Orchids

Set up the camera and went for a walk. Orchids are lovely.
Then off to swamps, rookery, and nature preserves.

So much of Myakka (Lake/Park/River) were destroyed or reconfigured, first by #DeathSantis using COVID money to tear down an environment and wildlife weir, and the job completed by Hurricane Ian, emptying much of the lake onto land, and leaving only a fraction of what was lake. Still many gator, now in smaller space, so dense-packed (and being hot, they're out in force along the edge of the diminished lakes. There are dark "cave entrances" visible along the banks of the Myakka River which were the nesting mounds of the gator (and 'tis the season), so no doubt they're guarding the nests watchfully now.

I found where the limpkins have re-settled, with ample apple snails for their diet. Anhingas are still around, but I found many have taken up residence at a rookery in S. Venice. No roseate spoonbills at all, though some I spoke with have seen them around northern Sarasota. And that's my first post-Ian spring nature observation. Many photos to come. But first, friends/family time.

Happy Easter/Passover!

#myphotos #flowers #fenfotos #orchids #nature [ More flowers @ http://www.fenichel.com/flowers ]