Turkey Anyone

 

     Not sure exactly what kind of bird this is, but I was surprised to find it near my place in West Florida, zone 8b, which is not very near any water sources. It was out after a rainstorm stalking through some yards occasionally pecking for bugs. Perhaps it's an escape, much as I lost some ducklings earlier in the year.

Isabella bunny

 

    Earlier this spring I decided that I missed having all the rabbits around to help me in the garden. Ok the adult rabbits didn't help me IN the garden, they helped me by creating small rabbits for the rabbit tractor. And they helped me by turning weeds into mulch and manure. But then the older rabbits passed away.

     Did you know rabbits live for 9 years or so? I didn't know that.

     I bought Isabella bunny from a young lady out in Weeks Wachee, off of craigslist. Now I just need a male rabbit. And then I can have baby rabbits in the tractor again.

     She has been transitioning well off of the commercial pellet she had previously been eating. I have her on the same diet as Princess, primarily alfalfa pellets, plants from the yard, and water hyacinth. They both have beautiful coats and clear eyes, seem to be a healthy weight. 

     And rabbits are by far, the best way to raise protein in suburban Florida.

Smartest Lizard on the Planet

 

     I bought a bee house from the local box store. I know, I know, I am such a sucker. It's made from bamboo pieces glued together and supposed to offer free rent for Mason bees. I have one Mason bee living in a hole in my rabbit roof, so I hung the bee house over there. One morning, while checking on the rabbits with my oldest son, we happened to see the smartest Lizard ever. He was hanging out and waiting for some kind of delicious morsel to appear, whether a bee or a spider I am unclear.

     I can't identify his species either. Other than the smartest Lizard species ever. Tiny alligators!

The Withlacoochee State Trail

       I have been hunting the entrances to the Withlacoochee State Trail. There is an entrance in Floral City on the north side of Orange Avenue. There is an entrance in Inverness in Liberty Park. There is an entrance in Hernando at highway 41 and East Norvell Bryant intersect. I still can't find where it is in my hometown Ridge Manor.

     Here is the official brochure.

Houseplants

      I never knew that there was quite a market for interesting but inherently useless houseplants. Maybe I am spoiled because I live in Florida and if I want a houseplant I can just dog something up from the yard and bring it in. Maybe I am in the wrong line of work.