1 Comment

The Serengeti Plain in Florida

Posted by Gary on July 2, 2017 in Wildlife

Several species of zebras roam the open scrublands graze on wild grasses. Giraffes, some 15 feet tall saunter into the shade of taller trees. Rhinos browse the wild plants of the plain as antelope wander from across the grasslands. It is not Africa, but it is a similar habitat within Busch Gardens, Tampa. Except for the roller coasters in the distance, palm trees throughout and the large herds of animals, this area is a taste of what the African Serengeti Plain is like. It is well worth the visit.

Tags: , , , , , , , Permalink
Leave a comment

Exotic Butterflies in Maryland

Posted by Gary on June 21, 2017 in Insects

Tropical rainforest butterflies float over flowerbeds seeking the sweet nectar the blossoms produce. Morpho butterflies, iridescent sky blue above and brownish below land on a tray with rotting fruit to sip the salts and nutrients from soft bananas, pears and watermelon. Owl butterflies with large eye spots to scare predators also enjoy the produce.

Zebra long-wings flutter in the vegetation while autumn leaf butterflies cling to the stems of plants looking like dead leaves. Rice paper and Isabella butterflies mingle with monarch and giant swallowtails.

No, global warming has yet to change the Maryland deciduous forests into rainforests; we are in the Wings of Fancy Butterfly Exhibit at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. Dozens upon dozens of subtropical and tropical butterflies have free roam inside the butterfly house.

My two-year-old grandson was not so sure about these colorful creatures. At first, he had apprehension about them, but after alighting on his shoes and his shirt without biting (of course butterflies do not have mouth and cannot bite), he warmed up to them. It was a learning experience for him and an opportunity to foster stewardship of God’s creatures. If you are in the Baltimore, Maryland area, this is a place worth the visit, not only for the butterfly house, but to enjoy Brookside’s 50 acres of gardens.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Permalink
Leave a comment

Ghost Plants of American Forests

Posted by Gary on June 12, 2017 in Wildflowers

A peculiar wild flower grows in many forest throughout North America. It is a strange plant because it has no chlorophyll, the substance that gives plants their green color and is critical in the production of food for the plant through photosynthesis. It is totally white – stems scale-like leaves and flowers. It depends on insects for pollination and produces seeds just like any other wildflower.

How can such a wild flower survive without chlorophyll? The Indian Pipe is a parasitic plant. Its short roots contain a specific fungus that spreads through the leafy matter of the forest floor where it attaches to the roots of the trees the plant grows under. Sugars produced by the tree is absorbed by the fungus and carried to the roots of the Indian Pipe.

Due to is lack of color, the Indian Pipe has been called the ghost plant and corpse plant. As you can imagine, there is much native American folklore about this plant and poets have written about it, but I leave that up to you to explore this further on the internet.

Tags: , , , , , , Permalink
Leave a comment

The Grapes of Cocoa Beach

Posted by Gary on June 6, 2017 in Trees and Shrubs

During a recent trip to Cocoa Beach, Anne and I walked from our small suite to the Atlantic Ocean beach front. Our short hike took us through a dune community dominated by a dense growth of sea grapes, a tree flattened by sea breezes and thriving in the dry sandy soils. Large rounded green leaves, coated in wax to protect the plant from salt water spray and to reduce the loss of moisture to the air, hid the thick branches supporting the plant. The clusters of small green fruit that resemble grapes will ripen into burgundy colored edibles in late summer. It is edible although you’ll be competing with wildlife for the ripened berries. Hopefully, Anne and I will get back to see birds and other wildlife eating this fruit and we may just try it ourselves.

Tags: , , , , , , , Permalink
Leave a comment

Florida Drought 2017

Posted by Gary on May 28, 2017 in Aquatic Life

 

It is May 2017 and the Southwest Florida Water Management District has issued Phase 3 water shortage restrictions limiting the use of water for watering lawns and washing cars. The below average rainfall this winter has contributed to the dearth of water.

Lakes are receding into shallow ponds concentrating fish, frogs and other aquatic life. Great blue herons, egrets, ibis and limpkins feast on the fish trapped in these pools.

The exposed lake bottoms are cracked from the sun baking the muddy soils. Tracks of raccoons, ducks, opossum and herons tell the stories of wildlife travel to and from the pooled water.

For me, I have no problem conserving water. My lawn can dry up and my car can be dirty a bit longer, but I do care about the impact of the drought on our wild plants, birds and wildlife. Hopefully, once the rainy season starts in June, afternoon thunderstorms and tropical storms will replenish the life line that aquatic flora and fauna need to survive.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Permalink