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The calendar for this excursion was near the end of April. Florida’s heat and humidity will be here soon. In the meantime, the mild clear mornings are glorious.
We turned off the county highway onto an old logging road as the eastern sky began to lighten. A coating of dust on the plants beside the dirt track testified to the recent dry conditions. Gini (“super-ears”) was already ticking off bird calls. Cardinal, Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, Northern Parula, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker. Beams of sunlight streaked through the tall pine trees.
Experience has taught us to go slowly when exploring Nature. Just opening the car door and scanning the ground before I step out reveals a scattering of tiny purple-and-white flowers some call “match-heads”. We’ve always referred to it as Frogfruit. Other names include Capeweed, Creeping Charlie and Carpetweed. The United States Department of Agriculture, as befitting an official spokes-botanist of the entire Government, deems this miniscule bloom the Turkey Tangle Fogfruit. Stopping a few steps away from the vehicle to just look around reveals a panorama of springtime lushness.
Different species of trees have emerging leaves of varying shades of green. Kneeling to examine one small plant reveals a different plant just a few inches away. “Looking” turns into “observing“. Our day has begun.
Gini continues to marvel at the variety of birds she hears. Although they are singing, this is breeding season and most are not lingering on a branch posing for the camera. Singing, yes. In plain sight, not so much.
In addition to the music of the birds, exploring the swamp’s forests and savannas is a smorgasbord of sensual experiences. Aromas of blooming flowers, the tactile pleasure of one’s hand brushing the leaf of a fern, the sight of a bright orange butterfly flitting just ahead of our steps.
Bending to more closely examine a pink Swamp Rose, a large Bumble Bee buzzes up from an adjacent blossom. A squeal of delight followed by a plea (“Oh! Please come back!”) encapsulates the essence of why I love her so very much.
We hope you enjoy flowers.
(Thanks to Steve Schwartzman for pointing out I forgot to include the Frogfruit. Here it is now.) The little flower with so many names seems to consist of a group of tiny flowers. Hard to believe this little thing attracts so many pollinating insects. Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora).
Bouquets of Pinebarren Aster (Oclemena reticulata) were scattered in profusion in some patches of the pine forest understory.
Tiny flower, large beauty. The Florida Bellflower (Rotanthella floridana) is endemic to the state.
For some reason, I thought the Southern Beeblossom (Oenothera simulans) was more widespread. It appears to be limited to just a few southeastern states. Delicate flowers attract a large variety of pollinators.
One bloom which IS common around the U.S. is the Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Common flower, uncommon beauty.
From a distance, this plant seems fairly inconspicous. Closer inspection reveals a remarkable display. Longleaf Milkweed (Asclepias longifolia) is gorgeous.
Flowers with many bright yellow-orange stamens and evergreen-like leaves help identify Peelbark St. John’s Wort (Hypericum fasciculatum), also known as Sandweed.
We always love the first blooming of the Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum) every spring. The climbing vine winds itself around whatever is nearby for support. I learned a new word in researching this plant: papilionaceous – butterfly shaped flowers.
One of the smallest damselflies in North America, the male Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) is quite handsome, once you can spot him.
Hatpins, bogbuttons. There are a few similar-looking species decorating the swamp. I think these are Whitehead Bogbutton (Lachnocaulon anceps). Corrections appreciated.
A spring morning is more glorious when we can see a morning glory. Tievine (Ipomoea cordatotriloba), also known as Purple Bindweed, provides our glory fix for the day.
Rose. The very name evokes beauty. Even in the swamp. Swamp Roses (Rosa palustris Marsh) were beginning to bloom in profusion throughout our visit today. Can’t wait to return once all the buds we saw become the lovely flowers which is their destiny.
Our morning exploration was filled with an amazing variety of colorful flowers. We saw so many, you will receive another dose of blooms from this same visit in the next post. Hope you don’t mind.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
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Just after sunrise, by the side of a lake, we take delight in the distant, slightly eerie calls of Limpkins. Do they know they are the only living members of their avian Family (Aramidae)? Would they care? We are fascinated with the strange call, answered by calls from several different areas.
An Osprey crashes into the surface of the lake, submerges briefly and comes up clutching a small catfish in its talons. Shaking the water from its feathers, it flies out of sight. Is this the bird’s breakfast, or is it taking it to its mate who may be sitting on eggs in a large bowl-shaped nest?
We continue to enjoy the breaking of a new day as we break our fast of the previous night. Gabbling Gallinules paddle among the cattails. Boat-tailed Grackles cackle above our heads. A curious young alligator barely raises its head above the water line to peer at us from several yards away. Morning flights of White Ibises and Double-crested Cormorants signal the new day has begun in earnest.
