
(Reminder: Click to enlarge images. Click again to zoom.)
A cool morning!
Okay, perhaps not “cool“, but “not as hot“. It was a few minutes past sunrise and our target area for exploration was already buzzing, literally, with activity. Birds were chattering and insects were beginning to move about as the dew evaporated. Today was one of those unplanned excursions and we hoped to find a few subjects willing to pose for the camera.
Although we heard quite a few birds, not many ventured into camera range and even fewer begged for a portrait. No worries. Slow down, change to a macro lens, focus on the few feet around our – feet. Plenty to appreciate here.
Today we had to finish early as other tasks needed attention after lunch. Fresh fruit fueled our endeavors. (Know why we like bananas so much? Because they have “a peel“. Barump -bump.) Several flower species in the area were in full bloom and the nectar seekers obligingly drank their fill and flitted to the next plant for another sip, transporting pollen along the way.
Speaking of pollinators, Gini gently reminded me, for the third time, to brush my pants to remove items ingeniously placed by various plants in an attempt to increase their population. I don’t understand why she doesn’t want me to wait until we get home to do that so we can have a yard filled with beggar lice, sandspurs and Spanish needles. That way, we wouldn’t have to go very far to enjoy having all those hitchikers jump on us for a ride.
Most of the photographic results of today’s exploration were of subjects on the diminutive side. Hope you can see them okay.
Clutching a blade of wet grass, a Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) patiently waits for the sun to do its job of drying the dew from its wings.

A new bug! This good-sized specimen is a Wedge-shaped Beetle (Macrosiagon octomaculata) feeding on Shrubby False Buttonweed (Spermacoce verticillata).

The brightly colored Milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes) is known as a “generalist” when it comes to prey. It eats pretty much anything it finds. Any bug which eats Army Worms and Mosquitoes gets my vote as “friendly”.

Often, we become so enamored of the beauty of a butterfly displaying its upper wings that we forget how incredible the other side of those wings can be. A case in point: the Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia). Gorgeous from above or below.


Growing to a height of four to five feet, Plains Snakecotton (Froelichia floridana) is in the Amaranth family. Leaves are near the plant’s base and the small white flowers are borne on tall stalks which wave sinuosly in the wind, giving the plant one of its common names.

It’s always a bit startling to see Fire On The Mountain (Euphorbia cyathophora) growing in the wild. It’s like an early Christmas as the familiar holiday Poinsettia is in the same family.

How can a butterfly have nothing but dull colors and still be so beautiful? I don’t know either, but we always enjoy finding Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) during any trip.

We interrupted a preening session of Common Ground Dove. The plain gray birds favored us with a wave of a wing revealing an incredibly rich brown plumage.

Compared to the small brown Horace’s Duskywing above, a large Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) appears almost gaudy. Almost.

Many wasps receive a negative reaction due to the very real fact they can inflict a painful sting if one is not careful. Most species of wasp are not aggressive, so as long as you respect their space, you should remain pain-free. This handsome Mason Wasp (Zethus spinipes) builds a uniquely-shaped nest which is stuffed with a caterpillar for junior to nibble on once hatched.

I was unable to determine the exact species, but this little Hoverfly (Syrphidae spp.) was very active. If you know how small the flower of the Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is, then you know how small the fly is.

Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) is one of our most abundant dragonfly species. Spots/smudges on the wings and their preference for perching horizontally on bare twigs help with identification.

That eminent entomologist, the Loggerhead Shrike, generously provided a specimen for our viewing enjoyment. She only asks that we not take the Rainbow Scarab Beetle (Phanaeus igneus) from its display since she intends to invite it for dinner.

An immature male Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) still has the coloration of a female but will soon transform into the purple hues of an adult.

The mobile home expert of the moth world, an Abbot’s Bagworm Moth (Oiketicus abbotii) is seldom seen outside its protective case.

When the sun’s rays highlight a perching female Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami), she seems to have threads of gold woven into her wings.

Tiny damselflies can be so colorful. The Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) takes it even further by having four different color forms. Here are a green and a blue specimen.


We opened with a candid picture of a Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) and thought we would bid him farewell until our next visit.

