Winter is here….
Winter is here, and we sure do feel it. The landscape has changed with the season. Leaves cover the lawn instead of adorning the trees and berries replace flowers as the food source. Below are a few native options for…
Category: Naturally Cool
Beautiful Berries
Many times plants are purchased because of their pretty or colorful blooms. Then a week later it is just another plant, lost in the sea of green. That is not the case with the native deciduous shrub Callicarpa americana aka Beautyberry….
One of Flagler’s many gems – Marineland
Everyone who grew up in Flagler has visited this historic landmark at least once either on a school field trip or when family came to town. It is not the same place it used to be (no more 3d theater, flamingos,…
Native Plant Spotlight – Green Fly Orchid
The below little beauty is a Epidendrum magnoliae aka Green Fly Orchid currently blooming in its foster home a Southern Red Cedar. It flowers from August – March and sporadically thru the year. They can be found in north Florida (Volusia is…
A native that feeds the community (of winged creatures that is)
I started taking the below photos last summer in hopes of spotting a honey bee. I kept going back to my Spotted Bee Balm aka Spotted Horsemint aka Dotted Horsemint (Monarda punctata) that is slowly taking over the back yard. This…
Trailing the Gulf Fritillary
Nature is an amazing thing when you take the time to enjoy it. While on the hunt for Gulf Fritillary photos, I realized I was witnessing the Gulf Fritillary laying eggs on the Passion Vine (Passiflora). When you are speeding…
Butterfly Month – Gulf Fritillary
Another local you might see fluttering around in your garden is the Gulf fritillary. The larvae form can be found chewing on native and nonnative species of Passiflora (host food plant). I recently noticed the Gulf fritillary flying and landing…
Butterfly Month – Swallowtails
August is Butterfly Month so to celebrate I will showcase a couple different species. Today’s spotlight is on Swallowtails. To the left is a late stage caterpillar Parsleyworm feeding on Bronze fennel. Soon it will find a place to pupate. The…
Looking good under pressure
While everyone is running for cover to avoid the heat, there is one native that only likes it sunny. The Galliardia pulchela aka Blanket Flower inhabits roadsides, dunes, and yards alike. Once established they prefer dry conditions, and that is what…
Welcome to Native Roots…
(native) an animal or plant indigenous to a place (roots) family, ethnic, or cultural origins, especially the reasons for one’s longstanding emotional attachment to a place or community I am a native with roots, born in St. Augustine and raised in Flagler. Native Roots is where I am going to highlight other natives (plants, animals and bugs)…