September 7, 2018

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

I'm a House Sparrow with my baby,
He's begging for a treat.
Whether in Florida or across the sea,
A chick has got to eat!

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Paul Claessen.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 6, 2018

Location: Sebastian, Riverwalk

This is Melothria pendula
Creeping Cucumber is its common name.
You can eat it's fruit when it's still bright green,
But if the fruit is black, it's not the same.

The taste and texture of the fruit changes and becomes toxic when it is ripe. 

Sources: Wild South Florida - Creeping Cucumber

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 5, 2018

Location: Sebastian, Riverwalk

This is Wedelia trilobata
Commonly known as Creeping Oxeye.
It is a category 2 invasive exotic,
That can only be killed using herbicides.

Sources: UF | IFAS Gardening Solutions - Wedelia

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 4, 2018

Location: Sebastian, North County Regional Park

We are known as Lined Earwigs
We have wings, but we rarely fly.
We have pinchers that we'll  use to defend ourselves,
And we shoot stinky liquid from our side.

Sources: Project Noah - Lined Earwig

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 3, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, Little League Park

I am a male Pileated Woodpecker
You can tell by the red stripe on my cheek.
My mate has the same stripe, but hers is black,
And we both have a chisel-like beak

Sources: Cornell Lab - Pileated Woodpecker

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 2, 2018

Location: GLAD Northlake Estates #163, Glades County

I’m a mother Mockingbird,
I don’t own a shop vac.
So I have to use my beak instead
To clean away my young’s fecal sac.

Very special thanks to my guest photographer, David Simpson for this amazing and perfectly timed shot.

Sources: What Are Fecal Sacs? Bird Diapers, Basically

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 1, 2018

Location: Merritt Island, Sams House at Pine Island Conservation Area

This is the Everglades Tomato
It is small, about the size of a cherry.
Its taste is bold and incredibly sweet,
I ate some - that opinion's not arbitrary.

Sources: Everglades Tomato Association

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson