The Wildflower Patch

I went to visit my sister in Ocala and was enchanted by some hard working bees.

Sacred Lands Preservation and Education

For Mother’s Day Weekend my sister Liz arranged for our family to take a tour at Sacred Lands Preservation and Education in St. Petersburg. It is a small, unassuming property that we’ve driven by a thousand times but never realized it was home to one of the best preserved American Indian Mounds in Florida as well as the historic landing place of the 1528 Narvaez Expedition.

One of the peacocks hanging out on the roof.

A string of Spanish trade beads dating from the mid 1500s. The Spanish would exchange the beads with Indigenous tribes.

This plant is called coontie palm or arrowroot. Our tour guide explained that it was toxic, however, the toxin was water soluble. The Indigenous tribes who cooked with it would have to go through a process of “eight washes” before it was safe to consume.

One of the peacocks on the dock.

A peahen resting in brush.

Our tour guide David with one of the peacocks in full display.

A peacock alongside a pile of shells that are over 500 years old.

Some of the Indigenous pottery found on the site.

David explaining the history of the shells and pottery fragments.

An example of the thick, plain pottery for every day use alongside a thinner, more decorative piece most likely made for ceremonial use.

The sturdy core of a conch shell, which the Indigenous tribes would use as a tool for scrapping and grinding.

A pair of young Lubber Grasshoppers basking on a leaf.

Our tour guide David did a tremendous amount of research and was a wealth of knowledge about the site as well as the surrounding area. I learned so many things about the history of my hometown from this amazing tour! For more information please visit: https://sacredlandspreservation.org/

Rome to Civitavecchia

The lovely sunrise from our hotel.

Mom basking in the morning glow.

Taking the train from Rome to Civitavecchia.

Dad and mom.

A backpacker watching the countryside roll by.

The first glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea through the smudged window of the train.

Mom, dad, Jenny, and Liz.

The cruise port terminal.

Mom looking out over the port of Civitavecchia.

Me and mom trying out some lounge chairs.

A colorful bug on the deck of the ship.

The Italian coastline.

Me, mom, and dad in the reflection of the balcony glass as we sail into the night.

Wingpod Purslane

A vibrant impulse purchase from the Lowe’s garden center.

Attracting a beautiful green bee.

A Chill Day in Las Vegas

My second day in Las Vegas was spent hanging out with Emily and Mike, enjoying the peaceful side of the city.

Spartacus looking for cuddles.

Some lovely plants in Emily and Mike’s back yard.

One cactus even had a few feathers stuck on it.

This plant had a few strands that grew in curled while most were flat.

A little bee gathering some pollen.

A refreshing cucumber lemonade and our delicious plate of shrimp at La Mojarra Local Grill.

Getting an afternoon pick-me-up at Sunrise Coffee House.

Emily and Mike are those special kind of people that can turn a trip to Costco into an adventure.

The stunning sunset from Emily and Mike’s backyard.

After the sun went down we took a walk around Echo Trail Park.

The moon sharing the sky with the beam from the Luxor Casino.

Back at home Emily and Mike showed off their wine aerator that looked like Dracula spewing blood. 

Emily and Mike also made a fantastic home cooked dinner with steak and sautéed mushrooms.

A perfect end to a relaxing day.