Morning walk...

I went for a walk this morning, I keep meaning to go most mornings, but for some reason by the time I get around to it, it's usually too hot outside to walk, but this morning I made it out the door.  And it was a lovely cool 78 degrees.

I had my camera with me, (I'm starting to think about having it surgically attached, but can't figure out how to change the batteries).

I saw mushrooms, and even though they tried to hide from me, I took their picture anyway.   Why mushrooms fascinate me, I have no idea, but they do.

 

And then there was the pretty flowering bush, I do love a yellow flower.  

And the critters, well, luckily for me the snake whooshed out of sight and all I saw was his tail disappearing into the brush.  And no it wasn't an anole, or lizard or skink.   It was a snake.   I like lizards, anoles and skinks, but snakes, not so much.   And the only reason I even noticed the snake tail, well, here it is, a butterfly.

 Just lit down for a moment and as I took a step forward, it lifted off again.   Poor little thing looked a little the worse for wear.  

As did these leaves,

you can see the insect tracks on the leaves which gives a pretty lacy effect, but I'm sure it's not much fun for the plant.

I love trying to see outside the ordinary, seeing and recording some of the everyday stuff, that we tend to overlook.
Next time I go for a walk, I'll see what else is new...   

Cactus Flowers

As I was taking pictures of some cactus flowers earlier this year, I was struck anew (and it hurt), by the contrast of the fragility of the flower and the sturdiness of the plant.   I've always liked seeing cactus flowers bloom, and always felt special when I got to see them, when we used to live in a desert climate, you were lucky to see them bloom after a brief rain, but since I moved to Florida, I've seen a lot of cactus blooming.  I guess you just have to be there when it's blooming time.   At any rate I thought I would share a few pictures here.

The variety of flowers on cactus is amazing.  From the delicate to the sturdy.    I hope you enjoy looking at these as well.