Linear view vs. Masonry View

Country Fun

Every Spring, the nearby town of Pinellas Park hosts an annual Country in the Park. It’s a free, all-day event that pays homage to their once rural history. Friends and I have attended every year for the past 4 years and yesterday was the best one yet!

The music lineup was stacked with talent, our local (and the nation’s best) Kenny Chesney cover band, Pirate Flag kicked off the afternoon, followed by the fun songs of Jerrod Nieman, while the sparkling and talented Lorrie Morgan wrapped the night up with flair.

As much as I love live music, I have to admit the baby barnyard animal races were also pretty darn entertaining. Definitely a fun way to spend a beautiful Spring day!

Baby Goat Race
Lorrie Morgan with “Don’t Worry Baby” (a Beach Boys song which she recorded with them in 1996)
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Sláinte!

Our Volunteer Shirts
Paddy the Duck
Downtown Mural

Lucky me, I celebrated St. Patrick’s twice this year. On Saturday I volunteered up at Flanagan’s Festival in Dunedin. The weather was just perfect for an outdoor party and the downtown park was packed with people.

Though the town has strong Scottish roots where the skirling of bagpipes is commonly heard, residents and visitors happily joined the celebration of Ireland’s most famous saint. The event featured live music, step-dancing, and a wee bit o’ beer drinking. I was not expecting to meet Paddy the Duck but weird is wonderful!

Tonight’s musical performance, though sans livestock, was still a lovely time. Liz is a very talented, local musician who uses a looper with her electric cello to create a multilayered sound. She ended her set with that Irish classic, Danny Boy.

Wishing us all Sláinte agus táinte (health and wealth)!

Liz Glushko Plays Danny Boy
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New Resident!

Well, that was fast! I just built and installed this bee hotel at the end of January.

We had a couple cold snaps in February that prevented me from doing much yard work, so I didn’t even bother checking on the hotel.

In contrast, March has warmed up quite nicely. Since Tampa hit a record breaking 90° on Friday I figured it would finally be safe to clear away frost-damaged foliage.

While trimming and weeding in my front yard earlier today, I took a peek at my bee hotel, not really expecting a boarder.

So, imagine my delight when I spotted a papery covering sealing one of the bamboo tubes. I don’t know what species of native bee has moved in but I’m thrilled. Welcome, my little winged friend!

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Pecking Order

House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus)
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Male
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Female
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Incoming Grackle
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Nanday Parakeet (Aratinga nenday)
Learning to Share?
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)

In honor of National Bird Feeding Month, I thought I’d update you on my bird feeder camera. Last week I relocated it to a sunnier spot in my front yard (and moved that feeder to the backyard- never fear, my birds still have options).

The camera caught two new species at the feeder, both of which, for different reasons, surprised me. Between working and relaxing, I spend a decent amount of time out in my yard and this is the first time House Finches have made an appearance. They aren’t an uncommon species, but they are a new yard species for me. As for the Palm Warbler, it is a winter visitor that I first noticed a few years ago and I’m always pleased when the little tail bobber returns. Since they typically dine on insects I didn’t expect it to show up at the feeder. Ever resourceful, they resort to seeds during colder weather.

What’s most notable is the “ownership” of my new feeder. Apparently, it belongs to the grackles. Not only are they the first and last visitors every day, but they chase off all the other species (with two notable exceptions).

In between grackles other birds swoop in but there is a hierarchy among those species. The small birds and cardinals cede to the jays, which in turn defer to the woodpeckers. All of them will take flight when a grackle appears. Thus far, only a pandemonium* of parakeets or a crow outrank grackles.

*Don’t you just love the collective nouns of different animal species? Even when feeding, a group of parakeets is definitely a wild and noisy thing!
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Wandering the Watershed

Foggy Sunrise
Mmm, Lichen
Nuzzles
Rambunctious
Primrose-leaf Violet (Viola primulifolia)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Old Man’s Beard Lichen
Laccaria sp.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
So Dry!
All 3 Types of Lichen: Foliose, Fruticose, Crustose
Hairy Dangleberry (Gaylussacia tomentosa)
Shining Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida)
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Rings of Pine
Curvy Pine

Yesterday I finally had a chance to explore Brooker Creek Preserve. Located near the northern border of Pinellas County, the preserve straddles Brooker Creek. It not only protects a large section of the watershed but it also encompasses the county’s largest remaining swath of undeveloped land (close to 9,000 acres). Considering that Pinellas is the most densely populated county in the state, this open space is a rare treat.

I was up before dawn so that I’d get to there when it opened. I timed it just right, the sun and I both arrived about 7am. I followed the park ranger in as he unlocked the gates but after that I was on my own. Well, except for a couple of White-tailed Deer that foraged and frolicked nearby, completely unconcerned with my presence.

The main thing I noticed as I wandered the boardwalk and trails was the lack of water. If it wasn’t for the current drought, most of the dusty footpaths I wandered would normally be underwater (or at least very muddy, hence the trail sign).

That’s the thing about Florida, it’s the flattest state in the country. Which means that historically, during the rainy season, the water in our largest watershed didn’t exactly gush, as much as it just spread across the landscape. Lacking elevation and the great pull of gravity, the water meandered, passing through marshes, swamps, and wetlands before eventually moseying into Tampa Bay (when left unaltered, but spoiler alert, it’s almost all been altered).

Overall, the dryness worked in my favor, as birds were drawn to the remaining ribbon of water (and my feet didn’t get wet). How fortunate for all of us that this land is protected!

Whispers in the Pines
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Perfect for Today

I came across this listing while scrolling through Marketplace looking for some free firewood (for my firepit that I can’t use right now because there’s a local burn ban since we’re in the middle of a drought – but I like to be prepared).

Two things came to mind when I read this ad. My first thought was this is one of the many reasons why I love my quirky community. And secondly, this listing was definitely not made by a dog (because no doggo in their right mind would giveaway a perfectly good, mint condition stick).

Hoping for more random goodness this Friday the 13th!

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