Wha' Happened????

Seems like winter was a bit harsh on faery creativity this year.  The sun is making a strong comeback though and with that spirits rise and ideas start to flow again.  Kind of like sap, but not exactly.  It's a bit cold and uncomfortable outside, so my latest photos are either from the warm temporary escape to Florida or just from the conservatory only a few miles, but so many warmer degrees, away.  Hopefully this is a kick-start to another year of enjoying the beauty and quirkiness of nature.

If you didn't get a chance to get away, depending on your personality type, you might vicariously enjoy seeing the palm trees and sand, or you may want to pull your hair out.  I only post the photos.  I can't control your reactions.

Nature beats banner any day.

The sandcastle attracted visitors.  Usually seagulls who wanted to steal our plastic fish!

It didn't take them long to realize they were fake.  So we got the fish back, and also got a few dirty birdy looks.

Making the most of our vacation time, as soon as it started to sprinkle, we headed inland.  The Everglades are really teeming with life.  And friendly life, at that.

 Or just sleeping life. 

 

A fishing bird.  He swims completely under the water looking for prey.  Pops up to breathe and for the occasional photo op.

And this one just waits until a fish swims by. I guess everyone has their own approach to life.  I call this the Type B bird.

Only saw one shark all week.

But saw quite a few chickens.

And many feral cats.

  

Skinny, striped fish in clear, clear water.

 

And continuing with  my non-technical theme, here's a bit of this stuff.  A plant from the ocean that has little bulby things on it. 

 

And then there's this guy.  Letting us know that while we were enjoying the heat and the sun, he was stuck at home with only his Mountain Hard Wear hat for warmth.

 Once we got back from our trip, the weather here only got colder.  And stayed cold.  So we finally packed up and traveled across town to the warmth and crazy humidity of the conservatory.  Our glasses took forever to de-fog, but when they did, what a treat.

Did you know that sloths only go to the bathroom once a week?  You might ask why I would find the need to impart such information to you.  Well, to let you know that it is a rare event and that we were there to witness the whole thing.  Since sloths are very slow, the descent from the tree and the climb back up, or the ascent, took forever.  And many, many people took full advantage of the chance to get a good look at this lovely creature.  

I lost track of which photos were of the climb down and which ones were of the climb back up.  I decided to spare you, and the dignity of the model, the photos of the actual purpose of all this slothy activity. 

This looks like some sort of photo collage, but it's really just a photo of a fish with the reflection on the water of the trees and the roof above.  

This one too.  How many fish can you find?

During these long and sometimes lonely winter months, we make our friends where we find them.  And when warmer weather prevails and I return to the out-of-doors, I vow to remember the creatures who entertained me on a very cold winter's day.  

Desperate times and all that.  

Just think spring.     

Things that are fleeting

Autumn gave us an absolutely fabulous treat this year.  So many days that were just perfect.  Lots of sun, lots of leaves in vibrant colors.  I think the trees knew they looked particularly beautiful and decided not to drop their leaves until the last possible minute.  One reason that we enjoy the beauty of fall so much might be because we are well aware that it is all so fleeting.  And as for carved pumpkins, they are kind of like June bugs.  One magical night of wonder and then you are done for.  

The First of Autumn

This morning before I started on that last flower bed, the one that had escaped my transplant shovel and critical eye all summer, I walked around the garden looking to see what was still flowering.  It's officially autumn, but the leaves aren't turning yet, so I needed to find some last gasps of summer still hanging on the vine.  As usual my little enchanted garden did not disappoint me.

The ornamental onions are done, but the seed pods make a good show.  And maybe when winter comes, they will make a good meal for someone.

This little flower waved me over, so I just had to take its pic.

The driftwood seems to be rushing the season a bit.  Hey, it's not winter yet.  Wake up!

The giant chartreuse barberry is loaded with orangey-red flowers.  I had to hang my head upside down to get them photographed.  I guess they're shy.

The hydrangea tree is dripping in blooms.  They start out greenish-white and slowly change to rose.  So you can see, fall really is upon us.

This little succulent surrounded by a wire vine just draws me in.  You are getting sleepy. . . . 

There was a touch of natural sunlight on this blossom.  So I knelt down where I wouldn't get between the flower and the sun.  Glad I did.

And then my garden's gift for the day.  

The garden did distract me for a bit, but I finally got to that one last spot.  Now the plants can relax.  But I'm already thinking about ideas for next year. . . .  

A Slow Day for Bees

There is so much activity in the garden these days.  The crows fight the hawk above my head.  Extremely noisy, but very compelling.  I just can't see from my earthbound perspective why the crows need to chase the hawk.  But I'm sure they have their reasons.  And it makes for good theater.  I have a hummingbird, finally, who comes to the window boxes once the sun warms the flowers.  He just can't seem to get his beak into the feeder though, but I will keep it on offer during their migration south.  Then there are the chipmunks who love to gather the overflow from the bird feeders.  I must admit I pour a little on the ground for them.  Then sit and watch them fill their pouches until they look like they will burst.  But this morning the most interesting creatures I found to photograph were the bees.  Not because they were particularly beautiful today, but because they were cold.  And couldn't move fast.  So it gave me time to frame my shot before they were out of the shot.

Well, almost.

If researchers wanted to find out if flowers could talk, this guy seems like a promising subject.

In your head do you hear, Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work I go?

If you didn't, you do now.  Sorry.

Hey, I think your trunk is full.  Time to head back to wherever it is you head back to and dump that stuff.  

I love these windflowers.  Last year they didn't come back and I was going to buy more this spring.  I forgot to, but it seems the garden took care of it for me. 

Garden enchantment comes through again.