Flora and Fauna

Although Bill and I have so enjoyed the warm, sunny Florida weather, we also have relished the state's wide variety of flora and fauna. We have tried to learn the names of the various palms and birds, etc. from the educational brochures and placques at the state parks, but next year we will certainly be armed with a reference book to carry around. My favorite palm is the Royal Palm, but they range from 50-66 feet tall, so they are difficult to photograph. On our last nature walk in the Everglades, I aimed the camera upward:

On the same walk, we learned about the Strangler Fig, which is a vine-like tree that begins when its seed is deposited in the upper part of the host tree. When the seed sprouts, it sends down roots that entwine or strangle and often kill the host tree. The one we spotted looks like a large hand around the trunk:



We have spent the last two days exploring the Gulf beaches of Marco Island, Naples, and Sanibel Island. These are places where the billboards advertise Gucci, and the gardeners are busy working in each well-manicured yard outside of spectacular waterfront homes. RV's were not a common site, but Bill managed to find a place to park ours so we could walk the shell-covered beaches.

Today is Day 29 of our trip and we are experiencing our first rain. Our next destination is St. Petersburg to visit a friend, and then on to Largo to spend a couple of days with Mom and John. The fun continues!