For better or worse, I always have to see what’s around the bend. Just a little bit further.
My insatiable curiosity isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it works for me. It has led me some interesting places, not all of them good, but it certainly hasn’t been a boring life.
I’m looking forward to what lies ahead…
I caught this little scene at Mirror Lake the other day during my lunch break. The pond is a short stroll from work and the weather was just so lovely.
Reminded me of that little ditty from Sesame Street,
“One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn’t belong”
Do you wanna tell the duck or should I?
I came across this interpretive sign as I was exploring a new-to-me park. The title of the sign*, taken from an actual ad from the mid 1800s, is quite appropriate considering that today is National Margarita Day.
*Any Parrothead worth their salt will get this. And if you don’t “get it” I suggest you become a Parrothead, stat!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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