FFTD Bonus 3-7 Gulf Fritillary on a thistle

           This butterfly, a Gulf Fritillary, was on a thistle in The 
           Bailey Tract. Also called Passion Butterfly  (Agraulis vanillae), 
           it derives its name from butterflies migrating over the Gulf 
           of Mexico.  It is not closely related to the true fritillaries.

Family at Sanibel March 2013

David and Frances

John and Gracia

Don and Dave

Rob and Kathy

Don and Jan

Jack

Osprey 3-4

Osprey sitting on the table ready to eat fresh fish.

A stretch before lunch.

Really good!

The Room #4 2-27

The Lighthouse Cafe   Sanibel Island

Flower for the Day 2-27 Banana Flower

The Sanibel Moorings Resort on Sanibel 
Island is a subtropical botanical garden

complete with banana trees. The mature 
banana plant forms a flower spike or inflorescence

at the top. Here is a mature banana flower 
at the top of a plant but hanging down.Its 
bloodpurple bracts (sometimes incorrectly 
called petals) pealed back and opened each

day like onion skins revealing sweet smelling 
male flowers.

Both the flowers and the bracts fell to the ground 
each night and the process was repeated each day 
of our three week stay.

The female flowers grow further down the stem 
and become the fruit. The banana inflorescence

is eaten as a delicacy in many tropical countries.

Sanibel 2013: Birds Flock to Beach Smorgasbord 2-25

There was the smell of dead fish in the air as we 
arrived at the beach. Hungry birds flew in for lunch.

There was plenty for everyone.

Some did not survive.

Small pompano.

Sheepshead.

At the Feeder 1-21

The birds outside the living room window enjoy 
our feeder.

The female cardinal has subdued colors.

The Room #3 3-2

Natural Blondes #542 Sanibel Moorings Resort,
Sanibel Island, Florida

The Room #2 3-1

Economy Thriftway, Wright City, Missouri

New Series: The Room #1 2-29

Economy Thriftway, Wright City, Missouri