A Glass Lizard

  Eeks, a snake! Well, maybe not.

A Glass "Snake"

I came across this small (ca. 1 foot) snake-like creature on today's walk, and soon realized that he was not a snake at all, but a glass lizard.

Three or possibly more kinds of these limbless lizards may occur here, so it was necessary to take a close look to figure out which one he was.

Vertical neck bars and lack of prominent stripes may be tipoffs

Examining the patterns on the head and body suggests that this specimen is a young eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis). The habitat seems right also. Second opinions will be welcomed.

March 11 at San Felasco Hammock

Training for our long walk in May, we've been taking long hikes. Today we did a six mile walk at San Felasco Hammock. As always, the place served up many delights.

Several small fringetrees (Chionanthus virginicus) near the parking lot were in blossom

The area's many flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida) had mostly lost their blossoms, and in places the trail was littered with white petals. One small tree, pictured below is evidently a late bloomer.

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

One upland area had experienced a controlled burn. The fire appeared to have been a hot one that was effective in killing most invading deciduous trees.

Dead Carolina cherry (Prunus caroliniana) trees in burned area

Despite appearing to have been completely consumed by fire, young longleaf pines (Pinus palustris) survived.

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) seedling

On the left is turkey oak (Quercus laevis), another fire tolerant tree

Rusty Blackhaw

This little tree is called rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum). It has dark, shiny green leaves. How puzzling, I thought. Nothing about is looks rusty, and how did it ever get that name?

Problem solved? The photo was taken early March here in Florida, and perhaps it is the new spring foliage that gives it its name. That's possible, although some accounts mention brilliant red fall coloration.

Signs of Spring - February 11, 2013

Yellow Jessamine

American Hop Hornbeam, just leafing out

Shiny Blueberry

Muscadine Grape

Slash Pine in Blossom - Cedar Key 1/11/13

Having cars covered in pine pollen is not something we normally associate with early-mid January.

Fall and Winter

Here's a Florida maple in its colorful phase, photo made today, January 3, 2013.

We saw our first robins yesterday, so it must be winter somewhere.

Spring Peepers

Last night a cold front was approaching, and we heard peepers calling in the back yard. They begin calling in December in most years, and 2012 will be no exception. 

The photo was taken near our home in Gainesville on September 4, 2012.