fueling the fauna & flora...

with rain.

yesterday afternoon dark clouds started rolling in.

we heard a light drizzle on the skylights and metal roof...

then all of a sudden, a loud crack of thunder and the sky opened up!

it hasn't stopped.

Never run in the rain with your socks on.

~Greenday

can you feel my guilt?   if i could send this rain to other parts of the country...

other parts of  the world...where they're in desperate need...you know i would!

 

 where i live in north central florida 

we have only hit the triple digit temp...as in

"FEELS LIKE 104".

hot & muggy. 

you step outside...immediately start to sweat...and there's no breeze 

to help the sweat cool you off.

but at least we're getting the rain!

soaking into the parched ground without delay.

all the little critters come out to wet their dry mouths.

the plants seem to grow overnight...and the mushrooms just keep popping up.

i've been seeing a lot more young lizards scampering around...

and nymph grasshoppers munching away on the hibiscus.

===

 

the cicada, in its final nymphal stage, sheds its skin...

and emerges as an adult.

  

a mushroom saving some rain water...

 a baby anole

 

a juvenile 'five-lined skink'

you can see how little these skinks are...next to the acorn.

 

even though you can tell this is a baby skink...

the bright blue tail also means that it's a youngster.

a grasshopper nymph

 

i'm not really sure what type of lichen these are 

growing out the sides of the old stump.

 a tiny katydid nymph

 

 a 'gulf fritillary'

i THINK this is a 'fiery skipper'

 

uh.  a mushroom on a mushroom.   tier upon tier.   cauliflower lichen?!  :)

The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.

~John Muir

AND NOW...i was planning to save this for next time.

but i just can't wait.

that old instant gratification gnawing at me.
share.share.share. now.now.now.

we have nests of Red-shouldered Hawks all around the yard.

this very vocal forest dwelling  hawk...

can be seen and heard all day long.

the young ones dart back and forth in the sky...like they're playing tag.

saturday, we were lucky enough to spot this one out back.

but the back door was closed...as usual.

we carefully slid it open...and the hawk seemed not to care that we were there.

 

 

sunday...just before the rain came storming in...

i went out back to see if i could find any feathers.

 OOOoooooooh.   AAAAaaaaaaaaah.

that's it for now.  

have a delightful day and a week of wonder.

be safe.

 :] laura

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.  

~John Muir