Friday Foto Friends...Flora and Fauna

We are not doing a "formal" Friday Foto Friends anymore with a link up to other blogs, but if you check out my list of blogging friends that are listed on the right side of my page, you may find others who also like to post special photos on Friday.

Here are some beauties from my evening walk, taken on Thursday evening:

You may recall seeing this little a-frame cottage from previous year's pictures:

I love to photograph it especially in the morning when the sun is rising over the pond, which is in front of the cottage.  This photo was taken in the fall:

Well, this lovely little A-Frame has recently received new owners, and they are giving it quite the makeover:

 I love it!  I especially love that they painted it barn red! The contrast against the green foliage is so striking...and the new windows with their white trim really stand out, making this, what once was rather lonely, sad and dilapidated, is now a bright and cheerful place to embrace new families and memories!

 (Did you notice the magnolia blossoms in the tree above?)

This wild trumpet vine is growing on my fence (and in a lot of other places)...but it is heralding in the days of late spring and almost early summer...

You may remember seeing  my sweet kids (a.k.a. "The Newlyweds") from my Mother's Day post...but did you notice the lovely pot of flowers they gave me?

Well, just in case you missed it, here are a few pictures to show you how it is blooming more and more every day...another one of those sweet gifts that keep on giving!

My sweet daughter in law picked out each and every flower to put in this pot especially for me. I love that they are also flowers that will attract butterflies!!

 I also love the many vibrant colors and variety of different flowers.  I am truly blessed to have such a sweet daughter in law...(and of course her hubby, my son, is pretty special too!)

I inspect these apples every day when we walk past them, and yes! They are growing!!!!

Now, if you are not familiar with the southern saw palmetto plants that grow everywhere in Florida...and you cannot kill them even if you burn them, they will come right back...anyway...they are now in full bloom! Did you know that they had such lovely flowers? And did you know that they also have an extremely strong fragrance...rather sickeningly sweet?  My hubby says it smells like tear-gas...Wow!! I can see how that could knock you out!! 

 Anyway, as we take our morning and evening walks, the air is filled with this ultra sweet perfume.  Did you also know that this is where the saw-palmetto berries come from? Yes, they are in high demand for the treatment of prostate issues.  We often see people coming into the area when the berries are ripe to pick them and sell them. I don't think they are supposed to be doing that, (without a permit) especially here in the National Forest...but...well...not much we can do to stop them. They are quick and elusive...(Click here for a news article about harvesting saw palmetto berries)  Also, the berries are a main source of food for the black bear...so if you intend to go picking these berries, better watch out for the bears!

Now back to our own back yard and the Memorial Garden...The Rose of Sharon bush is starting to get full of blooms. I love this.

Do you know what this is? This is the blossom of the Mimosa tree. It is a kind of "weed tree" here in Florida, as it seems to be very invasive. But the flowers are lovely. They remind me of a fairy ballerina skirt... (Hasn't everyone seen those?)

My walk to the pond this evening was later than usual, and I was happy to see the Sand Hill Crane Family already back on their little island, bedding down for the night! Yes, this is where they nest every year, and where they sleep at night. They are all over the neighborhood during the day, but they fly back to this tiny little slip of a sand bar with foliage on it in the middle of the pond to sleep. It seems to work for them, so that makes me happy!

Looks like there is a full moon tonight...so I guess it is time to bring this little walk about to an end for now.

We read these verses from Psalm 89 this morning in our devotions:

5.  "And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; 

Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.

6.  For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?

Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?

7.  God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,

and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

8.  O Lord God of hosts,

Who is mighty like You, O Lord?

Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

9.  You rule the raging of the sea;

When its waves rise, You still them.

10.  You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain;

You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

11.  The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;

The world and all its fullness,

You have founded them..."

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Why not take some time to take a little walkabout your neck of the woods and see what you can see? Or take a ride in the country...or the city...whichever you like best! There is so much beauty out there for us...it is a shame to miss it!!