Cindy and I headed back for North Georgia before sunrise on Friday, Dec 23, so we could be back for Christmas Eve with our daughter’s family. One of the targets for the departure time was a hope that we’d make it to the rest area on the Sunshine Skyway for sunrise. It was worth the early hour. As the sun rose it gleamed off of the tall buildings of Tampa across the bay.
Tampa Bay Sunrise
On Wednesday, Dec 21, Cindy and I laid low in the morning, and then shortly before noon headed over to an “accidental find” – the De Soto National Monument. The picture below is appropriate, I think – an Indian Blanket. The National Monument marks the location where Hernando De Soto came ashore in May of 1539, starting his four year expedition of devastation through what is much of the southeastern United States.
Gaillardia pulchella – Indian blanket
I saw some news footage of snowstorm-closed roads in Kansas last night. We are *definitely* not in Kansas. Temperature was about 80 degrees, birds singing, and flowers blooming.
Florida Tasselflower - Emilia fosbergii
If the “Playful Porpoises” is what brought you here, read on.
Cindy and I decided to head up to Ft. Desoto County Park for the afternoon of our anniversary. The drive up was part of the fun.
We drove across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Well, we’ve never been to Kansas, but we’re not in north Georgia, where we live, either. That’s pretty clear from this photo from yesterday morning.
Willet eating a coquina
Plant of the Day 12/09/2011
Photo from 11/25/2010. Location: Walker County, GA
Japanese Honeysuckle, an introduced, invasive species in the United States – for more photos / information go to the Lonicera japonica detail page.
Japanese Honeysuckle - Lonicera japonica
The Species Detail Page now provides an ability to more easily display related species. The family name in the left side of the species heading has been changed to a hot-link to a page displaying a thumbnail of each species in the USWildflowers database in that family. Previously the only way to get this list was to go to the Index page and click on the family hot-link in that (rather long) listing. Also, the genus common name has been made a hot-link to a page listing thumbnails of all species contained in the USWildflowers database which are in that genus.
Western Meadow Rue, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (12/03/2011.) Scientific name is Thalictrum occidentale. Photo below was taken near Cuprum in Adams County, ID, on June 18, 2011. While I haven’t run across alternate common names, Meadow Rue is sometimes spelled Meadowrue or Meadow-rue. Go to the Western Meadow Rue detail page for more photos and information.
Western Meadow-rue, Western Meadowrue, Meadow Rue – Thalictrum occidentale
Glade Onion, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (11/26/2011.) Scientific name is Allium stellatum. Photo below was taken near Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, GA, on September 24, 2011. Glade Onion is also known by the common names Prairie Onion, Cliff Onion, Autumn Onion, Lady’s Leek, Wild Onion . Go to the Glade Onion detail page for more photos and information.
Glade Onion, Prairie Onion, Cliff Onion, Autumn Onion, Lady’s Leek, Wild Onion – Allium stellatum
Tapertip Onion, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (11/25/2011.) Scientific name is Allium acuminatum. Photo below was taken along the Kleinschmidt Grade in Adams County, ID, on June 18, 2011. Go to the Tapertip Onion detail page for more photos and information.
Tapertip Onion, Hooker’s Onion – Allium acuminatum