Local Color
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
“Sounds like an alley-cat convention.”
Gini’s hearing, which is significantly superior to mine, was picking up at least a dozen individual Gray Catbirds calling. During pre-migration, this species forms up into groups of one to a couple of dozen birds as they prepare to return to their northern breeding territory.
After some far-flung adventures, it felt good to be in our familiar “patch” again. Only three miles from our front door, the oasis of small lakes and wooded tracts always seems to offer a surprising diversity of flora and fauna. Today was no exception.
Spring flowers were making a showing and plenty of nectar-seeking pollinators showed their appreciation. In addition to the yowling Catbirds, a few other avian migrants lingered to enjoy our Florida weather and the delicious insects to be had. Resident birds were busy with nest-building, courting and hunting.
It’s such a privilege to be outdoors just as the sun is rising. Nature wakes up, we observe. Breakfast by a lake, discussing the kids, planning the week – interrupted by an Osprey splashing into the scene. Time to explore!
Once the sun has been up a little longer, the Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) will fold up for the day. Since they bloom mainly at night, the flowers are pollinated by moths.
Here, kitty, kitty. The calls of the Gray Catbird can, indeed, sound like a tabby in the brush.
I recently discovered a handy way to differentiate the two species of toadflax in our area. When compared with Canadian Toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis), Florida (or Apalachicola) Toadflax (Nuttallanthus floridanus) has a longer stem (pedicel) connecting the flower to the main stem and a much shorter spur on the flower. Both are a wonderful shade of soft blue or violet and can be stunning when covering a field in early spring. (Some sources still place these plants in the genus Linaria.)
A female Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) looks pretty sporty with those racing stripes on her thorax.
Perched on the same twig as the above dragon, an immature male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) just might be considering a Dasher brunch. Soon, he will change from the partial green of Mom to the total powder blue of Dad.
A Cucumberleaf Sunflower (Helianthus debilis Nutt. subsp. cucumerifolius) is a sub-species of a plant normally only found along the coast. We’re happy this bright yellow specimen likes our patch.
It’s easy to understand why the powers that be decided to designate the Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) as Florida’s state butterfly. The bright red seeds in the image belong to a Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) vine.
A highlight of spring is the appearance of Prairie (or Savanna) Irises (Iris savannarum) in the wet places. What a glorious combination of colors!
Early morning means dew-jeweled necklaces draping the fields.
We will soon miss the little flycatcher who constantly reminds us of her name. The Eastern Phoebe will return in the fall.
The combination of dark green foliage and lovely small flowers decorated a small wetland area. Butterflies seem quite drawn to the Woodland False Buttonweed (Spermacoce remota).
A Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) looks like its hindwings were spray painted a lovely blue, indicating this is a female. Males have a wash of greenish blue.
Another really small flower to enjoy. This one is a brightly colored River Sage (Salvia misella).
Upside down, but interesting from any perspective. This Long-jawed Orbweaver (Tetragnathidae spp.) wove its web above a small water channel and clung to the underside as it patiently waited for me to move along.
One more bright blue reminder that spring is in full swing. Clumps of Bluejacket (Tradescantia ohiensis) are appearing in fields and roadside ditches throughout the land. This wonderful plant is also called Ohio Spiderwort.
Traveling and exploring new places is wonderful. Returning home and settling down together on our loveseat is relaxing. Visiting our local patch only ten minutes away is like that loveseat – comfortable.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
Sometimes–often–we don’t have to go very far to find treasures galore. Thank you for sharing yours. Cartier has nothing on this wondrous dew-jeweled necklace.
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Nature’s treasures are all ours to share and take care of as we travel through life.
Thank you, Tanja.
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Your wonderful images of those spectacular dragons have got me looking forward to getting out and looking for the local dragons when the season starts, Wally. We are already getting the first damselflies, but It’s a bit early in these parts for the dragonflies. Two weeks ago, we had Large Red Damselfly start to emerge from our pond – three on day one, another three on day two – and then a Robin found the first emergence on day three and, ever since then, it’s patrolled the pond at about ten minute intervals, and snaffled up all the nymphs as they emerge – it’s even taken to picking them out of the water before they climb out. The result is that we have not had one successful emergence since the second day!
