The Sun Sets On October

NORTH EAST  FLORIDA

The Sun Sets On October ⓒBearspawprint2014

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The Sun Sets On October ⓒBearspawprint2014

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The Sun Sets On October ⓒBearspawprint2014

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Florida Holly ⓒBearspawprint2014

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The Island

….As we continued our errands (which my husband calls “rat killing”)   last Tuesday, February 25,  leaving Jacksonville we headed to Amelia Island driving almost as far as it is possible to drive to the East in Nassau County, Florida, before turning back to the West to head HOME.  HOME is as far West as it is possible to drive in our part of Nassau County. Our property line is the St. Mary’s River, which flows north by HOME, the opposite bank is Georgia.

Amongst other things, our veterinarian is on the Island, my dentist is there, Moses, Dear Son III, went to High School there, and has many of his music gigs there, my favorite county library (where I used to take Roy, Dear son IV, when he was little) is there, and the Island is where I go to view July 4 fireworks.  Even the dentist’s exam rooms have picture windows overlooking a scenic small freshwater lake with turtles, fish jumping, and birds of all sorts, as well as the surrounding gardens.   The only hospital in Nassau County is on the Island.

The day was so warm and sunny, before this little chilly snap, that tourists were milling about, and over half of the car tags were from out of state .

ⓒ Bearspawprint

Bear… 02.25.2014 … If this little tree had had it’s leaves, the birds would not have been visible.

Bear … 02.25.2014 A view without tourists!! Wow! Snow Birds were all around us as we used the parking area to turn around. They even caused Dear Husband to pause long enough for me to take this photo. Thank you tourists for slowing us down. Yay for pauses.

Bear … 02.25.2014 Wetlands on Amelia Island, Florida.

Bear .. 02.25.2014 … Roy liked this small playground better than the bigger ones, when he was pre-school age, over 15 years ago. He is 20, now. The equipment and even the trees are a bit different than when we were here. Storms have done some damage. Those palms are planted.

Bear … 02.25.2014 …. Pelicans drying off at the North end of Amelia Island.

Bear … 02.25.2014 … The trestle pivots to accommodate ships and boats without making the trunk line climb.

Bear… 02.25.2014 … Deep channel Inland Waterway with view of Amelia Island, Nassau county, Florida

Bear …02.25.2014 … Inland Waterway, Nassau County, Florida

Bear … 02.25.2014 … Bridge connecting the Island, Nassau County, Florida

Bear … 02.25.2014 … As we headed inland , West towards HOME, the waning sun cast an autumnal glow to the new spring growth in the Yulee, Florida treetops.

There has been enough rain lately to wash the skies clean.

Bear … 03.01.2014

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Avoiding the Urban Skyline

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A trip to the VA Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida afforded photo ops with the sun shining brightly February 25, 2014.  I avoided the urban skyline that the Chamber of Commerce prefers to publish.

 

Bear … 02.25.14 … This creek is on the NW side of Jacksonville

Bear … 02.25.14 … Intersecting lines at the intersection

Bear … 02.25.14 … Even the parking lot had beauty.

Bear … 02.25.14 … I love when the Confederate Jasmine blooms turning the dreary gray-brown vines a sunny yellow.

After leaving the Veteran’s Administration Clinic we headed North.  It was a warm sunny day in late February.

Bear … 02.25.2014 … Wetlands East of I95 North of Jacksonville, florida

Bear … 02.25.2014 … Wetlands East of I95 north of jacksonville, Florida

Bear … 02.25.2014 … Wetlands East of I95 North of Jacksonville, Florida

Bear … 02.25.2014 … Wetlands east of I95, South Nassau County, Florida

 

 

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

The St. Mary’s River, is part of the Okefenokee watershed.  This river, which in dry times can be walked across, from Florida to Georgia (and back) by my home is also capable of floods spanning a mile or more in some areas, and 60 or more feet deep in the “walk to Georgia” spot.  Water, and all of Nature must always be resepected.  To my husband, especially,  this place is Paradise.

Spring is early this year, even though we haven’t had the Febuary week or so of 17 F that we have every year, the huge Piliated Red Headed Woodpeckers are back.  I heard, then saw the first one, of 2013, yesterday afternoon.——Granny

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piliated_woodpecker

male Dryocopus pileatus in a tree

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okefenokee_Swamp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mary%27s_River_(Florida)  I live on the East bank of the North flowing section.  It is 10 miles in any direction to the nearest store or any sort.

St. Marys River watershed

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Caiman Invasion in Puerto Rico

Repeating Islands

When heavy rains begin to pelt a flood-prone neighborhood along Puerto Rico’s north coast, people start sharpening their knives and preparing their lassoes.

The floods herald the arrival of caimans, a close relative of the alligator, whose population has exploded in and around the lagoon next to Los Naranjos neighborhood in the coastal city of Vega Baja, the Associated Press reports.

The scaly reptiles have been spotted prowling around schools and crawling into flooded yards after rains, causing both widespread panic and curiosity in the community.

Calls to government officials to help catch the reptiles and take measures to prevent further flooding have been futile. So now, the residents of Los Naranjos have been forced to face their fears and become caiman catchers themselves in this community of scarce resources where some still ride horses bareback as transportation. Among the rudimentary equipment at their disposal: Wire, duct tape and metal…

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