Hooded Merganser

This was a cute little duck I saw at the safari. They were quite prolific. They lay 10-12 white eggs and reside in wooded areas. Interesting how the head is two-toned.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

A Pair of Parrots

This pair of parrots greeted up as we entered the San Diego Safari.  They were very colorful as you can see and seemed to be serving as our welcoming committee or were they merely inspected those who entered?

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Artichoke

I was blown away by this plant.  I had never seen artichoke growing before.  I'm not sure if the purple comes before the artichoke closes up or if it is the result of an artichoke that is not harvested and then it produces the bloom.  But it is beautiful.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Morning Glory

Earlier this week I shared a photo of a moonflower and said it was in the same family as the morning glory so I thought I would follow up with this morning glory so you could compare the two.

I will be home tomorrow and can write more lengthy blogs. It's a little more difficult on the iPad. I don't have quite the control.

So Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sleeping Duck

At a beautiful resort called Paradise Point in San Diego, I saw this duck sleeping. I had no idea they tucked their head under their wing to sleep.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Real Deal

Since I've talked so much about the "flamingos" in a couple posts lately, I wanted to share this picture I made in California. Now this one is the real thing. He lives in the San Diego Zoo Safari Area. Did you know that the shrimp a flamingo eats is what gives him his color? I think this one hasn't had much shrimp lately.

I have a lot of great photos to share in the upcoming posts. So,

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Moonflower

This beautiful blossom is a moonflower. It opens at night and is pollinated by night flying moths. There are other flowers that night moths pollinate and they are all white so they can be seen by the moth. The moonflower is in the same family as the morning glory but it is pollinated by bees and butterflies during the day.


Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Buckeye

This is a nice example of a buckeye butterfly.  They are called that for obvious reasons.  The spots on their wings look like eyes.  Those eyes serve as protection for them against birds.  I guess the birds think they're larger or more fierce than they are?

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Moss and Holly

You may remember that sometime back I mentioned how much I love the moss hanging from the trees.  This is such an interesting contrast in texture - the holly leaves are shiny and stiff while the moss is dull in color and blow easily in the breeze.  Nice.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Great Blue Heron in Summer

This majestic Great Blue Heron has remained in and around the pond in my back yard - despite the presence of a gator.  In the past, they usually move on to safer territory, but this one seems to have control of the situation and continues to walk the perimeter of the pond each day to find his food.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Lantana

If you're looking for a drought resistant plant that comes back year after year and attracts butterflies, Lantana is the plant for you.  Commonly called "Choke Weed" this is one plant you don't want in your pasture.  They are quite showy and come in various shades of yellow, orange and red.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

A Real Angry Bird

I don't know if you play the game Angry Birds, but I found this real Angry Bird.  I don't know who he was mad at, but he was giving somebody a tongue lashing.  Or was it a she?

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Kite

I had to lay on my back in the grass to get this picture.  I suppose that could have been "dangerous" but I did keep my mouth closed.  The Swallowtail Kite is such a beautiful and graceful bird.

They eat insects while in flight and also eat reptiles and small animals.  Two eggs are laid but the first to hatch will usually kill the younger one.  This is called to obligate siblicide. 

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

 

New Caterpillars

We have a new batch of caterpillars.  There are seven this time.  The fennel has been completed consumed as has the parsley.  They are now beginning to go into their cocoons.  Even though the caterpillars have been many, I'm sorry to report that when they become butterflies, they move to places with more blooming plants.  My butterfly garden has been a disappointment because the plants aren't getting enough sun to bloom very much.  Next year, I'll look for plants that bloom in the shade.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Dragonfly

Well, this may be my favorite picture I've made.  I was so stunned by the color of this dragonfly and also how transparent the wings are.

We have seen an influx of dragonflies in our area because of our overwhelming mosquito population this year.  The winter was mild and early summer very wet so the mosquitoes had the perfect conditions for reproduction.  Dragonflies are release to help control the mosquito population and since they eat many times their weight in a day, this is a good plan.

http://www.dragonfly-site.com/dragonfly-facts.html

Til Tomorrow, Thank a Dragonfly,
Tweetles

Baby Raccoon

This precious little baby raccoon was snacking on some bugs or ants.  He was totally undaunted by my presence.  I think this must be the time that the spring newborns are getting out to explore. 

Keep watching Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

The Fox

I've lived here for over 20 years and this is the first fox I've seen.  I had to do a double take. 
Maybe that's what the expression "sly as a fox" means.  He's lived here all this time and has been "sly" enough that I didn't even know it.

Its amazing, all the things you see once you stop to look.

