Face Whispers
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
We needed a “Nature Fix”.
(About a month ago, Gini was advised to have a pacemaker/defibrilator implanted to improve the quality and duration of her life. No long discussion needed. The procedure was done on July 1 and she’s recovering nicely. Thank you for all the well-wishes. We both very sincerely appreciate it.)
A couple of weeks before heading to the operating room, Gini asked if we could go for a ride. Of course.
Early on a Tuesday, we waited for the gate to open at Colt Creek State Park. This is one of our favorite haunts due to all that it has to offer and the fact that it’s only a 20 minute drive from the house.
It was a typical Florida morning. Bright blue skies, sunshine doing its job of drying dew-laden plants, deer and rabbits foraging along the edges of the forest, insects beginning their daily routine of feeding/mating/surviving, birds singing. The chorus of cicadas rose and fell like a wave rolling onto a beach. Hammering woodpeckers reminded us of an army of carpenters busily building new houses. Red-shouldered Hawks called from the sky and our breeding season Swallow-tailed Kites soared gracefully just above the treetops. Softshell Turtles and alligators at the lake, wading birds in the wetlands, Pig Frogs grunting from the creek and – the flowers.
A table under a pine tree was a perfect spot to enjoy our breakfast as we held hands and reflected on a life well-lived. We are blessed.
The Florida humidity and rising temperature were rapidly reaching the uncomfortable level. A cool breeze was almost startling as it refreshed our perspiring faces. With the wind were whispers of all we had experienced during the morning and promises of even more to come.
A Blue Grosbeak belted out his morning song to all who would listen. We did.
There are so many things to like about the fascinating Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata). Lovely colors, intricate bloom pattern, host to butterfly larvae of fritillaries and longwings. And, if you are a predator, not a bad place to lurk for prey.
Beautiful, blue and small, the Canadian Toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis) is easy to overlook. Earlier in the spring, they can be found en masse where they provide a lavender haze to a field.
Many birds are very busy at this time of year raising chicks, feeding them, teaching them to fly and generally being good parents. This Tufted Titmouse checked us out to make certain we weren’t a threat.
These small lovely flowers may be Florida Bluehearts (Buchnera floridana), based upon location, plant height, leaf blade appearance and relative size of calyx and corolla. They are very similar to American Bluehearts (B. americana).
Standing almost three feet tall with the tops covered in bright yellow blooms, it’s easy to see why all sorts of insects love the Butterweed (Packera glabella). So do we!
Snake! Brakes! Jump out! Lay down on the road! Snap a picture! Stand up to change to a better position – learn (again) why it’s called “r-a-c-e-r”. To be specific, the North American Racer (Coluber constrictor). Beautiful!
A lovely white flower. Which isn’t a flower. A painful stinging nettle. Which isn’t a nettle. Botany is frustrating. Enjoying pretty things is pleasant. I choose the latter. This pretty “flower”, which we grew up calling “Stinging Nettle” (along with really bad words when we touched one), is more gently named Tread-softly (Cnidoscolus stimulosus). The white petals are actually sepals. It is not an actual nettle but a member of the Euphorbia family. I have read this bad plant has an edible root. Yeah, hard pass.
Seldom growing over 18 inches tall, Clasping Venus’s Looking Glass (Triodanis perfoliata) produces gorgeous bluish-purple tubular flowers.The common name appears to come from the seeds, which have a slightly flattened look to them resembling a hand mirror.
As we headed for the park exit, a Swallow-tailed Kite escorted us toward the gate. Okay, so it was actually just following the road where it often finds tasty treats resting or crossing or racing.
We enjoyed a very pleasant morning. Flora, fauna, good company. We can still close our eyes, feel the cool breeze on our faces and hear the whispers of nature. Live your best life today.
We hope you enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 
I’m so glad the surgery went well and will keep Gini in my prayers! I’ll keep you both in my prayers. Take it easy and enjoy some time inside while it’s so hot. Love your photos as always. Hugs, Diane
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Thank you so much, Diane. We can use as many prayers as we can get!
She’s itching to get back to the swamp. I need more rope to keep her restrained.
