Familiarity Breeds Content
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
This year has been a bit different than others.
“Getting old“, my bride says, “is not for sissies.” Indeed. Hindsight indicates we should have purchased one of those extended service warranties for our bodies. Our appointment calendar sure has been filled with visits to all sorts of medical practioners, laboratories, imaging services and we are now on a first-name basis with the local pharmacist.
This hectic attempt to maintain some semblance of reasonable health has severely crimped our exploration life-style. Long trips have been few and far between. We therefore have been relegated to visiting mostly nearby venues repeatedly. That has not been a bad thing.
Repeat visits have allowed us to find previously undiscovered (by us) spots and to watch the same areas change as the seasons progress. Yes, we record the same species of flora and fauna much of the time. Somehow, we have yet to grow tired of doing so.
We have passed a group of sunflowers before, photographed several of the blooms before, enjoyed their bright sunshine-yellow color before – but, today, we found a Leafcutter Bee in the center of a big sunflower. That is something we have NOT seen before.
At this time of year, sighting a Gulf Fritillary butterfly is very common. But, today, we found a larva which had nearly formed a chrysalis of that butterfly for the first time at this place. We saw more than a dozen flower species today, all of which we have encountered previously here. But, today, we found a type of orchid we have never seen here.
Our lifestyle may be changing as are we, but our lives continue to be on a journey which offers marvels for us to behold. Familiar or new, we plan to absorb it all!
Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee (Megachile xylocopoides). This bee carries pollen on hairs on the abdomen instead of baskets on their legs like other bees.
We came across a larva about to be a chrysalis for the Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae) butterfly. Adults were plentiful this morning.
Spiny thistle-like leaves of the Mexican Pricklypoppy (Argemone mexicana) protect the large lovely flowers. It can be found in most states of the eastern U.S.
An abundance of blooms attracts an abundance of insects. That is quite satisfactory for the Bar-winged Skimmer (Libellula axilena). This large dragonfly happens to enjoy a bug buffet.
Nothing like a bit of bright red to offer some highlights to the edge of the forest. Today, Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea) seemed especially abundant.
Something new for us here was finding several Spring Ladies’ Tresses (Spiranthes vernalis). These are terrestrial orchids and can sometimes grow to 24 inches in height.
The lovely butter-colored blossoms of Four-petal St. Johnswort (Hypericum tetrapetalum) are a welcome sight in the pine forest. Blue-green oval leaves which clasp the woody stems add to the unique nature of this plant which only occurs in Florida and southern Georgia.
Its unique appearance belies the fact that Blackroot (Pterocaulon pycnostachyum) is a member of the Aster family, although, it is the only member of its genus within Florida. No, I have not dug one up to verify the roots are black. (And don’t recommend anyone else should, either.)
With flowers seldom wider than about one-quarter inch, Annual Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium rosulatum) could easily be overlooked. That would be a mistake. The white and often yellow blossoms are exceedingly beautiful. (In my not-so-humble opinion.)
We came across a flower which, although common, we don’t recall seeing before. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is abundant across the country and throughout most of the world. It is not native to North America and may have originated in the Mediterranean. The species name, intybus, is derived from the Egyptian word for January.
From the real thing to a pretender. Not chicory. Not exclusively from Carolina. Not a desert plant. Other than that, the Carolina Desert-Chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus), also known as a Texas Dandelion, is one of my favorite flowers.
Due to necessity, we have been exploring many nearby places over and over again. Each trip offers us something new as well as much which has become quite familiar. We are content.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
We missed you too/two. I almost missed the creepy-crawlies but still admire your patience in capturing their tiny forms. I am amazed that you both manage to see health professionals, more so they able to diagnose and help. Our usual Medic is Dr Google – very cheap but not entirely accurate. If I too had cash I would treat you both to a month in Skiathos to soothe away your worries.
Such fun. We have an election to choose a new Government. Cheeks of the same arse and we have already sent postal votes for Nigels team. I watched with bemusement Trumpy and Dozy Joe “debate”. LOL. Good luck with that!
Do pass on best wishes and hugs to Gini . She will be up and running soon as.
