A glimple of bright orange. “Is that a milkweed?” No. No it wasn’t.
It was just after sunrise and we made a different choice today. This particular tract is a wildlife management area within the Withlacoochee River State Forest and consists of nearly 60,000 acres. We have developed a loose routine for exploring this vast area. There are three access points from the main road cleverly named “North”, “Central” and “South” Grade. Each winds through a dozen or so miles and eventually hooks up with one of the other roads to take us back to the highway.
There are three additional access points. One is gated and remains locked until hunting season. A second is either under water or, during dry season, contains potholes large enough to swallow large trucks without leaving a trace. The third has no name and we have used it in the past as an exit. It always looked interesting to explore but since we had usually just spent our morning rambling along another road, we never had sufficient time to look more closely.
Until today.
The turnoff from the paved road was almost hidden and I drove past it and made a u-turn. It was in better-than-expected condition. Similar to the other roads we have explored, this one had several areas to pull off with trails leading deeper into the swamp and forest. Same habitat: sandhills, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, river swamp and cypress ponds.
The date of our visit was August 15, 2024. Hot and humid, just like Florida is supposed to be in summer. Plenty of seasonal rain results in a lot of standing water throughout the swamp. Plenty of standing water results in plenty of mosquitoes. And they are hungry. Good test environment for the three different repellants we brought with us.
Birds were singing, flying, hunting and mostly not perching within camera range. All morning we enjoyed Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Downy/Pileated/Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Eastern Towhees, Osprey and Red-shouldered Hawks.
In addition to the skeeters, were myriad other insects. Cicada choruses were almost deafening. The dragonflies were enjoying what Air Force combat pilots refer to as a “target rich environment“. Flowers were in abundance. Nectar-seekers were happily busy.
We didn’t want to tax Gini’s still somewhat weak stamina, especially in the excess humidity, so we headed home after a couple of hours of blissful exploration. The road may not have a name, but now we know exactly how to find it and can’t wait to return.
So, if it wasn’t a milkweed?? A first for us. As Gini was examining the bright orange blooms, her florist background kicked in. “This sure looks like some sort of orchid.” Spot on. Again. Yellow Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris) is also referred to in some sources as Orange Fringed Orchid. Not to be confused with Crested Yellow Orchid (P. cristata) or the Yellow Fringeless Orchid (P. integra). Not to mention, if you travel in the northern part of Florida, the very similar looking and rare Chapman’s Fringed Orchid (P. chapmanii). Coincidentally, Linda on her fabulous blog, Lagniappe, posted on August 21 about her find of the latter plant in Texas. Go there and see her wonderful write-up and photographs. (https://lindaleinen.com/2024/08/21/a-splendid-splash-of-orange/#comments)
Do it now. We’ll wait here.
The leaves of Winged Loosestrife (Lythrum alatum) remind me a bit of the herb Rosemary. Also known as Winged Lythrum, the lovely purple blooms attract a great variety of pollinators. Such as a Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon splendens), whose name is longer than its owner.
Southern Beeblossom (Oenothera simulans) is one of those plants with small flowers which is all too easy to overlook once the blooming season is in full swing. If we stop to admire it, however, we can find a lot of beauty to like.
One of the most abundant flowering plants we encountered this morning was the Clustered Bushmint (Hyptis alata). Each flower head contains a number of small blooms which don’t all bloom at the same time. This offers the nectar seekers a chance to visit again and again.
Vincent Franz Kosteletzky, Bohemian botanist and physician (1801-1887), has several plants named in his honor. One such is a member of the hibiscus family and was named for him in 1835. It is the Virginia Saltmarsh Mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos). We found a few dozen plants today and there’s no doubt they are hibiscus. (Hibiscuses? Hibisci?)
The color almost doesn’t look real. Talk about “blue“! Found in only four southeastern states, the Skyflower (Hydrolea corymbosa) is aptly named. Enjoy the blooms early as they begin to fade in the afternoon.
It may be a common flower in much of the country, but when the flowers are this gorgeous, common is a good thing. Call it Pale Meadowbeauty or Maryland Meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana) or anything else you like. Just savor its loveliness.
Oh. And the persimmons are just about ripe. Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana).
We are understandably happy that today we took the road which we have traveled less than some others. It made all the difference.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
*The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
You may be surprised to hear this, but Florida has “tourist attractions“. Beaches, picturesque old towns, prehistoric-looking person-eating hundred-foot-long alligators, cattle(!) drives, Seminole Indian reservations (complete with authentic casinos), fishing opportunities and the ultimate in planetary entertainment – an entire world built by a Mouse!