Gini and I sigh in unison. We are so fortunate, in so many ways.
As we move through our familiar patch on this mid-April day, we encounter birds, blooms and bugs we have seen many times before. Somehow, each time we see them we react as though it is a completely new discovery. Indeed, it really is. We may have seen hundreds of Red-shouldered Hawks, but we have never seen THIS one perched atop THAT tree on THIS morning. Our day was filled with “new” discoveries.
I had reservations about calling this a “joyful” day, until I looked at the definition: “feeling, causing, or showing great happiness”. Yes. That describes it perfectly.
Take a look at a few things which make us “joyful“.
Is the male Wood Duck handsome or gaudy? You decide.
The mother-of-pearl iridescence of a Glossy Ibis’ plumage is enhanced by the early morning light.
During their first year, a White Ibis is brown. As they approach their first birthday, they begin to change into the pure white of an adult. A few chocolate patches linger into mid-Spring.
It is difficult (for me) to tell the difference between Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs if they aren’t standing near one another. This one was very helpful and made a few calls (different for each species) which allowed us to identify it as a Greater.
Similar in oveall appearance to the Greater Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper is much smaller.
April flowers bring May showers. Wait. Isn’t that the other way around? A gorgeous Prickly Pear cactus bloom resembles a rose.
This Red-shouldered Hawk found a great lookout perch adjacent to an open field.
Although it is not a native, the colorful Lantana (Lantana strigocamara) has been used extensively in landscaping and for many decades has been encountered in the wild. Pollinators don’t care about where the plant originated. This Gulf Fritillary (Dione incarnata) even blends in quite nicely with the blooms.
Black Buzzard Breakfast Bunch. A little preening, discussing the plans for the day, waiting for that first thermal. Life is good in the vulture culture.
Small, delicate, lovely. Southern Beeblossom (Oenothera simulans) is beginning to become very prolific throughout the area.
With its characteristic perpindicular perch atop a bare twig, a Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) is one of our more abundant dragonfly species. We hope it consumes as many mosquitoes as possible.
Large, black-and-white, wings held flat – hard to miss the Bald Eagle. We have a very healthy population around here since we have so many lakes filled with fish.
With leaves which slightly resemble a shamrock, the small Creeping Woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) has really lovely blooms when examined at close range.
This trip was during the second week of April and a few migratory birds were reluctant to leave the Sunshine State. A Swamp Sparrow will soon head back to its northern breeding territory but promises to return in the fall.
Bright emerald blends in with the fresh new grass where this female Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) hopes to ambush a breakfast bug.
The Northern Parula is a small warbler which breeds in our area. Each winter, they relocate to the southern part of the state or beyond but are now beginning to return to fill the woods with their upward spiraling trills.
Who says taxonomists don’t have a sense of humor? Someone decided this lovely member of the camphorweed family should be referred to as Sweetscent (Pluchea odorata). To be fair, perhaps they had just gotten a good dose of the plant’s cousin, P. foetida – Stinking Camphorweed, and thought by comparison this one was pretty sweet.
Another procrastinating passerine. An Ovenbird skulks along a tree branch looking for just one more juicy Florida snack before winging northward.
It may not have all the brushy, spiky leaves around its blooms like its horrible relative, the Bristle/Purple/Yellow Thistle (Cirsium horridulum), but Nuttall’s Thistle (Cirsium nuttallii) will still give one pause if they attempt to grab a stem without noticing those substantial thorns.
In the Spring, one can see how the Red-bellied Woodpecker received its name. This female was joined by a male and as we watched, the two seemed to be testing limbs for nest suitability.
The days are warming and the dragonfly population is becoming ever-more abundant. A lovely golden Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) perched a moment for us to enjoy.
Large patches of Oakleaf Fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius) gave the impression of dozens of small orbs of sun among frilly white clouds.
One morning in April filled with sights and sounds we found exhilarating. One truly joyful day!
We hope you enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
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The bottom of that shoebox we found for the previous post held a few more pictures, so we thought we would share.
Looking in our rear view mirror back to the second week of March, we found ourselves surrounded by Spring. The Green Swamp was decked out in multiple shades of green thanks to the diverse species of trees and plants found here. A small dilemma arose as we motored slowly along the criss-crossing logging roads. We had to choose our parking spot carefully as the edges of the roads often contained blooming flowers which we didn’t want to crush.
A few roads have become impassable over time and these made good places to park and hike around a bit. Additionally, there are a couple of primitive camping areas which offer plenty of shaded parking with nearby trails to explore. Unless it is hunting season, we seldom encounter other people in this section of the swamp.
