Last Light Before Dark
Fun Find
Allow me to introduce my new little friend, Gator Greg.
I “discovered” him in a neighbor’s trash* last week. How could anyone throw him away? He’s adorable!
Oh sure, he’s a little rough around the edges, but aren’t we all somedays? I think he’d make a great Muppet, he has a slightly bemused look befitting a member of that troupe. Then again, I often have that look when out and about in the world…
I love “folk art” and became even more impressed with Gator Greg when I found out he was carved from a coconut husk.
* I’m not a true dumpster diver but when something cool is peeking out the top, I just can’t resist.
Water Colors
Usually, water with high levels of tree detritus turns brown from all the tannins in the plant matter. So these bright green leaves and cloudy white puffs in the water on Weedon Island certainly caught my attention last week.
The striking chartreuse color on the left could very well be due to the presence of the aptly named Yellow-green Algae (Xanthophyceae sp.).
As for the other photo, in the field I thought it resembled the cloudy atmosphere of Venus. After importing the day’s images I discovered that it was an egg mass. Look in the lower righthand corner, you’ll find some developing creature staring back at you.
Nature never ceases to intrigue me!
Not Funny!
So, apparently my yard has a sense of humor. Yesterday I shared on Facebook a news article about the recent sighting (and subsequent dispatch) of a 16′ long Burmese Python in Hardee County (about an hour south of me). Slithering ever closer…
Today, while tackling yet another round of weed pulling in my yard I came across this:
While considerably smaller, and thankfully fake, it still startled me. Well played, yard, well played!
Lucky Day
I was unexpectedly off today, courtesy of a power outage at work. I took full advantage of the gorgeous weather (upper 70s with a few passing clouds).
After a productive morning attacking the plethora of weeds in my yard I spent a lazy afternoon at the beach. I’m sharing a snippet of video in an effort to help warm up everyone that’s affected by the massive cold front moving across the country.
Stay safe and stay cozy, my friends!
Flying Solo
I recently met this adult, non-breeding Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) on the beach near my house. The big bill is a standout feature on this, the largest member of the plover family.
The other key identifier is that they do not flock together. Unlike other plovers, this species was practicing social distancing before it was cool.
Talk about racking up frequent flier miles, these plovers winter along all the US coastlines but their summer breeding range is way up north of the Arctic Circle.
Dotted Beebalm
Fridays are usually a half day of work for me. I was especially happy to get out early yesterday since it was warm and sunny (after a week of gray, chilly weather).
I finally made it over to Weedon Island Preserve. The state bought the island in 1974, to protect the remnants of what was once a thriving Manasota village. Now managed by Pinellas County, wildlife abounds in the preserve which I was excited to explore.
As so often happens, I came across something new for me to learn about. Dotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata), also known as Horsemint, is a fragrant and showy member of the mint family.
The lavender-pink bracts are the visual highlight but the small, yellow tubular flowers are the main draw for pollinators. Thriving in salty, sandy soil this native plant attracts wasp species that prey on harmful caterpillars and insects.
All that and it smells good, too (reminiscent of thyme). I can’t wait to plant some, it will be a great addition to my yard!
Still Worth It
The chilly weather kept me off the beach earlier this week so I was delighted to get out there this evening. Had an incident with a shell that caused some minor damage…
A small price that I am more than willing to pay for such a lovely way to wrap up a day.
Pretty Little Weed
Considered an invasive species here in Florida, Ceasar Weed (Urena lobata) is highly prized in other parts of the world. A member of the hibiscus family (along with cotton), Ceasar Weed’s long fibers make great cordage.
A good substitute for flax and jute, it is widely grown in Africa giving rise to its other common name, Congo Jute. According to one source, the cordage industry brought this plant to the state in the 1880s for cultivation. A program that never panned out.
A hundred and forty years later this shrub, with the attractive red stems and dainty pink flowers, is here to stay. The seed casings are covered in stiff hairs that attach easily to any soft object (like my socks or deer fur) which enables them to hitchhike across the landscape with ease.
It’s not all bad news though, the plant has known antibacterial properties as well as other possible medicinal uses.
Meet Shaggy
While lounging in my hammock yesterday afternoon a small, round blob in the water caught my eye. Thinking it was some kind of plastic debris, I hopped up to grab it.
Upon close inspection, however, I realized the blob was most definitely not trash. In fact, it was alive and changing shape! I took a few photos but then realized that it probably needed to be immersed.
Since I wasn’t sure about the creature’s defense mechanisms, I used a leaf to gently move it into a nearby coconut shell. After I filled the shell with water, I felt better about stealing a few more moments of the shape-shifting blob’s time.
My homework last night was to identify my gooey little friend. With a bit of searching, I stumbled across the helpful sea slug forum (yes, folks, there is a sea slug forum).
Turns out it was a Shaggy Sea Hare (Bursatella leachii), a marine gastropod known to hang out in shallow seagrass beds. I see something new every time I’m by the sea!
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