thorny.
spiny.
ouch!
barbed.
nature's prickly backyard things.
BUT FIRST...
a month or so ago, i tried to make reservations at ANY north florida state park campground...
for thanksgiving weekend. but no luck. no availability.
so i took the FIRST weekend we could get...at ANY park.
our hometown park! ha!
well, it's one step up from camping in our own backyard, like we did last weekend!
Paynes Prairie is cool though. LOTS of trails...a lake...maybe 'gator, wild horses and bison sightings!
the weather is perfect for hiking & sleeping...
30's to 40's at night, and up into the 70's during the day!
so, i thought i'd finally get around to some of the more prickly things in nature..
since my next post will be pictures from this weekend.
so...stand back! please don't touch!
some of these are BARBED...like mini arrows...they go in easily...but a bitch to pull out!
"It's a magical world, Hobbes, Ol' Buddy...let's go exploring!"
Calvin's last words,12/31/95 (Calvin & Hobbes)
a good start would be the prickly pear cactus.
 |
| prickly pear cactus |
which gets a beautiful yellow flower
 |
| dried cherokee rose vine |
such a pretty flower...has such mean thorns.
 |
| cherokee rose |
 |
| fresh cherokee vine |
 |
| a canopy of dried wild blackberry vines |
 |
| blackberry vine |
 |
| bromeliad leaf |
 |
| bromeliad...before the flower opens |
 |
| a bromeliad flower |
 |
| the arrowhead spider... |
 |
| crown of thorns |
 |
| 'crown of thorns' flowers |
 |
| american holly |
 |
| another cactus |
 |
| beggarticks |
these little weed flowers are called beggarticks because they just BEG for a ride.
they stick to your shoes...clothes...pets...and therefore hitch a ride to new locations.
 |
| beggartick flowers |
 |
| kumquat thorns |
 |
| the little kumquats. yum! |
 |
| agave |
 |
| a crab spider |
i'm not sure what kind of tree this is. it's a small spindly one...with MAJOR thorns!
for some unknown reason when i look at these thorns...
poison darts come to mind.
 |
| thistle |
the thistle grows along the sides of the road...in fields...and is VERY hairy & prickly!!
 |
| pine cone |
 |
| an unknown caterpillar with stinging hairs |
 |
| sand spurs |
sand spurs are a BIG OUCH! once on your shoes...clothes...you just about need pliers to pull them off.
they're 'barbed', and if you try to pull them off with your fingers...
well, expect to get them stuck on your finger tips!
sam...having spent a good part of his life in southern florida...knows all too well
the misery of running barefoot through the grass...or sand dunes...
and all of a sudden finding yourself on a patch of these little suckers!
sand dunes. the beach. the water's edge. you can find this there...
 |
| horseshoe crab |
i know...i know...this is supposed to be BACKYARD prickly things.
but i picked up this dead horseshoe crab a few years ago...
from the small coastal town '
Horseshoe Beach'. what a fitting name.
 |
| the pointy leaves of the yucca plant |
 |
| this florida wild flower plant is called 'tread softly'...with it's stinging little hairs |
 |
| a vine of unknown origin |
 |
| another small cactus. i really like succulents! |
 |
| the palmetto. very pointy. very sharp. |
i guess i could go on and on...
but i have to run to the store to pick up some supplies for this weekend.
i also have a massage appointment late this morning.
sam's getting off work early so we can pack up...
and head across town...(ha!) with milo...the camping cat!
so my LAST prickly picture is BARBED WIRE!
when sam first moved here...
he would unfortunately find some of this rusty old wire while mowing.
we have a pile of it...along with all our other JUNK...
like parts of old mowers, wood, brick, pvc, old leaky hoses, fence wire, roof stuff, tires...
and an exercise bike that HAS TO BE the first (electric!) one ever made!!
that is the BIGGEST seat i've ever seen...
i can't help but sing Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls"...
yeah! Get on your bike and ride!
adjustment slide from 100 to 300 pounds
oOo
hopefully i'll get some nice pic's this weekend.
YOU have a good one. a safe one.
hopefully monday i can catch up on some of my reading!
the world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.
~e.e. cummings
laura
(i have tried & tried to get this yin-yang on my sidebar! but it won't animate. so here it is!)
(signing off at 8:47am and the temp is still 45 degrees F)
