Calusa Nature Center – perfect morning for a walk in the flatwoods and the swamp. It’s pretty close to where I live, and I had other errands to run this morning, so why not stop by instead of passing by? Plus, we have that extra hour in the morning now that we “fell back” on Sunday, and I was a bundle of energy because of that. Let’s go!


A couple of rehabilitating gators were sunning themselves near their watering hole.


The American beauty berry is in a full riot of fruit.


Parts of the swamp are already drying up and becoming lined with fallen leaves.


Dahoon holly trees are heavy with fruit in the cypress swamp and along the pine loop trail


Something has raked this tree. Gashes look too wide for it to be a bear or a bobcat. Not sure how this happened!


A closer look at the mystery gashes.


Still water in the cypress swamp, and since the berries are popping and the leaves are falling, there are lots of feeding little birdies visible and audible here.


A new little tree struggles to bring itself up beside the boardwalk. I predict a relocation of one or the other!



I have found a lot of things while out walking that other people lost. But I never thought someone could lose their face..

Disappointing


Cassia in bloom


Cabbage palm regeneraging – not sure if the folded-up-ness is normal, as I’ve never seen one do this before!