F is for Florida, My Florida

Today is the day we post using the letter F in the 2016 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. For the letter F I'd like to introduce you to My Florida,  Real Florida, the Florida I love so much.

My Florida is the one most tourists rarely see but that most Floridians wish they did. My Florida isn't filled with theme parks, condo-lined beaches or bizarre news stories beginning with the two words that make every normal Floridan cringe - "Florida man..."

So sit back and let me tell you about My Florida.

In My Florida, we do have seasons but you have to change your idea of what seasons look like.

Spring - Smell the citrus blossoms on a warm evening. The heady, heavy scent is a treat for the sense of smell.
Summer - Feel the awesome power of an approaching thunderstorm. Smell the rain that's on its way. Watch the steam rise from the ground when the rain ends. That's right, a summer shower does not cool the air.
Fall - Notice the bright pink and yellow colors of the Golden Rain Tree. Enjoy the deep red leaves of the Florida Red Maple. Feel the humidity start to drop. This is how you know fall is in the air.
Winter - Go out into your backyard on a crisp winter morning and pick some oranges to have for breakfast. Eat them as-is or squeeze them for fresh juice. Listen to the sound of the neighborhood children's happy voices on Christmas afternoon as they ride the bicycles they found by the Christmas tree. Perhaps your own children or grandchildren are among them. Perhaps you were once one of those Florida kids. Set up a bird feeder in your yard and enjoy birds from many parts of the northern U.S. and Canada as they settle in for the winter. These are the original "snowbirds".

Want to connect more with the real Florida?

• Go to the beach and lie on the sand. Listen to the powerful sound of the ocean. Feel the salt air on your skin.* Breathe it in.
• Go to the mangroves and observe the web of life running through its veins. Look at an old cypress tree and know that it was there a century ago or more. Think of the stories it can tell.
• Mountains are beautiful, but in Florida you can see for miles and miles. We even have our own prairies as beautiful as any you'll find elsewhere.

*As our adopted favorite son Jimmy Buffet says, "Salt air it ain't thin. It can stick right to your skin and make you feel fine."  ~ Tin Cup Chalice.

This is what My Florida looks like. I've included an obligatory alligator photo but notice the absence of theme parks, condos, and cruise ships.

Butterfly Blogging

Since it's too hot to do anything outdoors, I thought I'd share some of my butterfly pictures. I love taking nature photos. Butterflies are some of the more challenging pics for an amateur like me, because they hate to pose.

First up, Monarchs. They are by far the easiest to photograph. For one thing, they're everywhere here in Florida. And they're here year round. Monarchs in Florida are unique in that they don't migrate. I've found that they also tend to stay still longer than many other butterflies.

The first one was at the Brevard Zoo's Butterflies over Brevard, in Spring 2005. The second at a local nursery's butterfly house. The last one, which we called Wilma, was found in our backyard after a hurricane. The extreme northern tip of Hurricane Wilma came through our area in October 2005. That afternoon, while outside checking for damage, we noticed the butterfly that had just emerged from its chrysalis. We felt Wilma was a most appropriate name.

Next up are two photos of a Gulf Fritillary at Blackpoint Wildlife drive at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

This next one looks like a Red-banded Hairstreak. I followed it around the yard for quite a while, and never could convince it to pose beautifully on a flower. I finally took what I could get, which was the side of the air conditioner unit.

And finally, two pretty ones from a summer trip to Tennessee. We were in the Cumberland Gap area for my husband's family reunion.

The first one, I believe, is an Aphrodite Fritillary. No guarantees though. It was taken near the Cumberland Gap Cave.

And lastly, a Pipevine Swallowtail, taken at a little place called Bear Creek.

I hope someone enjoyed these butterfly beauties.