How dramatically the seasons can change! The seasons do change in Florida, but more subtlety and are discerned better perhaps by local eyes than by tourists or part-time residents. What marks the arrival of Central Florida’s Fall?

The temperatures start to cool down a bit, high in the 70s, lows in the 50s this month, although October was above average this year.

The wet, tropical summer pattern is being replaced by our “dry season” which lasts until late Winter. (In honor of this change, residents can water lawns only once per week now, instead of twice per week.)

The ocean is getting colder and Northeast winds can make that morning or evening stroll on the beach seem a lot less inviting.
We still track hurricanes in October and November, but the peak of hurricane season is traditionally in the months of August and September. (As I write this, however, Hurricane Ida is “out there” and may produce some wet weather next week.)

Fall migration brings not only birds in their non-breeding plumage to Central Florida but also birders – ecotourists! The State’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has established a program called the Great Florida Birding Trail, with 489 sites in Florida, 135 of which are in the Eastern section where I live. I hope to visit several of these over the next several months!

But what about Florida’s Fall Foliage? I have been noticing some changes. My lawn is browner as it slips into dormancy. Have a nice sleep, grass plants and summer weeds! See you next Spring!

Some grass finds itself harvested and rolled up in hay bales.

Fall blooming flowers add color to the landscape. For example, I see yellow flowers and red or yellow leaves on shrubs and trees where I did not see them before. A quick perusal of the Internet shows that many plants, both native and horticultural, add splashes of color to the Fall landscape here.

But the true measure of Fall anywhere may be the decreasing hours of sunlight each day. After all, changes in the amount and intensity of sunlight are what drive seasons in both hemispheres. This is compounded by the fact that daylight savings time ended here on November 1, and night falls much “earlier.”

No worries! Fall festivals abound, the night will soon be lit up by cheery December decorations, and I need to practice my night photography anyway.

Hope to get some fun shots at the Volusia County Fair this week– the animals, the fall produce, and, of course, the gaudy midway lights after dark.

Stay tuned. Lyn

Rocks Rule!

Nature, modified by man

I returned there May 02, but this time accompanied by photographers from the Southeast Volusia Camera Club. Our group of ten took many photographs, not only in different natural settings but also in changing light as we moved from the bright light of the beach to the deep shade in the park as the morning passed. I share some of my photos with you here.

Washington Oaks is truly two parks in one as it spans the extent of a barrier island from the ocean to the (estuary). The field trippers gathered around 9:00 a.m. at the rocky beach portion of the Park at dead low tide, the best time to see the exposed coquina rock formations. We explored and photographed tide pools and the rocks, covered with algae and encrusting organisms, such as snails, barnacles, and limpets. Seabirds and a large, blooming yucca plant provided more photo opportunities.

Shore line at low tide

Here, we found a mix of formal gardens and typical barrier island hammock vegetation. Roses bloomed in the formal gardens; a variety of plants flourished along paths that wound around spring-fed ponds. A gazebo, fountains, foot bridges and small statues provided additional evidence of human maintenance. Huge live oak trees covered in epiphytes, such as ferns and bromeliads, dominated the natural vegetation.

The dominator!

On the beach, life battles harsh elements – wind, waves, and heat as well as erosion. The algae and small creatures survive by clinging to rocks, waiting for relief as the tide moves from low to high twice daily. Each rock is covered by these tenacious organisms; every tiny spot is prime real estate. Competition for a foothold on the rocks is fierce.

Environmental conditions in the Gardens are more moderate. The plants provide shade and moisture, and enrich the soil as they live and die. But, competition for space here is as fierce as it on the beach. Seeds and seedlings claim turf and try to dominate green competitors as well as outlast hungry herbivores. However, some animals have evolved to assist plants as pollinators, a win-win relationship with the plants. Tall trees serve as habitat for not only animals but also other plants.

As an ecologist, and college instructor, I have often taken students to Washington Oaks to investigate how plant and animal communities change and blend along a continuum from lagoon to beach. This time nature photography and artistic expression were the goals.

While all of us enjoyed the lush park setting, a few did not find artistic inspiration on the severe beach landscape, where geology rather than life seems to dominate. Many photographs recorded the strikingly different settings on the beach and in the gardens, but perhaps, it is macro photography that best captures the less obvious battles for life in both places. Lyn

Ampitheater Stage

Stairs to Suspension Bridge

Azaleas are the theme flower of the park. By 1934 over 95,000 had been planted by Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) workers. In 1999, the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Although Azaleas can bloom from January through April, I arrived to find that (sadly) most of the Azaleas were past bloom, but I still photographed some lovely examples. (See the pink and white and bright pink azaleas included on the previous blog entry.)

A 1.8 mile loop trail encircles the ravine; visitors can either drive or walk, stopping at several parking / observation areas along the way. I hopped aboard an open-air wagon hitched to a truck, with a dozen other guests. A park ranger narrated as we slowly wound around the loop, providing an overview of the Park’s natural and human history.

