my little slice of nature

today's my third day back to work since vacation.  my appointments aren't 'til this afternoon so i have a little time to spend here.

the last stop on our vacation was at Stephen Foster St Pk in white springs, FL. we've been to that park lots of times...they have a bat house there...a couple of years ago we rode our bikes there just after dusk...to wait for the bats to emerge. wow! they POURED out of there.  i had taken a couple of movies with our camera...it's a little dark (after dusk!)  but pretty cool if you've never seen bats from this perspective. it's only like 45 seconds long. i hope you can view it!

after watching this old bat video...i got to thinking about bats...i know we have them here...cause there's a cool bat house at UF. hmmmmm...maybe i'll ask sam if he wants to build a bat house out back...sounds like it could be a pretty cool project. like we don't have enough to do!

i just hope i remember to ask him before he reads it here...  :]

i found a site where you can buy an already made one, or construct your own: 

http://www.batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/install-a-bat-house.html

i have ONE picture of a TEENY WEENY bat from years back when we went to the florida state caverns. the bat was curled up on the ceiling in one of the cavern rooms.

he's upside down...

since we've been home, i've been 'snapping away...hope you enjoy my side of nature. :)

the gulf fritillary butterfly. usually 2 or 3 at the same time on the lantana.

Flowers and butterflies drift in color, illuminating spring.  ~Author Unknown 

~the meeting of the minds~

hmmm...where shall we start...should we split up? we can divide this plant into three...

(stink bugs)

Life's a journey, not a destination.  ~Aerosmith 

wow!!!  what a gorgeous emerald dragonfly!!  usually i see the bluish ones...not THIS!!  so cool! look at those markings!!

this web looks like very well lived in...uh...on!!

banana spider...and baby

well...better run...

let's keep our eyes & minds open...

It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision. ~   Helen Keller 

take care. stay cool.   laura  :]