March 17, 2026

I am a Southern Live Oak

But I don't know how much longer I'll be

It's not that I try to hide the truth

Yet people say they can see through me!

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee

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

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

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September 6, 2020

This is Southern Live Oak
It is the reason it's no longer Scrub Jay Season.
Although Scrub Jays really like peanuts
They think Acorns are much better eatin'

Note: It is illegal to feed peanuts (or anything) to Scrub Jays. Scrub Jay monitors are permitted to feed limited numbers of unsalted peanuts to Scrub Jays in order to facilitate banding only at certain times of the year. Which is good because at this time of year, they don't come for peanuts as readily since they far prefer acorns. 

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Florida_Scrub-Jay/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson