native blooms & critters...

 

my 'ironweed' is blooming!  yay!

it's a florida native...and over the past few years, i've decided to treat my

gardens with a 'survival of the fittest' attitude.  

i used to cover everything in the winter 

when it dropped to freezing or below.  not anymore. 

when i'm looking for a plant or two to add to the yard,

i now tend to go for native...the ones that can survive the summer & winter

on their own...plants that will invite butterflies 

and provide food for caterpillars.

 

'red spotted purple'

  

blue-eyed grass

if it's a native...

then it's sure to attract all the little local critters!

 'long tailed skipper'

 'anole'

black-eyed susan

 if it's a weed...if it has little flowers...

if those flowers attract the butterflies...then it stays!

 

'gulf fritillary'

the native plants help to conserve water once established...

and they provide food & shelter for all the little critters.

 the magical dragonfly

 

'buckeye'

of course,  if you have the butterflies...then chances are...

there's a caterpillar or two hanging out somewhere nearby!

 

above: 'checkered skipper' caterpillar

below: a 'checkered skipper'

beauty berry

 

a  'fiery skipper'

'hackberry'

 

i hate to leave a question mark here...but i searched...and can't be sure!

maybe...an 'army worm' caterpillar?

 

 

'clouded skipper'

butterflyweed

'gulf fritillary'

 oOo

well, that's a wrap!

 

literally.

some thing has rolled itself up in a fern leaf...and it looks as though

it's about ready to unroll...and fly...

have a safe journey & enjoy the ride!

laura

preview...next time...

crystal rainbows

 

and a BIG THANK YOU to

 lorna @ Artymess

AND

 

cindy @ Bug Safari

oh, and maybe some spiders and mushrooms and owls,

OH MY!

gotta get to an early appointment...will play catch-up later!
:) lk

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