I have very much enjoyed all your insect and flora images, and that dew necklace is fabulous.
Thank you so much for all your kind words of support. My very best wishes to you and Gini – – – Richard
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We’re really beginning to see good numbers of all insects as our spring days are warming up quickly. Sorry to hear about your greedy Robin! Of course, they must eat, too, and may have have little ones to feed. But, still!
Gini says quit typing and recover!
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I have never heard of a flower that blooms in the dark and folds up during the day. Nor do I think I have ever seen a catbird. I do not think they migrate up our way.
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Turns out there are several flowers with that behavior. We’re always surprised to find out how much we don’t know!
Not sure about your specific location, but the Gray Catbird apparently breeds throughout South Dakota. Here’s some information: https://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/gray_catbird_info.htm
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Nice spring selection Wally.
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Thank you, Brad.
Truth be known, my “selection” process is whatever the heck happens to be in view at the time.
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It took a while to register; your woodland false buttonweed flowers look much like the Virginia buttonweed that’s native to the eastern third of Texas, although ours belongs to a different genus (Diodia virginiana). I suppose that helps to explain the ‘false’ in the name of yours.
I’m just beginning to see a few dragonflies and damselflies now, although they’re probably more common in the marshes and such. It was fun to see the photos of the two toadflax species, as well. I think you mentioned the similarity between your Canadian toadflax and our Texas toadflax, which also has that longer spur.
The framing of the cutleaf evening primrose with those slender twigs is perfect; somehow, those little twigs add an unexpected pizazz to the photo.
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The two buttonweeds are very similar.
I copied your notes on how the toadflax was named, at least one theory, so I can sound like an “expert” to family and friends. Unfortunately, they already know better.
The primrose framing was out of necessity. The little plant had a defense perimeter of very small prickly pear pads with very sharp spines hidden under those little twigs. Sitting down to take a pic would have added an unexpected pizazz to my morning.
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Thanks for sharing the natural beauty. Love the butterflies most.
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You’re very welcome.
We’re starting to see more butterflies on each trip, so there will probably be more fluttering around the blog soon.
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You, like me, are both beauty addicts. Thank you so much for sharing the bounty in your area.
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From this pair of addicts to another, we’re happy to share.
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Lovely to see all these signs of spring, one day it may kick off over here!
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We’ll keep sending you some of our “virtual spring” until your own season decides to make an appearance.
I know. It’s a dirty job but we’ll do our best.
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Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like (three miles from) home. Not having to make long drives sure has its advantages.
Good picture of the dewdrop “necklace.” It costs a lot less than what you find in jewelry stores.
Hard not to like a close portrait of an iris. I wonder how the name of the Greek goddess of rainbows came to be applied to this flower rather than some other. Oh well, that which we call an iris, by any other name would look as good.
We have the cucumber-leaf sunflower in Austin, too. We don’t, however, have any sunflower-leaf cucumbers.
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We are humbled each time we visit Nature’s home.
Gini asked why they can’t make an actual necklace as beautiful as that one. I didn’t have a good answer.
Taxonomists have been shuffling the Iris around quite a bit. As you and the bard suggest, even those erudite elites cannot detract from its beauty.
Cucumbers and sunflowers can be appreciated for their own unique merits, although some prefer to leaf the former alone.
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I know that exact feeling – the comfort of home, of your own well-known and well-loved spaces. Thanks for showing us the River Sage – it’s a new one for me, and I’ve found it surprisingly rare to get such a vibrant blue in wildflowers.
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Familiarity breeds comfort. In some cases, anyhow.
That little blue flower was new for us as well. The ground looked like a basket of tiny blue stars had been spilled around the wetlands.
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