Florida Sunsets

The sun is usually setting as I set off on my longest walk of the day around 6:30 pm. Regardless, it continues very hot, dry, muggy, and buggy. I wear long sleeves and jeans to try and keep the bugs off but a swarm still generally follows just behind me.

The water seen running down the roads in our very dry sandhills is from irrigation sprinklers, not from rain.



ABOVE: I'm starting to see some Painted Leaf (or Poinsetta cyathophora) in the woods. It does resemble cultivated poinsettias. It has the ability to extract water from the atmosphere and always appears a little wet. Touching it reveals that it is a sticky-wet (much like the surrounding air).



ABOVE: There is a lot of Goldenaster (Chrysopsis mariana) emerging the past weeks. There are multiple species of this spring and fall blooming flower in Florida. Look closely and you'll see a colorful Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) on the center flower.



ABOVE: This was an unusual sight for me; Curtiss' Milkweed (Asclepias curtissii). At first I thought it was one of our more common Hempweeds, but closer inspection identified it as the native milkweed.



By the time I get to this last little hill the sun is setting, an hour has passed. . . and I always hope that I've done my heart some good. . . as it is not nearly as idyllic a task at it appears. Its rather more a chore that I dread most days because of the heat, humidity, and bugs.

To see the other images from my Florida Evenings go to PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD. . . the other photos.