November 17, 2025

I'm a Red-bellied Woodpecker

I know I look disheveled to you

But I'm tryin' to get this lizard

Into my gizzard

But at the moment, he doesn't want me to.

Location: Jones Pier Conservation Area, Vero

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/do-all-birds-have-gizzards/

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 16, 2025

This is a Tillandsia Utriculata

Commonly called a giant airplant

Unfortunately, it is loved by Bromelliad Weevils

Who have taste for it is far beyond scant.

Location: Hallstrom House Conservation Area

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/frank/savebromeliads/floridas-bromeliads/Tillandsia-utriculata.html

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 15, 2025

This is a Southern Needleleaf Airplant

It's a small, pointy Bromeliad

It looks like it's just a wad of pine needles

But there's so much more to it than that.

It's in the Pineapple family

It's not related to pines that's a fact.

Location: Hallstrom House Conservation Area

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/frank/savebromeliads/floridas-bromeliads/Tillandsia-setecea.html

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 14, 2025

This plant's common name is Pigeonwings

It's scientific name is Clitoria mariana

Whoever assigned it the common name 

Probably also can't tell a croissant from a banana.

Location: Hallstrom House Conservation Area

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=clma4

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 13, 2025

This plant is known as Feay's Palafox

It is mostly white with dark pink tips

It only endemic to Florida

For many bees and wasps it is a favorite.

Location: Hallstrom House Conservation Area

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-palafoxia-feayi/

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 12, 2025

I am a female Band-winged Dragonlet

This photo does not do me justice

In real life I'm gold with a dusting of green

I am beautiful, dare I say lustrous!

Location: Hallstrom House Conservation Area

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/3483

Photo and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 11, 2025

I am an Oriental Turtle-Dove

I live in Tokyo

When the world gets rough

And you've had enough

Tokyo is a cool place to go.

Today's blog marks a first for Dee at 8 a.m.! A guest photographer from Japan. Today's photo was submitted by our old friend and new expatriate, Joy!

写真、本当にありがとうございます。これからも楽しみにしています。

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ortdov/cur/introduction

Photo © 2025 Joy Handley and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.