little june buggy

I've been noticing recently an abundance of this particular species of beetle's carcasses littering the stairwell of my apartment.  I finally broke down and attempted to figure out what it was.  A friend of mine used his divine internet skills to ID it.  My little june bug friends are just that.  Spotted June beetles (Pelidnota punctata).

For some reason all I do when I see them is sing The Presidents of the United States of America song, Dune Buggy.  Except I change one letter.  That's right.  I modify the song to June Buggy.  Every time I get a quick flashback to... well... 1995.  We had their first album on tape.  Yep.  Tape.  We knew all the words.  My sister probably still does. 

austin cary teaching forest

Our final field trip for Local Flora was to Austin Cary forest.  Austin Cary is owned by the University of Florida's School of Forestry for the purpose of teaching forest management techniques such as prescribed burns (that is what we're calling controlled burns these days), and ecofriendly(er) tree farms.  The habitat is predominantly mesic flatwoods which, depending on the elevation, grades into sandhills (higher elevation) or swamps (lower elevations).

Mesic flatwoods occur on relatively flat, moderately to poorly drained terrain.  The soil is acidic and typically consists of 1-3 feet of sand over a hard clayey subsoil.  The habitat is prone to seasonal flooding during the rainy season and drought during the dry season.  The system is occasionally prone to fire, burning every 5-10 years.  Mesic flatwoods are the most widespread and common biological communities in Florida.  

On the one hand I was sad this was our last trip, on the other VERY happy.  It was about 90 degrees out by 10:00am.  Much too hot for me to care about what this plant looks like in its natural setting.  I'm all about being out in the woods having a good ol time.  I just prefer not to melt in the process.  I was the person muttering "Please rain.  Please rain.  Please rain."  When there was not a cloud in the sky.  A girl can dream can't she?

Hypercium brachyphyllum (Coastal plain St. John's wort)

Diodia virginiana (Button weed)

Austin Cary Forest

Woodwardia virginiana (Virginia chain fern)

Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken fern)

Gaylussacia nana (Glue huckleberry)

sari soldiers

campus

This is the final week of field trips for my Local Flora class.  As the semester comes to a close (Summer A is abbreviated into a six week intensive semester), I can't help but feel slightly sad.  This is my last botany course of my undergraduate career... and if I decide to go in a different direction when I figure my life out, possibly ever.  I don't think I'll ever stop being curious or wondering about the natural world... but I honestly fear having a job that does not involve it in some way.  Would I be happy?  Could I be content for long enough to save money and go back to school?  

I had an interview today with the local domestic violence shelter, Peaceful Paths, and I think it went rather well.  But I got home and started thinking about how different I felt in that particular interview than I did in my last with Environment America.  I felt nervous of course, but not nearly as excited about the idea of working there as I did previously.  Not that I find Violence Prevention a lesser cause, but more because environmental protection, conservation, and advocacy is where I think I'll find my niche.  It combines both the activism and move for social change that I love with the world I wish to protect and share with others.  But then again, who knows what I'll be good at or what I'll really find the most joy in doing.  I'll just have to wait and try things out.

I really just want someone to pay me to have a garden, make things, sit on a porch and read.  Too bad these things sound more like hobbies than careers... or even short term job fixes.   I've been so wrapped up in finishing school and getting out, I've forgotten how much I really do enjoy learning.  Perhaps waiting to go to onto my masters is a good thing.  Perhaps I'll remember why I loved learning so much.  And wonder why I was in such a hurry to get out/finish.  Or maybe I'll discover how to learn without wanting some sort of grade or certification for it.  Learn for the shear joy of learning.

Macfadyena unguis-cati (Cat's claw vine)

Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss)

Colocasia esculenta (Wild taro)

Pleopeltis polypodioides (Resurrection fern)

Lagerstroemia indica (Crape myrtle)

Zamia pumila (Coontie)

Butia capitata (Pindo palm)

relaxation flowing

Sunday afternoon creeps in like a strange chill.  I'm in a funk.  I decide no work will be done today.  Nothing is due tomorrow and my brain needs a break.  I attempt to cuddle with the kids.  I put birdface in my pocket.  I threaten to eat him.  He tweets in a only mildly irritated protest.  After all, we are seeing who can be the most obnoxious.  I pull ahead, but only for a minute.  Sweety sits in my hair and does some rearranging.  Everything is out of place.  It tickles.   My laughter startles her and she yells at me from across the room.  After cuddle/play time, we all fluff up and take a nap.  But first, I annoyingly dance around and insist they smile for the camera. 

My plants actually look quite happy.  I'm surprised.  I've been trying really hard to remember that just because it rains outside, doesn't mean the inside plants are getting water.  Seems simple enough... but is proving to be quite the challenge.

payne's prairie, northern rim

To experience this part of Payne's Prairie was quite a treat.   The area hasn't been cleared or disturbed since at least the Spanish colonial times.  Therefore, it represents one of the oldest and most diverse mixed hammocks (forests) in the region.  Aside from the swarms of mosquitoes and every looming threat of wood ticks, the hike was quite enjoyable.  I really did love it, except when we stopped.  When we stopped walking I could have sworn I was getting eaten alive.  Every inch of  bare skin seemed to be fair game.  They were not deterred by the bug repellent, swatting, or swearing.  When I got home I counted all the bites which had to have been acquired through my clothing.  Needless to say, I was quite itchy.  I'd love to go on this hike again during the fall or winter and with people who like the outdoors as much as I do.  It amazes me when people take classes titled "Local Flora" and don't like going out into the woods.  Can.  not.  compute.  rationale.

Vitus rotundafolia (Muscadine grape)

Prunus umbellata (Flatwoods plum)

Sideroxylon alachuense (Silver buckthron; Alachua bully)

This plant is an extremely rare, endangered, endemic.  The largest population (consisting of less than 30 plants) is found in Alachua County.  This species is only known to occur in the wild in three counties, Marion, Alachua, and Orange

Ruelia caroliniensis (Wild petunia)

Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurel cherry)

Payne's Prairie Northern rim

Sapindus saponaria (soapberry)

The woods.

Oplismenus hirtellus (Wood-grass)

alfred ring park

I apologize that the pictures from this trip are not nearly as spectacular as the previous trips, but I spent a better part of the time fighting with my camera.  We had some words.  We've slept apart for several days.  And I think we've made up.  I also reformatted it.  Bwhahaha.  I win.  When all else fails, play dirty.

I've also discovered that I'm becoming stranger rather quickly.  I talk to inanimate objects as if they were people, more often than I actually talk to other real, living, breathing humans.  I have rekindled my long term, passionate, relationship with ice cream.  It might be a bit more desperate than last time.  I'd rather eat a bowl of ice cream than interact with other humans.  I've been watching CSPAN.  On a Saturday night.  And drinking a glass of wine while watching the parakeets.  I  have developed voices for both Pinkie and the Brain.  The Brain didn't used to have a distinct voice.  But now she does.  And the two have conversations.  Aloud.  

All attempts to unleash the crazy slowly are failing.  It's coming in waves.  Much like the rain/monsoons.

 

Cercis canadensis (Souther Redbud)

Osmunda cinnamomea (Cinnamon fern)

Woodwardia areolata (Netted chain fern)

Hogtown Creek (Gainesville, FL)

Critter I was more interested in than the plant we found it on.  So cute and sleepy. 

Upon further investigation, thanks to some help from Erin and What's That Bug?, I've determined its Narcus sp. (sp. meaning species, or unknown variety).  I'm almost certain its in the same family/genus with the Great American Millipede.  All efforts to get it to roll into a ball failed.  Perhaps I'm part millipede.  That is my defense mechanism.