September 19, 2026

I am a species of Wolf Spider

I'm female and a mom, that much is certain

I carry my babies on my back

A mom's love is never a burden. 

(I found this spider on the floor of Dollar General. The clerk thought I was nuts for picking it up and taking it outside and was totally freaked out by it. I didn't even realize till I was photographing her that she had babies. I felt bad that we probably lost some during the move but it was clear that someone else was going to stomp on her if didn't  take her outside.)

Location: (One of the many) Dollar General, Sebastian

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/animal/wolf-spider

Photo and text © 2026 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.

September 18, 2026

I am a Red-headed Woodpecker 

Looking all artsy and dramatic

When you don't have the talent

To shoot color-balanced

You edit the photo, it's not art, it's pragmatic.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.iphotography.com/blog/mastering-white-balance-your-key-to-vibrant-photo-colours/

Photo and text © 2026 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.

September 17, 2026

We are known as Barn Swallows

Shown  here posing for our class pictures

Unfortunately there is always someone

Who forgets to dress up, it figures!

Location: Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

September 16, 2026

We are two adult female Wild Turkeys

Shown here with a few of our kids

After breading season

We group up for a reason:

As soon as our eggs hatch, our marriages hit the skids.*

*Adult males take off as soon as the eggs hatch. The females and babies form flocks as there is safety in numbers.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wild_Turkey/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2026 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.

September 15, 2026

I am a breeding female Peter's Rock Agama

In the process of shedding my skin

I'm shown here with 2 good lookin' adult males

My kids will probably look like one of them!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/lizards/peters-rock-agama/

Photo and text © 2026 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.

September 14, 2026

This flower is called Pitted Stripeseed

Also known as Morning Buttercup

It's the only plant in the Turneraceae family that's native to Florida

And butterflies and bees love it when it pops up.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-piriqueta-cistoides/

Photo and text © 2026 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.

September 13, 2026

This is a tiny plant called Pineweed

It's a very small St. John's Wort

Its flowers only open in the sun

And it'd be hard to find enough to knit a shirt.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2011/06/pineweed-hypericum-gentianoides.html

Photo and text © 2026 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.