Gini and I are both natives of The Sunshine State so we are quite familiar with these incredible spectacles. I may even still have a small stuffed orange alligator somewhere in a box in the corner of the garage which I begged for while visiting “Gatorland” when I was about six. (It surely must have some antique value by now! Just think, a genuine Florida ‘gator with sharp little teeth and claws and that little tag on its stomach “Made In China” which Dad never could explain to my young satisfaction.)
Inexplicably, most of those attractions no longer attract us. Could it be we simply don’t like that glitzy stuff? Or the hordes of people we must wade through to get to the counter selling baby ‘gators? Perhaps it’s something in our orange juice. Climate change?
What? No, it has nothing to do with growing up. I can’t believe you said that.
Not too long ago, we spent about an hour driving along an old logging road. Recent rains have filled the drainage ditches and we are enjoying our “seasonal creeks”. The land is lush and green. Flowers abound. Insects buzz around sipping nectar and try to eat each other. It was an uncharacteristically (for us) short ride. All the images in this post were taken within a few feet of the road.
We really do love sharing our state’s unique attractions with visitors. For those who wish to explore beyond the Mouse’s House, take the next exit off the expressway, turn right and enjoy a few alternative Roadside Attractions.
(Gini is still having fun with doctors and their machines. These photographs are again from May in the Green Swamp.)
Looking spiffy in her racing stripe design with wings set forward, this Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is ready to intercept any mosquitoes who dare invade her space. (No wonder we love dragonflies!)
Bright orange flowers and narrow leaves help identify the Fewflower Milkweed (Asclepias lanceolata). Several species of Milkweed are larval hosts for Monarch, Queen and Soldier butterflies. More than a few others like its tasty nectar just fine. Oh, here’s one now – a thirsty Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos).
As wildflowers continue to bloom profusely, insects become more and more active. All those busy bugs attract bigger bugs. And they are hungry. A female Bar-winged Skimmer (Libellula axilena) waits patiently for a fast-food breakfast to fly by.
How can one not like a plant with such a cool name? Bandanna-of-the-Everglades (Canna flaccida) brightens up the swamp.
The very small flowers of the Showy Milkwort (Asemeia grandiflora) remind us of orchids.
Here there be dragons! Even really little ones. This Little Blue Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax minuscula) is among the smallest dragonfly species in North America.
What’s in a name? Bristle Thistle, Yellow Thistle, Horrid Thistle, Purple Thistle, Spiny Thistle, Bull Thistle. All are regional common names for Cirsium horridulum. In our area, we normally encounter purple thistles. When we lived in Texas, yellow seemed more prevalent. Today, Gini spied a white group. The second image shows a beetle known as a Flower Chafer (Trichiotinus species).
One of our favorite critters to encounter in spring and summer is the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). This moth is a bit larger than a Bumble Bee and loves those thistles we just mentioned.
Speaking of Bumble Bees.
Gorgeous red flowers and bright green almost fern-like leaves belong to the Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans). It’s not unusual for these vining beauties to climb 30 feet or more where they provide some eye-catching beauty to the tree canopy of the swamp.
Several Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterflies flitted just outside the car window.
A lovely morning glory species is the Noyau Vine (Merremia dissecta), also called Alamo Vine.
“Look into my eyes …” But do it from a distance. They may be mesmerizing but their owner would love to chomp through your skin. The bite of the Yellow Fly (Diachlorus ferrugatus) is painful.
Florida has much to offer for tourists and residents alike. Pick your attraction and come on down!
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
(Gini continues to take it easy and liked the hospital food so much she may schedule another visit soon. In the meantime, we shall force you to view never-before-seen images of past adventures. Thank you again from both our hearts for your well-wishes. It means a lot.)
In the merry merry month of May, Gini and I were frolicking in the Green Swamp gathering rosebuds. Okay, we were actually engaged in serious exploration of the biodiversity of the ecosystem located in central Florida’s Little Withlacoochee Wildlife Management Area and — (“What? Yes, dear, there was a lot of laughter, but YOU started it!”) Turns out, there MIGHT have been some frolicking.
Also, about that “gathering of rosebuds” thing. We obviously repsect Nature way too much to go around picking all the wildflowers so no one else could enjoy them. — (“What? – Well, yes, dear, I suppose since we took pictures of the rosebuds that could be considered “virtual” gathering.”) Turns out, there MIGHT have been some rosebud gathering.
We “gathered” other stuff, too.
Birds were busily tending nests and newly hatched chicks. Flowers seemed to be showing off around every bend. Insects found a lot to be happy about with all those fresh blooms. Trees displayed an incredible array of the color known as “green”. The swamp was becoming wet again.
As we rumble toward the wet season, water levels will make it challenging to navigate some of the trails. Alligators and otters will smile at our ineptitude.
For now, we will be content to pause and smell the roses.
A singing Carolina Chickadee expresses what we define as “joy”.
Not in distress, one of the continent’s smallest damsels allows us to compare male and female forms of the Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata).
Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris). Most of the buds were blooming. Virtual gathering only.
Yellow. Like the Sun. In the Sunshine State. Only found in the Sunshine State, actually. Yellow Milkwort (Polygala rugelii).
Also endemic to Florida, the small and lovely Florida Bellflower (Campanula floridana) is easy to overlook.
With so many flowers on display, it is only natural that a few nectar-seekers would be out and about. A Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa) is only too happy to transport a bit of pollen.
Even the trees have sweet offerings for those which may be interested. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica).
Found only in Florida and a few counties in Georgia, Fourpetal St. Johnswort (Hypericum tetrapetalum) sports bright canary-yellow blossoms and unique blue-green leaves clasped tightly around the stem. Don’t mistake this species for some of its relatives which may have medicinal uses. This one might make you feel ill.
Twining vines with lovely lavender flowers are beginning to twist and turn their way throughout the forest. Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum) is not only beautiful, but is a host for a couple species of butterfly (Skippers) as well.
Another near-endemic wildflower for Florida is the Pineland Waterwillow (Justicia angusta). It likes a wet environment and when not in bloom would be a challenge to locate. (For me.)
A Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) looks at home on a pine log.
Growing to about a foot tall, the Pitted Stripeseed (Piriqueta cistoides subsp. caroliniana) has uniquely-textured flower petals. Once the flowers open, the weak stems tend to lean toward the ground. That’s okay. Makes the ground more attractive.
It is difficult to step into the forest without the Tufted Titmouse letting everyone know we’re here. Feisty and handsome. They are extra alert during the breeding season.
I don’t often have an opportunity to photograph both sides of a butterfly. This Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) posed nicely and then flitted to a plant behind me where an underside image was possible.
Growing to nearly three feet tall usually on a single stem, the Roundpod St. John’s-Wort (Hypericum cistifolium) has deep green linear leaves. It’s found along wetland edges and in moist pine savannas.
The darkly beautiful Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) contrasts nicely with the lavender Showy Milkwort (Asemeia grandiflora). The small white flowers are Mock Bishop’s Weed (Ptilimnium capillaceum) or Laceflower, a member of the carrot family.
Heed the words of the poet. *Mr. Herrick was right when he said “Old Time is still a-flying”, so get out there and gather those buds while ye may!
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
*Thank you to Robert Herrick. (https://poets.org/poem/virgins-make-much-time)
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
“They look like some sort of ripe golden jewels ready to be picked.”
Gini’s description of the Eastern Amberwing was pretty accurate. They flew out to grab a small flying tidbit and returned to the same perch. The morning was warm and they often assumed an “obelisk” postion to help keep cool.
Our morning was proceeding at a very leisurely pace and we had no particular goals to pursue except to relax and enjoy whatever Nature felt like offering. Although we were only a few minutes from the house, the Tenoroc Fish Management Area was just isolated enough that we could hear no human-originated noise. Just birds and bugs. Especially the summer Cicada chorus.
Summer birds are busy raising families and the woods are no longer filled with springtime mating songs. Once eggs arrive, many birds remain quiet to avoid revealing nest location. A few birds, however, seemed to be as vocal as ever. Cries of Limpkins echoed throughout the early morning, Boat-tailed Grackles fussed about everything, Red-shouldered Hawks screamed from above fulfilling their apparent duty as Nature’s neighborhood watch alarm.
Flowers are blooming and an incredible number of insects are doing their best to drain them of nectar. In the process, the blooms appreciate the assistance in transporting pollen to ensure survival of the species.
We seem to have fallen into a breakfast rut of banana, granola bar and a tangerine. Maybe PBJ sandwiches for the next trip, just to be different. Whatever we have to eat, it will be enhanced by the ambience of a calm lake, stately cypress trees, morning-glory blossoms beside us and Swallow-tailed Kites soaring in the morning sky.
Some might say we saw nothing very special today. We know differently.
Tiny Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) dragonflies are among the smallest in North America. They often fly with legs dangling to imitate a wasp to lessen the chance of becoming a meal.
Gini usually hears Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks before we ever see them. This pair must have been hungry as they let us watch them for a little while.
But, but it isn’t green, you might say. The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) is sometimes called the American chameleon because it can change color, but it is not a true chameleon. It changes color because of variations in temperature, humidity, health and mood, not to blend into its background. The strawberry-colored dewlap identifies this one as a male.
Typical. Walking the hedgerow hoping to encounter something different to photograph. Return to the car perspiring and reach for the water bottle. Gini, who remained in the cool shade to read says: “Don’t make any sudden moves or you’ll scare my friend.” Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita). She Is — The Damsel Whisperer!
