The Ridge (4)
Header Image: Carolina Wren
(Weather Note: Hurricane Idalia passed a couple of hundred miles west of us this past Tuesday and Wednesday. We experienced periodic intense rainfall and gusty winds up to about 50 mph. We are safe and had no problems. Please keep all those along the storm’s path who suffered damage and the many who are still without electric power today in your thoughts.)
Our morning in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest has been glorious. We’ve had encounters with flora and fauna which grabbed our attention and we focused intently on specific subjects. We also took time to just relax and realize how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy this vast garden of delights which almost overwhelms our senses with sights, sounds, aromas, textures – truly an emotional experience. Small wonder we keep returning.
Thank you for indulging us as we shared bits of our visit. Although it’s time to head home, we know we shall return soon to – The Ridge.
Visiting an area containing several thousand acres of natural resources to explore is not available to everyone. Hopefully, you can find even a small spot where you may indulge your senses in the enjoyment of a blooming wildflower, the fluttering of a butterfly, a bird singing just for your ears, a sunset. In such moments, we should all be able to agree: Life Is Good.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
I wondered how you were coping when I realized you might be in the storm even though my geographical knowledge of FL is basic. Now there are legendary rains, floods, thunderstorms and lightning in Skiathos a week before we fly. Oh dear, it never rains etc. Stay safe and secure my lovely pals.
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We appreciate your thoughts and all is well here in our Paradise.
Skiathos is just going though a good wash in anticipation of your visit. No doubt all that fresh water will attract more birds for you to enjoy.
All the best.
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We are hoping to spend some time in that area when the weather cools. It sure has been a crazy week but I’m glad you didn’t have any damage at your house. It was worrisome and I know a lot of people are still trying to recover. It’s a beautiful time of year. Love seeing your photos and being able to ID some of the things we see here. Enjoy the week ahead!
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Thank you, Diane.
Sure hope you didn’t have any problems from Idalia.
Wait – the weather is going to cool???
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Love your photo of the Anole and that beardtongue is very interesting!
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Thank you.
Who knew a lizard could be so photgenic?
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I’m entranced by your photo of the anole. It’s the best I’ve ever seen; the detail is phenomenal. I’m always taken by the blue ring around their eye. It seems to be more vibrant at times, and now I’m wondering whether it might be the sort of change we see in certain birds during breeding season, when their lores become more colorful. I was glad for your affirmation that the anoles and the other species that are showing up here have managed a sort of accomodation when it comes to territory. We have both the anoles and (apparently) two species of dark brown lizards now, but they’re getting along.
I smiled at the common name ‘tread softly.’ Our bull nettle (C. texanus) is equally unpleasant — except for the pollinators, of course. I discovered its identity after encountering its ability to cause pain. Before I knew what it was, I accidentally sat on one in my enthusiasm to photograph some low-growing white prickly poppies. Lesson learned.
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The blue around the anoles eyes is simply a judicious application of makeup before their photo shoot. We always wait patiently.
Yeah, I grew up with pretty near constant pain as nettles grew in profusion in the pasture behind our house. I’m still a slow learner. But chasing snakes and gopher tortoises throuth the grass was such fun!
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For two hours I’ve been listening to the most beautiful, musical bird singing — and somewhere near. I finally spotted it. A wren! It seems to be enamored of my patio plants, and probably the insects there. Amazing that such a small bird can have such a large voice! It’s a perfect example of a bird singing “just for my ears.”
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All great shots but that green guy is beautiful!
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Bright green and strawberry do sort of stand out in nature. Thank you.
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Was very relieved to hear that Idelia did you no harm Wally, but so sorry that so many people over there have suffered devastating damage to their homes and lives.
Your Carolina Wren has such a long and powerful-looking bill compared to that of our Wren (Troglodytes troglodyes) which has a much more delicate-looking one, but an amazingly loud voice!
Your botanical images are interesting and beautiful, but that Green Anole image is fabulous!
W’ere fine here, although both very unsettled after a car mishap this morning. For some unexplained reason all four wheels locked (we are 4WD) at 40 mph and we ended up in a skid on a dangerous bend. This happened at about 09.00 and it was about 15.00 before I got home after the rescue truck took me and the car to the dealership and thenour daughter got me home. Not a good day!
My very best wishes to you and Gini – – – Richard
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That Carolina Wren is a bruiser compared to his othe wren cousins. We are always amazed at its wide range of diverse songs.
That lime lizard does sort of command attention.
We’re sorry to hear about your vehicle mis-adventure. The good news is it sounds like no injury was involved. Hope the mechanical issue is resolved with a good explanation.
Gini and I are very well and hope the same for you and Lindsay.
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I’m so glad you weathered Idalia. The amounts of flood waters we have seen on TV are mind-boggling!
I wonder if the flowers at the Ridge still look as beautiful today after being pummeled by rain. And I hope the birds found a safe, dry spot to wait out the storm, as well as the anole. Never having seen one, I find them completely fascinating.
Enjoy your weekend,
Tanja
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The Ridge is pretty near where we live so it received little wind. Rainfall has been intermittently high but no flooding in that area.
Nature is resilient and has weathered these seasonal storms for eons.
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I am so glad that you (and the wildlife in your area) were safe from the hurricane. Thank you yet again for taking us wandering with you.
The anole took my eye this morning. Beautiful.
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Our green lizard species was, until recently, thought to have been in trouble due to an increasijng population of invasive Cuban Brown Anoles. Further study reveals the little greenies are just existing higher in the tree canopies than the brownies like to climb. Smart AND beautiful!
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You did an excellent job catching the anole’s extended dewlap. Maybe it thought you were a rival.
Just this morning, in preparation for an upcoming post, I noticed what a broad geographic range camphorweed covers (https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=HESU3). I also found from Wikipedia that “The leaf volatiles from which the name ‘camphorweed’ is derived include camphor, but as a minor constituent (less than 2%); of 41 documented volatiles, for example, caryophyllene, pinene, borneol, myrcene, and limonene each comprised over 5% of the total.”
I recognized the Cnidoscolus flowers as such right away from the texanus species we have here.
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Thank you, Steve.
Your information on camphorweed is interesting. Some species seem to have stronger aromas when the leaves are crushed than others.
Stinging Nettles are equal opportunity pain providers.
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Good to hear the hurricane missed you, you certainly live in an interesting place!
Enjoyed these images from the ‘Ridge’ posts, such a lovely collection of plants but that lizard (Anole) shot is something special!
The size of your nature reserves is a bit mind boggling but what a great place to get lost in (or probably not lost in that sense).
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Thanks, Brian.
Yes, our favorite pastime is to become “lost” in Nature.
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Good to hear that you are fine. So beautiful shots in this post too! The green Anole is lovely.
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Thank you very much.
We love our green lizards.
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Life is, indeed, good! So glad the hurricane passed you by, and you don’t have to deal with those after-storm conditions. The penstamons are such a varied and pretty family, happy to see this beardtongue among your acquaintances. Seeing your yellow flax reminded me of attending a demonstration in New England of the process for preparing flax for weaving. Fascinating that all those steps were invented/discovered in a world before mechanization or automation, just by keeping their eyes open and observing carefully. You are in good company!
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Thank you for the comments and the visit, Sam.
Humans are amazing creatures. Before and after machines, we can be incredibly productive.
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Agreed: Life it Good!
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Sure beats the alternative.
Have a great day, Brad.
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