Wednesday, May 14, 2025

May 14, 2025

We are a pair of baby Barred Owls
We can climb trees using our talons and bill
We flap our wings, and walk up tree trunks
Till we master our adult flying skills.

Location: Central Florida

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/overview

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2085073078674754

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.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

This plant is knowns as Fetterbush Lyonia
It's an evergreen with white to pink flowers
It grows in coastal plains of the US southeast
And requires well-drained soil with just occasional showers.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=lylu3

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.

Monday, May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025

I am an Eastern Kingsnake
I have a stout head and little beady eyes
You can find me from Florida to New Jersey
But you'll have to look hard, I live a private life.

Location: https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/eastern-kingsnake/

Sources: Silver Springs State Park

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.

Sunday, May 11, 2025

May 11, 2025

This plant is known as "Crown-of-thorns"
To see why, take a look at its stem
Although the flowers look pretty and innocent,
You don't want to get your hands on them!

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b633

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.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

May 10, 2025

I'm known as a Cassius Blue butterfly
When my wings are open, they look more blue
My genus is sometimes called "zebra blues"
You can see the zebra-like stripes from this view.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN829

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.

Friday, May 9, 2025

May 9, 2025

This is Madagascar Periwinkle
It makes a pretty herbaceous ground cover
But it only thrives in drier environments
With too much water, it gets root rot and keels over.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP112

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.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

We are a pair of Swalllow-tail Kites
Right now we are on our nest with some eggs
Once they hatch, we'll hunt small vertebrates
To feed to our kids when they beg.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/lifehistory

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.