flower

The sun has come out to shine on Mom's flowers. It's too bad this is the only one left.

Pier Poopers

At the Pier in St. Pete, there are outdoor tables where, if you wanted, you could eat and watch the water, the boats, the birds, or the fishermen casting a line in the hopes of a good catch. It might be nice to sit outside with your ice cream on a temperate day when the thermometer wasn't pushing past 100 degrees. Or not! There are .. THE BIRDS. They are all over the tables and benches and they are doing what birds do frequently and between you and me, I know they have not been trained not to do it there. I chose not to sit.

They look like a bunch of old gossips ... and ... there is always one in every crowd isn't there? One that just won't shut up???


I believe this one was letting me know exactly what punishment he would mete out should I be foolhardy enough to try to sit on "his" bench. He had nothing to worry about.

Hive Surprise

Remember the huge hive that was on the tree by the patio? This is what we found when we returned from Florida. It's gone and I don't know where it went. We looked to see if it was lying around on the ground still occupied but it's just nowhere to be found. It would be interesting to know "how" it disappeared but when all is said and done....I'm just happy it's gone.

Soggy Thistle and the Deafening Roar

We've had so much rain the overflow is pounding down the spillway into the lower reservoir. The water is up over the beach sand but no swimming is allowed so it doesn't matter much. Gizzy is scouting around the thistle checking for new and exciting smells.

Table by the water anyone?

Right now the thistle is only soggy and drooping. Hopefully, the blooms will be able to keep their heads above water if it rains again and the reservoir rises. The finches that flit about in the trees here do love thisle.

Big Bird

It's been raining again so Mom went to see how the reservoirs looked in the park. We can hear the water rumbling as it falls down the upper spillway into the lower reservoir and out of the lower reservoir's spillway into the stream. She came back to get me and Pawpa and her camera. Pawpa is looking at the water flowing under the bridge into the stream. I'm looking at something else standing on the dam. Boy it's BIG!

This is what Pawpa is looking at.

Here is what I'm looking at! He might be bigger than ME even!


Here's a closer look!

Henrietta

There were a lot of pelicans at the Pier in St. Petersburg. This one is Henrietta. She hangs out at this kiosk looking for food which the proprietor doles out. While I was taking pictures, he showed me how she would follow him out the door, around the building, and back inside in hopes of a handout. It was 99 degrees. She had a lot more energy that we did!

The other pelicans catch their own supper.

Thanks to all who let me know what kind of tree I'd photographed. We have magnolias in CT but I've never seen one with the "fruit" on it.

Mystery Tree

This is a picture of my shadow taking a picture of this tree in the hotel parking lot in Florida. REALLY! I hope I was standing next to a bush because my shadow looks a bit overly "hippy".

I have never seen a tree like this before and I have no clue at all what kind of tree it is. If anyone can identify it for me, I'd really appreciate it. I just HAD to take a picture of it just in case any of my southern friends could enlighten me.