Flora
December 22, 2010 | 
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I took a lunch break while trekking through the park the other day. I thought it would be fun to sit next to the pond and see whatever there was to see while I ate my granola bars. I wasn’t the only one with that idea – I shared my lunch break with this female Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). She had her eye on something else to eat though…
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I’ll be sharing photos of Florida wildlife this week, while visiting family for the holidays. Here are just a few images, a preview of the flora and fauna flourishing in this tropical-feeling place:
The city of Winter Park, FL is near Orlando, and the dominant tree is the Live Oak, (Quercus virginiana). Acorns are falling from the trees in such abundance and such frequency, that the sound of the acorns hitting the sidewalks and streets quickly becomes one of those sounds that is more noticeable when absent than when present. I have completely fallen in love with these magnificent trees, dripping with Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoid).
The Live Oaks provide the perfect haven for squirrels – gray squirrels, I believe:
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No matter how little room there seems to be for luxuries like free time, I can always find a moment to marvel at Nature’s remarkable flair for color. I hope you’ll take 10 seconds to enjoy with me.
What can you do in 95 minutes?
Run errands. Go out to eat. Watch a TV show or two. Play a game of cards or even Scrabble.
or…
Do a load of laundry. Clean the kitchen AND the bathroom. Run to the grocery store.
or…
Go outside and walk around with your camera. Don’t have 95 minutes? I’ll share mine. I took these photos around my home between 5:34pm and 7:09pm. 95 minutes well spent!
rough green snake in flame acanthus
It has been awhile since I’ve penned a post here at Birder’s Lounge, and it is nice to be writing again. Like this Great Blue Heron, I have been waiting patiently – the heron, for a chance at an evening meal, and me, for a chance to share some photos and some thoughts. This heron, BTW, was standing in what had to be frigid water, since it was about 40 degrees that day! I actually thought I saw him shivering…but maybe it was my imagination. Or my empathy. 
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What better time to write about the fruit of an Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) than during baseball’s American League Championship Series? This photo shows that the fruit of an Osage Orange tree is closer to the size of a softball than a baseball, but I don’t have a cool autographed softball to use for comparison. This baseball is autographed by former Yankee, Dave Winfield – and his old team had a great game tonight! Instead of an “inside look at baseball,” we’re going to have an inside look at a “horse apple.” Read the rest of this entry »
What do you see?
I haven’t yet mentioned the weekend I spent with my sister in Austin, TX, where we visited a park along the San Gabriel River. That was the weekend of 9/19/09 – the big International Coastal Cleanup Day. I’ll have more about that later, after I attend a few more cleanups before the end of October. Meanwhile, I’ve traveled to several places in a short period of time and am brimming with images and thoughts to share. Now I’m in Riverside, Missouri, looking forward to tromping the trails at several parks and a nearby wildlife refuge. I’ll keep this short, and offer one of my favorite kinds of images to ponder.
In this image I first see a human hand, grasping something between thumb and index finger. Then my mind’s eye morphs the aged tree limb into a turtle head. What do you see? Enjoy.
Fruit on Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana)
This is a closeup of the ripening fruit on my Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana) tree. I purchased this tree at a native plant sale about a year ago, and I am delighted to see it already producing so much fruit! If you’re reading this, you might be wondering if the fruit is edible. Yep! They are sweet and tasty – and I’ve documented what they look like inside and out in a series of photographs. Read the rest of this entry »
Ruby-throated Hummingbird and wasp
Now is the time of year when native plants shine, because they’re doing fine while non-natives may be suffering from the summer heat. I have a 3 year-old native plant garden that has really matured and is doing fantastic. It’s home to all kinds of wildlife, and is a perfect theater for nature’s daily dramas. Read the rest of this entry »
