Owls called in the distance. A flock of White Ibises squawked as they flew from nightly roosts to a feeding area. Mourning Dove cooed, bright chirps from a Northern Cardinal, screeching of a Red-shouldered Hawk, raucous calls of American Crows – these are the sounds which soothe the soul.
Today, Gini and I continued to explore the Big Cypress National Preserve. Along U.S. Highway 41 (“Tamiami Trail”), the National Park Service operates two very nice visitors’ centers. Here, one can learn about the hydrology of south Florida and the importance of the swamps in filtering water as it flows to the sea. Additionally, there a few roadside parks along this highway which offer surprisingly good opportunities for observing the region’s flora and fauna.
We were up before the sun. We explored. We discovered. We relaxed. We got hungry.
Come on! Let’s go!
Just after sunrise, at the edge of a cypress-studded wet prairie, we found a blooming Moonflower (Ipomoea alba). Soon, it’s petals will fold as the sun becomes brighter.
An American Crow welcomed us to our breakfast spot, the Kirby Storter Roadside Park. Mr. Storter helped oversee the construction of the “Tamiamai Trail” (U.S. Highway 41) many years ago.
As we enjoyed a boardwalk through the swamp, Gini found a crayfish claw, likely a remnant of a midnight snack from a night heron or other nocturnal prowler.
We promised more Cardinal Airplants (Tillandsia fasciculata).
There are two species of Floating Heart (Nymphoides spp.) prevalent in this part of south Florida. One is native, the other invasive. I couldn’t tell which this one was. In the first image, enlarge and zoom in to see the very small white blooms decorating the heart-shaped leaves. The second picture provides a little better view of the flower.
An immature White Ibis was not deterred by our presence as she probed the soft ground for breakfast. It takes about a year for these birds to achieve the completely white plumage of an adult.
It may appear to be a flower, but the Starrush Whitetop (Rhynchospora colorata) is actually a perennial sedge. Unlike other sedges and grass-like plants, which are wind-pollinated, it’s pollinated primarily by insects.
Spring begins early in the southern Florida swamps and there were plenty of insects enjoying the warmth, humidity and newly flowering plants. Gini’s sharp eyes spotted a Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami).
Typically loud and challenging, a Common Grackle issued an unceasing “intruder alert” so the whole swamp knew we were there.
Another swampy resident of south Florida, the Pond Apple (Annona glabra) actually does form a small fruit resembling an apple. Reports of it being edible vary from “okay” to “use it in preserves” to “yukkk“.
The large bright yellow grasshopper known as the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera) begins life as a small mostly black creature. Still pretty striking when on a nice green leaf. The immature ‘hoppers go through five molts (instars) each lasting about 20 days before becoming adults.
Bright red bird posed nicely. Northern Cardinal.
Bright red flower posed nicely. Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata). Again.
Another swamp dragon. A male Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) has a bright white face, blue abdomen and cool black-and-yellow racing striped thorax.
Okay, adventurers. Tomorrow we will be heading northwest for a dose of salt water. So refuel and get a good night’s sleep. For us, a bowl of she-crab soup, a helping of fried green tomatoes and a platter of fresh shrimp. That hotel bed will feel mighty comfortable. Sweet dreams!
The Big Cypress Preserve offered up some amazing scenery, flora and fauna. We found familiar things in a different setting, discovered new plants, enjoyed incredibly dark night skies packed with stars, basked in the warm Florida sun and can’t wait to do it again!
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Additional Information
Big Cypress NP (https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/things2do.htm)
Big Cypress NP Visitor Centers (https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm)
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We had not taken a road trip for quite awhile. March is the month in which we married, 56 years ago. Time to celebrate.
Several locations in southwest Florida have been on our “sure would like to go” list for several years. As we reviewed the map, two new spots and one long-time favorite were declared the winners.
The vehicle was serviced, hotel reservations booked, food sources scouted, bird reports digested, photographer recommendations considered, weather reports ignored (hey, it’s Florida!). We’re off!
First up, Big Cypress National Preserve, a 729,000 acre swampy buffer zone helping protect the vast Everglades watershed immediately to the south. Most of this area is only accessible by boat and much of that only by airboat. A few park service roads and very nice visitors’ centers helped us enjoy a couple of days exploring cypress and sawgrass swamp habitat.
Grab some bug repellant, get your hat, check your camera batteries and let’s see what we can find.
As the morning sky began to lighten, the sun chased away bits of lingering clouds and we began to see open wet sawgrass prairie dotted with single cypress trees and where deeper water collected, cypress domes.
Once the sun was up, we had a better view of our surroundings.
Throughout the preserve are small areas of open water. If you’re a duck, you know where to find these waterfowl oases. These are all Blue-winged Teal.
Sub-tropical conditions for much of the year provide ideal habitat for all sorts of humidity and heat loving plants. Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata) seemed to be blooming at every place we visited in the preserve.
Leafy Bladderwort (Utricularia foliosa) looked as if someone had scattered very small yellow stars throughout the swamp. The fern-like submerged leaves trap all sorts of yummy things to help these small carnivorous plants thrive. Including mosquitoes! (I may have a new favorite plant.)
Even a large white bird such as this Great Egret can almost vanish in the vast swamp of sawgrass and reeds.
We found many familiar faces as we explored new territory. A bright Saltmarsh Morning-glory (Ipomoea sagittata) was a very welcome sight.
Timing was apparently good for a new crop of Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) dragonflies. They were flitting nearby at almost every location.
Rain in early March resulted in several flowing streams within the preserve. Clear water moving quickly over a rock bed carries nutrients to waiting flora and fauna in the sawgrass prairie.
If the cypress and palm trees were happy with that wet enviroment, the Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata) must have been ecstatic. Red blooms filled our day.
Breakfast in the swamp is made better when friends drop by to visit. This little Palm Warbler said in a few weeks he would be feathering his nest near the Great Lakes.
Yes. We saw alligators. Like this one.
Just in case we needed a reminder, a large Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) butterfly emphasized it is Spring.
Underscoring the Spring attitude of the swamp dwellers, a female Northern Flicker surveyed the scene from her high-rise condo where there may soon (or already) be new eggs to incubate.
You look like you could use a break. Rest here awhile and we’ll find a gas station so we can continue to explore. Perhaps we’ll bring you some orange juice. And Key Lime Pie. Don’t go away.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Additional Information
Big Cypress Preserve: https://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm