This delicate Asian native, Pinwheel Jasmine (tabernaemontana divaricata) quietly commanded attention at the Morikami Japanese Garden in Del Ray, Florida. The leaves are evergreen with the most prolific bloom time being spring. Enjoy.
For history of it’s medicinal use: https://ww anw.naturalremedies.org/jasmin/
Cypress Swamp Dome, thin as itis. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Outside the AhTahThiKi Museum on the Seminole Reservation in Florida is a mile-long boardwalk through a Cypress Swamp Dome. Prior to engineered draining of the Everglades in the 1930s this land was wet enough to canoe the wet prairie land, swamp. Seminoles canoed for hunting. This means of provision is no longer available, cattle farming is now the main product of the land. The floor is wet seven to ten months of the year, which is then the growing season for the Cypress trees. The Dome appears sparse allowing enough sunlight to sustain its lush fern ground cover.
Fern rich floor. Copyright 2018 Pamela Bretberg
Looking to the heavens. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Images copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Yesterday I upgraded to WordPress’s Business plan only because I desperately wanted to organize my “categories” so they’re arranged more logically. Also I renamed some categories to be more appropriate. Hopefully this is a help for readers.
I realized as I was working that I tend to over categorize posts; so my goal is to limit a post’s categories to a couple instead of many. IF ANYONE HAS IDEAS on how to make my blog better, please let me know!! I always welcome your feedback.
I began my blog in 2010 so I suppose every eight years it’s due for cleanup. Sigh. WordPress recommends doing this every year!
FYI: In the business plan you can not only reorder and merge categories but you can take a tag, such as “birds” and turn it into a category!! Great tool. Thank you WordPress.
All images were taken at Billy’s Swamp Safari site on the Seminole Reservation, Florida. I have no reservations about recommending that you visit this amazing place. Include in your visit the AhTahThiKi Museum also located in their Reservation; Clewiston, Florida.
View from the quaint restaurant in Billy’s Swamp Safari. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
From a distance these bovine were having lunch. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Never ending beauty. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Great Egret stands out among browned winter grasses. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The overal scene looks so much like an untouched prairie; greens are flourishing and going on for miles and miles. The sky is never ending. A vulture scans for lunch. This prairie is wild; no telephone lines or roads interupt it’s untamed beauty.
But on closer inspection, or if you remember you’re on “Aligator Alley”, a part of I75, you see evidence that this isn’t even a wetland prairie swam or bog. It’s much wetter and is infact part of the Florida Everglades. Take the closer look into this profound region.
“Prairie” grasses with wide open skies; NOT. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Hint: Great Egrets are not found in prairies. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Alligators are definitely not a part of a prairie habitat. They do bask in the sun next to water while they await their next meal. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The Snowy Egret takes off to continue it’s hunt for food in Florida’s Everglades. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Most people see a puddle with a little weedy grass growing out of a crack in the sidewalk/pavement. When I walked past this spot I saw a miniature island paradise complete with sunshine peaking out of a few clouds in blue skies. I am ever the optimist. I look imaginatively at people and things.
Puddle or someone’s paradise? I must get out the microscope; but risk being run over. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
May your days be
full of miracles,
large and small.
I wish you faith, hope and love.
May you have faith as
You set hope-filled goals which
Include love
Love for yourself and
Love for others.
Faith that spirng will arrive at winter’s end. Hope that the robins’ return as plants waken from dormancy. Love for all of God’s “routine” miracles. ….nothing is routine about miracles. Each is wondrous. Happy New Year. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
“This plant is a native, and with true American perspicacity and enterprise has forged his way from
magenta obscurity to the most prominent place in the floral world.”
‘My Garden’ by Louise Beebe Wilder, 1916
Phlox abundance. May you see the wonder all around you. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Looking back to the more colorful days of late summer, early autumn.
Hardy, perennial prairie plants gradually go dormant, resting until next springs longer, warmer days. Copyright 2017, Pamela Breitberg
Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) amongst prairie diversity. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Purple Aster, a dependable sign of the end of Summer. Copyright 2017, Pamela Breitberg
Here are a few different views of downtown Chicago, this time from South Pond in Lincoln Park. The naturalized prairie grasses are prominent in the scene. After a leisurely walk through the park we lunched at the delicious Café Brauer; this time dining was a bit of a challenge. This time of year, worker bees are instinctively anxious to gather as much energy (sugar/nectar) and protein (pollen) as possible to store for the coming winter months. So, as my eyes admired the sweet view from our table, they were eyeing my lunch. And typical of me, I watched with love and allowed them to feast in between my bites and sips.
Warning: If you aren’t fond of bees then don’t look at last two images!
View of downtown Chicago and South Pond in Lincoln Park. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
View of South Pond and Chicago from Cafe Brauer. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Worker bee gathering sweetness from my jam. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Wine and cocktails were not off limits for the bees, much to the dismay of the diners. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
For more on bee behavior during the autumn:
https://phys.org/news/2012-10-bees-wasps-busy-autumn.html