Gini expressed the feeling that, despite the vast displays of colors we were seeing, that it seemed the area was really on the verge of really bursting into bloom. Visits since then have proven her correct.
Sit back. Feel the warm sun, a slight breeze, pine tree aroma, singing birds ……
A Carolina Wren flitted from perch to perch and never stopped singing. They have a pretty incredible repertoire.
It gives the impression that it’s a flower, but the lovely Starrush Whitetop (Rhynchospora colorata) is actually a sedge. At least one critter doesn’t care if it isn’t a flower as a spider found a nice place to hide. I think it’s a Green Lynx Spider. No idea what the other tiny photo-bombing bug is.
This plant can look pretty gangly as its wiry stems branch in many directions. The bright yellow blooms of the Leavenworth’s Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii) are beautiful no matter what support system they may use.
Found nowhere else but in Florida, the Yellow Milkwort (Polygala rugelii) will soon become abundant throughout this area.
One of those plants mentioned earlier that would be easy to run over at the edge of the road, the blooms of Narrowleaf Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) are incredibly intense.
We made notes on the location of several Shiny Blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites) bushes so we can check them in a few weeks. I strongly suspect there are others in the swamp who will be there long before we return. And they very likely don’t need notes on where to find them.
The Blueflower Butterwort (Pinguicula caerulea) is a new plant for us. Like many in the Butterwort genus, this one is carnivorous. The basal leaves are covered in tiny hairs which secrete a sticky substance that helps to trap and digest insects.
In the understory of pine forest which had recently been the subject of a prescribed burn, we found a few lovely rain lilies blooming. This area of central Florida has two species of this beautiful flower and I believe this one is called Zephyrlily (Zephyranthes treatiae S. Watson). Both species are considered threatened within the state.
Our reporting of the beginning of Spring in Florida’s Green Swamp may have been delayed a few weeks, but the beauty of the season arrived on schedule and is flourishing. We don’t need to be there to witness it, but it sure is nice when we are.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
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March was a busy month around here. Several family birthdays, annoying medical appointments, an anniversary road trip. During an overdue cleanup of the OurNaturalPlaces office complex, we discovered an old shoebox filled with dust and cobwebs which also contained images of one of the year’s first significant Spring swamp forays. We have tried to clean the pictures enough so you may enjoy what we found during the second week of March 2024.
But first, a public service announcement. Check your camera settings. Go ahead. Do it now. We’ll wait.
I have tried to develop the habit of returning all camera settings to the same “base” after downloading all of the images from that day. Apparently, I occasionally break that habit. The first few photos of the day, therefore, looked as if I took pictures of fluffy clouds during a snowstorm. Sigh. Do as I say, not as I do.
The vast Green Swamp is our playground. We have previously discussed how the definition of a “swamp” can be deceptive. Lots of water is what many think about first. However, there can be huge trees growing in all that water, or wetlands filled with grasses and reeds but no trees, or higher ground with hardwood groves, or actual forests of pines on high and dry land. That diversity is what permits us to enjoy a bit of the 560,000 acres which comprise the Green Swamp.
As Spring began to renew the land, we found migratory birds feeding voraciously as they prepared to return north to breed. Birds who call this “home” were singing to attract mates, squabbling over territory and some were already building nests. Multiple shades of green highlighted the many different species of trees and plants around us. Flowers bursting with new blooms not only attracted us, but advertised fresh nectar for myriad insect species.
“It just smells – fresh.” Gini again finding the right words to describe our morning.
You may not be able to enjoy the aroma of the Spring swamp, but perhaps a few images will help give you a sense of why we love this place.
One of the birds which breeds earliest here is the Brown-headed Nuthatch. They begin nest-building in the second week of February. Most of the year they hang around in loose family groups and pretty soon it will sound like a squeaky-toy factory in the swamp.
Like small lavender flags waving in the breeze, blooms of Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata) beckoned us to explore further. We happily obliged.
As thistles begin to sprout their spiky leaves and purple flowers, there will soon be insects seeking sweet nectar and helping spread pollen to ensure the plants survive for another year. Purple Thistle (Cirsium horridulum). (Also known by a whole lotta common names.)
This time of year, most wet places in our area have a profusion of Prairie/Savanna Iris (Iris savannarum) showing off their incredible colors. Taxonomists can’t seem to decide what to call this species so I’ll help them remain confused by calling it both of the most prevalent common names found during research.
Bright yellow flowers sticking up throughout some of the wet places are Smallfruit Beggarticks (Bidens mitis). Bees and butterflies love the blooms. The small hairy seeds love everything that comes in contact with them and will happily stick with you wherever you may go.
Small and a lovely shade of blue. Common Blue Violets (Viola soraria) were more abundant than we expected.