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I believe the name tread-softly, which you attribute to Cnidoscolus stimulosus, also gets applied to the local species here, Cnidoscolus texanus. The Spanish name for the Texas species is mala mujer, meaning ‘wicked woman.’
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Growing up in Florida, my name for that small plant with the lovely flowers was “X$G&M#P!!!”.
Scotch tape and alcohol helped a bit.
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Interesting how you attribute to sunshine “its job of drying dew-laden plants.” Figuring out what our own jobs in life are isn’t always easy. One of yours is to be a caring husband, which you often show that you are. A speedy recovery to Gini.
Another of your purposes is to show people the natural world around, which you regularly do here. Keep it up.
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After all of your very nice comments, my main job seems to be blushing.
Gini is very appreciative of your well-wishes and her recovery is going well.
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I was surprised to see the toadflax, Venus’s looking glass, and butterweed. After I consulted my calendar, it made sense; it would have been about mid-June when you found them. You do seem to have a longer spring wildflower season than we do — lucky for you.
The Florida bluehearts seemed familiar. Eventually, I figured out that it wasn’t the flower that had caught my attention, but the seed pods. They look remarkably like those of Golden Miller’s-maid (Aletris aurea). And I must say, I was especially taken with the North American racer and the green lynx. I’d prefer not to meet one of the rattlesnakes that currently are looking for high and dry around here these days, but a nice watersnake would be just fine.
Remind Gini about slow and steady as the appropriate way of getting back to her favorite spots. Leave the racing to the snake!
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Our rains got off to a bit later start this year than in some years so some of our flowers waited patiently before taking the stage.
It was interesting to have a sort of “two part” bloom. Many flowers didn’t wait on the rains but bloomed according to some other calendar and then “dry spell” followed by more flowering. We didn’t mind at all.
We actually encountered three Racers that morning in widely separated areas. This was the only one which waited for the portrait. Moccasins abound, but who wants to see another Cottonmouth picture?
Gini is VERY frustrated about that slow and steady thing! Does not understand why it’s taking so long to regain her stamina. I still have not convinced her that the doctors know what they’re talking about.
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Well, if she doesn’t believe the docs, maybe she’ll believe a boatyard character I wrote about in the past. I had another ‘poets’ birds’ post ready to go up, but I’m switching it out in favor of a repost about a bluejean clad life coach who’s gotten me through a whole variety of challenges. Stay tuned!
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Fine tuning the dial as we speak.
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Coming back to read this, Wally.
So much love and prayers for Gini and you too.
God speed. ❤
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Thank you very much, Natasha.
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I would like to add my good wishes for Gini’s recovery. I hope there will be countless more outings for both of you to hold hands and perspire together, to enjoy the sight and smell of flowers, the soul-filling song and beauty of birds, and the flights of all winged creatures as well as your fancy.
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Thank you, Tanja. We both really appreciate the good wishes. Need all we can get.
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So glad Gini is doing well after her procedure. That’s got to be a little scary for both of you, so nice to have it behind you. On a different topic, my wife was gardening and was bitten by a Green Lynx Spider a couple years ago. They are not venomous, but they deliver a very painful bite!
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Thanks very much, Peter. Recovery is well underway.
It’s like my Dad said when we were hunting quail and counted 10 rattlesnakes and no quail: “Don’t be afraid of those rattlers, just give them plenty of respect.” I try to give most critters that can bite, like that pretty Lynx, plenty of “respect”!
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Glad to hear she is doing well. So many beautiful shots as usual. Love that grosbeak singing!
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Thank you very much, Dina.
Silly bird sang for a full 10 munutes. We didn’t even mind.
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Another wonderful walk, heavy on beauty and peace, and light on stress – just the right combination when you are anticipating a procedure. Glad to hear Gini is recovering well, I wish her every comfort. Can’t wait to see what the two of you do next!
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Thank you, Sam.
I can’t wait ’til she tells me what we do next, too.
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I’m so glad the procedure went well and Gini’s recovery is going well.
And thank you for sharing the (as usual) great photos and info.
