Spring Time in Florida



Bougainvillea up close



 

Looking out across my "pond"

The time has come to start planning on heading north -- another four weeks and I'll be on the I-75 corridor heading north to Charlevoix and another wonderful summer on the Lakes.

But, in the interim, I've been enjoying my own gardens which are in full bloom.  Not, however, enjoying the heat which makes dog walks even in the early hours unbearable for both Sophie and me.  (it was 78 degrees Monday morning at 6:30 a.m.!)


Last Saturday, rising at 5 a.m. to catch the sun coming up and the tide, I went with one of my neighbors and my friend Susan to the Braden River Rookery.  A small mangrove island on the Braden River not twenty minutes from my home.  What a wonderful experience.   Our guide is both a professional photographer and boat captain, so we boarded his float boat and powered about 1/2 mile down stream under a major local highway -- and before our eyes were birds, hundreds of them, nesting on and in the mangroves -- arguing over territory, feeding their young, and making a racket the likes of which I've never heard.  I'll definitely go back again next year.

One of the adults in this marvelous sanctuary floating in the Braden River

And three chicks -- waiting for mom or dad to come back with food

Before I go:  Friday night is ballet; Saturday is "Mint Juleps and Roses" at SMART an evening of watching the races, seeing our own horses show their stuff; Sunday is the last wine tasting in my neighborhood for the summer; and I have several more volunteer days to put in both at SMART and the Circus Arts Conservatory.

Then, I'm all set!