It seemed as if every road and every trail was lined with a welcoming commitee of vibrant yellow Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).
One of our favorite plants is the small Floating Bladderwort (Utricularia inflata). Not only does it decorate some open shallow water spots with dozens of small yellow flowers, the carnivorous plant reminds us of old horror movies with invading alien plant life.
Probably North America’s smallest damselfly, the Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) loves this sort of habitat. The orange male is unmistakable.
This trip was actually the beginning of “our” spring. So much new life was abundant as we explored the diverse Green Swamp. That old shoe box had a few more photos and we’ll share them next.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
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In order to enjoy sunrise at some of our favorite distant locales, the clock must be set to scream at an alarmingly early hour. Scrambling to get the gear packed, remembering to grab the food bag, did we check the gas gauge last night? We do it because we love to be in that special place at that special time when the sky begins to slowly change color. Not to mention how much we like to get up and drive two hours in the dark and — wait — scratch this last part.
Today we drove 15 minutes down the road and arrived 20 minutes before dawn. Tenoroc Fish Management Area has a reasonably pleasant spot from which we can enjoy the sun rising. It also doesn’t hurt that there are several hundred acres of woods, wetlands, lakes and fields to explore once the day begins.
Sleeping in can be a good thing.
The morning show was more colorful than some. That “Golden Hour” phenomenon provided really pleasant light for an hour or so. A “real” photographer would have gone home at that point. For us, making images is pretty much a secondary mission. Even with no camera, we would have the memory of that sunrise, the glow of a moonflower, the calls of Sandhill Cranes, the comic hunting technique of the Cattle Egret, the incredible variety of birds, blooms and bugs which Nature displays every day whether we are there or not.
Today, we were there.
At the edge of our “breakfast lake”, we munched Gini’s freshly baked strawberry bread while an Osprey flew overhead with a large branch for sprucing up the living room. An Eastern Phoebe provided us with a bittersweet reminder of her name one more time before she departs until autumn. A curious alligator watched us, submerged, surfaced in a different spot and kept up his vigilance until we left.
We saw things we have seen before. We trekked over familiar ground. Familiar aromas of blooming flowers and molding leaves filled the air. It was all – the same. It was all – different.
For some, our routine might be boring. “Okay, I saw that Tufted Titmouse, let’s go find something different.” For us, as long as the little gray bird allows us to observe, we aren’t going anywhere.
Enjoy the morning with us.
After snapping a few images of the morning sky, I turned around to discover two large bushes covered in blooms. The Moonflowers (Ipomoea alba) were illuminated by the sun’s rays and the big morning glory blossoms seemed even more incredible than usual.
In addition to the phoebe mentioned earlier, another winter visitor preparing to leave us soon, a Savannah Sparrow, was part of a flock of about a dozen. Seeds and insects will provide them with the fuel they need for their long journey.
The early morning sky was not yet bright enough to cause the Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) to fold its pretty petals. We appreciated the delay.
Fruits of the Netted Pawpaw (Asimina reticulata) will soon appear and just as they ripen, will quickly disappear. Wildlife enjoy these small fruits, sometimes called “custard apples”, and you’ll have to be quick to find them. “Netted” refers to the appearance of the leaves.
Trumpeting of a pair of Sandhill Cranes grew louder and they eventually landed in a nearby field. Although several thousand migratory cranes visit Florida each year, these are likely a resident sub-species which breed in the state.
We have entered the season of dragons and damsels, most not in distress. This handsome male Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) allowed me to lay down and take several candid photos. He was kind enough to order a set of 8×10 glossies of that second image for friends and family.
Cattle Egrets sometimes appear to be double-jointed as they lurch left and right to snag a grasshopper. Gini says the soft brown on the breast reminds her of campfire marshmallows. As for me – their gait brings this instantly to mind every time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6tuzHUuuk. (Sorry about the earworm.)
Eastern Phoebe. We will miss you. Hurry back.
Sometimes appearing as a medium-sized shrub, Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) can attain a height of more than 20 feet and has the appearance of a full-sized tree. The blooms are profuse and have a wonderfully sweet aroma.
Were we watching this Tufted Titmouse or was it watching us?
I followed the Osprey carrying a big stick to its building site where he and the Missus made it known how much they appreciated my photographic efforts. I’m pretty sure I heard Osprey cursing.
We may not have traveled very far to enjoy a sunrise, but the incredible beauty of the event caused us to pause, sigh and agree that we continue to be among the most fortunate beings in the universe. The remainder of our Morning Ramble underscored that feeling.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
Additional Information
Tenoroc Fish Management Area (https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/tenoroc)
Our Natural Places 