Til Tomorrow, I'll be looking,
Tweetles

Lily Pads

Lily Pads are interesting plants.  Did you know that even though they seem to be just a leaf floating on the water, they are actually attached by roots in the mud?  They reproduce by seeds and by spreading roots.  I thought they were harmful to the fish, but I learned that they actually provide shade and oxygen for the fish.  They are, however, very invasive and have to be controlled.  The American Indians used the Lily Pad for many medicinal purposes including the leaves for compresses and the the mashed roots for swelling.  Monet had another use.  They were the subjects of his painting.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

The Pineapple Saga

About 8 or 9 years ago, one of the cooks at the club gave me a pineapple top that he had planted in a pot.  I planted it, knowing nothing about growing pineapples, under a tree.  It grew but produced no pineapples.  It continued to grow over the years to about 6 feet tall.  In the spring I gave up and cut it down.  Now in its place are 3 baby plants.  Does anybody have any advise?  I would love to have a nice fresh pineapple from my own garden.

Just Wondering, Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Oh No! One in Our Neighborhood

I can't believe it!  There's one right here in my own neighborhood.  (See June 3 Post)  How could I have missed this?  Especially since it has the extra added embellishment of a pinwheel-like spinning tail.  Maybe I was a little too quick to judge.  Perhaps I'm the uncool one because I don't have one of these stately birds in my garden.

Til Tomorrow, I'll keep thinking about this,
Tweetles

Aloe

Last week good friends of ours came for dinner and brought this fantastic Aloe Vera Plant.  Who knew Aloe had so many uses.  From the juice, to the pulp to the sap its uses are miraculous.  Its uses include treating wounds, burns and sunburns, digestive problems, scalp and hair, poison ivy, stretch marks, insect bites, arthritis, age spots, acne, asthma!  If you want to know more visit

http://tipnut.com/how-to-heal-with-aloe-vera-plants-tips-guide

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Eastern Phoebe

Here is one of the birds I saw in Central Park.  I think it is an Eastern Phoebe.  They have large heads for their body size and are known as phenomenal fly catchers.  I think we could use a few of those around here after our very mild winter.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Black Squirrel

Just got back from our girl's weekend in New York City.  We were walking in Central Park and ran across this Black Squirrel.  I don't know if I've ever seen one before.  He was cute.  Oh, and we had a great time.

Til Tomorrow When I Rested,
Tweetles

First Bouquet

Here's the first bouquet from our new mini flower garden.  It is indeed a mini arrangement too.  Sometimes less is better.  The little pink zinnias bring back such wonderful childhood memories.  Those were my Mammaw's favorite.  I remember we collected dead blossoms and put them in a small brown paper sack and allowed them to dry through the winter.  Then in the spring, we planted them and enjoyed another year of flowers.  Ours were larger.  Maybe next year these will be larger.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Donkey Tail Plant

This is a beautiful example of a Donkey Tail Plant.  It belongs to my mother in law.  She gave me a small one she had rooted so I'm very happy to add it to my succulent garden.  The donkey's tail real name is Sedum morganianum.  It like most other succulents need very little care.  I'll let you know how that goes!

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Fire Cracker Plant

In honor of the 4th of July week, I give you a Fire Cracker Plant.  These plants are native to Mexico.  For a long time they were used as houseplants but now many people plant them outdoors.  They do love the sun and lots of water.  You can bag the blooms for seeds for next year.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Water Snake

Yesterday, I was taking my morning stroll and photographing some plants in my garden when I spied this gentlemen.  He laid quite still for me to take his picture.  Even though he looks frightening, he is not harmful, not venomous.  Its important that we protect the non-venomous snakes because they eat rodents and insects and also drive away poisonous snakes.  I couldn't get a look at the top of his head so I couldn't tell if it was diamond shaped, but did you know that a non-poisonous snake has round pupils while a poisonous snake has elongated pupils?

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

The Things We Notice

Will these still be around in, oh say, ten years?  I think probably not.  Our means of communicating is changing rapidly.  What has this to do with birds you might ask?  Think carrier pigeons.

Every once in a while, someone will mail me a single popcorn kernel that didn't pop. I'll get out a fresh kernel, tape it to a piece of paper and mail it back to them.
Orville Redenbacher

You can't do that via email or twitter!

Til Tomorrow,

Tweetles

Flamingo

When I first learned we were moving to Florida 25 years ago, the things that went thru my mind were: palm trees, sand, sand in my house, sand in my shoes, oh, and those roadside fireworks stands and most of all the horror that now in order to fit in, I would have to have to have a pair of Flamingos for our lawn!  Imagine, my joy, when I got here and realized they were few and far between.  I found this pair in Ft. Myers this week end.  I couldn't help but chuckle.

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

Mother-in-law tongue

Well, oddly enough, when I went to see my mother-in-law in Ft. Myers this weekend, I took a walk in a wooded area near her home and found this big patch of Mother-In-Law's Tongues.  Go figure!  I am assuming someone threw out a pot plant, it liked its new home and began to "procreate."???

Til Tomorrow,
Tweetles

A Toadstool