“The song of canaries Never varies, And when they’re moulting They’re pretty revolting.” — Ogden Nash. This Red-tailed Hawk may agree.
Both Gini and I are native Floridians. As such, we literally grew up with Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides). We used it as a mattress, cleaned the stuff from oak trees, learned about the redbugs which inhabit the masses and caused us to itch miserably, enjoyed its scenic beauty hanging from a cypress tree along a lakeshore. But neither of us could recall ever knowing the ubiquitous gray curtain of our youth had flowers.
Pretty sure these are an invasive snail species known as Bulimulus. Much is unknown about them and they were apparently first noted in Florida about a decade ago. Although they may not directly consume agricultural crops, they tend to form masses around irrigation sources and clog them so crops don’t get water.
Man-of-the-Earth (Ipomoea pandurata), a morning-glory with wonderful, large flowers.
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera) on Nuttall’s Thistle (Cirsium nuttallii). This is likely a second or third “instar” and in a few weeks will turn bright yellow and orange as it becomes an adult.
We first enountered Elliott’s Milkpea (Galactia elliottii) late last year in a different location. Now it seems we see them nearly everywhere. That’s okay with us.
Nope. We didn’t see anything rare or very unusual today. The things we DID see, however, we found to be totally amazing and wonderful! Life is like that, isn’t it?
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
(Click on images to enlarge, click again to zoom.)
I often tend to be in a hurry. Anxious to “see it all”, I have been known to snap a quick picture of a heron and move on down the shore of the lake as I just know there will be a Limpkin disgorging an Apple snail from its shell and I don’t want to miss THAT!
When not on foot, my affliction is mitigated somewhat when driving along a back road as the vehicle has a unique “Automatic High Alert” sensor which conveniently signals upon encountering potentially interesting things. When I drive past a unique flower, for example, the system shouts “STOP! BACK UP!”. After a half-dozen such notifications, she The System inquires if I would prefer to relinquish the driving duties.
A recent trip to our local “patch” allowed me to put into practice my new “SMN” philosophy. After two steps, I stopped and scanned all around. Taking the idea further, I knelt down to help keep me from moving until I had thoroughly investigated that spot. Amazing. There seemed to be all manner of things vying for attention. This “Slow Motion Notion” just might be worth pursuing.
The downside of moving at such a slow pace is not being able to cover as much ground as we normally would. As illustrated in just a moment, the upside is enjoying more diverse subjects. So far, I like the trade-off.
After an hour or so of examining weeds, leaves and dirt “up close and personal”, we took a breakfast break by the side of a lake. In front of us, Ospreys were fishing, Anhingas were drying their wings, Gallinules were preening, a Little Blue Heron was hunting. Gini said, “See? We haven’t missed a thing by slowing down.” The smarter half of the partnership was right – again.
The early morning rays of the sun highlighted the pretty pattern of a Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus).
I think this is a Vagrant Scrubsnail (Praticolella griseola). No idea what the plant is but my imagination liked the way it seemed to be cradling the snail.
There are not many moths active in daytime. Finding an Ornate Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) is always a pleasure.
One of the smallest dragonflies in North America, this immature male Little Blue Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax minuscula) will soon be all blue.
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a — Bee Fly. There are several species of Woolly Bee Flies (Genus Systoechus) which look similar.
It helps with identification that some dragonflies have particular perching habits. A Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida), for example, seems to prefer perching atop bare twigs.
Canary yellow flowers resemble other legumes but the Florida Alicia (Chapmannia floridana) is found only in Florida.
While we enjoyed our fruit breakfast, a Little Blue Heron spotted something it liked.
Although I may not include it in my next salad, Grassleaf Lettuce (Lactuca graminifolia) is an interesting plant. Mature plants can look very scraggly, the flowers are lovely and when the “seeds/fruit” explode it can be surprisingly attractive.
It would be difficult to mistake a Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) for much else as it has a very unique wing pattern.
A favorite of bees and other blossom-lovers, the delicate Southern Beeblossom (Oenothera simulans) is subtly gorgeous.
The tiny plant with a huge appeal. We are continually surprised how many nectar-seekers can be found probing the very small flowers of the Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora).
Pretty and golden. A female Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami) returned to this perch six times before she remained long enough for a picture.
So, this is either a wood carving of an alien life form, or, it may be an Arrow-shaped Orbweaver (Micrathena sagittata).
As with most things in life, exploring nature can become infinitely more enjoyable if we adopt a “slow motion notion“. I found so many things on this trip that could have easily been missed if I had been in a hurry. That would have been a shame.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Our Natural Places 