Nesting

Guess what I stumbled upon, while beachcombing on Big Hickory Island? A Bald Eagle nest! Again, I must apologize for the lack of zoom on my antiquated Kodak digital, but you keep ignoring my pleas ;-)

He or she (one way to determine the sex of an eagle is to examine its beak - hello! do I look crazy to you?) let me creep up pretty close, but as you can see, was clearly concerned, so I did not overstay my welcome.

What I found fascinating reading up on our national bird is that:

1. They mate for life
2. They use the same nest year after year, ergo...
3. ...Over the years, some nests become enormous, as much as 9 feet in diameter, weighing two tons (2.75 meters and 1800 kg)
4. While on the nest with very young eaglets, parents move about with their talons balled into fists to avoid accidentally skewering their offspring.

Aw, how sweet is that?

Finding inspiration

Seeing those disappearing footprints on the beach of Big Hickory Island reminded me of the famous poem that was always attributed to Anonymous. However, after a lenghtly legal battle, it was established recently that Mary Stevenson wrote it as a teenager in 1936.
There are many versions of it circulating around the world - which one do you know?

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

Mary Stevenson Footprints in the Sand

Masterpiece

...and to finish up my hibiscus series, here's la pièce de résistance! It comes from the same garden as the white one but with such a showy combination of yellow, orange, lilac and burgundy, and so evocative of Georgia O'Keefe's flowers, that people decided (OK, I did) it belongs in a museum. See if you agree here.

Admission's free on week-ends ;-)

“Most people in the city rush around so, they have no
time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not."
Georgia O'Keefe

Update: Due to popular demand (?) I have created a poll. Please cast your vote, if you are so inclined ;-)

Should the lady on the right wear a thong?

Yes
No

Display Poll Results

Eureka!

After yesterday's post, a little bird (OK, a big bird) told me that I can find a white hibiscus right in my neighborhood. So I dropped everything (the things I do for you...) and rushed right over. And voilà! Isn't it stunning? The lizard's included at no extra charge ;-)

"People from a planet without flowers would think we
must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us."
Iris Murdoch

Update: In your comments, some of you questioned the authenticity of the lizard. Let me assure you - the lizard is real (not photo edited-in, not a trained pet (!), not a figment of your imagination). As soon as I whipped out my camera, he scampered out from under the petal and posed for me, smiling ;-)

Kaleidoscope

This is hibiscus, currently blooming around my house in four lovely hues of yellow, peach, pinkish purple and red. You can say a whirlwind of color...

The Chinese hibiscus, a native of China, was introduced to Florida by way of the South Pacific and Hawaii. Most hibiscus varieties have one-day flowers; the blossoms open early in the morning and wilt late that afternoon, however, the flowering season is nearly all year in southern Florida!

"I want real flowers, perennials which not only grow and
change and die, but also rise again and astonish me. A garden shouldn't just
bloom and look pretty; it should develop like the rest of life. Otherwise it,
and we, live only to be spaded under." Emma L. Roth-Schwartz

Apparently, the only color I am missing is white. Has anybody ever seen a white hibiscus flower?

Playground

I know how queasy you get by some of my alligator posts, so I intend to exploit it fully ;-)

Here we have another pair of Moorhens frolicking only a few feet away from the gator. This handsome fellow looks to be about 6 feet long (the largest alligator ever recorded in Florida was 17 feet 5 inches long or 5.3 meters) and seems totally disinterested. All tuckered out? Full tummy?

Or maybe, with Spring in the air he's more interested in love than war...

Update: Some of your comments made me think - human deaths caused by alligators have increased in recent years (11 people were killed by alligators from 2001 to 2006).
If you want me to continue bringing you these extreme (!) photos, may I suggest that you take up a collection to buy me a camera with a zoom lens, so I don't have to jeopardize my life each day for the cause ;-)

Quiz Tuesday part 14

Calling all naturalists and would-be botanists (Mimmu, you are excused;-). This photo was just taken at my neighbor Bob's garden. Seems like a straightforward question today:

What is this? And for an extra bonus: why is it crying?

Hooked on fishing?

Let's see... So far, we've discussed several attractions Naples has to offer: culture, art, shopping, dining, beach and golf. Another reason to visit us here is the fishing.

Yes, the temperate waters of the Gulf of Mexico provide a good year-round environment for fishing, whether your preferred technique is fly, spin, plug or bait. You can explore on your own (there are plenty of marinas and tackle shops for boat rentals), you can fish without a boat (on our many rivers and at the Naples Pier), you can fish the canals (especially when the tidal currents are strong) and even the beaches (most productive at dawn and at dusk).

But should you decide to charter a boat for a 3-hour fishing trip, like the one pictured above, make sure there's no Gilligan on board ;-)

It's not easy being green...