I learned, for example, that the ravine was created over thousands of years by water flowing from the sandy ridges on the shore of the nearby St. Johns River. The park is actively managed to prevent erosion, to maintain the historic architecture, and to control invasive, exotic plants, such as air-potato and Chinese tallow. (For more information, see the Park’s Management Plan.)

Fountain and Garden

Bridge over pond

What a treat! I will surely visit next year, hopefully when the abundant azaleas are full-bloom. That must be a glorious sight! Next trip… Mt. Dora. Lyn

This year, I attended three seminars / workshops on Saturday, January 24 that focused on my current interests in nature blogs, photography, and education.

Sharon Stiteler, host of the popular BirdChick Blog, delivered a high energy, interactive, and informative seminar with lots of tips – how to set up and improve a blog, how to promote it, and links to other popular nature blogs. Although I did not attend any of the field trips this year, Sharon did. Visit the BirdChick blog to read about her experiences at the Festival and view some great photos taken on the field trips.

Bill Thompson III (Bird Watcher’s Digest) presented a workshop to a lively audience attended by as many children as adults. The workshop explored the premise that birding can encourage children to spend more time outdoors, learning to experience and value nature. He charmed the audience by relating how a collaboration with his daughter’s elementary school classes led to the to design and publication of The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, for 8 – 12 year old birders. See link to the Guide in the Shopping: Explore Nature page. Appropriately, the talk was followed by a short walk outdoors.

Joanne Williams inspired her audience to take “in the raw” nature photos, with a back-to-basics talk about “painting with light.” Her valuable suggestions applied to all types of nature photography, including digital, digiscoping, or film SLR. While listening to an informative talk, the audience viewed dual slide show presentations of many spectacular images, taken in natural settings all over the globe. Obviously these methods work! I came away understanding that beautiful results do not have to depend on editing, if done well the first time. My goal is to accompany Joanne on one of her guided photo safaris; some take place right here in Florida!

Although I did not go on a field trip this year, I enjoyed seeing animals brought to the Festival by The Raptor Project (owls, a bald Eagle, and several other birds of prey), as well as the Hands On Wildlife Safari (snakes, tarantulas, a Florida panther, and an opossum.)

Next year, I plan to attend again and hope to include one or two of the many guided field trips that showcase natural Florida ecosystems, our birds and wildlife.

Come join me! Lyn

Nevertheless, I know that many zoos and aquaria operate very differently now than in the past. Sometimes, these artificial habitats are the last refuges for endangered species. Scientific breeding programs, with cooperation among institutions, may result in saving a species or perhaps lead to a reintroduction to the wild.

Research in captivity provides knowledge about animal biology, genetics, and behavior. Visitors learn as well, not only about species they may not otherwise get to see, but also about threats to natural habitats, and what can be done to preserve them.

Marineland is a case in point. Because it had been years since I first visited the park, I decided to stop by for lunch on the same day that I went to Washington Oaks Gardens, located only three miles away. I was curious to see if Marineland had changed in recent years, as I had heard. And change it had!

I learned on Marineland’s website that the facility opened in 1938 as Marine Studios, used for filming underwater scenes in Revenge of the Creatures (1955) and Benji at Marineland (1981), for example. Later, the name changed to Marineland, touted as the World’s First Oceanarium. When I visited in the 1990’s, trained dolphin performances were a main attraction.

Not so anymore. Seeing dolphins is still wonderful reason to visit, and they still do “tricks,” but not primarily for entertainment, or shows. As a trainer explained to us, dolphins need to display fins, flippers and tails (flukes), or open their mouths on command as part of physical exams. Observing dolphins interact with humans provides information about dolphin behavior and, it seems, is a diversion for both species.

What a treat it was for me to watch dolphins jump in the air, play with balls, and interact with each other, their trainers, and visitors. Without any cues, dolphins threw balls out of the tank to spectators, who were urged by trainers and docents to throw them back, “as quickly as possible.”

The dolphin tank, a 1.3 million gallon habitat, has several large plexiglass portals for underwater viewing. In addition, an elevated deck provides a view of dolphins leaping high into the air. One female dolphin, for reasons only known to her, pressed her body against one of the portals and peered at us over the edge of the tank. Luckily, my camera was pointed that way!

Educational placards are posted around the tank and viewing platform. Trainers and volunteers are eager to share information and answer any questions. For example, we learned that the most of the dolphins at Marineland were born there, and not taken from the wild. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) prohibits collecting marine mammals in the US. On my visit, I watched the antics of three babies born in June 2008. I also “met” Nellie, born at Marineland 55 years ago.

Marineland offers many programs for closer interaction with the dolphins, including some that are “in the water.” I was content to just watch and photograph the dolphins, and came away hoping that Marineland will be around for many years to come. Lyn .