December 7, 2017

Location: Marianna, Florida Caverns State Park

I am a Suwannee Cooter.
I spend most of my life in the water.
I can lay 6 clutches of 20 eggs in a year,
And have 120 babies to call me "Mater"

Sources: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Suwanee Cooter

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 6, 2017

Location: Marianna, Florida Caverns State Park

I'm known as a Hermit thrush,
I like to hunt for bugs in leaf litter.
When I've been scared and can't decide to run or stay,
My feet begin to quiver.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Hermit Thrush

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 5, 2017

Location: Blountstown, private residence

This is Leavenworth's Tickseed,
Coreopsis leavenworthii, in your wildflower guide.
It is used to save both lives and energy,
When it's planted along the road side.

Sources: Establishment of Leavenworth's Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii) on Roadside Right-of-Ways

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 4, 2017

Location: Blountstown, private residence

We are known as Leaffooted bugs,
Shown here crawling on a Salt Bush.
We can infest many crops, such as veggies and fruits,
And can be a real pain in the tush.

Sources: UF/IFAS Featured Creatures: Leaffooted Bug

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 3, 2017

Location: Blountstown, private residence

This is Solidago odora,
Sweet Goldenrod, more commonly.
Its pollen is heavy and is not airborne,
And is falsely blamed for allergies.

Sources: Florida Native Plant Society Native Plant Owners Manual - Solidago odora

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 2, 2017

Location: Blountstown, private residence

This is a Cirsium horridulum,
In some places it's endangered, in others it's a noxious weed.
In Florida, butterflies like it's flower's nectar,
And some birds like to snack on it's seeds.

Sources:
Florida Native Plant Society - Cirsium horridulum - purple thistle, yellow thistle

USDA - Plant Profile for Cirsium horridulum

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 1 2017

Location: Rockledge, Cruickshank Sanctuary

I'm a Florida Scrub Jay
It's easy to take good pictures of me.
Unfortunately this is a bad thing;
I'm used to people feeding me treats.

Feeding endangered species like me
Is illegal and bad for my health.
It can not only disrupt my breeding cycle,
It can also endanger your wealth.

(Feeding endangered species is prohibited in Florida.)

Sources: Wikipedia - Dangers of feeding Scrub Jays

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson