OniOniOniArt

Between the twin trunks of this large oak is the most perfect spot to sit, enjoy nature, and clear my mind Really, it's my LL's backyard and I am lucky to have access to such a place. The property is bordered by a river, so it is pretty much all wetland - you can see the high water line on the trees in the above photo (let your eyes wander out of focus a bit). The water is very high right now after a soggy cold front stalled right over central Florida earlier this week. The area in the photo above (which was taken last weekend) is now under about two feet of water. The water is flowing - it is part of the river. The following photos are all from the "yard" taken within the last week or so including some of its inhabitants.  Short boardwalk/bridge (after a storm) Cypress knees and duckweed Greenfly orchid ( Epidendrum magnoliae ) is a native epiphytic orchid and the only one to also occur north of Florida. Everything I've read (includi...

The Johnnies are finally starting to bloom!  Behind it are marigold and Black-eyed Susan vine blossoms. Devil's Trumpet bloom a day before it opens Syrphid fly on echinacea (something else has been munching on it) Thread-waisted wasp on marigold Thread-waisted wasps getting it on in the thyme Dwarf pak choi...I'll be enjoying this in stir fry soon Overall the Dirt Patch is enjoying the cooler weather...

During a work-related trip this week to Gaffney, South Carolina I was, for once, rewarded for being unable to locate the Fed-Ex drop box: in the church/courthouse parking lot was this gorgeous little historic log house. Its style was common to the mid-Atlantic region of the country during the colonial/post-colonial era. Comparing its size to my current dwelling I can only guess that it is likely around 300 square feet, possibly less, not including its loft. From reading the signs, one gathers that the house has had some restoration work done and is not in its original location, but I'll let the signs speak for themselves... Click on the photo to zoom in for reading There were no signs stating that any furnishings in the interior were original to the house. Plexi-glass barriers at either doorway prevent one from walking around. Mr. Gaffney may or may not have scoffed at such a sentiment, but this house is simply adorable. It m...

-Green Springs as described by a visitor in the late 1800s... ...a rare sulphur spring in Enterprise, Florida. 11/2014. Green Springs is a very small public park located north of Lake Monroe in Enterprise, Florida, and is one of my favorite places. Wandering to its ethereal waters, looping its trails, and even picnicking next to the tiny waterfall have all helped restore some of my sanity over the last few years. My most recent visit has reminded me just how rejuvenating the place can be. It seems to absorb my cares and instill in me a creative motivation that few things are able to inspire. It is amazing how such a small place can have such impact. The beautiful jade green waters are not always so. You have to catch it on a good day. The color is the result of an interaction between the sulphur discharge from the springhead (lateral vents) and algae naturally occurring in the water. Sometimes, the springhead stops flowing and the waters darken, more the color of a jar...