I took these pictures when it was still August.
Red Canna Lily |
Brown eyed Susan |
Crape Myrtle |
Plumbago |
Canna with banana leaf |
Succulents |
White Bird of Paradise |
Bird of Paradise
Bromeliad
Dwarf Poinciana
We went to the Oakland Nature Preserve for a lovely walk in the woods the other day. Here are some of the things we saw.
fruit of a cypress tree |
new growth |
clouds reflected in water that was disturbed |
interesting tree limb with Spanish moss |
water accumulating on a taro leaf (not native to Florida, invasive) |
butterfly on scarlet hibiscus |
beautyberry |
I have not been able to bring myself to paint that car. I'm not sure I will. We'll see. In the meantime, here is a flower I painted recently.
And here are some photos I took on this morning's walk.
Having visitors used to a big part of living in Florida. Sadly, the last time we had visitors was February 2020.
Until last week. A friend and his partner had been checking up on her mother in Tampa. They were driving back North, and stopped for brunch on the way. We were all vaccinated. Each of us has been quarantined, isolated, and bubble wrapped all this time. We decided to give it a shot.
What fun to chat live with people outside our small Florida family for a change. We cleaned the house! I even cut fresh flowers for the table. Oh yes, I thought. I remember this. Civilization!
After my last post insisting I was a deprived extravert, I found myself struggling with "chit chat" when confronted with friendly, talkative people. I have been living in my own mind for too long, I found it hard to pay attention to what others were saying. I couldn't find the creative well that allows me to banter and jest. Witty repartee? Not when you are no longer quick witted. It will come back, but it may take some practice.
Both Tom and I had to take a nap afterwards.
I am surprised how much has gone by the boards this past year.
The other day I went with my daughter and grandson to Leu Garden in Orlando. They often have children's exhibits throughout the gardens and make it a game for kids to locate them via maps and trails. This spring it is dinosaurs. I've included a few.
A cranky osprey on a telephone pole |
A discarded fish skeleton hanging from a telephone wire |
heron and alligator coexisting |
I think this is a juvenile bicolor heron - feel free to correct me |
Egret with just the right amount of yin and yang in it's neck |
Dwarf poinciana and butterfly. Feel free to tell me what kind of butterfly it is |
The mucky swamp land with a heron smack dab in the middle |
More mucky land, this time with attitude |