Ed
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Thanks very much, Ed.
Hope you have settled into the new place okay.
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Very glad the pacemaker was successful and Gini can continue enjoying nature walks with you. Fun assortment of topics today, especially since Gini can enjoy them as well. My father-in-law had one implanted when he was 90; didn’t slow him down a bit. (He still mows the lawn each week with a push mower and takes care of his wooded lot.)
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Thank you very much, Brad. Yeah, she is very anxious to prove she hasn’t slowed down a tick. I keep mumbling “patience, grasshopper”. I won’t tell you what her response is.
I shall share the good news about your father-in-law and show her where the lawn mower is housed, but I am not very optimistic about the results.
Have a great weekend.
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I use the “grasshopper” quite a bit as well. However, if she wasn’t mowing the lawn by push mower before, I wouldn’t encourage it now. 🙂
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No worries. 56 years of wedded bliss has taught me what and what NOT to suggest.
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Hi Wally. And Gini.
It is good to hear that Gini’s progress is fast and certain enough to enjoy the great outdoors so soon. She has a fine nurse in you. Wish her well from Sue and I.
I find your words so soothing and highly descriptive of your surroundings that I could almost be there and to watch the snake speed away, you jogging after it.
Send me a kite please. I am about to post, inspired by your discerning prose and your feel for the good things in life. Enjoy.
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Gini (and me, too) really appreciates the good vibes from you and Sue. She says it helps with the healing.
My jogging after that snake consisted of one and a half steps. “Racer” versus “non-racer”. No contest.
I have requested the kites swing by Lancashire on their way to the Pampas. They mumbled something about not in their flight plan, so you may want to go back indoors and give up scanning the horizon. Birds. Very uncooperative lot.
Off to enjoy the good things in life, which, at the moment, only consists of one, and She is on the couch. See ya.
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Always a treat to share your hikes through photography and words!! Yes Flora, Fauna and Friends…can’t beat it!! 🙂
PS: My father had a pacemaker and did very well with it for a long time. Modern medicine does bring some wonderful and effective tools to manage life events. For sure!
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Thank you, Judy.
We’ll keep exploring as long as we’re able. You are so right about modern medicine. Truly miraculous.
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Regards to Gini, guess she can’t wait to get back out in the field again!
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Good guess!
Thanks for the positive thoughts, Brian.
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I am so glad to hear that Gini is on the mend. And no doubt assisted by glorious outings like this one. Nature is THE best artist – and medicine.
Hugs.
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Gini sends big – but gentle – hugs along with a thank you for the nice thoughts.
Yep, she can’t wait to get back out there to see what’s been happening. Trying to tell her to be patient is not working ….
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Glad to hear about Gini’s recovery. I wish her all the best!
Thanks for sharing the beauty of nature once again.
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Thank you!
She’s doing well.
We will soon be sharing more natural beauty.
Loving your wonderful images of Finland and Italy.
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Beautiful images Wally. They’re so sharp, and the spider is amazing!
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Thanks, Maria!
Those Lynx Spiders seem to show up more often than I expect. Such a pretty green blends right in with those leaves.
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Best wishes to your wife.
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What a special day. So happy to hear that Gini is doing well. We all are blessed for every day we can spend with the ones we love.
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Thank y’all for the well-wishing. We really appreciate it.
Gini’s doing great, Itching to get back to the swamp and forest. She even talked about throwing a cast net for some fresh mullet. Once upon a time, she was expert at it. I blame the meds for making her delirious.
I also plan to take her to our favorite hole-in-the-wall spot for a fresh mullet dinner. Don’t tell her. It’s a surprise.
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Your column is always appreciated. You provide needed relief from our rather chaotic and insane world right now. Thanks for what you do. Sorry that Gini had to have surgery, but we are so blessed that such procedures can be done and allow us to live richer and care free lives.
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Than you very much, Dan.
Our visits to swamps, forests and coasts is definitely a form of escaping reality. Or, rather, it has become OUR reality.
Yep, modern science is truly miraculous. Gini’s quick recovery from a very intricate procedure is proof.
Take good care. Have a great weekend.
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