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I was so happy to see your photo of the annual blue-eyed grass in this mix: and such a fine photo! With the two fruits on either side of the flower, the image brought to mind a nautical binnacle. I’ve often found the flower in places like cemeteries, but this year it was everywhere in the lawns at my apartment complex. I suppose that’s why it sometimes shows up on the websites of weed eradication companies.
Another association involved the blackroot. It’s bloom reminded me of the golden club (Orontium aquaticum) that I found in east Texas.
As for repetitive visits to more local haunts, there often are unexpected benefits, like your leaf-cutter bee. I’m reminded of the wisdom of Heraclitus’s contention that “no man steps in the same river twice. It’s not the same river, and he’s not the same man.” After all, Annie Dillard’s repetitive visits to Tinker Creek paid off!
Just now, I’m in the same situation, although it’s my car that’s in poor health, with both the air conditioner and catalytic converter needing replacement. Taking on an extra job to keep those payments off the credit card means two or three weeks of nothing but work, with any excursions necessarily brief and close to home. The good news is that a very local nature center only two or three miles from home has recently re-opened, and I’ll have a chance to reaquaint myself with that spot.
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I really like the balance those two buds provided for the annual blue-eyed grass. The small flower is easily overlooked and its larger cousin, S. angustifolium, seems to have a better press agent.
That’s a really interesting history about the binnacle.
The image of the Blackroot reminded me of some mythical dragon-bird poised to strike a curious photographer.
We’re sorry to hear about car troubles. We take stuff for granted until it doesn’t work right. Fingers crossed for swift repairs.
Serendipity to the rescue as that local nature center re-opens just in time.
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LOL, so true about getting old not being for sissies. You don’t realize how true until you actually get old! And I too could have greatly benefitted from an extended service warranty. Anyway, as always, I’m loving your nature photography. Keep it coming, whether near or far.
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Thank you, Peter.
Beginning to appreciate the dual design of that photography tool – tripod and cane.
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Beautiful! Just keep getting out, even if it’s close to home. And keep sharing what you find.
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Thanks, Dina.
We’ll definitely keep getting out. Some day, getting back may become an issue. 🙂
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Great images Wally. Mexican Prickly Poppy was really abundant when I was in Miami.
Wally, there’s a blog about Florida’s Native Wildflowers. Here’s the link:
http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/?m=1
It’s run by Hawthorn Bill.
I get updates from the blog on my Jetpack app, but the blog doesn’t accept “likes” nor comments. Just thought I’d let you know.
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Ok, I found out it does accept comments, but no “Like”
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Thank you, Maria, for the information.
I’ve been using that blog for several years as it is a great resource. The owner, Craig N. Huegel, PhD, is extremely knowledgeable and very willing to help with i.d.’s.
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I receive the new posts through Jetpack. I also have been following it. Some of the images are really good too.
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Magic. And much, much better than visits to the medicos and/or their offsiders.
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We keep hoping the Natural approach will cure what ails us before the doctors can find out what it is.
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Nature is everyday different, so there is always a lot to behold…
Have a good time!
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How true!
If we aren’t having a good time, we’re doing something wrong.
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I wish I’d come up with your title.
“Common” sunflowers are doing their thing here now, too, and have been for over a month. It’s hard to beat that cheery yellow against a pretty blue sky. The St. Johnswort flower also has a rich yellow, as does the Mexican prickly poppy.
I looked up Pterocaulon pycnostachyum to see what follows the stage in your picture. The flowers seem not to be large or showy.
Sorry the medical side of life has taken up more than its desirable share recently.
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Thank you, Steve, for the nice remarks.
The poor Blackroot “blooms” pretty much get ugly and then seem to deteriorate. We enjoy it while it lasts.
Bright yellows definitely brighten our mood and nature seems to offer plenty of “mood enhancers” in the spring.
Visiting with the doctors now may allow us to extend our ability to keep exploring for a few year longer than if we don’t visit with them.
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Two sayings come to mind: “A stitch in time saves nine” and “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Here’s to longevity in your nature quest.
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First, I hope that all your doctor appointments are getting positive results. Love the first and second pictures. What an opportune moment to catch that caterpillar!
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So far, so good with the sawbones.
It was neat watching that caterpillar as it was in the process of forming a chrysalis. Nature sure is fun.
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