It's time to go

My planning agency - the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council has fallen victim to the ideology of the anti-government government.  Public service is one of the casualties of our right -wing "race to the bottom."  Actually, (and incidentally) my boss made some all too true comments while the recorder was running.  Anyway it's over and  you can still call me Withlacoochee Bruce.  Here is one last tour of my humble workspace.

It was a good run (17 years)

Paw paw flowers in spring

so . . .   I took one of my perfect day after church walks last Sunday.  I typically pull over on the side of the road on the way home and take a stroll through the woods.  It just so happens that I drive through Indian Lake State Forest on the way.  Makes it easy to do and on a perfect day hard not to.

After so many of these walks it has become like the famous environmental journey of Aldo  Leopold in his book.   "A Sand County Almanac"  It is a story of a man who chronicles the changes of the seasons and the land as he  walks the same woods over and over.  He travels deep but not far.  Thanks to one of my favorite professors Peggy Carr for introducing me to the book.

Any way here is the of woods right off SR 326 in Marion County, FL.  Just a few miles from home.

It's a  well managed turkey oak wire grass community.  You can see the horse riding trial

The parcel was last control burned in December of 2013.

And  because of the burn the star of this blog post is the humble paw paw.  They can flourish in the lack of underbrush.  Paw paw is one of my favorite flowers because of their ghostly lilting appearance and they are in bloom now.  Some years have a better bloom than others dependng on the weather.  The bloom last year was prolific. (if you noticed)  ( I did)

Delicate - odd - different - unlike other flowers

I search myself for the reasons I appreciate them over other flowers.  

You don't often see them but I don't think they are rare.

I like the fact that they bear an edible fruit, and I like the name  - Paw Paw.  I would taste one if I found it ripe, but then leave most of it for the gopher tortoises.

odd,  strange - different - special.

Whenever I walk here I am obliged to take this picture and other pictures of young pine trees.

But these are the stars of this hike.

I have never seen this flower here before. I will post on facebook and hope for an ID.

I hope the viewers of this enjoy the paw paw flowers like I do.

but there are many little slices of nature here for us to enjoy and delight in.

Or don't even get caught up in the names of things  -  just enjoy the whole thing as the 

beautiful unified creation that it is. This looks like home to me.

I saw a dead bear too but decided not to post.

fungus among us

Here's quick post from a hike earlier this year.  Every hike is different.  This was  A hike where the theme centered around small fungi and epiphytes.  Indian Lake State Forest is the  closest good hike to home; it's only 3 miles from the house.  I am a run and gun photographer so this is pretty much how the journey went.  I would name the fungi if  I could.  ID help is appreciated; I'm always wanting to learn.

For this post I won't weave a story line within the pics.   It was a long beautiful hike well off the beaten path.  Moss and fungi and epiphytes were revealed at times when I was almost lost.  I pulled out my GPS and got back to the normal world.  This hike once again confirmed to me that  I love places with poor soil .     Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Watching the Tern's World

A few weeks ago Jean pulled our camper over to Anastasia state park to catch the Weezer show at the St. Augustine Amphitheater.  the show was outstanding but I am there for other things also.  Generally I have a few hours of each morning to roam and make pictures. . .

Of Course I attended the sunrise daily festival of light. This time coming near to the green flash.

but after the initial event I wandered over to the nesting bird protection area.

I didn't - and wouldn't go beyond the signs

 But the signs don't matter to the Tern families that get upset when their personal nesting space

 is intruded upon.

This is their turf.  I need to capture a few images and get out of here.

  hearts of a lion and a loud screaming din would confuse predator and passerby alike. 

 Fortunately, I have my little canon ultra-zoom camera that reaches about 600 mm lens power. (20X optical zoom)  The Terns nest in the open sand and are vulnerable.

I watch the little rhythm of activity and follow the birds over to the water where they are hunting for dinner.

The hunter hovers high watching the minnows below

 And dive bombs the shallow water 

 faster than a jet plane

 

 and splashes down -  hoping to get lucky

 fortunately I brought my lawn chair with me so I sat down and watched the show.

 Their skills are sharp and very evolved

 the setup of their habitat is amazing and productive

 but it wouldn't be possible without the protection area at the State park.

 a big sign up on the beach says NO DOGS.

 I will check back on them someday soon 

 Jean and I really enjoy all there is to do at Anastasia.

 maybe we will retire to St Aug.

Wait and see . .  like beach sand through he hourglass - as the Tern's World.