Tiger Swallowtail

A beautiful Tiger Swallowtail allowed me to take dozens of photos. Many of them were keepers, and I've had trouble deciding which one to post.

These butterflies are huge. When in flight, the big yellow wings attract our attention, just like a waving flag. The Tiger Swallowtail is fairly common, and the southern subspecies is largest of all. Only females wear the long string of neon blue jewels.

Please click the small photo to see more detail.

Symbiotic Relationships

With a burst of energy, this delicate white-capped mushroom pushes up through the soil and into the morning light. Its strength has come from a symbiotic relationship with one of the mighty oak trees in my back yard.

"Huh? Symbi-what?," you say. Well, let me try to explain. Biological symbiosis is the dependence of two species on each other for survival—bees and flowers for example. But most people are not aware that mushrooms and trees are symbiotic because the mutually beneficial activity takes place underground, completely out of sight. The industrious fungi wrap a thick coating of their very fine roots around the outermost, slenderest roots of a tree. With this nutrient transfer station in place, the mushrooms gather nitrogen and phosphorus, offering it to the tree in exchange for sugar.

Healthy human relationships are also symbiotic. A friendship or marriage with no give-and-take is precariously out of balance.

All Over the World

I can imagine busy little tongues licking the dew off blades of grass, just before dawn—all over the world. Even during extended draughts, God provides for the animals.

An expensive golf course lawn is beautiful, but it doesn't offer the ecological delights of grass that can stretch and grow. Because I live in the country, my closest neighbor is half a mile away and doesn't care what my yard looks like. I usually mow every two weeks, but this month it was three. I just wasn't in the mood.

This morning I hopped on the mower, but after a few laps around the house, I noticed the beauty of the grass. I went inside to get my camera. Clearly, I have my priorities.

Corn and Roma Tomatoes

Yes, vegetables on a table top qualify as nature photography—at least on this blog they do. These beauties were only two feet from my back door, where natural afternoon light was flooding in upon them to add interest to the scene.

Have you ever seen such a tempting shade of red? If colors could each be assigned a flavor, then this vivid hue should always taste like a salted slice of vine-ripe Roma tomato. I'm now reminded of being a young child and sneaking into our half-acre summer garden to eat tomatoes as if they were a forbidden treat

As for the sweet corn, it was devoured within fifteen minutes of the photo shoot, proving that yellow is seductive too.

Never, Never, Never Give Up

Two lovely but overbearing lantana shrubs have smothered their neighbor for five straight summers. With justified indignance, the blue-green yucca has loudly protested: "I was here first! Give me some light!" Winters brought a short reprieve when the flowering bushes died back to the ground. Then each Spring brought new and increasing growth, so the battle for sunlight resumed.

As you can see, the agave plant refused to give up. Today it stands handsome and tall, reigning from superior heights. Conflict has served to make this yucca strong.

The title is borrowed from Winston Churchhill, who is quoted as saying, "Never, never, never give up!" Years ago, while driving through Los Angeles, I saw those words on towering billboards, along with an image of Mr. Churchhill's face. The message targeted a lower-class community, but tourists also felt the impact. We're not used to seeing encouraging words in letters that large.

Adrift at Sea

We usually think of being adrift as a negative situation. But in the case of sea beans and mangrove pods, the floating isn't aimless. This pod fell into the water and is on its way to a "distant land" where it will lodge and begin to grow. The new tree will multiply and help to prevent erosion.

As if that isn't enough, the prolific mangroves form an island sanctuary, where birds will raise their young, and tiny fish are safe among its network of stilt-like roots.

Click to learn more about sea beans and mangrove pods.

Evidence

Rusted, bleached and battered rigging is evidence that a fishing boat has seen years of work and certainly some great adventure. Provoking the imagination, this photo compells me to look beyond the nets and out to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

The fishing industry has intrigued me ever since growing up in Fort Myers, Florida— a town once called the shrimping capital of the world. I'd love to be a guest and watch the deep-water process from beginning to end. Will the boat leave sight of land? What bounty will be hauled from the depths that day? Will snapper, bonita and grouper be pulled onboard along with the shrimp?

Boardwalk to the Beach

When visiting Southwest Florida, I always enjoy strolling the long boardwalks that stretch from condominium lawns, through the protected natural areas, then finally meet the glorious shores. These hospitable "red carpets" lead vacationers to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

While protecting the coastal environment, boardwalks also provide closeup views of indigenous vegetation—sprawling jumbles of assorted grasses, palms, seagrapes and flowering vines.

Early one morning, I encountered a rabbit on this walkway. Using it as a shortcut, he eventually hopped off to nibble on a luscious green vine with yellow blooms.