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Transition

(Click to enlarge images, click again to zoom.) We consumed the open sky and nearly infinite tan and green-flecked prairie as if it were an addicting and healing tonic. Which it was. We lingered at our breakfast as the serenade of Meadowlarks and Yellowthroats continued unabated. Sigh. Time to move along. A splash of bright purple flashed into view and a large white bird materialized among the greenery. Water. Pickerelweed and a… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: black-necked stilt, common buckeye, crested caracara, eastern carpenter bee, florida betony, four-spotted pennant, great blue heron, great egret, limpkin, osprey, pickerelweed, raccoon, sandhill crane, southern beeblossom, three lakes wma, white ibis

Big Cypress National Preserve

(Click image to enlarge, click again to zoom.) We had not taken a road trip for quite awhile. March is the month in which we married, 56 years ago. Time to celebrate. Several locations in southwest Florida have been on our “sure would like to go” list for several years. As we reviewed the map, two new spots and one long-time favorite were declared the winners. The vehicle was serviced, hotel reservations… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american alligator, big cypress national preserve, blue-winged teal, cardinal airplant, great egret, halloween pennant, leafy bladderwort, northern flicker, palamedes swallowtail, palm warbler, saltmarsh morning-glory, sunrise

Morning Refuge 1/3

(Click images to enlarge, click again to zoom.) In the near-dark, Common Gallinules were gabbling and the calls of distant gulls confirmed we were near the coast. Weather reporters, excuse me, nowadays they prefer to be known as “Climate Experts”, advised it would be chilly and nearly calm this morning. “Chilly” to a native Floridian is below 70 F/21 C. The prediction of 42 F/5.5 C was accurate. The wind was ripping… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Photography Tags: blackpoint wildlife drive, bonaparte's gull, bottlenose dolphin, glossy ibis, great egret, indian blanket, little blue heron, merritt island nwr, osprey, shite ibis, snowy egret, sunrise, tricolored heron

Around The Lakes

(Click to enlarge images. Click again to zoom.) It was mid-November and plans were in progress for Thanksgiving. Family and food. Not enough of the former and too much of the latter. Such is life. We continue to be thankful for both. For a small break from thinking about all that shopping and planning and shopping, Gini and I made an early morning visit to one of our local patches. The area… Read More

Category: Birds, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: anhinga, bald eagle, blue-gray gnatcatcher, brown pelican, cloudless sulphur, eastern carpenter bee, eastern phoebe, great egret, green lynx spider, little blue heron, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, red-shouldered hawk, variegated fritillary

On The Importance of Planning

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… Read More

Category: Birds, Fauna, Flora, Florida, Insects, Photography Tags: american germander, black-bellied whistling-duck, boat-tailed grackle, colt creek state park, dorantes longtail, gaillardia, gopher tortoise, great egret, gulf fritillary, hairypod cowpea, little blue heron, narrowleaf primrosewillow, needham's skimmer, oppositeleaf spotflower, pale meadowbeauty, red-footed cannibalfly, red-headed woodpecker, red-winged blackbird, saltmarsh morning-glory, summer tanager

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Our Natural Places

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