white ibis social

Today 14 white ibis were socializing lakeside and I could not resist a little photoshoot on the way home. A detour like this can make me late an hour at least, but, I just can't help myself. I didn't just see the white ibis either... I saw several little blue herons, several ducks, 2 great blue herons, a anhinga, a bald eagle , 2 great white egrets, a snowy egret, 2 wood storks, 2 sandhill cranes, 2 tricolor herons, a common yellowthroat, and a loggerhead shrike. I think that is it! Wow, no wonder I was late getting home right?

Little munchkins

Little munchkins were let out of the nest recently and if they were in our yard the entire time ...they were very quiet. Mama dropped them off here because it's about as safe as you can get. There are 4 of them. One litter last year was 6. I don't publicize these numbers to neighbors because some of them go nuts. Just like we keep alligator sightings to ourselves. Before you know it trappers are here if you do that.

The vinyl fence in our yard is a great big playpen for them. They have a half dozen different feeders to get into, and they have a bunch of different trees to climb for coordination building. Since we mainly only have seeds right now around us because our oak trees are too young yet, I stopped on my way home this morning and picked acorns off the ground for a little treat. I hope they like them. If they do, I'll keep collecting them.

My Red Crape Myrtle ...

has never looked prettier. This is a really slow grower. We've had it for about 6 or 7 years.  It is on the east side of the house. I think it would like more sun and more water but it has done fantastic this year. I love it. I wish it bloomed all year but summer through fall is good enough! I had to lay on the grass to get some of these shots and the east side of the house is on the road. I don't think some of my neighbors understand why they see me in this odd positions all over the place but ya know what...I don't really care. I love the excitement of getting a pretty shot and I just do what it takes.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Enjoying the pentas on a beautiful day in the backyard garden.

Sunday Afternoon

Today we took advantage of living so close to Disney World and went down the street to the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. We had a gift certificate from my brother-in-law and hubby couldn't get the football game here so we went down to their pool bar and had lunch. Hubby got to watch the game and I got to have my cucumber collins then walk around and take in all the beauty. This is the second time in the past month we have gone to use up this xmas gift and it was such a lovely day. What a pretty place and off season it wasn't crowded at all.

cucumber collins and beer

cheese burger

 turkey club and chips. delicious!

a lake view

the pool waterfalls

private cave like seating areas around the pool

walking through the grotto

Purple Allamanda

  Pride of Barbados

 lounge chairs running along one side of the lake

 a pretty little snowy egret thinks he might see some lunch!

 people having a good time on the water sports rides

 all the activities lined up ready to go on the wharf

 canoeing couple

Pretty sunset

This time of year we get the prettiest sunsets and sitting on our back lanai we can catch it all through the trees that have grown really big over the last 7 years.

monarch drying wings

A male monarch either drying his wings or just resting on our passion vine against the screen lanai.

Harlequin flower beetle - Gymnetis caseyi

This little guy (not as big as a quarter but bigger than a nickel) had been hanging out in my flower bed for a couple of days. I have never seen one before so I uploaded a pic to the bug experts. He is yellow and black with a pretty pattern on his back...almost damask like. He has claws like a crab and his eyes have personality. The little antenna's retract out and in too. They look like martian antenna's to me. I don't think they are native to Florida. Sadly I found him dead on the pavers a couple days later. He was intact but laying on his back. I don't know what could have happened. Maybe he flipped over and couldn't roll over. Not sure. Made me sad though. Goodbye little bug, hope you enjoyed your last few days in our backyard.

Flawless Male Monarch

So the Monarchs are still being born. This one is so perfect and fresh. Flawless. Nectaring on Jatropha in the backyard.

Trips to Biosphere

Had to make another run for scarlet milkweed...we have purchased now 11 (3) gallon plants in the last couple of weeks. Crazy how much the monarch cats eat. Big and fat they are getting. It still wasn't enough. I had 4 little ones who just weren't going to get enough food so I had to bring them over to a neighbors. She had a bunch of new leaves for them. Made me very happy. I hope they got nice and fat. While making milkweed runs I made sure to squeeze in a couple shots of the pretty flowers at the nursery (I asked permission and they were so nice to allow me). I got a few great shots of their awesome nursery. Biosphere Nursery is on Tilden Road in Winter Garden and everything is pesticide free. Such a great place. Love going there and just wandering around staring at all the beauty.

Common Gallinule swimming through water lily pads

I was happy to stumble upon this little guy at Summerport too. Walked right over those water lillies for me with his green legs and feet.

Was wondering where all the white ibis were hiding

I guess I don't have to wonder anymore. I found them...a lot of them...I counted 2 dozen and most were hanging pretty comfortably under a great big willow tree situated in someone's backyard but on the lake. The area is Summerport which is a neighborhood down the street from me. I photographed some juvies and adults. So pretty!