This special Sunday post is for all you kids, big and small. Look at this green lizard (inspecting the wasp nest in the eaves of the roof) and put yourself in his position: would you want to be green?

If you feel compassionate, go ahead and sing along with Kermit, but I must warn you - if you do, you'll be humming this tune all day long ;-)

"It's not that easy being green;
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold...
or something much more colorful like that.

It's not easy being green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ord'nary things.
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're not standing out
like flashy sparkles in the water or stars in the sky.



But green's the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain,
or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be."

From "The Sesame Street Book and Record"

Steaming

Psst...Please don't mention it to Chris & Deb but it is so darn hot in Naples lately (close to 90°F/32°C), we need to use this misting fan to cool off at the pool. I know, poor me...And no, it is not my fan, it belongs to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, previously featured here.

Have a cool...er...warm...er...whatever brings you comfort weekend!

Washing day

The striking anhinga, black darter, snakebird, water turkey - whichever name you call this bird in your part of the world - is a frequent star on this blog. He might not be the most graceful looking bird but his personality makes up for it ;-). Check out my previous posts here, there and yonder.

The anhinga is a water bird, a close cousin of a cormorant. It does not have oil glands for waterproofing its feathers like most water birds. So after a quick dive underwater to get a fishy snack, it must spread its wings to dry in the sun.

"The cormorants

hang their feathers

out to dry -

black velvet rags

showing threadbare

in the wind.

Like old women

living in the past,

they tend their

tattered finery

with talon fingers

and black

remembering eyes."

*

Rita Summers Washing Day

March 1st theme day: Men at work

Do you recognize this logo? Do you know its mission? Habitat for Humanity is working to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by constructing and building adequate and basic housing. Their actions are for the ultimate purpose of putting shelter on the hearts and minds of people in such a powerful way that poverty housing and homelessness become socially, politically, and morally unacceptable in our nations and world.

Man and woman at work - Matt and Jill.

*

I am a proud volunteer in the HH project in my town. In a partnership with generous donors, and deserving homeowner families, volunteers like me build simple, decent homes. Our goal is to eliminate poverty housing from Lee County.

*

This is the toughest job I ever loved...

65 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st March theme, "Men at work", please use the links below to visit them.

1 (Porto (Portugal) ) -2 (Greenville SC (USA) ) -3 (Hyde (UK) ) -4 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -5 (Albuquerque, NM (USA) ) -6 (Stayton, OR (USA) ) -7 (Rotterdam (NL) ) -8 (Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ) -9 (London (England) ) -10 (Richmond, VA (USA) ) -11 (Sydney -Sally (Australia) ) -12 (Newcastle upon Tyne (England) ) -13 (Constanta (Romania) ) -14 (Evry (France) ) -15 (Lubbock, TX (USA) ) -16 (Szentes (Hungary) ) -17 (Villigen (Switzerland) ) -18 (Mumbai (India) ) -19 (Tel Aviv (Israel) ) -20 (Twin Cities, MN [USA] ) -21 (Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -22 (Houston -Candice & Megan, TX (USA) ) -23 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -24 (Singapore - Zannnie (Singapore) ) -25 (Dubai (UAE) ) -26 (Singapore -Keropokman (Singapore) ) -27 (Madrid -Dsole (Spain) ) -28 (Mazatlan -Kate (Mexico) ) -29 (Nelson (New Zealand) ) -30 (Vantaa (Finland) ) -31 (Kyoto (Japan) ) -32 (Tokyo (Japan) ) -33 (Joplin, MO (USA) ) -34 (Auckland (New Zealand) ) -35 (Sequim, WA (USA) ) -36 (Menton (France) ) -37 (Minneapolis, MN (USA) ) -38 (Istanbul (Turkey) ) -39 (Sydney -Nathalie (Australia) ) -40 (Sharon, CT (USA) ) -41 (Seattle, WA (USA) ) -42 (Anderson, SC (USA) ) -43 (Monte Carlo, (Monaco) ) -44 (Milano, (Italy) ) -45 (Grenoble (France) ) -46 (Wailea, HI (USA) ) -47 (Guelph, ON (Canada) ) -48 (Melbourne - John (Australia) ) -49 (New York City (USA) [Ming_the_Merciless] ) -50 (Cebu (Philippines) ) -51 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -52 (Antigua Guatemala (Central America) ) -53 (Hamburg (Germany) ) -54 (London -Jonemo (UK) ) -55 (Hong Kong ) -56 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -57 (Paris (France) ) -58 (Naples, Florida (USA) ) -59 (Saarbrücken (Germany) ) -60 (Shanghai (China) ) -61 (Quito (Ecuador) ) -62 (Zurich (Switzerland) ) -63 (Joensuu ( Finland ) ) -64 (Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) ) -65 (Cheltenham (England))