Our day was filled with finding small treasures and all produced huge pleasures. In your hunt for a natural subject to enjoy or photograph, don’t forget to look for the little things which make our lives better.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
It is vital to set goals is life. Without a goal, how do you know where to go? If you don’t know where you’re going it is all too easy to become lost, literally as well as figuratively. Mapping out a route for what you want to do in life is critical to being successful.
Philosophy lesson for the day is over.
Once in a awhile – okay, most of the time – we have no specific goal in mind when we explore Nature. We go. We see. We breathe. We connect – with each other as well as with our surroundings. We are satisfied and “happy”.
I am blessed to have a partner around whom it is impossible to NOT be happy. She is very special.
Today was like any other. That is to say, it was extraordinary! We traveled a short distance to Colt Creek State Park. Open fields, pine woods, lakes, wetlands, cypress swamp, oak hammocks – diverse habitat inhabited by diverse life forms. Moving along at a quick pace produces an amazing array of sights, sounds, aromas, textures. Slowing down reveals an enhanced experience of all of the above. Standing still forces one to appreciate details impossible to see when walking.
We have a favorite spot under the tall long-leaf pines where we enjoy breakfast each time we visit. Today was similar to others. The shrill cry of a Red-shouldered Hawk indicated annoyance at our interrupting her own search for breakfast. A big Pileated Woodpecker flew from one tree to another. Butterflies flitted among blooming Spanish Needles. From low in a scrub palmetto came the song of a White-eyed Vireo and the summertime cicada chorus was non-stop.
A few hours in the park this morning refreshed our souls. Facing a calendar filled with visits to medical practioners and laboratory technicians seems less daunting.
Diversity shared is diversity enjoyed.
Recent rains have created “instant wetlands” where there is typically only tall grass. Adding water sure can be attractive for some. If you know how tall a Great Egret is then you have an idea how tall the grass has become.

All white tells us this Little Blue Heron is still in its first year of growth. Soon it will become mottled with blue/gray splotches and then next spring will show off its full adult plumage.

Pretend you can’t see them. We wouldn’t want to hurt the feelings of this pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks who think they are perfectly hidden.

Even at a great distance it is hard to miss the black and white and red of a Red-headed Woodpecker.

Having just emerged from its cocoon, a Gulf Fritillary (Dione incarnata) perches in the morning sun to dry its brand new wings.

A gorgeous bright red bird AND a beautiful song! Hard to beat that combination this morning. The male Summer Tanager is a joy to behold in any season.

Pale Meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana). Common in the area, uncommon in its loveliness.

An adult Little Blue Heron illustrates how our immature friend above will eventully appear.

Florida has nearly 30 species of Ludwigia to enjoy with some looking very similar which can make identification difficult. The Narrowleaf Primosewillow (Ludwigia linearis) helps by having, just as its name suggests, very narrow leaves. Bright yellow four-petaled blooms appear on single stalks which can reach up to 36 inches.

The preening tree. This cypress tree was a favorite spot for perching and cleaning today.


Sunlight can make the wings of a female Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami) glisten even more than usual.

Looking like some alien with large ears, the Hairypod Cowpea (Vigna luteola) is a vine which wraps around sturdier plants, smothering some in the process. A lovely yellow bloom makes us almost forgive its bad growing habits.

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). We grew up taking these ancient creatures for granted as here in central Florida they were so abundant. Although still plentiful in some areas of Florida, their habitat continues to disappear due to agriculture, mining and construction development. This one was on a mission and totally ignored us as it trundled down the main park road. Thank goodness it obeyed the posted speed limit.



It’s easy to see the relationship to Sunflowers (Asteraceae family) when you spot the fairly small Oppositeleaf Spotflower (Acmella oppositifolia). The plant tends to grow fairly low and sprawls in areas adjacent to lakes and ponds.

A butterfly demonstrates how to drink nectar while upside down. I tried that with milk and it came out my nose. Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes) on Winged Loosestrife (Lythrum alatum).

American Germander (Teucrium canadense) is a lovely member of the mint family. It can reach nearly three feet in height. Pollinators have no problem flying to that altitude for their reward. Depending on which taxonomist you can corner, this plant is also known as Canada Germander, Canadian Germander, Hairy Germander or Wood Sage.

In North America there are more than 1,000 species of Robber Fly. Worldwide, around 7,500. Since I diligently researched all of those species, I concluded this is absolutely, positively a Red-footed Cannibalfly (Promachus rufipes). -maybe-

We are not exactly near the coast, but the gorgeous Saltmarsh Morning Glory (Ipomoea sagittata) just doesn’t care. The wetlands of the middle of the state are just fine, thank you very much.

We got up this morning and traveled to our local state park. I guess that counts as having a goal. We returned feeling better than when we did before our visit. I guess that counts as goal fulfillment. Success can be very narrowly defined by each of us.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit.





















































