A Return to Form

    It truly has been quite a while, hasn't it? I hardly even know if anyone still uses Blogger/Blogspot, but after a brief stint of attempting to use Instagram (to much frustration with its many limitations and mobile-centric design), it feels quite right that I revisit my very first online plant diary. This plant catalog is solely for my own pleasure and benefit, but any wayward wanderers are certainly permitted (though not encouraged) to witness my ramblings--and perhaps join the plant rabble with me. 

    True to my tendencies, upon visiting new regions, I am always armed with a photographic device and a keen eye for botanical wonders that are new to me. And thus, the following images of the Florida Everglades and Keys:

Tribulus cistoides, low-growing herb whose picture was taken in the Keys, growing in a sheltered sandy location adjacent to the shore.

Red Mangrove (Rhizopora mangle) propagules forming; 10 to 15 foot specimen located slightly inshore of a bay, in the Keys.

Stilt roots of the Red Mangrove, same specimen.

    Proceeding to the Florida Everglades: while only a small portion of the Everglades was visited, it nonetheless was a wonder to behold for the ornithologist-botanist.

Tillandsia utriculata; a sizable monocarpic Tillandsia that festooned the trees in every nook of the hammocks, with some Tillandsia usneoides draping every branch. In the Everglades.

T. utriculata nearing the end of its life, exiting with a splendid, fiery burst of vitality.

Tillandsia sp.; younger specimen from the Everglades, unsure of the species.

Very young specimens of Tillandsia; unsure of the species, though it appears to potentially be newly germinated Tillandsia usneoides.

Pleopeltis polypodioides, an amazing epiphyte from the tropical/subtropical SE US; found on a live oak in the Everglades. Appears to be dessicated in the current state, but given some water, and a night to hydrate, it becomes a lush, verdant fern. Tough and fascinating!

Lubber grasshopper (Romalea microptera), in the Everglades. Not much of an entomologist, but it was too striking to pass.

    Overall a lovely trip, and only a fraction of the photos were even shared in this post! Every aspect of Florida was jarring to this Californian's sensibilities, from the unusually warm (at least to a Pacific Ocean frequenter) oceans to the hugely unpredictable weather (and repulsive humidity) to the ever-present emerald green at every turn. Auf wiedersehen, until there be another sudden strike of inspiration to force me to pen another post on other interesting goings-on in the life of this plant enthusiast.

Hiking: Mishe Mokwa Trail

When we felt better prepared to trek the Malibu Mountains through the Mishe Mokwa Trail, we packed up our things and headed out! However, we were not prepared for the sharp curves the road had--which scared us quite a bit. But when we reached the parking lot, I knew that it was the right choice. There were only a few people (I don't like hiking with too many people on the trail), and clear mountain air everywhere! The sun wasn't too strong yet, so temperatures were really comfortable. Wind, as expected on the mountaintop, was very, very strong, but for me, the feeling of clean air blowing against my face is a refreshing experience.

Like the last post about hiking, I included large amounts of photos. The photos are in the sequence which I saw them as I hiked, so some of the plants may recur in several areas.